Violent Convicted Felon Given 7 Year Sentence for Repeatedly Possessing a Firearm and Shooting at an Elderly Woman

MEMPHIS, TN –Kerrell Jackson, 33, has been sentenced to 84 months imprisonment for being a convicted felon illegally possessing a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, on April 16, 2018, a Memphis Police Officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding. Jackson, the driver of the vehicle, was driving 84 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone. The Officer asked Jackson to produce his driver’s license. When Jackson reached for his wallet in his back pocket, the Officer saw a Taurus .40 caliber pistol on his person.

On September 9, 2018, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Jackson and an unknown female went to a residence on Neely Road in Memphis, Tennessee, in search of an individual who owed him money from a prior drug debt. A 73 year-old woman answered the door and informed Jackson that the person he was looking for was not there. Jackson became upset and began to wave and point a black firearm at the elderly woman and another man present. Upon leaving the residence Jackson fired three to four shots towards the house and in the direction of both victims.

Jackson has prior violent felony convictions for aggravated assault and facilitation of second degree murder, and was on state probation at the time of these new firearms offenses. As a result of his prior felony conviction history, Jackson is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

On November 1, 2019, Jackson pled guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On July 1, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Mark. S. Norris sentenced Jackson to 84 months imprisonment followed by 2 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to the community, and in this case, Jackson was a violent offender who repeatedly possessed and violently discharged a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history and probation status. There is a consequence for such brazen criminal behavior, and we will aggressively use and enforce federal law to incapacitate violent offenders, protect victims, and uphold the rule of law."

This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force. This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, 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. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated 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.

Florence Man Sentenced to 156 Months for Armed Drug Trafficking

COVINGTON, Ky. - A Florence, Kentucky man, Dylan G. Roland, 29, was sentenced on Thursday, to 156 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.           

According to his plea agreement, Roland admitted to distributing methamphetamine in April 2019, in Boone County.  Roland further admitted that officers conducted a vehicle stop of two men who had just left his residence, discovering 30 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm.  Roland’s residence was then searched, where officers located 14 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, approximately $2,500 in cash, and two firearms.           

Under federal law, Roland must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division, jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was directed by the FBI.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wade Napier.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Minneapolis Man Charged With Illegal Possession Of A Firearm

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a criminal complaint charging TROY TEASLEY, 27, with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. TEASLEY is in custody and will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date.

According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) received a tip from a confidential source that TEASLEY, who was the subject of a fugitive investigation for a supervised release violation, was in Minneapolis and possessed a firearm. On June 30, 2020, law enforcement located TEASLEY in the Seven Corners neighborhood in Minneapolis in the driver’s seat of a Chevrolet Tahoe and arrested him on the felony warrant. During a search of the Tahoe, law enforcement located a loaded Glock, model 30S, .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun. TEASLEY has a previous felony conviction of aggravated robbery in Hennepin County, therefore is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm. 

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Steinkamp is prosecuting the case.

 

Defendant Information:

TROY TEASLEY, 27

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Charges:

• Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count

McKees Rocks Man Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting a Postal Carrier

PITTSBURGH - A resident of McKees Rocks, PA, pleaded guilty today and was sentenced in federal court to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on conviction of assaulting a federal employee, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence on Raheem Jackson, 28.

According to the information presented to the court, on December 31, 2018, Jackson struck the victim, R.F., in the head with a hand railing as R.F delivered mail for the United States Postal Service. R.F. lost consciousness and suffered bleeding to the brain. Prior to imposing the sentence, Judge Ambrose emphasized the severity of the offense.

Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo are prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Postal Service conducted the investigation of Jackson.

Guam Ambulance Company Owners Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in Medicare Ambulance Fraud Scheme

          Two owners of Guam Medical Transport (GMT) were sentenced to prison terms today for their roles in a health care fraud and money laundering scheme that resulted in a loss to the United States of approximately $10.8 million, one of the largest single Medicare ambulance fraud cases ever prosecuted by the Justice Department. 

          Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson of the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Special Agent in Charge Eli S. Miranda of the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Justin Campbell of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Seattle Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Timothy DeFrancesca of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.

