Pittsburgh Man Charged with Possession of a Destructive Device after Placing a Backpack of Homemade Explosives in Downtown

PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh man has been charged federally with illegal possession of an unregistered destructive device after planting a backpack with homemade explosives in a downtown open space, United States Attorney Scott Brady announced today.

Matthew Michanowicz, 52, of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, is charged by complaint with knowingly and unlawfully possessing a firearm, that is, a destructive device, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Michanowicz was taken into custody Friday evening by the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department. He will make his appearance in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh at a date to be determined by the court.

U.S. Attorney Brady said, "Once again, we see that certain participants in the protests in Pittsburgh were only present to serve as agitators and to incite violence. Let’s call them what they are: criminals. They have no intention of peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights; they seek only to incite and destroy. Michanowicz brought a backpack full of homemade Molotov cocktails to downtown Pittsburgh. He wasn’t there to protest; he was there to engage in violent attacks. I hope that any organizers or protestors who are participating consistent with the First Amendment will help identify and stop agitators who seek to manipulate their protest for violent ends. Rest assured that we stand ready to prosecute such provocateurs federally."

According to the complaint, on June 1, 2020 at approximated 8 a.m., Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers were called to the open area of 2 PNC Plaza facing Wood Street in downtown Pittsburgh to respond to a suspicious bag. They had been called by PNC security officers for a "Military, green backpack" located by a bicycle rack under some trees on PNC property. PBP officers discovered three devices and a foul odor and called the PBP Bomb Squad. The Bomb Squad found three suspected "homemade Molotov cocktails."

According to the complaint, the devices are described as "spent OC vapor grenades" (identified by the PBPBS as spent devices they had previously deployed) which contained a fluid that had a smell similar to an ignitable liquid. The liquid was leaking out of one or more of the devices. All three devices had wicks attached to them, which were held in place by what appears to be "spray foam insulation."

Security camera footage provided to PBP by PNC security showed someone possessing the bag at the scene where it was recovered. That person was described as an older man, approximately 6’-6’1" who rides a blue bicycle with a bright red pouch on the handlebars. On the evening of June 3, 2020 a patrolling PBP officer saw a man with a bicycle matching that description in the exact location where the bag has been discovered on June 1, 2020. The officer approached the individual to identify him and Michanowicz provided only his last name. The officer stated that after he identified Michanowicz, he released him, but Michanowicz stayed in the immediate vicinity. The officer stated he called a PBP supervisor to report that he had stopped someone matching the description, and another PBP supervisor then directed the officer to detain Michanowicz and bring him to PBP Headquarters for questioning.

During questioning Michanowicz said he visited downtown to look at the "aftermath" of the riots and protests. Michanowicz admitted he was in the individual depicted in photographs from the surveillance footage but denied possessing the bag or knowing its contents. Michanowicz also stated he never possessed any destructive devices, including the devices recovered from the bag.

According to the complaint, on June 4, 2020, ATF Agents from the Pittsburgh Field Office executed a federal search warrant at Michanowicz’s residence at 144 Republic Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15211. The search revealed, all in close proximity to each other on a workbench in the garage, a bundle of fuse exhibiting the same color and characteristics of the fuses found on the previously seized destructive devices, some partially burnt fuse remnants that appear to be from the same fuse bundle, a can of spray foam insulation consistent with the type of spray foam insulation that had been applied to the exterior of all three recovered destructive devices, and a syringe emitting a strong odor consistent with an ignitable liquid. Also found in the garage were approximately 10 camouflage backpacks that were similar in size, pattern and configuration to the bag in which the destructive devices were discovered. A search of the trashcan in the garage revealed retail packaging of fuses and a pair of used latex gloves that emitted a strong odor consistent with an ignitable liquid.

It is unlawful for an individual to manufacture, possess, or transfer a Destructive Device without first being registered in ATF’s National Firearms Transfer Record (NFA) registry and without serial numbers being issued for said NFA Weapons (i.e.; Destructive Devices). An NFA inquiry made on June 4, 2020, showed there was no such registration for Michanowicz.

The count charged in the criminal complaint carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Brady credited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pittsburgh Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, for conducting the investigation leading to the charges in this case. U.S. Attorney Brady also thanked the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office for apprehending the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case for the government.

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

McLoud Man Arrested for Unlawfully Possessing a Fully Automatic Machinegun in Violation of Federal Law

OKLAHOMA CITY – Christopher Steven Ledbetter, 29, of McLoud, Oklahoma, has been arrested and charged with unlawfully possessing a fully automatic machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.

According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint, in March 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learned that Ledbetter might be in possession of a fully automatic machinegun.  The FBI then reviewed publicly available materials on the internet associated with Ledbetter that depicted Ledbetter on multiple occasions shooting what appeared to be a fully automatic machinegun.  The affidavit further indicates yesterday the FBI encountered Ledbetter in Oklahoma City driving a 2017 Jeep Wrangler vehicle.  In that vehicle, the FBI discovered a fully automatic AK-47 style carbine machinegun.

Federal law prohibits the possession, except under limited circumstances, of a fully automatic machinegun as defined in the National Firearms Act.  The affidavit further indicates that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched its federal licensing system.  That search determined that Ledbetter does not have the required licenses to possess a machinegun.

Today, Ledbetter made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge­­­­­­­ Suzanne Mitchell in Oklahoma City.  Judge Mitchell ordered Ledbetter be detained pending further proceedings in the case.

If found guilty, Ledbetter faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000.00 fine.

This case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Oklahoma City Field Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Dallas Field Division, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, as referenced in the affidavit, along with other law enforcement partners.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Dillon and Jessica Perry are prosecuting the case.

The public is reminded that charges are merely allegations, and Ledbetter is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Tulsa Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Firearms and Methamphetamine Charges

A Tulsa woman was sentenced this week in federal court for firearms and drug violations.

U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Brittany Michele Osborn, 33, of Tulsa, to 12 years in prison followed by three years supervised release. The Court recommended Osborn be placed in a facility where she can participate in the Residential Drug Abuse Program.

“Guns and drugs are a dangerous combination. The seriousness of Brittany Osborn’s crimes is reflected in her 12-year-sentence. Gun crimes mean hard time in the federal system,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “I am thankful for the partnership between my prosecutors and our federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies. Together, we are working to investigate and prosecute drug and gun related crimes in hopes of making our community safer.”

In March, Osborn pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In her written plea agreement, Osborn admitted that she possessed firearms and ammunition as well as 30 grams of methamphetamine and paraphernalia. As a previously convicted felon, Osborn is prohibited form possessing a firearm.

