$5,000 Reward Issued in Gun Store Burglary

Kansas City -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Warrensburg, MO Police Department, today announced a reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible for the July 20th theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Warrensburg.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, July 20th two unknown suspects broke into Baker’s Armory, 609 East Young Street, stealing several firearms. Officers from the Warrensburg Police Department responded to the scene. A picture of the suspects is attached. Warrensburg Police and Agents from the Kansas City ATF office are investigating.

ATF is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest.

Anyone with information about this theft should contact ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (800-283-4867), email ATFTips@atf.gov, contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips, or by texting ATFKC to 63975. Tips can also be submitted using the Reportit app, available from both Google Play and the Apple App Store, or by visiting www.reportit.com. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction over violations of federal firearms laws and is responsible for regulating the firearms industry. For more information about ATF and its programs, go to www.atf.gov and follow the Kansas City Field Division on Twitter @ATF Kansas City

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West Memphis Man Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

LITTLE ROCK—A West Memphis man was sentenced today to 250 months in federal prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced that Karlen Ingram, 38, was sentenced as part of Operation Money Don’t Sleep, which targets drug trafficking in West Memphis and the surrounding areas.

In September 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and West Memphis Police Department began investigating a drug trafficking organization in West Memphis. During this investigation, federal agents learned Ingram was a supplier of cocaine and crack cocaine for numerous individuals. In late 2015 and early 2016, agents made six controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Ingram, all of which occurred at his home.

After several court-authorized wiretaps of Ingram’s cell phones, agents intercepted multiple communications of Ingram conducting narcotics transactions and learned that he later shifted from primarily distributing cocaine to also dealing in methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that Ingram and his co-conspirators used the U.S. Postal Service to ship illegal narcotics, which continued through January 2017.

On July 11, 2017, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Ingram and others with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine. Ingram pleaded guilty on October 2, 2019. Today, United States District Court Judge James M. Moody Jr. sentenced Ingram to more than 20 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“This defendant and his co-conspirators conducted a high-level drug trafficking scheme that endangered our communities in Eastern Arkansas,” stated U.S. Attorney Hiland. “This lengthy sentence is a testament to the dedication of our law enforcement partners, with whom we share a tireless commitment to maintaining law and order in our state.”

Operation Money Don’t Sleep is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation that is being conducted by the DEA and the West Memphis Police Department.

Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Three Federal Drug Charges

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pled guilty today to federal charges related to three drug transactions, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Levi Kennith Carter, 30, pled guilty to two counts of distribution of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.

“A three-time felon – two prior drug convictions and now again,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Carter’s two prior drug convictions didn’t help him see the error of his ways. Maybe this conviction will. Maybe not. Regardless, he’ll have plenty of time to consider his future.”

Carter admitted that on February 28, 2020 and March 3, 2020, he met with a confidential informant working with the Charleston Police Department at an apartment complex on Renaissance Circle in Charleston. On each occasion, he sold the informant a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine. Carter admitted that he again met with a confidential informant working with the Charleston Police Department on March 5, 2020, also at the same apartment complex, and sold the informant a quantity of methamphetamine. Each transaction was monitored by law enforcement officers. 

Carter has two prior federal convictions from the Southern District of West Virginia for felony offenses tied to drug dealing activity. On October 12, 2010, he was convicted of aiding and abetting the possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, and on October 2, 2015, he was convicted of distribution of heroin.

Carter faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on October 29, 2020.

The Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00073.

Odenton Felon Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Charges Related to the Attempted Armed Robbery of His Former Employer—A Food Service Company—Including Shooting an Employee

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Cornell Slater, a/k/a Chopper, age 34, of Odenton, Maryland, to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; for committing a commercial robbery; and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Slater’s convictions arose from the attempted armed robbery of a food service business in Baltimore on December 5, 2018, during which Slater shot an employee of the business, and from another shooting on November 14, 2018, during which Slater shot the driver of a nearby vehicle.    