          U.S. District Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood of the District of Guam sentenced Clifford P. Shoemake, 63, of Guam, and Kimberly Clyde “Casey” Conner, 60, of Saipan, to serve 71 and 63 months, respectively, in federal prison in connection with their Oct. 29, 2019, guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions with the proceeds of specified unlawful activity.  Judge Tydingco-Gatewood also ordered the defendants to pay $10,884,964.49 in restitution and to forfeit the same amount.

          Medicare and TRICARE are federal health benefit programs which, under certain specified conditions, reimburse providers for medically necessary, non-emergency, scheduled ambulance transportation to and from dialysis treatments, provided to beneficiaries with end stage renal disease (ESRD).  Ambulance services are medically necessary when provided to such beneficiaries who cannot be transported by any other means without endangering their health, or were bed confined before, during and after the transportation.

          According to their admissions at the plea hearing, from approximately March 11, 2010, to approximately March 21, 2014, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare and TRICARE by submitting claims for reimbursement for medically unnecessary ambulance services that GMT provided to patients with ESRD.  The defendants admitted they were aware that GMT was transporting patients who did not qualify for ambulance transportation under applicable Medicare and TRICARE regulations and guidelines, with which they had failed to familiarize themselves.  Specifically, the defendants admitted they were aware that many of GMT’s patients were not bed-confined, and did not have acute medical conditions that would otherwise qualify them for ambulance transportation. 

          As part of the scheme, the defendants directed GMT employees to remove from internal documents references to GMT patients’ ability to walk because they knew that Medicare and TRICARE would not provide reimbursement for the patients.  The defendants further admitted they were aware of, but failed to address, concerns about GMT’s Medicare and TRICARE billing practices raised by other GMT employees.  According to court documents, GMT submitted claims to Medicare totalling approximately $32 million during the course of the scheme.  The conspiracy resulted in improper payments to GMT of approximately $10.8 million, the defendants admitted. 

          The defendants further admitted to conspiring to engage in money transactions involving the proceeds of their health care fraud scheme.  Specifically, they admitted that they used the proceeds of their health care fraud scheme to pay for personal expenses, such as vacations, personal income taxes, a personal residence and other items.  They then caused these expenses to be falsely categorized as business expenses of GMT, thereby improperly reducing GMT’s taxable income and GMT’s corresponding tax liability, they admitted.

          This case was investigated by the FBI, IRS and HHS-OIG.  Senior Litigation Counsel John A. Michelich and Trial Attorney Michael McCarthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic David of the District of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands prosecuted the case. 

          The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for approximately $19 billion.  In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

Reno Resident Arrested And Charged For Breaking Windows At Reno Federal Courthouse During May 30 Civil Unrest

RENO, Nev. — Keith Leroy Moreno, 27, of Reno, made his initial court appearance today for allegedly destroying federal property on May 30, 2020, in Reno, following a protest relating to George Floyd’s death, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI, and U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield for the U.S. Marshals Service.

“Our office is committed to protecting the First Amendment right to peacefully protest and demonstrate,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “But violence, destruction, and vandalism, including damage to federal property such as courthouses, will not be tolerated.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Rouse stated: “The FBI’s mission is to uphold the Constitution, which includes freedom of speech and the right to assemble. We will continue working with our federal, state and local partners to ensure individuals who destroy parts of our city will be held accountable.”

As alleged in court documents, in the late evening of May 30, 2020, Moreno threw a cigarette receptacle (weighing about 23 pounds) and two rocks through the first floor windows of the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Courthouse, located at 400 South Virginia Street in Reno. Moreno broke three of the courthouse’s windows.

Subsequently, Moreno allegedly boasted about having thrown the receptacle through a courthouse window on May 30. In addition, Moreno allegedly bragged that law enforcement was not smart enough to find him and claimed that, if there was further civil unrest or rioting, “I’d go right back to it.”

Moreno was arrested on Wednesday, July 1, and he had his initial appearance via video conference this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes of the Eastern District of California.

If convicted, Moreno faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for destruction of government property. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only. If convicted of any offense, the sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct for purposes of establishing probable cause, not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Nevada Attorney General's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Penelope Brady is prosecuting the case.

Morris County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Violations

              MARSHALL, Texas – A 36-year-old Daingerfield, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking crimes in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.

              Michael Leon Wood pleaded guilty on May 5, 2020, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.  Wood also agreed to forfeiture of $3,625, which he received from selling methamphetamine.