On Dec. 12, 2019, U.S. Marshals located Brittany Osborn on an outstanding warrant. Officers discovered approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine, packaged in several small baggies, as well as numerous digital scales and empty baggies. The following firearms were located in the room:

• Umarex,.22 caliber, semi-automatic rifle, with a scope;
• Glock, 9 x 19mm caliber, semi-automatic pistol;
• Walther .22 caliber, semi-automatic pistol;
• Marlin Firearms Co. .22 caliber, semi-automatic rifle; and
• More than 100 rounds of ammunition

Osborn was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Cozzoni prosecuted the case.

Denver Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Being Felon In Possession Of A Firearm

Defendant involved in shootout in downtown Denver

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Jalonni Alexander Moore, of Denver, was sentenced yesterday to serve 16 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years on supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The charges were filed after Moore was involved in a shootout near downtown Denver where one individual was killed.  The Denver Field Division of the ATF joined in today’s announcement.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on March 10, 2019, Denver Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of 15th and Market Street on a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found a large crowd and learned that multiple people had been shot, including Moore, who had been taken to a hospital in a personal vehicle.  At the hospital, officers interviewed both the driver and his passenger and looked into their vehicle. Where Moore had been sitting was a loaded handgun that did not belong to the vehicle's other occupants, nor was it present before the defendant entered the vehicle.  The defendant later admitted to firing the weapon at the original scene. 

“This is a perfect example of how our close partnership with local law enforcement results in a safer community,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “This arguably would have been a complex case for the state to prosecute.  But our straight-forward federal felon-in-possession law allows us to prosecute these cases quickly and remove dangerous felons from the street for substantial periods of time.”

“It is unlawful for convicted felons to possess firearms and ammunition,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge David Booth.  “ATF will continue to work with the Denver Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our communities.”

This case was investigated by the ATF, with substantial assistance from the Denver Police Department’s Homicide Unit.  The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Celeste Rangel.

Suburban Pittsburgh Man Charged with Civil Disorder for Destruction of City of Pittsburgh Police Vehicle

PITTSBURGH – Brian Bartels of suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was charged today with obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder in the City of Pittsburgh over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bartels allegedly initiated the damage to a police car outside of PPG Paints Arena, including spraying painting the car and smashing its windshield. After others joined him, the car was set on fire.

Bartels, 20, has been charged with civil disorder for attempting to obstruct or interfere with law enforcement officers engaged in responding to the violent demonstration in Pittsburgh on May 30, 2020.

"His backpack loaded with rocks and spray paint, Bartels came to Saturday’s protest in Pittsburgh to incite violence. Bartels’s actions turned an otherwise peaceful protest into a violent riot that resulted in an evening of destruction throughout downtown Pittsburgh," said U.S. Attorney Scott Brady. "Anyone who would do the same should know this - if you try to hijack a peaceful protest for your own violent agenda, we will use every tool at our disposal to find you and prosecute you."

"The FBI is dedicated to upholding the Constitution and protecting all citizens' rights to peacefully protest," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman. "We are committed to identifying, investigating and stopping people who incite violence. This type of behavior and destruction of property puts the rights and safety of our citizens, including peaceful demonstrators, at risk. It will not be tolerated. Our focus is also on supporting our law enforcement partners with maintaining public safety in the very communities we’re sworn to protect."

According to the criminal complaint, on May 30, 2020, there was a planned protest, related to the recent death of George Floyd, in the downtown area of the City of Pittsburgh. At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Centre Avenue above PPG Arena, as the participants were gathering, the march/protest began to turn violent and into civil disorder. Videos of the area show a white male, later identified as Bartels, walking from within the crowd of protesters, wearing a black bandana and a black hooded sweatshirt. The male walks to the sidewalk near an unoccupied police vehicle and accesses a backpack that was on the sidewalk. He pulls out a can of red spray paint and proceeds to use it to place paint on the police vehicle. The male then kicks the police vehicle, and then throws an object at the police car, breaking a window. At least three other individuals join the white male to inflict damage to the police vehicle, by kicking it and hitting it with various objects. The white male thereafter jumps on the hood of the police vehicle and stomps the partially broken windshield, breaking it further. He then jumps down from the police vehicle, retrieves additional items to throw at the police vehicle and continues to throw those items at the police vehicle.

As Bartels continued this destruction of the police vehicle, several other people from the crowd begin to join him in inflicting damage to the police car. At this point, police mounted on horseback arrive and attempt to protect the car and push the crowd back. However, the crowd is hostile toward the mounted police and begins to throw rocks and other objects at the police and horses. When it becomes apparent that the horses are unable to protect the heavily damaged car, and are themselves in danger, the police officers are forced to retreat on horseback and abandon the police car. Immediately thereafter, the crowd inflicts more severe damage to the police vehicle, and then sets it on fire.

On May 31, 2020, law enforcement officers investigating this incident received numerous tips identifying Bartels as the white male described above, as videos of his conduct were online. On June 1, 2020, Bartels was interviewed at a Pittsburgh police station. During that interview, Bartels admitted that he was the white male who had committed the acts, he had purchased several cans of spray paint and placed them in his backpack so that he could take them to the march/protest, and he had also placed several rocks in his backpack for use the next day.

The civil disorder charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaun Sweeney is prosecuting the case.

The FBI Pittsburgh Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, conducted the investigation leading to the criminal complaint in this case.

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

Arkansas Inmate Indicted for Threatening to Kidnap and Kill Federal Judges

               LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – A 36-year-old Arkansas Department of Corrections inmate has been indicted for federal violations in the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.

               Jeffrey S. Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in Little Rock, AR, on June 4, 2020 and charged with mailing threatening communications.

               According to the indictment, in March 2018, Williams is alleged to have mailed a letter to the federal courthouse in Memphis, TN, in which he threatened a U.S. District Judge.  Then in May 2018, February 2019, and March 2020, Williams is alleged to have mailed letters to the federal courthouse in Little Rock in which he threatened two U.S. District Judges and an Assistant U.S. Attorney.  Each threatening letter was mailed in violation of the laws of the United States.

               Williams is currently an inmate in the Arkansas Department of Corrections as a result of a robbery and theft conviction in the Pulaski County Circuit Court.

               If convicted, Williams faces up to 40 years in federal prison.

               This case is being investigated by the Little Rock office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan R. Hornok.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

KCK Man Arrested for Attacking Officers at Protest Charged with Illegal Firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Kansas, man who initially was arrested after throwing water bottles at police officers during protests at the Country Club Plaza was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing a firearm.