Co-defendant Alex Smith, a/k/a Skeet, age 34, of Halethorpe, Maryland, was convicted at trial on January 10, 2020, on federal charges of conspiracy to commit a commercial robbery, attempted robbery, and using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, for his role in the crime. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Acting Chief William Lowry of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

According to Slater’s guilty plea, which was entered on the eve of trial, as well as evidence presented at Smith’s trial, on December 5, 2018, Slater and Smith committed an attempted armed robbery of a food service business, which was Slater’s former employer.  At approximately 3:22 a.m., Slater picked Smith up at his residence and the two traveled to the business.  At 4:30 a.m., four employees arrived for the morning shift to open the store.  Surveillance cameras showed Slater and Smith, who were wearing masks, walking across a parking lot in the direction of the employee entrance.  As employees entered the store, Slater and Smith trailed them through the open door, posing as employees.

As detailed in the plea agreement and described during trial testimony, upon entering the building Slater confronted two victims outside of the manager’s office, pulled out a gun and shot one of the victims in the face.  Slater then forced the other employee toward the direction of the cash room, where the safe was stored.  In the meantime, Smith entered the employee breakroom and confronted two other victims, brandishing a firearm while he ordered the victims to hand over their cell phones and get on the floor.  Once Slater and the victim reached the cash room, the victim quickly entered the room and shut the door behind him, knowing that the door would lock automatically.

Knowing that they had been locked out of the cash room, Smith and Slater fled to Slater’s vehicle and drove off.

In addition to the attempted robbery, Slater admitted that on November 14, 2018, he fired two shots at a woman, striking her in the side.  The woman’s temporary license plate had been stolen from her vehicle on October 26, 2018.  While driving in her neighborhood in the 2500 block of Springhill Avenue in Baltimore on November 14, 2018, the victim saw her stolen license plate on Slater’s car and pulled beside the vehicle to see who had stolen the plate.  Slater confronted the victim for following him and shot her.  The victim was able to describe Slater and his girlfriend, who had also been in the car at the time of the shooting.

Both of the shootings were forensically linked through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) by the shell casings recovered at each shooting scene.  Using information gleaned from both investigations, law enforcement officers were able to locate Slater and subsequently arrest him on December 18, 2018, outside of his residence in Odenton.  At the time of his arrest, Slater’s vehicle was displaying another temporary license plate that Slater stole approximately two weeks earlier.  During a search of Slater’s residence, law enforcement recovered the 9mm pistol used in the two shootings from under Slater’s bed, as well as 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition.  Slater had previous felony convictions, including a prior federal conviction, and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Smith faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for a commercial robbery; and a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison for aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Judge Bennett has scheduled sentencing for Smith on October 21,, 2020, at 3:00 p.m.

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) NIBIN.  NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.  NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles.  For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.  Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.  For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.        

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Goldsticker and James G. Warwick, who are prosecuting the case.

Jefferson Davis County Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Firearm Offenses

Hattiesburg, Mississippi –   Adonis Edwards, 31, of Carson, Mississippi, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

On January 29, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Edwards for the sale of heroin and a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver.   

Edwards will be sentenced on November 18, 2020 by Judge Starrett, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shundral Cole.

Alleged Chicago Gang Leader Among 23 Defendants Charged in Federal Drug and Gun Investigation

CHICAGO — The alleged leader of the Black Disciples street gang in Chicago is among 23 individuals facing criminal charges as part of a federal investigation into drug and gun trafficking on the city’s South Side.

During the multi-year investigation, law enforcement seized 24 firearms, more than 13 kilograms of cocaine, more than a kilogram of heroin, approximately 1,350 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl, approximately 750 grams of fentanyl or fentanyl analogue, approximately 378 grams of crack cocaine, $52,595 in suspected illicit cash proceeds, and distribution quantities of suspected MDMA pills.  Much of the alleged drug and gun trafficking occurred in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.

Indictments and criminal complaints unsealed this week in U.S. District Court in Chicago charge 22 of the defendants with various drug or firearm offenses, while one defendant faces bank fraud charges.  The defendants were arrested Tuesday and have begun making initial appearances in federal court.

