Area Man Charged Arrested and Charged with Transporting a Minor for Prostitution

ST. LOUIS—Reginald Williams was arrested by FBI and St. Louis County officers Friday afternoon on a charge of interstate transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in prostitution. He appeared today in federal court for his preliminary and detention hearings.

According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, on September 12, 2012, Collinsville, Illinois police received a report regarding a missing 16-year-old girl who was being forced to work as a prostitute by one or several adult males. The person reporting the information was familiar with online postings on the website Saint Louis backpages.com in which photographs of the girl were used to offer her services for commercial sex. The telephone number associated with the advertisement was recognized to be used by “Reggie,” who was later identified as Reginald Williams. Detectives reviewed the advertisement, which contained sexually suggestive language and listed the poster’s age to be 20 years old. However, Illinois police were able to confirm that she was born in 1996.

Investigators also learned that a second minor female was believed to be in the 16-year-old’s company at a hotel in St. Louis County. Detectives from Illinois then contacted the St. Louis FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department.

On September 13, 2012, an undercover detective called the phone number listed in the online advertisement to set up a paid sex “date.” When officers arrived at the hotel, they observed a black male later identified as Reginald Williams exit the same hotel room where the two minor females were eventually found. Williams was arrested on the parking lot. When officers went to the room they found both girls, ages 16 and 17. Thereafter, officers determined that Williams transported the 16-year-old girl to the St. Louis area and Chicago with the intent she engage in prostitution.

Williams, 27, from the St. Louis, Missouri area, was charged in a criminal complaint with one violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(a), the interstate transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in prostitution.

This charge carries a penalty range of 10 years to life in prison. In determining the actual sentence, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

As is always the case, charges set forth in a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Area Man Sentenced on Federal Drug Conspiracy Charges

ST. LOUIS, MO—Philanda K. Jamison was sentenced to 151 months in prison for his possession and distribution of heroin between February 2010 and August 2011.

PHILANDA K. JAMISON, North St. Louis County, MO, pled guilty in March to one felony count of distribution of heroin. He appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge John Ross.

This case was investigated by the St. Louis City and County Police Departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany Becker handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Isabella Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing The Lake Bank in Two Harbors

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 25-year-old man from the northern Minnesota community of Isabella pleaded guilty to robbing The Lake Bank Super One Branch in Two Harbors on Christmas Eve. Robert Kenneth Moore pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. Moore, who was indicted on January 24, 2012, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge John R. Tunheim.

In his plea agreement, Moore admitted that on December 24, 2011, he stole approximately $6,669 from the bank. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, at approximately 9:45 a.m., a man, later identified as Moore, walked into the bank and placed a demand note on the counter. The note stated that the man had a gun. It also ordered the teller to quietly put the money in a bag. After receiving the cash, the man left the premises.

On Christmas Day, the Two Harbors Police Department received a tip that the robber was in an apartment in Proctor. At 1:15 a.m. on December 25, 2011, officers were allowed into the apartment, where they found Moore hiding in the bathroom. Authorities also discovered cash sealed in The Lake Bank strap.

For his crime, Moore faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Judge Tunheim will determine his sentence at a future hearing. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Two Harbors Police Department, with assistance from the Proctor Police Department, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura M. Provinzino.

Federal Jury Convicts Felon from Aurora, Minnesota, for Possessing a 20–Gauge Shotgun

MINNEAPOLIS — Last week in federal court, a jury found a 33–year–old felon from the northeastern Minnesota community of Aurora guilty of possessing a 20–gauge shotgun. On February 10, 2012, following a three–day trial, the jury convicted John Joseph Douglas of one count of being a career criminal in possession of a firearm. Douglas was indicted on October 4, 2011.

The indictment and the evidence presented at trial proved that on May 30, 2011, Douglas possessed the gun and fired it into the air several times while surrounded by a group of people. Upon their arrival on the scene, officers found the group seated around a campfire on a vacant lot. Searching the grounds, the officers discovered a box of ammunition and several freshly fired shotgun shell cases. The shotgun itself was found nearby.

Because Douglas has been previously convicted of a felony, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms at any time. His prior convictions include third–degree burglary (1999), first–degree burglary (1999), second–degree assault (1999 and 2007), and aggravated robbery (twice in 1999), all of which occurred in St. Louis County. Since at least three of those offenses were crimes of violence, Douglas is now subject to the federal armed career criminal statute, which mandates a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison upon conviction in this case. Given that the federal criminal justice system does not have parole, offenders serve virtually their entire sentences behind bars. United States District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz will determine Douglas’ exact sentence at a future hearing yet to be scheduled.

This case was the result of an investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the Hoyt Lakes Police Department, the Gilbert Police Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew S. Dunne and Jeffrey M. Bryan.

Note, this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a comprehensive, strategic approach to reducing gun crime in America. PSN, launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001, encourages cooperative, multi–jurisdictional law enforcement and crime prevention efforts.

Isabella Man Indicted for Robbing Lake Bank in Two Harbors

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 25-year-old man from the northern Minnesota community of Isabella was indicted for robbing The Lake Bank Super One Branch in Two Harbors on Christmas Eve. Robert Kenneth Moore was charged with one count of bank robbery.

The indictment alleges that on December 24, 2011, Moore stole approximately $6,669 from the bank. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, at approximately 9:45 a.m., a man, later identified as Moore, walked into the bank and placed a demand note on the counter. The note stated that the man had a gun. It also ordered the teller to quietly put the money in a bag. After receiving the cash, the man reportedly left the premises.