“Hijacking a peaceful protest by attacking police officers engaged in their duty to protect the public carries significant consequences in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison. “Illegally carrying a loaded handgun to a public demonstration multiplies those consequences with federal penalties. I have no tolerance for anyone who hides behind the lawful exercise of constitutional rights as cover for their criminal acts. We are working alongside our local law enforcement partners to protect the public and maintain order.” 

Matthew E. Madden, 22, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri, with one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm.

Today’s criminal complaint alleges that Madden, who is a habitual user of, or addicted to, marijuana, was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun on June 2, 2020.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Madden traveled from Kansas City, Kansas, to participate in the protests at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, June 2. During the protests over the previous five days, police officers who monitored the crowd and participated in crowd control reported some violent protesters threw bottles and rocks at them, causing injury to officers and damage to personal and public property. On Tuesday, law enforcement officers observed Madden throwing water bottles at officers who were providing security in the area of 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway. Later the same evening, officers observed Madden throwing waters bottles from the southwest corner of Mill Creek Park (located at 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway).

Police officers approached Madden as he walked away from the crowd and asked him to stop so they could talk to him.  Madden immediately ran away through the park, but officers captured him near a tree line on the east side of the park. During the pursuit, an officer saw Madden discard the black fanny pack that he had been previously observed carrying over his shoulder. Officers recovered the fanny pack, which contained a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with 15 round of ammunition, another magazine containing an additional 27 rounds of ammunition, and 1.23 grams of marijuana.  

The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

Two Pennsylvania men arrested and charged for traveling to Cleveland to commit acts of violence

Justin E. Herdman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that Brandon Michael Althof Long, age 23, and Devon Bryce Poland, age 22, both of Erie, Pennsylvania were arrested today without incident by law enforcement. Agents from the Cleveland Division of FBI arrested both Long and Poland in Erie, Pennsylvania at approximately 6:00 AM.

Long and Poland were charged via criminal complaint today in a federal court in the Northern District of Ohio on charges of engaging and conspiring to engage in interstate travel with a firearm with the intent to use fire to participate in civil unrest and riot, use of fire to commit a felony, and rioting.

“At the Justice Department, we hold people accountable for their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Mr. Long and Mr. Poland were not from Cleveland. They arrived with weapons and the ingredients for an incendiary device and purposefully inserted themselves into a constitutionally protected protest, with the design to exploit it for their own purposes. We will hold these two accountable for their actions and anyone else who may have violated the law. I believe that we are all seeking the same thing -- accountability, justice, and future days and nights that are free from fear, anxiety and victimization.”

“These two individuals traveled to Cleveland with the sole intent of corrupting what was supposed to be a peaceful protest," said FBI SAC Eric B. Smith "A gun, numerous rounds of ammunition, fire gel, and a hammer are not items consistent with a protest.  These are the tools used by criminals to incite and participate in mayhem.  The FBI will continue to work with our state and local partners and protect our citizen’s right to peacefully protest.  But we will not let people that engage in violence and destruction go unchecked.  These two will have their day in court and as will many others that are responsible for the violent destruction of our city last Saturday."

“Everyone has a constitutional right to freedom of speech, to protest, to bring grievance, to express their concerns to government,” said Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “Everyone has a right to peacefully demonstrate and protest, but once there is violence against people or property then we need to take action to protect the safety and well-being of our community and citizens. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their assistance as we look to address the underlying things that have caused the demonstrations in our city.”

According to the criminal complaint filed in this matter, at approximately 11:55 PM on May 30, 2020, the defendants were spotted by Cleveland Police in a vehicle entering an alleyway at the intersection of East 8th St. and Huron Ave. in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland Police observed a male leave the alleyway and approach their police vehicle. The male was on the streets, in public, during civil unrest, in violation of a mandatory curfew put into place by the public order of the Mayor of the City of Cleveland, which went into effect at 8:00 PM.

Cleveland police approached the male and asked him if he owned the vehicle present in the alleyway. Police observed that the vehicle had a Pennsylvania license plate. Police asked the male to confirm that it was his vehicle and that his identity was Brandon Michael Althof Long. Long confirmed both of these facts. Police detained Long for violation of the curfew order. Cleveland police believed the vehicle to have been involved in criminal activities earlier in the day. Long also confirmed that the vehicle was occupied by another male, Devon Bryce Poland.

Both Long and Poland were searched as well as their vehicle. Found inside the vehicle was a pistol, 17 rounds of ammunition, a hammer, a BB gun resembling a pistol, a red plastic bottle of liquid fire starter, two Apple iPhones, and a bottle of liquor believed to have been looted from a store earlier in the day and other objects.

On May 31^st, The FBI executed a search warrant on the iPhones found in the defendant’s vehicle and reviewed messages between Long and Poland that contain statements that demonstrate an intent by Long and Poland to travel from Pennsylvania to Cleveland, Ohio on May 30, 2020, to participate in, promote, encourage, and aid and abet the criminal riots.

In these messages, the defendants discussed specially discuss choosing to travel to Cleveland over Pittsburgh and to bring supplies to make a Molotov cocktail, an incendiary device.

Long and Poland will have their initial appearance this morning at 9:00 AM in U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Lanzillo’s courtroom.

This case is being investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan Brown and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Riedl.

A charge 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.

U.S. Attorney’s Office Prosecuting Armed Felon From Tennessee Arrested During Louisville Protest And Riots

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell Coleman today announced the federal prosecution of Tevin R. Patton for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The federal criminal complaint asserts that the Memphis, Tennessee, man drew a firearm after curfew earlier this week in downtown Louisville. 

“We cherish First Amendment-protected speech in Kentucky but will not tolerate outsiders traveling to Louisville to do harm to our city and its people,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “This type criminal conduct puts both protestors and police at risk. Today’s outcome makes Kentuckians safer and results from outstanding collaboration between the FBI, ATF, U.S. Secret Service, and LMPD. At the direction of Attorney General Barr, we will utilize the framework of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to identify, apprehend, and federally prosecute anyone who exploits peaceful protest for violence or to violate federal law.”

According to the criminal complaint, on Monday, June 1, 2020, at approximately 10:20 pm Patton was viewed by law enforcement who were conducting surveillance near South Fourth Street in downtown Louisville. During the surveillance, a U.S. Secret Service special agent observed Patton pull out a gun.

Law enforcement at the scene then dispersed the crowd with tear gas and flash bang devices, striking Patton with pepper balls once he was observed pointing the gun in the air. Upon being struck by the pepper balls, Patton ran to his car and fled the scene. Police then stopped Patton’s vehicle and located a Springfield Armory USA, model XDs-45, .45 caliber pistol in his vehicle, partially loaded with four rounds remaining in a ten round magazine.