Included among the defendants is DARNELL MCMILLER, also known as “Murder,” who is described in the charges as the current leader of the Black Disciples street gang in Chicago.  Several other alleged high-ranking members of the Black Disciples were also charged and arrested, including CLARENCE JANUARY, who allegedly leads the gang’s “Dog Pound” faction, and KENNETH BROWN, who allegedly supplied the gang with drugs for distribution in Chicago.  CHARLES KNIGHT, an alleged high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples street gang, is charged as part of the probe with supplying narcotics to McMiller’s crew.

The investigation was led by the FBI and Chicago Police Department, with assistance from ATF, DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force (HIDTA), and the FBI Windy City Task Force.

The charges and arrests were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI; David Brown, Superintendent of CPD; Kristen deTineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of ATF; Robert J. Bell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA; and Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS-CI in Chicago.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Dixon, Esther Mignanelli, Tobara Richardson, and Jasmina Vajzovic represent the government.

Valuable assistance in the probe was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, which unsealed an eight-person indictment this week charging heroin trafficking offenses that are related to this investigation. 

The Black Disciples are a national street gang that is prevalent throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.  According to the charges, members of the Black Disciples have been distributing narcotics and guns in the Englewood neighborhood and other parts of Chicago.  The charges describe more than 50 illicit transactions in which alleged Black Disciples members sold guns or drugs to individuals who were cooperating with law enforcement.  In many instances, the cooperating individuals surreptitiously video-recorded the transaction at the direction of law enforcement.

The complaint against McMiller, 34, of Chicago, accuses him of conspiring with Knight, 56, of Riverdale, to distribute fentanyl-laced heroin to a cooperating individual on Sept. 30, 2019.  The transaction occurred in the 7000 block of South Lowe Avenue in Chicago, the complaint states.

Brown, 59, of Chicago, is charged with conspiring with alleged Black Disciple member TERRENCE MORRIS, 48, of Chicago, to distribute heroin in March 2019.  During the investigation, law enforcement carried out a court-authorized search of a South Side storage unit rented by Brown and discovered 13 kilograms of cocaine, which were individually wrapped in sealed packages, the charges state. 

January, 27, of Chicago, is accused of trafficking three handguns in the summer of 2019.  He had previously been convicted of a felony firearm offense in the Circuit Court of Cook County and was not lawfully allowed to possess the guns.  Several other convicted felons were also charged with unlawfully possessing firearms, including rifles and a shotgun furnished to members of the Black Disciples.

Charged with federal drug offenses are: McMiller; Knight; Brown; Morris; ALONZO BROOKS, 49, of Chicago; SHONGO COLLIER, 48, of Riverdale; LAWRENCE DRAUS, 41, of Crestwood; FREDRICK STEWART, 47, of Chicago; TONY REDDING, 44, of Chicago; RAMONT AUSTIN, 39, of Chicago; FRANKLIN REDDING, 46, of Chicago; BARRY MICKIEL, 49, of Chicago; BRIAN BILLUPS, 40, of Plainfield; JOSEPH ANDERSON, 43, of Chicago; and SANTANA STEELE, 36, of Chicago.

Charged with federal firearm offenses are January; ANTOINE MCDANIELS, 44, of Chicago; DEANDRE MARTIN, 32, of Chicago; WILLIE ALFORD, 45, of Chicago; TRAVIS WASHINGTON, 24, of Chicago; WENDELL KEMP, 55, of Chicago; and SHAWN HUDSON, 48, of Harvey.

Charged with bank fraud is JOHN ECTOR, 47, of Chicago.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office holds gun offenders accountable through Project Guardian and Project Safe Neighborhoods – the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategies.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office has deployed the Guardian and PSN programs to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, including by prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms.  Additional federal law enforcement resources were recently allocated to Chicago under Operation Legend, which will enhance existing efforts by federal law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with state and local law enforcement offices to fight violent crime.