              According to information presented in court, on March 1, 2018, Wood delivered an ounce of methamphetamine to another person in exchange for $600.  On Jan. 15, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Wood’s residence in Morris County and recovered approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine, $1,150 in cash, a rifle, a pistol, and a shotgun.  Wood admitted to being responsible for distributing approximately 96 grams of methamphetamine. 

              Wood was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 16, 2019 and charged with drug trafficking violations.   

               This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.

Vermont Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Firearm Possession

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Timothy W. Bentley, age 47, of Saint Albans, Vermont, pled guilty today to being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett.

As part of his plea, Bentley admitted that on May 9, 2019, he entered a hardware store in Chazy, New York, took a Mossberg 590 Shockwave firearm from the wall display behind a counter, secreted that firearm in his pants, and walked around the store with a distinctive limp (because the firearm was in his pants).  He then left in a car.  Bentley has been in custody since his arrest on May 17, 2019.  Agents recovered the stolen firearm.

Bentley is prohibited from possessing the firearm as a result of a 2011 conviction in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont, for aiding and abetting a bank robbery

As a result of this conviction, Bentley faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. on December 8, 2020.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

This case was investigated by the ATF and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer.

Parkersburg Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Drug Offense

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man was sentenced to federal prison for a drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Keith Saunders, 33, was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine.

“Great work by the Parkersburg Police Department and the ATF. Our communities are safer with one less drug dealer on the streets,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.

Saunders admitted that on two separate occasions in 2017, he met with confidential informants working with the Parkersburg Police Department and sold the informants methamphetamine. Saunders also had attempted to sell a firearm to the confidential informant, but was unable to complete the transaction. On October 29, 2019, Saunders admitted that he sold heroin to a confidential informant again working with the Parkersburg Police Department. On October 30, 2019, a state search warrant was executed at Saunders’ home where ammunition in addition to several digital scales were located. Saunders admitted to being addicted to methamphetamine for several years and told investigators that he sold approximately half a pound of methamphetamine a week in order to support his drug addiction. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Parkersburg Police Department conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner handled the prosecution.

Two Luzerne County Men Charged With Fentanyl Trafficking And Ammunition Offenses

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kearon Brinson, age 40, of West Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, and Lamont Hubbard, age 49, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, were indicted on June 30, 2020, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and ammunition charges.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Brinson and Hubbard conspired to traffic in excess of 40 grams of fentanyl between January 2019 and February 2020 in Luzerne County.  Brinson was charged with possessing with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, and Hubbard with possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, both on February 24, 2020.  Hubbard also was charged with possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Luzerne Country Drug Task Force, and the Kingston Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting 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 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 when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

This case further was 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.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the most serious drug offense is 40 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty under federal law for the ammunition offense is 10 years of 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.

Local man who attempted to entice 50 boys gets significant prison sentence

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 31-year-old Corpus Christi man has been ordered to federal prison for producing child pornography via social media, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Lucas Antonio Nord pleaded guilty Nov. 5, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Nord to serve a 200-month sentence. At the hearing, the court heard how Nord used social media to contact minor children for the purposes of having sexual encounters and for requesting nude images of them. Before handing down the sentence, the court heard about two additional victims in other States. 

Nord was further ordered to pay $3000 in restitution to a known victim and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. 

In April 2019, law enforcement learned Nord had contact with a 14-year-old minor living in Florida. He had asked the child to send him photographs of his genitalia via social media messaging.

Nord told authorities he also had actual physical sexual contact with at least two children and has attempted to solicit more than 50 boys on various social media platforms.

Nord sent the children photographs and videos of his own genitalia and sexual acts as well as videos containing commercially-produced pornography.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Corpus Christi Police Department – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany L. Jensen prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.

Three Individuals Charged With Trying to Steal Cash From Aurora ATM

CHICAGO — Three men have been charged in federal court with attempting to steal cash from an automated-teller machine in downtown Aurora.

On the evening of May 31, 2020, FERMIN OCAMPO-TELLEZ, DIEGO VARGAS, and MICHAEL GOMEZ, along with other individuals, attempted to remove the ATM from its enclosure in the drive-through area of a First Midwest Bank branch in the first block of South Broadway in Aurora, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  The trio forcibly grabbed the machine and Ocampo-Tellez repeatedly struck it with a baseball bat in an unsuccessful attempt to move it, the complaint states.  No money was taken, but bank officials estimated it will cost $30,000 to repair the machine, the complaint states.