In 2013, Patton pleaded guilty to Aggravated Burglary, a felony, out of Tennessee. Additionally, in 2016 Patton pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, a felony, out of Tennessee. In 2016, Patton was charged with 4^th Degree Domestic Violence and Fleeing or Evading Police, 1^st Degree.

If convicted at trial, the maximum sentence for being a convicted felon unlawfully possessing a firearm is no more than ten years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. There is not parole in the federal system.

A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offense charged and must be made under oath before a United States Magistrate Judge.  The charge set forth in a complaint is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh Judd.  The United States Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case.

Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison

PORTLAND, Ore.—A serial bank robber with three prior bank robbery convictions was sentenced today to federal prison after robbing three additional Pacific Northwest banks and making threats by mail.

Stanley Carl Green, 57, transient, and formerly a resident of Washington state, was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. United States District Court Judge Ann Aiken also ordered Green to pay $11,570 in restitution.

According to court documents, in December 2015, while on escape status from supervision, Green robbed a Federal Savings Bank in Olympia, Washington of $4,897. He was arrested for the robbery six months later and charged in Thurston County, Washington. Released on bond, Green again fled and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

In November 2017, Green mailed threatening letters to two people who had restraining orders against him.

In December 2017, Green robbed a Rogue Federal Credit Union in Port Orford, Oregon. With his face partially masked by a towel, Green brandished a box cutter and ordered the bank tellers to kneel on the floor. He fled with $3,833.

Later the same month, Green robbed a Columbia Bank in Waldport, Oregon. His face was again partially covered and he brandished and displayed to the tellers what appeared to be a handgun. Green fled with $2,840.

On January 17, 2018, investigators located and arrested Green at a campground in Curry County, Oregon. They seized $848 and BB ammunition. Green admitted to the three robberies and a fourth in Salem, Oregon. He told investigators that the gun used in the Waldport robbery was a BB gun he purchased at Walmart.

On November 27, 2018, Green pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and two counts of armed bank robbery. Prior to being sentenced today, Green pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure.

This case was investigated by FBI, USMS, Port Orford Police Department, Bandon Police Department, Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Tumwater Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Jeffrey Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office and the Curry County District Attorney’s Office.

Atlantic City Man Charged with Rioting

CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man has been arrested on charges that he participated in a riot in Atlantic City on May 31, 2020, following a day of otherwise peaceful protests, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Carlos A. Matchett, 30, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, was arrested June 3, 2020, by special agents of the FBI and is charged by complaint with use of a facility of interstate and foreign commerce, namely, a cellular telephone, and the social media platform Facebook, with intent to participate in and carry on a riot. Matchett will make his initial appearance today by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams.

According to the complaint:

During the evening of May 31, 2020, following protests in Atlantic City, a group of people engaged in a spree of rioting, destruction, and looting in and around the Tanger Outlets, an area known locally as “the Walk.”  Police responded to the area and observed Matchett standing in the middle of a roadway shouting obscenities at law enforcement and enticing persons around him to join in looting. After Matchett refused orders to disperse, police arrested him. During a search, they found a knife, a hatchet, and a jar filled with gasoline inside a backpack that he was wearing.

Further investigation revealed that shortly before his arrest, Matchett made public postings on his Facebook page linking to a news article about looting in Philadelphia and remarking to others, “LET’S START A RIOT.” Matchett also posted a video on Facebook on May 31, 2020, that showed him encouraging and assisting others in the vicinity of the Tanger Outlets in Atlantic City to loot goods from smashed store fronts. 

The charge in the complaint carry a maximum prison term of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski in Newark and the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, whose members include the Atlantic City Police Department and New Jersey State Police, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. He also thanked officers of the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Henry White, for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Henderson Heroin Trafficker Sentenced

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Henderson man was sentenced to 78 months in prison for trafficking heroin in Vance County.

According to court documents, Reginald Lamont Lewis, 31, was involved in the distribution of heroin from February 2017 until December 2018.  During that time, law enforcement investigated the drug trafficking activities of Lewis by conducting undercover purchases of narcotics; over 300 individual doses of heroin were purchased in total.  The execution of a search warrant led to the seizure of approximately $25,600 in U.S. currency.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III.  The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Henderson Police Department; the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; the Vance County Sheriff’s Office; and the Virginia State Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller prosecuted the case.

Kyle Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for First Degree Murder

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of First Degree Murder was sentenced on June 2, 2020, by Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Judge.

Clarence Yellow Hawk, age 30, was sentenced to a term of the remainder of his life in federal prison, a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date based on evidence presented at Tuesday’s hearing.  

Yellow Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 14, 2017.  He was found guilty of First Degree Murder and Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence following a jury trial in federal court which concluded on May 3, 2019.

The conviction stemmed from a homicide that occurred on May 27, 2017, on the Pine Ridge Reservation.  Scott Benson, Jamie Shoulders, and Clarence Yellow Hawk travelled to a driveway approach off the highway, just north of Sharps Corner where Benson was planning on meeting a man named Christopher Janis and another person.  While Benson was in Janis’ vehicle speaking with him, Shoulders approached the driver’s side door and fired several bullets at Christopher Janis.  Yellow Hawk then took the same gun and fired additional shots at Janis, killing him, before fleeing the scene. 

Scott Benson later pleaded guilty to Accessory After the Fact and was sentenced on May 24, 2018, to 10 years in federal prison.  Jamie Shoulders later pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn N. Rich and Gregg Peterman prosecuted the case.

Springfield Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for methamphetamine trafficking and illegally possessing firearms.

Tyler J. Brown, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Wednesday, June 3, to 12 years in federal prison without parole.

On Sept. 11, 2019, Brown pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Brown was arrested on Dec. 25, 2017, when Springfield police officers found him passed out in the driver’s seat of a Pontiac Grand Am. The vehicle was parked, with the engine running, at the intersection of North Grant Avenue and West Calhoun Street. Officers found two firearms in the car with Brown.

A loaded Pioneer Arms 7.62mm semi-automatic pistol was sitting muzzle-end down, in the passenger floorboard, with the handle of the firearm leaning toward the driver’s seat. Brown’s right hand rested next to the firearm, with his last two fingers touching the end of the firearm. While removing the first firearm, an officer saw a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol resting near Brown’s right side.

Officers were able to wake Brown up and place him under arrest. Brown was in possession of $2,666 and had a plastic baggie in his pocket that contained 1.45 grams of methamphetamine. He was wearing body armor beneath his shirt. Officers searched the car and found a black backpack in the front passenger seat. Inside the backpack was a glass jar that contained 71.44 grams of methamphetamine, a distributive amount, and a black and silver box that contained 3.46 grams of methamphetamine.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nhan D. Nguyen and Josephine L. Stockard. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. 