Operation Legend Expands to Detroit

Bolstering Our Pre-existing Partnerships with the City of Detroit, the Detroit Police Department, and Wayne County

DETROIT – United States Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today the expansion of Operation Legend to Detroit.  Schneider was joined at a press conference at ATF Headquarters with the heads of Michigan’s federal law enforcement, including ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kent Kleinschmidt, FBI Special Agent in Charge Steve D’Antuono, and United States Marshal Owen Cypher.

United States Attorney Matthew Schneider stated, “Operation Legend continues and expands what we have been doing for decades, which is sending federal agents and money to Detroit to fight gun and gang violence.  Our children are being caught in the crossfire and murdered in senseless acts of gun violence, and I am very thankful that our community supports federal help to fight the current crime wave in Detroit.”  

In December 2019, United States Attorney Matthew Schneider and Detroit Police Chief James Craig joined Attorney General William Barr and the heads of the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service in Detroit to launch Operation Relentless Pursuit.  This initiative surged federal resources to fight back against violent crime, gangs, and gun violence in seven of America’s most affected cities, including Detroit.  This effort continues and expands with Operation Legend.

Operation Legend is a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in cooperation with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime.  The Operation was launched on July 8 in Kansas City, Missouri, as a result of President Trump’s promise to assist America’s cities that are plagued by violence and has since expanded to include Albuquerque, Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Detroit.

Operation Legend is named after four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City.  Similar crimes are happening in Detroit.  Detroit is currently experiencing a significant increase in violent crime, with homicides currently up 31% and shootings up 53%. 

Operation Legend, combined with Operation Relentless Pursuit, will bring a total of approximately 42 federal agents to Detroit, in addition to the many federal agents who have worked for decades with state and local partners on violent crime and other offenses.  An additional 10 Detroit ATF agents have been reassigned to work on violent gun crimes.

These federal agents come from the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshal’s Service.  Some are temporary assignments that came to Detroit in December 2019.  Others are permanent assignments who will provide long-term support to our local partners.  Our primary local partner is the Detroit Police Department.

Our federal-local partnership will build upon proven, existing violent-crime fighting strategies.  Specifically, we will address (1) fugitive apprehension; (2) gun violence; (3) gang violence; (4) illegal firearm possession, use, and trafficking; and (5) violent drug trafficking.  As we have for many years, we will work with the Detroit Police Department to use intelligence-led, data-driven approaches to solve homicides and shootings.  The Department of Justice’s assets will supplement local law enforcement efforts, as we work together to take the shooters and chronic violent criminals off of our streets.

          Starting in December 2019, the enhancement to our federal-local law enforcement partnership has included the following:

               ●   10 new U.S. Marshal Task Force Officers began temporary detail assignments;  ATF had 4 special agents assigned to the group targeting armed fugitives who were apprehended

 

               ●   7 new DEA personnel began temporary detail assignments (5 Special Agents, 1 Special Agent Supervisor, and 1 Intelligence Analyst)

 

              ●   $3.9 million in grants to Detroit and Wayne County to fight gang and gun violence

 

          Starting in July 2020, Operation Legend expands our partnership to include the following for the City of Detroit:

 

              ●   Approximately $1 million BJA grant awarded to local law enforcement to assist in gun and gang violence prevention

 

              ●   Approximately $100,000 JLEO grant awarded for acoustic gunshot detection technology and equipment

 

          ATF

 

               ●   10 new/permanent ATF Special Agents

 

               ●   1 new/permanent ATF Supervisory Special Agent

 

              ●   4 new/permanent ATF Intelligence Specialists

 

              ●   4 new/permanent ATF Industry Operations Investigators

              ●   15 ATF Special Agents begin temporary detail assignments 

 

              ●   10 ATF Special Agents reassigned internally to this initiative

 

              ●   ATF creates additional unit to focus on gun violence

 

          FBI

      

              ●   5 FBI Special Agents realigned from other FBI programs

 

              ●   3 FBI Analysts from other FBI programs

 

              ●   3 FBI Special Agents begin temporary detail assignments

 

              ●   1 FBI Intelligence Analyst begins temporary detail assignment

 

              ●   FBI issues $25,000 rewards for information leading to the arrest of suspects in gun violence cases

 

Schuylkill County Man Sentenced To 30 Months’ Imprisonment For Heroin Trafficking

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carlos Correa, age 32, of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 23, 2020, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to 30 months’ imprisonment for his participation in a  heroin trafficking conspiracy in Schuylkill and Luzerne Counties.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Correa previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, which is equivalent to more than 4,000 retail bags of heroin. The drug conspiracy operated in the Shenandoah area of Schuylkill County and the Hazleton area of Luzerne County during 2012 through 2015.

