Monday, August 31, 2015

United States Extradites Suspect in Quadruple Murder to the Czech Republic



The U.S. government extradited U.S. citizen Kevin Dahlgren to the Czech Republic today to stand trial on murder charges in that country.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Andrew G. McCabe of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.

Dahlgren, 23, formerly of Sacramento, California, is wanted for the brutal murders of four of his extended family members, on or about May 21, 2013, at their home in Brno, Czech Republic.  According to court documents, Dahlgren was visiting those family members and left that country immediately after the murders.  On May 23, 2013, U.S. law enforcement authorities arrested Dahlgren upon his arrival in the United States at Dulles International Airport, Virginia, based upon a provisional arrest request by the government of the Czech Republic pursuant to its extradition treaty with the United States.

After hearings in 2013 before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dahlgren’s extradition was certified.  Thereafter, Dahlgren’s further appeals were denied.  Dahlgren has been detained throughout his extradition proceedings and appeals.

The FBI, including personnel from the Legal Attache’s office in Prague, the Washington Field Office and the International Operations Division at FBI headquarters,  coordinated U.S. law enforcement efforts with Czech authorities and transported the fugitive to the Czech Republic.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and Appellate Section represented the interests of the Czech Republic in proceedings before the U.S. courts.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Southside York Gang Leader Enters Guilty Plea to Racketeering Conspiracy



HARRISBURG - A leader of the “Southside Gang” located in York, Pa. pled guilty to racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick in Scranton. According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, James Abney, a/k/a “Doocs”, age 29, of York, pled guilty as the parties prepare for a jury trial scheduled for September 21, 2015.

On September 17, 2014, a federal indictment was brought by a grand jury in Harrisburg charging 21 one members of the Southside Gang with racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy. In the indictment, the Southside Gang is identified as an alleged criminal enterprise whose purpose is to protect its territory and power through intimidation, violence and threats, generate profits primarily through open-air drug dealing within its territory and violent crime, defend and retaliate on behalf of gang members, and assist members through retaliation against witnesses and thwarting efforts of law enforcement.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Essam E. Rabadi, the racketeering conspiracy indictment was the result of a two-year combined investigation by ATF, York City Police Department and the York County District Attorney’s Office with participation by the Pennsylvania State Police, West York Borough Police Department, Spring Garden Township Police Department, the York County Drug Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio, William Houser, Joseph Terz, and Daryl Bloom are prosecuting the case. The names of those charged in the indictment are listed at the end of this release. They all were held in custody pending trial.

According to the indictment, all 21 men allegedly are or have been members or participants in the Southside Gang, which operated in the southern area of the City of York. The center of the alleged gang area is near Maple and Duke Streets in York, a location locally known as “the Jungle.”

The gang allegedly functions through an organized structure, including senior leaders, drug traffickers engaged in narcotics distribution; and “shooters,” who commit violent acts on behalf of the gang and to protect each other. Order is allegedly maintained through intimidation, threats, violence and, in some cases, murder.

The indictment alleges that defendant James Abney has been a principal leader and organizer, along with six other indicted individuals. The indictment also alleges that the Southside Gang includes a group of violent drug traffickers, originally affiliated with the “Bloods,” primarily a New York-based national violent street gang.

The indictment alleges criminal acts involving violence against a rival York gang, called “Parkway,” allegedly resulting in deaths of members of both gangs and innocent bystanders. Southside Gang members allegedly distribute illegal drugs, mainly crack cocaine, as a major part of the criminal enterprise’s business and used and possessed firearms to protect the drugs.

Many Southside gang members have been investigated and prosecuted by York and York County law enforcement agencies for years as individual cases. The federal prosecution aims at dismantling the organization by exposing and attacking its ongoing structure and leadership. The federal investigations of gang violence and drugs in York are continuing in full cooperation with local police and the York County District Attorney’s Office.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

In this case, the maximum penalty James Abney faces is 25 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Name and Street Name                Age
Rolando Cruz, a/k/a “Mico”         29
Marc Hernandez, a/k/a “Marky D”           29
Douglas Kelly, a/k/a “Killer”         36
Roscoe Villega, a/k/a “P Shawn”               40
James Abney, a/k/a “Doocs”      28
Tyree Eatmon, a/k/a “Ree”         26
Jahkeem Abney, a/k/a “Foo”     24
Maurice Atkinson, a/k/a “Mo”   27
Anthony Sistrunk, a/k/a “Kanye”              26
Cordaress Rogers, a/k/a “Tank”                 28
Eugene Rice, a/k/a “B Mor”         26
Angel Schueg, a/k/a “Pocko”      24
Marquis Williams, a/k/a “Quis” 26
Jalik Frederick, a/k/a “Murder Cat”          21
Brandon Orr, a/k/a “B Or”            22
Malik Sturdivant, a/k/a “Base”   22
Jabree Williams, a/k/a “Minute”               23
Ronald Payton, a/k/a “Ron Ron”               22
Jerrod Brown, a/k/a “Boogie”    25
Quintez Hall, a/k/a “Q” 21
Richard Nolden, a/k/a “Rich”      24

Saturday, August 29, 2015

ATF and Firearms Industry Offer Reward in Augusta Firearms Theft



GEORGIA – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Atlanta Field Division and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, have announced a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the theft of firearms from Cabela’s Outpost Store, a Federal Firearms Licensee located in Augusta, Ga.  ATF is offering a reward in an amount up to $2,500, which will be matched by the NSSF for a total reward up to $5,000.

This reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF and ATF in which NSSF matches ATF rewards in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers.  ATF works closely with members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms.

ATF and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the theft of firearms that occurred in the early morning hours on Sunday, August 9, 2015 at 833 Cabela Drive, Augusta GA.  The fourteen unaccounted for firearms pose a potential danger to our communities and our quality of life.  We are soliciting the public’s assistance with any information that leads to those responsible.

"ATF takes this crime very seriously," said Special Agent in Charge Carl Walker. "ATF is committed to preventing firearms trafficking, which is a serious offense resulting in significant federal prison time for those responsible."