17 Schuele Boys Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Drug Trafficking Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has handed down an indictment charging 17 members and associates of the Schuele Boys Gang, a group which operated in the Schuele Street area of the East Side of Buffalo, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.

In the indictment, the Government is also seeking the forfeiture of $250,000 in United States currency, money believed to be the proceeds of drug trafficking activities, as well as firearms and ammunition.

Named in the indictment are:

•          Antwan Garner, 29, Buffalo

•          Aaron Glenn, 41, North Tonawanda

•          Jerome Grant, 33, Buffalo

•          James Hicks, 44, Buffalo

•          Xavier Hill, 42, Buffalo

•          Demetrius Holmes, 23, Buffalo

•          Damario James, 32, Buffalo

•          Fred Johnson, 21, Buffalo

•          Ikeem Lyons, 21, Buffalo

•          Benjamin Peoples, 25, Buffalo

•          Demario Robbins, 23, Buffalo

•          Michael Robertson, 24, Buffalo

•          Spencer Rogers, 50, Buffalo

•          Antwon Steward, 31, Buffalo

•          Shawntorrian Travis, 34, Buffalo

•          Andre Wise, 36, Buffalo

•          Marcel Worthy, 30, Buffalo

Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser, who is handling the case, stated that according to the original complaint that was filed in the case, the investigation utilized wire and electronic communications, confidential sources, controlled purchases of narcotics, and physical and video surveillance, to identify conspirators associated with the Schuele Boys Gang distribution network. The complaint further states that in addition to buying and selling illegal narcotics, the defendants were also involved in committing acts of violence including shootings.

The members and associates are alleged to have attempted to thwart law detection by law enforcement officers through the frequent changing of cellular telephones. The defendants also are alleged to have used other counter-surveillance techniques, including utilizing and frequently changing rental vehicles, employing evasive driving techniques, and speaking in coded language.

The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force which includes representatives of the Amherst Police Department; the Buffalo Police Department; U.S. Border Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Cheektowaga Police Department; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department; the Hamburg Police Department; the Lancaster Police Department; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police; the New York State Department of Correctional Services; the New York State Police; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. Additional assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the United States Marshal Service, the Lackawanna Police Department, and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department.  

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Admitted Armed Career Offender Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Multiple Stolen Firearms

SHREVEPORT, La. – A Bossier City Parish man pleaded guilty to illegally possessing multiple firearms, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.

Donald W. “Duck” Reyenga, 49, of Bossier City, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks to one count of possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a felony. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, members of the Bossier Combined Narcotics Task Force learned Reyenga was attempting to sell stolen firearms. On April 17, 2014, agents scheduled a controlled purchase at a Bossier City hotel. There Reyenga sold a Hi-Standard, model Double 9,

.22 caliber revolver; a Savage model 93 .22LR caliber rifle; and ammunition. His sale of these stolen firearms was recorded and he was immediately arrested. Agents later recovered another stolen rifle that Reyenga had sold that morning along with other items stolen from residences in Red River Parish. During the guilty plea hearing, Reyenga admitted he was an Armed Career Offender. Reyenga has numerous previous felony convictions in Bossier and Caddo parishes including attempted manslaughter, burglary, attempted aggravated burglary, distribution of marijuana, possession of cocaine, and illegal possession of stolen things.

Reyenga faces 15 years to life in prison, a maximum of five years of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing was set for December 15, 2014.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bossier Combined Narcotics Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. is prosecuting the case as part the Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. This initiative is designed to reduce firearm crimes by using federal statutes to remove dangerous and persistent felons from the community.

Pair Face Up to 30 Years Each in Federal Prison for Committing Armed Robberies of Dallas-Area Businesses

DALLAS — Two Dallas men, who admitted committing the armed robberies of several businesses in the Dallas area in 2012-2013, have pleaded guilty to federal charges, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Today, Christopher Washington, 48, pleaded guilty, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  In May, Darren Lewis, 45, pleaded guilty to three counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

If the Court accepts the defendants’ plea agreements, the parties agree that a total range of 300 to 360 months’ imprisonment is appropriate for each defendant.  Both are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle on September 25, 2014.

According to documents filed in the case, on October 30, 2012, Lewis entered a Hampton Inn and Suites in Desoto, Texas, inquired about room rates, looked around the lobby, and then left the hotel.  Immediately afterwards, Washington entered the lobby and requested a room.  He then pulled out a firearm, pointed it at the desk clerk, and demanded cash.  Fearing for her life, the clerk complied.  Washington then left the hotel and got into a waiting Ford expedition, driven by Lewis.

On November 6, 2012, Washington entered a La Quinta Inn in Cedar Hill, Texas, approached a desk clerk, displayed a shotgun, and while pointing it at the clerk, demanded money.  The clerk complied and Washington left and got into a dark colored car, parked outside of the hotel lobby, driven by Lewis.

On January 28, 2013, Lewis entered a 7-Eleven store in Dallas, grabbed a candy bar from a shelf and then pulled out a silver handgun, pointed it at the clerk, and demanded money from the cash register.  In fear for his life, the clerk complied.  Lewis then fled the store and drove away in a maroon Ford Expedition.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Dallas, Duncanville, Desoto and Cedar Hill Police Departments investigated.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Taly Haffar is in charge of the prosecution.