The complaint charges Ocampo-Tellez, 27, Vargas, 24, and Gomez, 19, all of Aurora, with one count of conspiracy to commit bank theft.  All three defendants were arrested Wednesday and have made initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.  The investigation remains ongoing.

The complaint and arrests were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI.  The Aurora Police Department and Naperville Police Department provided valuable assistance.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate McClelland.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. sentencing guidelines.

Levy County Man Sentenced To 19 Years In Prison For "Sextortion" of Washington Teen And Possession Of Child Pornography

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - Dustin Lee Norman, 23, of Trenton, Florida, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty on March 3, 2020, to Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Possessing Child Pornography, and Sending Interstate Transmissions of Extortionate Communications. The Court also ordered lifetime-supervised release following Norman’s prison term and that he register as a sex offender upon his release. United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.

“The Justice Department is committed to combating the sexual exploitation of children,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The community plays a critical role in protecting our loved ones as well. We ask that you vigilantly monitor your children’s cell phones and computer activity as well as their social media accounts, and report any suspected offenses to law enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to do everything within the scope its authority to support our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as we investigate and prosecute these offenders.” 

Beginning in September 2018 through October 2018, Norman persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. Norman contacted the minor female, who resided in the state of Washington, through a social media site and engaged her in conversations of a sexual nature, during which sexually explicit photographs were sent to him. During the same time, Norman knowingly used his cell phone and the internet to extort the minor female by threatening to post the photographs she had already provided, along with information which would identify her, on Facebook unless she sent him additional, and even more explicit, photographs and videos of herself. 

“The heinous acts of this defendant will have an impact on his victim for the rest of her life,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division.  “He not only abused and exploited a vulnerable child, but he re-victimized her over and over again through the online circulation of her image.  The FBI will continue to do everything in its power to find justice for innocent victims like her, but we must also work to stop child exploitation.  I encourage parents and guardians to set aside time to teach their kids how to identify potential online predators and report them to law enforcement.  Together, we can prevent other innocent children from being victimized.”    

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release U.S. v. Dustin Lee Norman

Member of Latin Kings New Bedford Chapter Charged with Unlawful Possession of Firearm Following Robbery and Shooting Investigations

BOSTON – A member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) was charged today will illegal firearm possession following an investigation into an armed robbery in New Bedford and a shooting in Boston.

Ramon Martinez, a/k/a “King Razor,” 26, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Martinez, who is currently in custody in Bristol County, will make his initial appearance in federal court at a later date.

According to charging documents, on April 30, 2020, a victim reported to police that he had been robbed and punched in New Bedford by two men who were in a black Ford Fusion. The men put a knife to the victim’s back and stole his wallet and motorized scooter. The victim was allegedly targeted because he beeped his horn at a friend and the men in the Ford Fusion believed that the victim was honking at them. During the investigation, Martinez, a known member of the Latin Kings, was identified as one of the robbers and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

According to court documents, also on April 30, 2020, police responded to a report of shots-fired in the area of Callender Street in Boston where three .45 caliber casings were recovered. Investigators viewed Martinez’s SnapChat account and observed postings related to this shooting incident.

It is further alleged that, on May 7, 2020, police observed Martinez exit a residence on Crapo Street in New Bedford and walk to the rear of a black Ford Fusion. They observed Martinez open the trunk and quickly close it, and then get into a nearby vehicle. Officers stopped the vehicle, placed Martinez under arrest for the April 30th armed robbery and located a set of keys for the Ford Fusion. In the trunk of the Fusion, officers located a Glock Model 30S .45 caliber firearm with four rounds of ammunition. Preliminary testing linked the Glock Model 30S to the casings recovered on Callender Street in Boston.

Due to multiple prior convictions, Martinez is prohibited from possessing firearms. Martinez was also known to investigators to be a member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings. 

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New England Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting 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. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions 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.

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

ATF Offers Reward in Gun Store Burglary

ATF, Montgomery PD and the Firearms Industry Seek Public’s Help in Firearms Theft From Quick Pawn

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in conjunction with the Montgomery Police Department and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction for those responsible for the theft of firearms from Quick Pawn, a federal firearm licensee (FFL).