OCDETF
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program.  The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy.  OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.  Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

Akron man sentenced to 8 years for possession with intent to distribute more than 800 grams of methamphetamine

Justin E. Herdman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that Jason D. Bivins, age 47, of Akron, was sentenced this week to a term of 97 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to the indictment filed in this matter, on July 13, 2019, Bivins admitted to possession with intent to distribute approximately 892 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Akron Police Department and the Akron Office of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Damoun Delaviz and Henry F. DeBaggis, II.

Baltimore Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Expected to be Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison

Baltimore, Maryland – William Garland, age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  

The guilty plea 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; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, on January 4, 2019, Baltimore County’s Criminal Apprehension Support Team (CAST) executed an arrest warrant for Garland in connection with a theft that occurred on December 21, 2018.  At the time of his arrest, officers recovered a loaded 9mm handgun from Garland’s right front jacket pocket.  Garland had a previous felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.  The gun was determined to have been stolen from a Virginia federal firearms licensee in February 2015.

Garland and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Garland will be sentenced to six years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2020. 

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.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey N. McCulley, who is prosecuting the case.

U.S. Attorneys and FBI in Mississippi Are Partnering with Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement to Ensure Peaceful Protests and Protection of Life and Property

Mike Hurst and Chad Lamar, United States Attorneys for the Southern and Northern Districts of Mississippi, respectively, and Michelle Sutphin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jackson Field Office, announced today that their offices have been working with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies throughout Mississippi to protect our communities from violence and destruction while preserving the rights of citizens to freely speak and assemble per the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution during this time.

In a statement on Sunday, May 31, 2020, U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr noted that federal law enforcement resources would be available to assist state and local leaders in their efforts to ensure peaceful protests and to reestablish law and order. Attorney General Barr said that federal resources will be directed at apprehending and charging the violent radical agitators who have taken over peaceful protests and are engaging in violations of federal law.

“What happened to George Floyd in Minnesota was heartbreaking and a travesty, but I am proud of the way Mississippians have responded by exercising their First Amendment rights peacefully.  We will continue to protect people’s constitutional rights to speak and assemble.  But I want to be very clear – we will not hesitate to prosecute those who break our laws and cause harm and destruction.  Law and order will be maintained coequally with the lawful exercise of individual liberties. We took an oath to support and defend the American people and the Constitution, and we will continue to do just that,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

“Recent events have hurt and scarred our nation and people have every right to be angry,” remarked U.S. Attorney Chad Lamar.  “We share the anger and disgust felt across our Country and the World. People understandably want their voices to be heard in the continued fight for justice and we support that right.  We are thankful that so many Mississippians have come together to seek and promote justice in peaceful and productive ways.  But, please continue to do so peacefully.  As we scratch and claw our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing we need is more violence and further loss.”

"The FBI will continue to utilize all of our resources and partnerships, both law enforcement and community, to ensure protection of First Amendment rights and the protection of our communities," said SAC Sutphin.

U.S. Attorney General Barr stated on Saturday, May 30, 2020, that the tragic events surrounding George Floyd’s death in Minnesota were being addressed swiftly through the regular process of the criminal justice system, both at the state and federal levels. Local charges have already been brought against a former Minneapolis police officer, and the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI are also conducting an independent investigation. 

Grand jury indicts former D.A.R.E. officer on child pornography charges

DAYTON – Kevin A. Kovacs, a former longtime Beavercreek police officer who was arrested in April, was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday.

In April 2020, Kovacs was arrested by criminal complaint and charged with producing, distributing, receiving, transporting and possessing child pornography, as well as tampering with a witness or informant.

The 10-count indictment filed Tuesday evening alleges Kovacs, in March and April 2015, coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating child pornography.

Kovacs is also charged with multiple counts of distributing, receiving, transporting and possessing child pornography, as recently as December 2019.

Finally, in June 2019, Kovacs allegedly intimidated, threatened or corruptly persuaded an individual in hopes of obstructing or impeding communication with federal authorities about this investigation.

David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney, Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Fairborn Police Chief Terry Bennington and Beavercreek Police Chief Dennis Evers announced the indictment. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight Keller is representing this United States in this case.

If you have any information related to this case, please contact the FBI at 513-421-4310 or the Fairborn Police Department at 937-343-8854.

Two Convicted Felons Charged in Federal Court With Illegally Possessing Loaded Handguns in Chicago

CHICAGO — Two convicted felons have been charged with federal firearm offenses for allegedly illegally possessing loaded handguns in Chicago this past weekend.

KEVIN D. TUNSTALL, 29, of Oak Forest, and JOHNNIE L. LEE, 32, of Chicago, are each charged with one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  Tunstall and Lee were previously convicted of criminal felonies and were not lawfully allowed to possess a firearm.  Initial court appearances in U.S. District Court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled.

The federal charges 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; Kristen deTineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in bringing these charges.  The government is represented in the Tunstall case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shy Jackson, and in the Lee case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn McCarthy.

Holding gun offenders accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Guardian and Project Safe Neighborhoods – the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategies.  Project Guardian focuses specifically on investigating, prosecuting, and preventing gun crimes, and it emphasizes the importance of using modern technologies to promote gun crime intelligence.  In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have 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.

Tunstall and Lee were arrested separately this past weekend by Chicago Police officers. 

Tunstall was arrested early Saturday morning near the 600 block of South State Street after officers observed him in possession of a loaded semiautomatic handgun while seated in a vehicle, according to the charges. 

Lee was arrested late Sunday night after a vehicle he was driving crashed into a Chicago Police car near the 3200 block of North Southport Avenue, the charges allege.  He was taken into custody while in possession of a loaded handgun.  A city of Chicago curfew took effect at 9:00 p.m. Sunday, and Lee was arrested nearly two hours later.

The public is reminded that a complaint is 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.  Illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Reserve man sentenced for shooting man in the face on Fort Peck Indian Reservation

GREAT FALLS—A Reserve man who admitted shooting another man in the face with a .22-caliber rifle on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in 2018 was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Jonathan Black Jr., 33, pleaded guilty in February to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said the assault occurred on March 3, 2018 at a Reserve residence where Black lived with his sister and her children. Black called 911 in the evening and reported he had just shot someone in the face. Law enforcement arrived in the area and saw the victim driving away. An officer stopped the victim, who had facial wounds but the blood seemed to be clotting and there did not seem to be any immediate medical emergency. Because the victim appeared to be in stable condition, the officer placed him in his patrol car and began investigating the shooting.

At the residence, the defendant's sister and her children came out of the house. Black then came out and was arrested.