On Christmas Day, the Two Harbors Police Department received a tip that the robber was in an apartment in Proctor. At 1:15 a.m. on December 25, 2011, officers were allowed in the apartment, where they allegedly found Moore hiding in the bathroom. Authorities also allegedly discovered cash sealed in a Lake Bank strap.

If convicted, Moore faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Two Harbors Police Department, with assistance from the Proctor Police Department, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura M. Provinzino.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.

Milton Ohlsen Associate Pleads Guilty to Concealing Information About the Clayton Parking Garage Bombing

ST. LOUIS—The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Aaron Reid entered a guilty plea to the crime of misprision of a felony for having concealed and misrepresented his knowledge of Milton Ohlsen’s involvement in the October 16, 2008 bombing in the Plaza at Clayton parking garage when questioned by authorities.

According to court documents, Reid concealed that he had been with Ohlsen on October 15, 2008, when they had parked in the vicinity of the Plaza parking garage and parted company to perform some personal errands. Ohlsen was wearing a red poncho at the time and had a gift basket to deliver. Parking garage video cameras captured images of a person wearing a red poncho with a gift basket entering the garage. A bomb concealed in the gift basket exploded the next day on October 16, 2008, seriously injuring John Gillis.

AARON REID, St. Louis, Missouri, pled guilty to a one-count information charging misprision of a felony before United States District Judge E. Richard Weber. Sentencing is set on October 26, 2011.

Details of any plea agreement were not available, as the plea agreement was ordered sealed by the Judge. United States Attorney Richard Callahan emphasized that there was no evidence nor did officials believe that Reid had any knowledge of Ohlsen’s intentions in advance of the bombing. “The crux of the crime,” Callahan said, “was Reid’s subsequent concealment of crucial information when it became apparent that Ohlsen might be involved in the bombing. Callahan stated that Reid now was cooperating with authorities.

This charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

The case was investigated by ATF, the St. Louis County and Clayton Police Departments, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Evidence Response Team, and the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Carrie Costantin is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

St. Louis Man Indicted for 2008 Bombing in Clayton Parking Garage

ST. LOUIS—The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Milton Ohlsen III is charged in five counts for the 2008 bombing in the Carondelet Plaza garage that injured Clayton attorney John L. Gillis.

MILTON OHLSEN III was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on one felony count each of transportation of explosives with intent to injure; malicious use of an explosive devise; use of destructive device to commit a crime of violence; felon in possession of an explosive; and possession of an unregistered destructive device. The indictment was unsealed this morning when Olsen briefly appeared in federal district court to have his formal arraignment scheduled for Monday, July 11, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Nannette Baker. The five charges carry punishments ranging to life in prison.

“This indictment is a testament to the tenacity of the St. Louis law enforcement community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Michael P. Gleysteen.

The case was investigated by ATF, the St. Louis County and Clayton Police Departments, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Evidence Response Team. Prosecutors from both the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the almost three-year investigation. United States Attorney Richard Callahan and Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch had nothing but praise for the seamless manner in which the agencies worked, sharing information and following up on every new lead. Callahan declined to comment on what evidence finally enabled prosecutors to file the charges and why charges were filed in federal court rather than state court other than to say it was a joint decision made together with Bob McCulloch. Assistant United States Attorney Carrie Costantin, who was formerly with the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office, will be prosecuting the case.

As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

New Prague Woman Indicted for Making Threats Against Vice President, Federal Agents

An indictment has been returned in federal court in Minneapolis charging a 47-year-old New Prague woman with threatening to kill Vice President Joe Biden and several federal law enforcement officers. Kim Rolene Hutterer has been charged with one count of threats against the vice president, one count of threatening interstate communications, and two counts of mailing threatening communications.

The indictment alleges that on October 19, 2010, Hutterer mailed a letter containing threats against Vice President Biden and an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In addition, Hutterer allegedly mailed a similar threat to a federal law enforcement officer on March 29, 2011. Finally, the indictment alleges that on September 21, 2010, Hutterer threatened an employee of the United States Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) during a telephone call to the BOP’s Federal Correctional Institute in Welch, West Virginia.

A law enforcement affidavit filed in the present case states that in 1991, Hutterer was arrested by an FBI agent in connection with a false bomb threat she made concerning a Northwest Airlines passenger plane. While awaiting trial in that case, Hutterer carved into the wall of her cell a threat against that FBI agent. Since that time, Hutterer purportedly has mailed and texted other threatening messages to the agent, along with making threatening telephone calls to his home and work. On October 19, 2010, Hutterer allegedly mailed an 11-page, handwritten letter addressed to the “Agent in Charge” of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office from the Carver County jail, where she was incarcerated at the time. The letter, along with five additional pages of drawings, contained threats to injure and kill the agent who arrested her in 1991.

Then, on September 22, 2010, Hutterer reportedly called a doctor in New Prague and left a voice-mail message that stated, “Ransom will be held for someone.” Several days later, she allegedly called the same FBI agent with whom she had previously dealt, leaving several messages about kidnapping a child. Hutterer reportedly continued to threaten that agent, even after she was released from state prison on March 25, 2011. On March 26, 2011, one of her text messages purportedly read, “try to find me before I find you to have some fun with you.” And, on March 27, 2011, Hutterer allegedly sent a series of text messages threatening damage to a federal facility.

If convicted, Hutterer faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each mailing threatening communications count, and five years on both threatening the vice president and threatening interstate communications. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the BOP, the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, the LeSuer County Sheriff’s Office, the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen B. Schommer.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.