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Shenandoah Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

Law Enforcement Searches a Dozen Locations and Arrests Multiple Individuals in Relation to Meth Trafficking Charges

On July 27 and July 28, 2020, law enforcement officers executed twelve search warrants in the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa.  Search warrants were executed in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Roland, and Marshalltown, Iowa.  As a result of the investigation and the execution of the search warrants, three people were charged with methamphetamine trafficking and arrested pursuant to arrest warrants issued in the Northern District of Iowa. 

The Indictment alleges that, between on or about January 2019 and on or about July 2020, Bobbey Dean Robey, Travis Charles Werkmeister, and Genaro Aguilar Lemus conspired to distribute methamphetamine.  All three appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.  If convicted, each faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.­

­As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.   

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Tri-County Drug Task Force, the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, the Iowa Counter Drug Task Force, and the Central Iowa Drug Task Force.

Individual Arrested for Brooklyn Bank Robbery

Defendant Claimed to Have a Gun and Demanded $3,000 from Teller

A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Eric Adjei with the robbery of a Chase Bank in Brooklyn on July 21, 2020.  Adjei was arrested today and was ordered detained pending trial by United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the arrest.  

“As alleged, the defendant threatened a bank teller in the course of a robbery here in Brooklyn,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme.  “Our Office remains committed to protecting our financial institutions and the employees and customers who rely on them to safeguard their money, and anyone who robs a bank in this district will face justice.”  Mr. DuCharme thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and the New York City Police Department for the diligent work that led to the apprehension of the defendant.

According to court filings, on July 21, 2020, at approximately 5:40 p.m., Adjei entered the Chase Bank at 401 Flatbush Avenue.  Adjei approached the teller window and stated, “I have a gun in my bag, give me $3,000.”  Adjei was wearing a surgical mask, a blue cloth over a green cap, and a distinctive black and white horizontally striped shirt.  NYPD officers located Adjei after recovering surveillance video of him in a subway station, with his surgical mask pulled down. 

The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Matthew R. Galeotti is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

ERIC ADJEI
Age:  47
New York, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-MJ-578

Couple Pleads Guilty to Distributing Narcotics in Hampton Roads

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man and woman pleaded guilty today to a multi-year conspiracy to distribute narcotics in Hampton Roads.

According to court documents, Dontae Rashawn Parks, 36, and Shakera Semone Greene, 36, spent the last three years distributing cocaine, crack, and heroin cut with fentanyl to the Newport News community. In addition to narcotics, over $23,000 in U.S. currency, multiple firearms, ammunition, and a ballistic vest were seized during lawful searches of the couples’ residences.

Parks and Greene pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine, base, heroin, and fentanyl in Hampton Roads. Parks additionally pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Greene faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 22, 2021. Due to his more significant role in the conspiracy and the additional firearms charge, Parks faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on Jan. 21, 2021. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Undertow. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak accepted the pleas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:20-cr-20.

Portland Man Charged in May 29, 2020 Arson at Justice Center

PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that Edward Thomas Schinzing, 32, has been charged by criminal complaint with using fire to maliciously damage or destroy the Justice Center in downtown Portland on May 29, 2020.

Multnomah County and the City of Portland own the Justice Center building located at 1120 SW 3rd Avenue in Portland. The facility houses the Multnomah County Detention Center jail and the Portland Police Bureau headquarters.

According to court documents, Schinzing was marching with a group of protestors when he arrived at the front of the Justice Center shortly before 11:00 p.m. on May 29, 2020. A few minutes later, several people broke windows near the northwest corner of the Justice Center where the Corrections Records Office is located. They subsequently entered the secured office through the broken windows.