Meanwhile, an ambulance transported the victim to a nearby hospital. The victim ultimately went to Billings Clinic, where he was treated for facial injuries that included damage to his cheek and facial fractures. The victim had to have four teeth extracted because of the gunshot and had a bullet fragment at the base of his skull.

Black told law enforcement that he was cooking when he heard banging and the victim threatening his sister. Black thought the victim might kill his sister, so he retrieved a .22 caliber rifle from a closet. Black found the victim and his sister in the bathroom, so he kicked open the door, put the rifle in the victim's face and shot him. Black then placed the rifle on the kitchen table and called 911.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

Convicted Felon Charged With Impersonating A Deputy United States Marshal At George Floyd Protest

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging John Wesley Mobley, Jr. (36, Orlando) with false impersonation of a federal officer. If convicted, Mobley faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. 

According to the complaint, on May 31, 2020, during a protest in Orlando, Florida, Mobley was forced to stop his vehicle because of passing protestors. Mobley got out of the vehicle, walked towards the protestors, pulled out what appeared to be a law enforcement badge, waved it at the protestors, and stated something to the effect of “Do you want to get arrested? Do you want to go to jail?” In response, a protestor responded, “He’s a Marshal!” 

Later, members of the Orlando Police Department (OPD) who had been observing the protest received information that Mobley was in a crowd of protestors with a firearm in his waistband causing a disturbance.

As a result of the disturbance, two OPD officers approached Mobley in the crowd. One of the officers secured Mobley by the arm and removed him from the group for the safety of the public. Upon further examination, it was later determined that Mobley had possessed a BB gun replica of a Glock pistol, which is not a firearm. Mobley was also found in possession of a silver set of metal handcuffs and a silver badge with the words “United States Marshal” written on the front. Mobley has two prior convictions for impersonating a member of law enforcement.   

A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Orlando Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.

Fatal crash in Glacier National Park sends man to prison

GREAT FALLS—An East Glacier Park man convicted after a drunken driving crash killed one passenger and seriously injured a second passenger in Glacier National Park last year was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

After a three-day trial in February, a jury found Leo James Hagan, 20, guilty of involuntary manslaughter and of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The prosecution presented evidence at trial that the crash occurred on June 11, 2019, on Two Medicine Road, about 200 yards inside of Glacier National Park. Hagan and the two victims had been socializing at the Trailhead Saloon in East Glacier that night, and Hagan had consumed alcohol. The group left the saloon and traveled toward Two Medicine Lake, with Hagan driving a Ford Escape.

Hagan lost control of the vehicle, failed to negotiate a sharp left turn, went off the road and hit a tree. The vehicle spun and rolled and came to a rest on the driver's side. The front seat passenger was ejected and suffered severe injuries. The rear seat passenger also was ejected, pinned under the vehicle and died at the scene.

Hagan left the scene on foot and called 911. He implied he had come upon the scene of a crash and was otherwise not involved. He reported seeing one injured person but not his involvement, the cause or that a passenger had died.

A Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services officer ultimately found Hagan at his residence at about 2:30 a.m. Hagan confirmed he had been in the crash and had been driving. A blood draw during the investigation determined that Hagan had a blood alcohol concentration of .093 percent more than four hours after the crash.

A crash investigation determined that the vehicle was traveling more than 70 mph in a 45 mph speed zone when it crashed, that the driver never applied the brakes and that neither Hagan nor the front seat passenger was wearing a seatbelt. Hagan had claimed he was wearing a seatbelt and had braked.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalah Paisley and Ethan Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the National Park Service, Blackfeet Law Enforcement and Medical Services, the Glacier County Sheriff's Office and the Montana Highway Patrol.

Hamburg Man Indicted For Threatening A Local News Reporter

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Paul E. Lubienecki, 62, of Hamburg, NY, with stalking. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, between August, 20, 2019, and February 4, 2020, the defendant stalked a member of the Buffalo, NY media. On February 4, 2020, the Victim received a voicemail that contained a death threat. The Victim had been reporting on the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo clergy sex abuse scandal for the past two years, and on that day, the Victim reported that Christ the King Seminary was being closed by the Diocese.

As alleged in a complaint that was previously filed, during the call, defendant criticized the Victim's professionalism before stating, “...I know where you live in [town]. I'm going to find you. I'm going to kill you.” The Victim received other harassing voicemails from a number associated with the defendant during August, November, and December of 2019. All told, 11 harassing phone calls were made from the defendant’s phone to the Victim.”

“This indictment should serve as yet another reminder to the public,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy, “that while the First Amendment guarantees every person’s right to free speech, the Amendment does not protect criminal conduct.” 

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Assistant Director Marlin Ritzman.

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.

Elmira Methamphetamine Trafficker Pleads Guilty

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., announced today that Kevin E. McKinney, a/k/a K-Born, 42, of Elmira, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 50 grams of methamphetamine. The charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of up to $10,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Robert A. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that the charges stem from a long term investigation conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies into the trafficking of large quantities of methamphetamine in the City of Elmira. On September 13, 2019, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at an apartment at 916 Grand Central Avenue in Elmira. Officers seized over 1.1 kilograms of 95% pure methamphetamine, a quantity of heroin, and narcotics distribution paraphernalia. McKinney was arrested along with Jamal Anderson a/k/a Blaze, and Briana Hall. McKinney had over $3,200 in his pockets, as well as keys to the apartment at 916 Grand Central Avenue. The cash seized from McKinney has been forfeited as drug proceeds by the DEA.

McKinney obtained large quantities of methamphetamine in New Jersey, which he transported to Elmira. He stored and packaged the methamphetamine for distribution at various locations, including the Grand Central Avenue residence and residences on W. First Street and Henry Street. In addition, McKinney facilitated third-party purchase and direct distribution of methamphetamine to others. During the conspiracy, McKinney and other members of the conspiracy also possessed firearms.  Brianna Hall was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

Charges remain pending against Jamal Anderson. 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.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Elmira Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Kane; the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Lieutenant Kevin Reyes and Major Mary Clark; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 14, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Larimer.

Operation Free Market Update: Two Men Sentenced to Prison

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Two Huntington men were sentenced to federal prison today as part of Operation Free Market, a long-term drug investigation in Huntington, according to United States Attorney Mike Stuart.

“Operation Free Market took out a significant fentanyl and heroin drug trafficking organization operating between Detroit and Huntington,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Our work is paying off. As we take more and more purveyors of these poisons off the streets, we are seeing reductions in opioid-related overdose deaths.”