On June 2, 2020, Quick Pawn, 4204 Norman Bridge Road, Montgomery, was burglarized where 17 firearms were reported stolen to the Montgomery Police Department. ATF Industry Operations Investigators responded to the FFL and conducted an inventory to determine the exact number of firearms stolen.

ATF is offering the reward for the amount of up to $2,500, which will be matched by the NSSF for a total reward of up to $5,000. This reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF and ATF in which NSSF matches ATF’s reward 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 Acting Special Agent in Charge, Frank Haera said, “ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence will leverage investigative resources combined with community partnerships to recover the stolen firearms.”

Anyone with information about this crime should contact ATF at 888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477) or the CrimeStoppers 334-215-STOP. Information can also be sent to ATFTips@atf.gov, through ATF’s website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips. Tips can be submitted anonymously using the Reportit® app, available from both Google Play and the Apple App store, or by visiting www.reportit.com.

ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes, and regulates the firearm industry. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.

You Be the Judge: An Experiential Exercise in Identifying Inappropriate Staff/Inmate Interaction, 20P3205

Date and Time: July 29, 2020  10am PT / 11am MT /12pm CT / 1pm ET

Webinar Summary :

Have you ever had a personal problem that you unintentionally brought to work? In a correctional environment, doing so can expose you to being vulnerable to inmates looking to compromise situations to their advantage. With less attention paid to the job, the blurring of lines between staff and inmate may occur.

Join this lively, interactive session, as we watch videos simulating “days in the life” of a corrections officer experiencing overwhelming personal issues that could lead to harmful and inappropriate acts, up to and including sexual misconduct. During the video scenarios, you will help identify red flags for potentially being compromised as the virtual instructor helps facilitate discussion around how to address these types of issues should they arise for yourself or colleagues in the corrections setting.

Who Should Attend?

Any employee of a state, federal or local correctional jurisdiction, routinely involved in direct interaction with inmates as part of their title or function.

How Do I Register?

Follow this link to register in NIC’s WebEx Event Center https://nicmeetings.webex.com/nicmeetings/onstage/g.php?MTID=e24648f90f619098f90e441ff08b3455c

Who Do I Contact for More Information?

For Program Specific Information

Evelyn Bush, Correctional Program Specialist, National Institute of Corrections Prison’s Division

e1bush@bop.gov

For WebEx / Webinar Technical Support Information

Leslie LeMaster, Correctional Program Specialist, National Institute of Corrections Academy Division

llemaster@bop.gov

How Do I Participate Effectively In a WebEx Event Center Webinar? How Do I Get Ready?

For the best experience in your next NIC WebEx Event Center webinar, you’ll need a hands-free telephone, headset or earbuds, and an internet-enabled computer. For optimum learning, be in a quiet place, free from distractions/interruptions, sight-and-sound separated from others, where you can concentrate on what is happening during the webinar. A separate office space with a door to close is an ideal setting. Connect to the webinar audio bridge via a hands-free telephone, using earbuds/headset connected to your phone/cell phone, so your hands are free to interact with your keyboard.

While tablets and smartphones are also compatible with WebEx Events Center, several of the features are limited, and most devices require that the Cisco WebEx app is installed. Regardless of which device you plan to use, test its compatibility here. This is a quick test, and we strongly encourage you to do this before the webinar. If your browser does not pass the test, contact Webex Technical Support at 1-877-669-1782 and tell them you will be attending an NIC webinar on NIC’s Webex site at http://nicmeetings.webex.com . They can help you troubleshoot connectivity issues.

NIC strongly recommends consulting with your agency/local IT , as you may encounter pop-up blocking and/or firewall issues that block the NIC Webex webinar url.

Three Former Hilo Correctional Officers Indicted for Assaulting an Inmate and Attempting to Cover it Up

A federal grand jury in Honolulu, Hawaii, returned a six-count indictment against three former correctional officers — Jason Tagaloa, 29, Craig Pinkney, 36, and Jonathan Taum, 48 — for their roles in assaulting an inmate housed at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center and for attempting to cover up their misconduct.  

The indictment from June 25, was announced Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price for the District of Hawaii, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, and FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Eli S. Miranda.