Defendant Sentenced for Prohibited Possession of Firearm

Project Safe Neighborhood Prosecution

United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown of the Southern District of Alabama announces today that Sanjuan Cortez Taylor of Bay Minette was recently sentenced following an April 2014 guilty plea to a charge of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Taylor was previously convicted in Mobile County of Burglary, Third Degree; Robbery, First Degree; and, Theft, First Degree in 2011. By virtue of these convictions, Taylor is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon is a violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1). Taking into account the Defendant’s criminal history and the circumstances of the offense, Chief United States District Court Judge William H. Steele imposed a sentence of 96 months. The sentence of imprisonment will be followed by a three year term of supervised release.

This case was investigated by Special Agent Nicholas P. Murphy of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, following a referral of the case by the Mobile Police Department.

Thirty-three people indicted For Drug Trafficking and Distribution of Heroin

A 40-count indictment was filed in U.S. District Court charging 15 people for their roles in a conspiracy that brought heroin from Chicago to be sold around Ravenna and Akron, law enforcement officials announced today.

An additional 18 people were indicted in the Portage County Court of Common Pleas on related state charges including trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in marijuana, illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, permitting drug abuse and child endangering.

The arrests and indictments were announced by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Steven M. Dettelbach, Portage County Prosecutor Vic Vigluicci, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony, ATF Special Agent in Charge Michael Boxler, Akron Police Chief James Nice, Portage County Sheriff David Doak and Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry.

All 15 people indicted in federal court face a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. Additional counts include distribution of heroin, maintaining houses as drug premises, possession of firearms during drug trafficking crimes, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and related charges.

Those indicted in federal court are:

Rashid L. Carter, 29, of Akron; Andre G. White, 36, of Streetsboro; Laverne Eugene Fortson, 40, of Akron; Andre S. Brumley, 29, of Akron; Hershell D. Hill, 31, of Ravenna; Jasmine M.A. Sanders, 22, of Massillon; Chanda E. Wilson, 44, of Chicago; Shem S. White, 31, of Akron; Jessica L. Money, 37, of Akron; Austin Marshall, 31, of Stow; Algyn M. Kerney, 33, of Akron; Walter Collins III, 41, of Ravenna; Michelle L. Spencer, 32, of Akron; Marvin R. Sanders, 26, of Kent, and Keith E. Krause, 32, of Kent.

“Heroin abuse is an epidemic in our community that takes lives and destroys families,” Dettelbach said. “We will continue to target drug traffickers while also working to reduce demand and get treatment for those who need it.”

“These individuals collaborated to deliver poison to our streets and we collaborated to bring them to jail,” Anthony said. “This takedown is another outstanding example of what can be accomplished when local, state and federal agencies work together to protect our community.”

“This is an example of our working relationships with other law enforcement in the community to attack our most serious problem,” Nice said.

“It is important that we coordinate our efforts if we are to make a dent in this flood of heroin which these criminals are bringing into our counties,” Vigluicci said.

“ATF's mission is to identify, pursue, and perfect criminal cases against individuals who illegally possess and use firearms in furtherance of their criminal activities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Michael Boxler. “We will continue to work with the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Akron Police Department’s Drug Unit, the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit and others to ensure that those who foster violence in this region are held to account for their activities.”

“This operation is an example of the proactive/zero-tolerance approach we are taking in response to the heroin epidemic,” Barry said. “It is crucial to shut down the dealers and get the heroin off of our streets.”

According to the federal indictment:

The conspiracy took place from as early as September 2013 and continuing through July 2014. During that time, Andre G. White supplied heroin to Laverne Eugene Fortson and Rashid L. Carter. In turn, Fortson and Carter provided heroin to Andre T. Brumley for distribution in and around Akron and Ravenna.

Carter also purchased heroin from a supplier in the Chicago area for distribution in and around Akron. He and Fortson supplied heroin to several dealers in Akron, some of whom in turn distributed the drug to other dealers.

Carter, Jasmine M.A. Sanders and Chanda E. Wilson transported heroin from Chicago to Akron and drug proceeds back to Chicago from Ohio. Fortson and Algyn M. Kerney provided cash to facilitate these Chicago drug transactions.

Walter Collins, III, and others facilitated heroin transactions for Fortson by, among other things, acting as couriers.

White, Fortson, Carter and Brumley owned and rented properties that they used to store, process, and distribute heroin. Those properties were on Belden Avenue, Greenwood Avenue and Waterloo Road in Akron.

It was further part of the conspiracy that White, Fortson, Carter, Shem S. White and Hershell D. Hill possessed firearms to protect themselves and their drug proceeds.

Carter illegally possessed a Firestar, .45-caliber pistol, a Taurus, model 85, .38 special revolver and ammunition on June 6, 2014, despite previous convictions for possession of cocaine in Portage County and failure to comply with a police officer in Summit County.

Fortson illegally possessed a Harrington and Richardson 16-gauge shotgun and ammunition on June 18, 2014, despite a previous conviction for aggravated trafficking in Portage County.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Summit County Drug Unit, the Akron Police Department and the Portage County Drug Unit, with assistance from the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Toepfer and M. Kendra Klump.

An indictment in only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.