George Lockhart, 44, was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a federal drug conspiracy and a gun crime. He previously pled guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Lockhart previously admitted that between December 2018 and May 2019 he conspired with other individuals to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Huntington, West Virginia. Lockhart admitted other individuals sold drugs for him at his direction. He also admitted to possessing a firearm during a search warrant in May 2019. He was prohibited by federal law to possess a firearm because he had been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in January 2011. 

Bryant Holloway, 41, was sentenced to five years in prison for selling fentanyl. He pled guilty on April 24, 2019 to selling 95 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $10,000.  The investigation was a joint effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.  

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecutions.

Operation Free Market was a long-term drug investigation in the Huntington area. It was part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a Department of Justice program that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.

Department of Justice Awards $1 million to Bolster Law Enforcement Staffing in the Southern District of California

Chula Vista Police Dept. to Receive $750,000

SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Department of Justice yesterday awarded nearly $400 Million for law enforcement hiring to advance community policing, through the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP).  The Attorney General announced funding awards to 596 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 2,732 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. 

In the Southern District of California, Chula Vista Police Department will receive $750,000 to fund six officers and the City of Brawley and the La Jolla Band of Indians will each receive $125,000 to fund one officer. “The Department of Justice is committed to providing the police chiefs and sheriffs of our great nation with needed resources, tools, and support.  This funding will bolster their ranks and contribute to expanding community policing efforts nationwide,” said Attorney General William P. Barr.  “A law enforcement agency’s most valuable assets are the men and women who put their lives on the line every day in the name of protecting and serving their communities.”

“Particularly in light of this district’s proximity to the Southwest Border, it is imperative that local police agencies receive the resources they need to maintain safe and secure neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer.  “I am pleased that DOJ officials recognized the importance of shoring up staffing in our region by funding eight officers to address critical needs in three area communities.”

The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing by providing direct funding for the hiring of career law enforcement officers.  In addition to providing financial support for hiring, CHP provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement to enhance local community policing strategies and tactics.  In a changing economic climate, CHP funding helps law enforcement agencies maintain sufficient sworn personnel levels to promote safe communities.  Funding through this program had been on hold since the spring of 2018 due to a nationwide injunction that was lifted earlier this year.

CHP applicants were required to identify a specific crime and disorder problem focus area and explain how the funding will be used to implement community policing approaches to that problem focus area.  Forty-three percent of the awards announced will focus on violent crime, while the remainder of the awards will focus on a variety of issues including school-based policing to fund school resource officer positions, building trust and respect, and opioid education, prevention, and intervention.  The COPS Office received nearly 1,100 applications requesting more than 4,000 law enforcement positions.

Man Who Brandished Assault Rifle at Protest Charged With Making Threats

A man who brandished an assault rifle at a Black Lives Matter protest in Lubbock on Saturday has been charged with making interstate threats, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed today, Emmanuel Quinones, a 25-year-old local, allegedly brought a loaded Smith & Wesson .223 caliber semi-automatic to a protest decrying the death of George Floyd, a black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police last month.

In view of the protesters, Mr. Quinones held the rifle at “low ready,” in firing position with the muzzle pointed toward the ground, as panic rippled through the assembled crowd.  (Although Texas is an open-carry state, the Texas Penal Code makes it illegal to display a firearm in a public place “in a manner calculated to alarm.”)

Mr. Quinones allegedly refused a Lubbock Police officer’s verbal commands to drop the rifle, and only did so when the officer drew his gun. A protester then tackled Mr. Quinones, who allegedly shouted, “this is a revolution” and “President Trump must die” as he was taken into custody.

During an interview, Mr. Quinones admitted that he previously made social media posts designed to “intimidate” the President and “MAGA instigators.” One such post, shared on Facebook on May 28, intimated that he planned to obtain gun parts “to off racists and MAGA people.”

In the interview, the defendant stated he attended the protest to protect demonstrators from these so-called MAGA (Make America Great Again) instigators, who he planned to shoot on sight.  He claimed the police would not have been able to identify these counter-protestors, but that he could have.

“Instead of respecting citizens’ rights to respectfully voice their feelings, this defendant incited panic, putting everyone present – including those he claimed to support – in danger,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “We will not tolerate attempts to instill terror or encourage violence at otherwise peaceful protests.” 

“The FBI respects the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights. In this case, the defendant threatened multiple lives including the President of the United States and that will not be tolerated,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “We will continue working with our local, state, and federal partners to apprehend and charge violent instigators who are exploiting legitimate, peaceful protests and engaging in violations of federal law.”

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of unlawful conduct, not evidence. Mr. Quinones is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

He made his initial appearance Tuesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge D. Gordon Bryant. If convicted, the defendant could face up to five years in federal prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Field Office, Lubbock Resident Agency, the United States Secret Service, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, and the Lubbock Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Haag is prosecuting the case.

Chicago Man Arrested on Federal Arson Charge for Allegedly Setting Fire to Chicago Police Vehicle

CHICAGO — A Chicago man was arrested today on a federal arson charge for allegedly setting fire to a Chicago Police Department vehicle this past weekend.

TIMOTHY O’DONNELL placed a lit object into the gas tank of the marked police vehicle while it was parked in the 200 block of North State Street in downtown Chicago on Saturday, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  The vehicle ignited in flames.  At the time, Chicago Police officers were in the area investigating reports of various malfeasances and unrest.  O’Donnell set the fire while wearing a “joker” mask that partially covered his face, the complaint states.

The complaint charges O’Donnell, 31, with one count of arson.  Federal authorities arrested O’Donnell this afternoon and carried out a court-authorized search of his residence.  An initial appearance in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.

The complaint and arrest were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James P. Durkin and Rajnath Laud.

“Anyone involved in destructive behavior – such as setting fire to a police car – should know that federal law enforcement will use all tools available to us to hold them accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch.  “We will continue to work with the Chicago Police Department and our federal and state partners to apprehend and charge arsonists and others engaging in violent crime.”

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  The charge in the complaint is punishable by a minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

A Wheeling man admits to distributing meth

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Deante Creel, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to drug distribution in the Wheeling area, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Creel, also known as “G,” pled guilty today to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Creel, age 33, admitted to having methamphetamine in Ohio County in May 2019.

Creel faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250 ,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.

London Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Methamphetamine Trafficking

LONDON, Ky.- A London, Ky., man, Ronnie Bowling, 56, was sentenced in federal court on Tuesday to 180 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, after previously pleading guilty to possession with intention to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to Bowling’s plea agreement, between February 20, 2019 and February 22, 2019, Bowling engaged in multiple conversations with a distributor, in which they arranged for Bowling to obtain two pounds of methamphetamine. Bowling admitted meeting the distributor at a prearranged meeting location with $15,476.00 in cash to purchase more than 500 grams of methamphetamine that he intended to distribute in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Bowling pleaded guilty in January 2020.