Three civilian Multnomah County employees were working inside the Corrections Records Office at the time and fled for safety as the windows were broken. Based on a preliminary review of publicly-available videos from YouTube, Twitter, surveillance cameras, and still photos posted online, about 30 individuals entered the Justice Center through the broken windows. The individuals spray-painted portions of the office; damaged computer and other office equipment, furniture, and interior windows; and started fires.

Among those who entered the Justice Center, Schinzing was identified by a comparison with a jail booking photo and a distinctive tattoo of his last name across his upper back. Schinzing spread a fire that started near the front of the office by lighting additional papers on fire and moving them into a drawer of a separate cubicle.

At about 11:08 p.m., the building’s fire sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fires. At about the same time, law enforcement officers secured that portion of the Justice Center. The Multnomah County Detention Center housed approximately 289 inmates at the time.

Schinzing made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. Arson is punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years.

This case is being jointly investigated by the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); U.S. Marshals Service; Portland Police Bureau; Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office; and Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

Criminal complaints are only accusations of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Schinzing marching with a crowd of demonstrators across the Burnside Bridge in Portland on May 29, 2020

Schinzing marching with a crowd of demonstrators in downtown Portland on May 29, 2020

Schinzing inside the Corrections Records Office on May 29, 2020 before the fire is ignited

Close up of Schinzing inside the Corrections Records Office on May 29, 2020 before the fire is ignited

Schinzing spreading the fire in the Corrections Records Office by moving flaming papers into separate cubicles on May 29, 2020

A demonstrator photographs the fire in the Corrections Records Office on May 29, 2020

Damage to the Corrections Records Office from fire on May 29, 2020

Damage to the Corrections Records Office from fire on May 29, 2020

Damage to the Corrections Records Office from fire on May 29, 2020

Damage to the Corrections Records Office from fire on May 29, 2020

Member of North Shore Latin Kings Chapter Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution Charges

BOSTON – A member of the North Shore Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) pleaded guilty today to drug distribution charges.

Henry Caribe a/k/a “King 40 Cal,” 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Nov. 3, 2020.  Caribe was charged in December 2019, at which time he was serving a state sentence.

During the plea proceedings, Caribe admitted to selling a cooperating witness over 70 grams of cocaine base, or “crack” cocaine, in a series of audio/video recorded sales that took place between January and March of 2015. 

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

The conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Orange County Heroin Dealer Sentenced To Prison

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell today sentenced Eric Manuel Robles Rivera (45, Orlando) to 33 months in federal prison for possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it. Robles Rivera had pleaded guilty on April 23, 2020.

According to court documents, Robles Rivera was part of a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) that was distributing heroin and other controlled substances in Orange County. During its investigation of the DTO, the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned that Robles Rivera kept heroin at a storage unit in a facility in Kissimmee, and that he had accessed the storage unit almost daily between June 2016 and March 2017. On March 9, 2017, investigators executed search warrants at locations associated with members of the DTO. Inside the storage unit that had been rented by Robles Rivera, investigators found more than 60 grams of heroin packaged in dozens of baggies.

This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.

Dayton-area drug dealer charged with murder

Case is first federal murder case charged in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged Joshua Cordell Lee Williams, 19, of Xenia, Ohio, with murder in relation to firearms and drugs charges stemming from a January 2020 homicide in Wilmington in an indictment returned here today.

Specifically, Williams is charged with firearms-related murder and possessing with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to court documents, on Jan. 21, 2020, Williams met with four individuals in Wilmington to sell them marijuana. The individuals had intended to meet Williams and take the marijuana without paying.

A struggle ensued between the individuals and Williams, who was armed with a firearm during the transaction. Williams fired the weapon, shooting the victim, Layne Hall, in the chest and fatally injuring him.

“Far too often, the combination of drug transactions and firearms results in death. As alleged, this case involves a fatal shooting over a few pounds of marijuana,” U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers said. “This case – the first ever federal murder case in Cincinnati – highlights this office’s emphasis on combatting violent crime.” 

