Anchorage Man Charged with Credit Union Robbery

Defendant Allegedly Stole Over $4,000 in Coins

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Rhahemiah Niashee McNair, 37, of Anchorage, has been charged with credit union robbery, in connection with the March 28, 2020, robbery of Denali A Division of Nuvision Federal Credit Union branch located at 1118 Muldoon Road in Anchorage.

According to the charging document, at 4:48 a.m. on March 28, 2020, McNair allegedly broke into the front door entrance to the Denali A Division of Nuvision Federal Credit Union branch. McNair then stole approximately $4,206 in coins, including $106 in nickels, $100 in half dollars, and $4,000 in gold Sacagawea dollars.  The total amount of loss due to damage from the break-in was estimated at approximately $1,900. Anchorage Police Officers responded to the scene and obtained photographs of the subject from the credit union’s surveillance footage.

That same day, APD officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a red Ford vehicle, which eluded police.  The vehicle was later located parked at an Anchorage hotel.  Officers made contact with the individual standing near the car but did not connect the car or the individual to the robbery at that time.  Later, APD identified the individual as McNair, who also fit the description of the surveillance footage photograph from the credit union robbery that morning.

On March 29, 2020, pursuant to a search warrant on the red vehicle, APD officers located a $2.00 roll of nickels, an Axiom Armored Transport bank bag, along with white gloves, which resembled those worn during the robbery.  The investigation further revealed that McNair had paid for a hotel room using gold Sacagawea dollars.  McNair was detained at the hotel and was in possession of gold Sacagawea dollars, half dollars, and rolls of nickels.

If convicted, McNair faces a maximum penalty of up to ten years in federal prison.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Anchorage Police Department (APD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation leading to the charge in this case.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aunnie Steward.

The charges in the criminal complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Three Men Charged With 2011 Murder Of Joshua Rubin

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Dermot Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging KEVIN TAYLOR, GARY ROBLES, and MICHAEL MAZUR with the October 31, 2011, murder of Joshua Rubin in Brooklyn, New York.  All three defendants were arrested today and will be presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.  The case is assigned to United States District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Over eight years ago, Joshua Rubin’s life was taken.  As alleged in the Indictment, these defendants were responsible for that terrible crime.  Now, thanks to the determination of our law enforcement partners and the Special Agents of our Office, the defendants are charged in federal court with murder.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “After years of wondering what led to Mr. Rubin disappearing from his Brooklyn neighborhood, and his body being found in rural Pennsylvania, his family and the community may finally get some answers.  The passage of time makes cold cases difficult, but the people who committed the crimes are still out there, and they will be held accountable.  I want to commend agents and detectives on the FBI New York Joint Violent Crimes Task Force and the NYPD Cold Case Homicide Unit for never giving up, and never forgetting the victim deserves justice.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “When a life is violently taken, law enforcement is there to speak for the voiceless. From the moment of Joshua Rubin’s disappearance and murder, in 2011, our NYPD investigators and federal and local law enforcement partners never stopped working to bring justice for him and all who knew him.”

As alleged in the Indictment[[1]] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

On October 31, 2011, TAYLOR, ROBLES, and MAZUR robbed Rubin of marijuana in the vicinity of 1021 McDonald Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, and in the course of that robbery Rubin was shot and killed.

*              *             *

TAYLOR, 27, ROBLES, 37, and MAZUR, 26, are each charged with murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

 Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of the FBI, NYPD, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.  He also thanked the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the South Whitehall Township Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Alexandra Rothman, Mollie Bracewell, and Dominic A. Gentile are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Two former Columbus vice officers arrested, charged with unlawful searches & seizures, double billing off-duty details

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged two former Columbus vice officers with conspiring to violate others’ civil rights and conspiring to commit wire fraud.

Steven G. Rosser, 43, of Delaware, and Whitney R. Lancaster, 57, of Columbus, were each arrested without incident this morning and appeared in federal court this afternoon. The indictment was returned on March 26 and unsealed at a 12:15pm initial appearance today.

Rosser was employed with the Columbus Division of Police for 19 years and assigned as a detective in CPD’s vice unit from April 2013 until October 2018.

Lancaster was employed with the Columbus Division of Police for 31 years.  He was assigned as a detective in the vice unit from February 2016 until November 2018.

“The indictment alleges that these two former law enforcement officers abused their badges and deprived individuals of their Constitutional rights,” said U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers. “We will root out any alleged bad actors acting under color of law and are grateful to the vast majority of officers who do the honorable work of protecting us and the Constitution.”

Nick’s Cabaret

According to the indictment, in March 2015, Rosser was involved in a physical fight with an individual at Nick’s Cabaret, a gentleman’s club on East Dublin Granville Road. Rosser allegedly represented that he was acting in the course and scope of his employment as a police officer during the fight and in the days that followed.

The indictment alleges that Rosser conspired with others to deprive the other participant in that fight of his civil rights by having him seized and searched without probable cause, in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Based, in part, on a report that Rosser wrote regarding the fight, officers arrested that individual in April 2015, and he was detained at the Franklin County jail for approximately five days before the charges against him were ultimately dismissed.

The Dollhouse

The indictment also alleges that in April 2018, Rosser, Lancaster, and others conspired to deprive one of the owners of the Dollhouse, a gentleman’s club on Karl Court, of his civil rights by seizing and searching him and his vehicle without probable cause, again in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort

Finally, the indictment alleges that both defendants conspired to commit wire fraud by routinely reporting false and fraudulent special duty hours.

Specifically, in January 2018, the Fort Rapids hotel, restaurant and indoor water-park complex on Corporate Drive in Columbus, suffered a fire-sprinkler break that led to extensive flooding. As a result, the Columbus Division of Fire ordered a 24-hour per day “fire watch” by qualified personnel to monitor the site for further damage and safety issues.

It is alleged that Rosser and Lancaster routinely reported to the Fort Rapids ownership group that they were working special duty during dates and times that they also reported they were on duty working their regular shifts as CPD officers. The two officers allegedly double-billed Fort Rapids and the Columbus Division of Police on 29 days between January and May 2018.

“The FBI and the Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force are committed to rooting out public corruption and working to ensure that those who abuse their law enforcement privileges are held accountable,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman. “We will continue to work with our partners to protect the citizens of this community and uphold their Constitutional rights.”

“The Columbus Division of Police continues to advocate for police accountability and strongly supports today's arrests on corruption charges against these former officers by the FBI and the Public Corruption Task Force,” said Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan. “I commend the dedication and effectiveness of the partnerships leading to today's arrests.”

“A cop’s authority is derived from citizens who trust them to keep the peace,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “When one betrays that trust, we need to hold them accountable to defend the integrity of the good men and women who keep us safe.”

“Ohio's law enforcement units are the finest in the nation and any actions that diminish their standing in our communities must be pursued and prosecuted,” Auditor of State Keith Faber said. “I want to commend the work of all involved in this investigation and pledge our continued support as this case moves forward.”

Conspiracy to violate a person’s civil rights is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan; Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) Superintendent Joseph Morbitzer; and Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber announced the charges.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley, Noah R. Litton and Jessica H. Kim are representing the United States in this case. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes special agents and officers from the FBI, Ohio Attorney General’s BCI, the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office and the Columbus Division of Police.

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