North Versailles Man Admits Possessing Thousands of Pornographic Images of Children

PITTSBURGH—A resident of Allegheny County pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Harold J. Grant, III, 20, of 411 Halket Street, North Versailles, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on February 2, 2011, Grant possessed thousands of visual depictions, namely, videos and still images in computer graphics files, that were produced with the use of minors, many of whom were infants and very young children, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Judge Diamond scheduled sentencing for January 23, 2012, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Grant.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “Resources.”

New York City Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years’ Imprisonment for Role in the Armed Robbery of a Hanover Township Bank

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Monday in Scranton, Senior United States District Court Judge James M. Munley sentenced James Russell age 57, formerly of New York City, to 13 years’ and nine months’ imprisonment for his role in the armed robbery of a Hanover Township Bank.

Russell pleaded guilty to all the charges in a superseding indictment filed in April 2012 that charged that on October 30, 2010, Russell brandished a firearm and controlled the lobby of the M&T Bank in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, while co-defendants Shaelyn Joy Davis and Kareem Shabazz vaulted over the teller counter to access the money drawers.

Russell and his co-defendants stole $17,808.32.

According to Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at the trial of Kareem Shabazz established that on October 30, 2010, Joseph Swerdon drove Kareem Shabazz, Shaelyn Joy Davis, and James Russell to the M&T Bank. Shabazz, Davis, and Russell entered the bank brandishing weapons, including pistols and a sawed-off shotgun.

The robbers closed the blinds so no person could see in from the outside. The robbers ordered the bank employees and a bank customer to get on the ground. The robbers then left the bank with $17,808.32, and Swerdon drove two of the robbers to New York, where they met with other conspirators to divide the money.

Judge Munley previously sentenced Kareem Shabazz, a career offender, to life imprisonment; Shaelyn Joy Davis to 90 months’ imprisonment; and Joseph Swerdon to 94 months’ imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Hanover Township Police Department.

Former Reading Police Officer Sentenced in Connection with Sex Trafficking Case

PHILADELPHIA—Ronald Miko, 37, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 38 months in prison for obstruction of a criminal investigation. Miko was a police officer in the city of Reading when he utilized a room in a house at which convicted federal defendants Paul Sewell and Michael Johnson operated a prostitution business that trafficked females who were under the age of 18. Between May 2, 2011 and June 7, 2011, Miko wired money to Johnson’s federal prison account to prevent the communication of information to criminal investigators regarding Miko’s involvement in that business.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge C. Darnell Jones ordered three years’ supervised release with 450 hours community service and a $1,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Allentown Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Berks County District Attorney’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan.

Two Reading Men Sentenced to Prison for Schuylkill County Bank Robbery

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Senior United States District Judge James M. Munley sentenced two Reading men on September 18 to prison for their role in committing an armed bank robbery in Schuylkill County.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Justin Allen Smith, age 21, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 72 months in prison, while Quamaine Irvin Smith-Tisdale, age 23, also of Reading, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for their role in committing an armed bank robbery which occurred at the Union Bank and Trust located in West Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County, on April 18, 2011. After the commission of the robbery, Smith-Tisdale, Smith, and a third man, Orlando Velez, Jr., age 23, also of Reading, were apprehended by the Pennsylvania State Police after leading police on a high-speed vehicle chase.

In addition, Senior Judge Munley ordered that Smith-Tisdale and Smith be supervised by a probation officer for three years after serving their prison sentences.

Smith-Tisdale and Smith previously entered guilty pleas to the charge of aiding and abetting an armed bank robbery before Senior Judge Munley on June 19, 2012.

United States Attorney Smith noted that Orlando Velez, Jr. has not yet been sentenced.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.

Luzerne Man Sentenced to 94 Months’ Imprisonment for Getaway Driver Role in the Armed Robbery of a Hanover Township Bank

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that today in Scranton, Senior United States District Court Judge James M. Munley sentenced Joseph Swerdon, age 54, formerly of Luzerne, Pennsylvania, to 94 months’ imprisonment for his role as the getaway driver for the armed robbery of a Hanover Township Bank.

Swerdon previously pleaded guilty to a criminal information that alleged that on October 30, 2010, Swerdon acted as the getaway driver during the armed bank robbery of the M&T Bank in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania. The criminal information alleged that Swerdon and his co-conspirators made away with $17,808.32. In addition, Swerdon pleaded guilty to a second count that alleged he conspired with others to carry firearms in connection with that bank robbery.

According to Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at the trial of Kareem Shabazz established that on October 30, 2010, Joseph Swerdon drove Kareem Shabazz, Shaelyn Joy Davis, and James Russell to the M&T Bank. Shabazz, Davis, and Russell entered the bank brandishing weapons, including pistols and a sawed-off shotgun. Shabazz was wearing a mask and wielding the short-barreled shotgun.

Shabazz and another robber vaulted over the teller counter, and one of the armed bank robbers closed the blinds so no person could see in from the outside. The robbers ordered the bank employees and a bank customer to get on the ground. The robbers then left the bank with $17,808.32, and Swerdon drove two of the robbers to New York, where they met with other conspirators to divide the money.

Judge Munley previously sentenced Kareem Shabazz, a career offender, to life imprisonment; and Shaelyn Joy Davis to 90 months’ imprisonment.

In noting the sentences, Mr. Smith praised the work of the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Hanover Township Police Department in solving this case.