“This office, in partnership with Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters' office, has initiated a multipronged attack on violent crime. We are concentrating on long-term historical investigations into violent organized crime and at the same time devoting resources to current, ongoing crimes perpetrated by the most violent in our community. Expect more to come.”

If convicted, Williams faces up to life in prison.

“The violence associated with the illegal drug trade is a scourge on our communities,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman. “When law enforcement agencies partner together in a task force environment, as in this case, we can better attack these issues and remove dangerous criminals from the streets.”

Williams was ordered to remain in custody pending trial.

David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Wilmington Police Chief Ron Cravens, Xenia Police Chief Donald R. Person, the Greater Warren County Drug Task Force and Clinton County Prosecutor Richard W. Moyer announced the charges. OCDETF Chief Christy L. Muncy and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Oakley are representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Texas Man Sentenced To 12 Years In Federal Prison For Drug Trafficking

Hot Springs, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced today that Shane Ellis Krum, age 37, of Gilmer, Texas, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.

On or about December 26, 2017, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a Garland County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a brown sedan for a traffic violation. As the vehicle stopped, the driver, later identified as Krum, got out and walked to a fence on the side of the road.  Krum lit a cigarette, then turned and walked back to the vehicle and sat down in the driver’s seat. After learning that Krum had a search wavier on file, a search of his vehicle was conducted.  During the search, Deputies located a loaded semi-automatic handgun under the driver’s seat. Deputies also searched the area Krum had been standing and located a backpack that contained a plastic bag of suspected methamphetamine, a plastic bag of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia.  

The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Arkansas Crime Laboratory where it was determined to be 50.7 grams of actual methamphetamine.

Krum was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2018, and entered a guilty plea in October of 2019. 

This case was investigated by the Garland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney’s Bryan Achorn and Candace Taylor prosecuted the case for the Western District of Arkansas.

North Dakota Woman Sentenced for Meth Trafficking

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Fort Yates, North Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine was sentenced on July 27, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Shanna Michelle Pleets, age 41, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Pleets was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 16, 2019.  She pled guilty on April 16, 2020.

The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy in 2018, wherein Pleets conspired with others to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  

This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Mobridge Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Corson County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.

Pleets was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

DEA warns of scammers impersonating DEA employees

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration urges its DEA-registered practitioners and members of the public to be cautious of telephone calls by scammers posing as DEA employees attempting to defraud and extort victims. The schemers call the victims, spoofing DEA phone numbers in order to appear legitimate, and threaten arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment for supposed violations of federal drug laws or involvement in drug-trafficking activities unless victims pay a “fine” over the phone, via wire transfer, or through a gift card.

The reported scam tactics continually change but often share many of the same characteristics. Callers use fake names and badge numbers or names of well-known DEA officials and may:

• use an urgent and aggressive tone, refusing to speak to or leave a message with anyone other than their targeted victim;
• threaten arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, and, in the case of medical practitioners, revocation of their DEA numbers;
• demand thousands of dollars via wire transfer or, in some instances, in the form of untraceable gift cards taken over the phone;
• falsify the number on caller ID to appear as a legitimate DEA phone number;
• will often ask for personal information, such as social security number or date of birth;
• reference National Provider Identifier numbers and/or state license numbers when calling a medical practitioner. They also might claim that patients are making accusations against that practitioner.

It is critical to note that DEA personnel do not contact practitioners or members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment; will not request any personal or sensitive information over the phone; and will only notify people of a legitimate investigation or legal action via official letter or in-person.

Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law.

The best deterrence against these bad actors is awareness and caution. Anyone receiving this type of call from a person purporting to be with DEA should report that contact using our online form or by calling 877-792-2873. DEA registrants can submit the information through “Extortion Scam Online Reporting” posted on the DEA Diversion Control Division’s website, www.DEADiversion.usdoj.gov.

Reporting these scam calls will help DEA stop, find, and arrest the criminals engaged in this fraud. Anyone with urgent concerns can call their local DEA field division. For contact information for DEA field divisions, visit https://www.dea.gov/domestic-divisions