The indictment alleges that, on June 15, 2015, defendants Tagaloa, Pinkney, and Taum, along with a fourth correctional officer designated “Officer A,” physically assaulted an inmate in the jail’s recreation yard, that Tagaloa later assaulted the same inmate in a holding cell, and that both assaults resulted in bodily injury. The indictment further alleges that the defendants and Officer A conspired to cover up their misconduct by engaging in a variety of obstructive acts, including devising a false cover story to justify their use of force, documenting that false cover story in official reports, and repeating that false cover story when questioned during the ensuing investigation and disciplinary proceedings arising out of the assault.

The maximum penalties for the charged crimes are 10 years of imprisonment for each of the deprivation-of-rights offenses, 20 years of imprisonment for each of the false report offenses, and 5 years of imprisonment for the conspiracy offense.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan of the District of Hawaii is prosecuting the case in partnership with Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division. 

Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced To 10 Years In Federal Prison For Attempting To Entice A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Richard Stephen Terry (56) to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity. Terry also possessed child pornography and has agreed to pay restitution to the victims depicted. Terry had pleaded guilty on February 27, 2020.

According to court documents, Terry used the internet to entice adult women to allow him to engage in sexual activities with their minor children. Agents identified Terry in multiple online chat rooms designed for individuals who are interested in the sexual exploitation of children, and he used the chat rooms to meet and discuss their interests and tactics. Terry communicated online and via text message with multiple undercover law enforcement agents located in various parts of the country between 2015 and 2017.

Between November 2016 and April 2017, Terry communicated with a woman he believed to be a single mother of a 10-year-old girl.  In reality, he was talking to an undercover officer from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. In his conversations, Terry proposed meeting with the child and discussed, in graphic detail, the sex acts he wished to engage in with the child when they met. In order to add more credibility and persuade the undercover officer, Terry made up a story that he had been in an incestuous relationship with his two stepdaughters when they were minors and was looking to engage in a “fam life” sexual relationship with the single mom and her daughter. Terry stated that he ultimately did not travel to meet with the undercover officer because he was “scared it’s a set up.”

In June 2017, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Terry’s home and found him in possession of more than 400 images and videos of child sex abuse material depicting young children being subjected to sadistic abuse and bondage. To date, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has identified 54 victims depicted in the child sex abuse material.

“This predator tried to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Cochran. “Thanks to the investigative work of HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, this criminal will now be behind bars.”

“Our top priority is protecting our children from those who would harm them,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and Homeland Security share this priority. Mr. Terry is not going to hurt any children while in prison. We are proud to have been a part of this investigation.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

It is another case 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.justice.gov/psc.   

Arizona Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Facilitating Mexico to Pittsburgh Cocaine Pipeline

PITTSBURGH, PA – Krystian Zarate was sentenced to 10 years (120 months) in prison for conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Zarate, 28, of Rio Rico, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Judge Ranjan ordered Zarate to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Zarate was a member of an international drug trafficking conspiracy that extended from Mexico to Pittsburgh as well as to locations in the New York City area and New Jersey. He was a conduit between a Mexican supplier and American drug traffickers. Between August and October 2018 alone, he coordinated the supply of nearly 50 kilograms of cocaine to Western Pennsylvania and forwarded hundreds of thousands of dollars of drug trafficking proceeds to Mexico.

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.

This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, known as OCDETF. OCDETF was established in 1982 to support comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. It is the keystone of the drug reduction strategy of the Department of Justice. By combining the resources and expertise of federal agencies and their state and local law enforcement partners, OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations.

Vanderburgh County Receives High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Designation

 EVANSVILLE – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Director Chuck Porucznik announce the addition of Vanderburgh County to the Indiana HIDTA.

Created by Congress in 1988, the HIDTA task force program, which is under the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), creates a mechanism for coordination of federal, state, local and tribal resources to combat drug trafficking in designated regions of the country.

The HIDTA designation for Vanderburgh County will allow access to federal resources to combat drug distribution and increase enforcement efforts. Law enforcement agencies will now access drug trafficking issues and create Vanderburgh County specific initiatives that will laser focus on outcomes and performance. HIDTA provides unprecedented national connectivity to access drug threats and trends throughout the country.

"The HIDTA program in Indiana is another tool available to law enforcement for the purpose of reducing the terrible effects of illicit drugs on our Hoosier communities." said Minkler. "Adding Vanderburgh County to the Indiana HIDTA, will aid law enforcement officers

in southern Indiana by helping to reduce drug distribution networks and other violent crimes associated with illicit drugs."

HIDTA Director Chuck Porucznik said, "The addition of Vanderburgh County to the Indiana HIDTA allows 6 counties in the more populated areas of the state to gain focused attention and federal resources to reduce drug related activity and violence. The goal of the HIDTA program is simple, disrupt the market for illegal drugs by dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking and money laundering organizations through law enforcement coordination."

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon said, "It is an honor for the DEA to oversee the HIDTA initiative for Vanderburgh County. The DEA is committed to working with their state, local and federal counterparts to utilize all available resources provided by the HIDTA to target and dismantle the most violent and dangerous drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in Vanderburgh County and the surrounding area."

Man Sentenced to Prison for $7 Million Options Trading Scheme

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to over 10 years in prison for his execution of a $7 million investment fraud scheme he operated for nearly a decade.

According to court documents, Leonard J. Cipolla, 71, was the founder, owner, and operator of Tate Street Trading, Inc., in Richmond. Between 2009 and 2019, Cipolla solicited more than $7 million in investment funds from more than 40 individuals located in Virginia, New York, and Washington, D.C. Cipolla convinced these individuals to provide him with their savings by assuring the investors that he was a highly experienced, highly successful trader in commodity futures and options. Cipolla promised his investors that he could guarantee them significant fixed rates of return on their investments, and that Cipolla’s management fee would be drawn only from the profits that Cipolla made over and above each investor’s promised rate of return. He also assured investors that Cipolla was qualified to manage tax-deferred retirement accounts, and that he would roll the investor’s existing Individual Retirement Account (IRA) into a Tate Street-managed, tax-deferred IRA. As time passed, Cipolla provided many of his investors with account statements that purported to show the investor’s principal was safely intact, and growing at the promised rate of return.

In reality, Cipolla pooled his investors’ savings as soon as those individuals’ personal checks, IRA roll-overs, and wires were deposited into his bank accounts. Cipolla used only a fraction of those pooled investment funds to trade in the futures market, and he ultimately lost nearly the entire amount of investor funds that he actually invested. Cipolla further dissipated the remainder of his investors’ savings on unauthorized expenses, to include making payments to earlier investors, and paying his own personal expenses.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Peter R. Rendina, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Lee Martin and Thomas A. Garnett prosecuted the case.

As part of a parallel regulatory investigation, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a civil complaint alleging that Cipolla violated the Commodity Exchange Act (Case No. 3:19-cr-690).  

Hollygrove Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Selling Narcotics

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced LANCE COLLINS, age 31, a resident of New Orleans, to 36 months in the Bureau of Prisons for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846. COLLINS will be on four (4) years of Supervised Release following his release from prison.

COLLINS pleaded guilty on January 10, 2020, to conspiring to distribute heroin with members of a drug trafficking organization based in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, that operated in and around a corner grocery store.  COLLINS was intercepted on an FBI wiretap arranging to sell heroin to his co-conspirators.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans Gang Task Force.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Myles Ranier and Kathryn McHugh.

Indicted young Laredoan charged with federal firearms violations

LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 19-year-old Laredo resident for illegally possessing a firearm while under an active domestic violence protection order and possessing a firearm while under indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Mario Alberto Salazar is expected to appear for his arraignment next week before a U.S. magistrate judge in Laredo.

The criminal complaint originally filed in the case alleges Salazar was under an active protective order which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.  However, he allegedly assaulted a woman March 31, 2020 – striking her in the left arm and hip with the firearm.  The charges also allege he pointed a firearm at her feet while threatening to shoot her.

According to the allegations, authorities test fired the weapon and entered the casings into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) which led to a match to a shooting incident in Laredo on March 23. On that date, Salazar allegedly discharged a firearm at a vehicle as it was driving through an intersection.  He was still subject to the domestic violence order at that time, according to the charges.

“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,” said Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The criminal complaint also alleges Salazar is under indictment in Webb County for engaging in organized criminal activity and unlawful restraint and is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm.

If convicted of either charge, Salazar faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

ATF conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney April Ayers-Perez is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.