Under federal law, Bowling must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff John Root, Laurel County Sheriff’s Department jointly made the announcement.

The investigation was directed by the DEA and Laurel County Sheriff’s Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Trimble.

Pittsburgh Teen was Drug Runner for South Side Gang’s Distribution Network

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to drug trafficking in connection with a large-scale investigation conducted by the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Roderick Ferguson, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. Mr. Ferguson is one of 36 defendants charged in the Indictment.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2017, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation primarily targeting the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang, and its drug-trafficking activity, in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. As part of this large-scale narcotics and firearms investigation, in February of 2019, the United States received authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through June of 2019.

Intercepted communications revealed that Mr. Ferguson was a drug runner for his co-defendant, Christopher Highsmith, who is among the leaders of the drug trafficking organization. As a condition of the guilty plea, Ferguson accepted responsibility for the distribution of 15 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin in the Pittsburgh area. The court was further informed that on June 20, 2019, law enforcement seized a Sig Sauer firearm and ammunition during the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence at on West Warrington Avenue in Pittsburgh.

Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for October 15, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Ferguson is on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Christy C. Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Two Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Modesto Bank Robbery Conspiracy

FRESNO, Calif. — Soledad residents Enrique Lopez, 28, and Victor Bravo, 25, were each sentenced today to five years in prison for conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Nov. 16, 2018, a deputy sheriff noticed a Nissan Altima parked in a parking lot at an apartment complex in Modesto that had been reported stolen from Salinas. Officers set up surveillance on the stolen Nissan and watched four cars carrying the five co-conspirators leave the apartment complex.

The cars traveled close to each other to a shopping area in Modesto that contained a Chase Bank. One co-conspirator drove back and forth past the Chase Bank, talking to the other conspirators on the phone.

The stolen Nissan, driven by Bravo, parked in a loading area behind the shopping center next to a car driven by Lopez. Lopez got out of his car and started loading items into the stolen Nissan. The stolen Nissan then left the loading area, drove through an alley, and parked in a parking lot near Chase Bank. Officers stopped the car and detained all four occupants. Inside the stolen Nissan, officers found two assault rifle-style firearms, a handgun, a revolver, masks, gloves, and a large duffel bag.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, the Modesto Police Department, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, and Fresno County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Pearson is prosecuting the case.

Three other defendants have pleaded guilty are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. The defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

Department Of Justice Awards Nearly $400 Million For Law Enforcement Hiring To Advance Community Policing

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced nearly $400 million in grant funding through the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP).  The Attorney General announced funding awards to 596 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 2,732 additional full-time law enforcement professionals.  The awards announced today are inclusive of the $51 million announced in May as part of Operation Relentless Pursuit.  

“The Department of Justice is committed to providing the police chiefs and sheriffs of our great nation with needed resources, tools, and support.  The funding announced today will bolster their ranks and contribute to expanding community policing efforts nationwide,” said Attorney General William P. Barr.  “A law enforcement agency’s most valuable assets are the men and women who put their lives on the line every day in the name of protecting and serving their communities.”

“The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico congratulates the six municipalities that received the COPS award, and we encourage other municipalities to continue applying for these and other grants that the Department of Justice offers, said United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow.

The municipalities in the District of Puerto Rico that received the COPS funding awards to hire additional full-time law enforcement professionals are: Guaynabo - $1,958,611 for 28 officers; Hatillo - $344,176 for seven officers; Jayuya - $303,634 for six 6 officers; Luquillo - $793,725 for eight 8 officers; San Juan - $1,161,351 for 19 officers; and Villalba - $368,938 for seven officers.

The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing by providing direct funding for the hiring of career law enforcement officers.  In addition to providing financial support for hiring, CHP provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement to enhance local community policing strategies and tactics.  In a changing economic climate, CHP funding helps law enforcement agencies maintain sufficient sworn personnel levels to promote safe communities. Funding through this program had been on hold since the spring of 2018 due to a nationwide injunction that was lifted earlier this year.

CHP applicants were required to identify a specific crime and disorder problem focus area and explain how the funding will be used to implement community policing approaches to that problem focus area.  43 percent of the awards announced today will focus on violent crime, while the remainder of the awards will focus on a variety of issues including school-based policing to fund school resource officer positions, building trust and respect, and opioid education, prevention, and intervention.  The COPS Office received nearly 1,100 applications requesting more than 4,000 law enforcement positions.  

The complete list of awards can be found here.  To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp.  For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.

Felon Sent to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm

Velasco, a fugitive from justice, was arrested with a stolen pistol and ammunition after trying to run from the police.

A Princeton, Texas, man was sentenced May 29, 2020, to more than six years in federal prison after possessing a gun as a felon.

Rodolfo Velasco, age 36, from Princeton, Texas, received the prison term after a March 10, 2020, guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.

Information presented by the United States at the detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed that on or about May 30, 2019, Velasco illegally possessed a pistol and ammunition.  He was prohibited from possessing guns because he had been previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance in Minnesota in 2003 and of distribution of methamphetamine in Nebraska in 2011.  Velasco’s unlawful possession was discovered when law enforcement apprehended him as a fugitive for a parole violation, following a foot pursuit.  When he was captured he was in possession of a stolen pistol and ammunition.  

Velasco was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Velasco was sentenced to 77 months’ imprisonment.   He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Velasco is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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 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. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from our Project Guardian partners.  For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/ag/page/file/1217186/download.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service and the Sioux City Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.

Two Individuals Charged With Throwing Molotov Cocktails Into Dakota County Government Building

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal criminal complaint against GARRETT PATRICK ZIEGLER, 24, and FORNANDOUS CORTEZ HENDERSON, 32, charging them with arson and possession of Molotov cocktails. ZIEGLER and HENDERSON, made their initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ZIEGLER and HENDERSON were ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing, which is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, 2020.

According to the allegations in the complaint, in the early morning hours of May 29, 2020, the Apple Valley Police Department (“AVPD”) was dispatched to a fire alarm at the Dakota County Western Service Center (“DCWSC”) in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The DCWSC houses state and local agencies and organizations, including Dakota County court facilities, as well as a U.S. Passport center. Once on scene, officers observed broken windows, smoke, and flames coming from the west side of the building where the judges’ chambers and clerks’ offices are located. Located at the scene were items consistent with those used in Molotov cocktails, including broken glass jars and liquor bottles, pushpins, intact glass jars containing ignitable liquid and a charred red bandana.

According to the allegations in the complaint, officers found a set of car keys in the grass near the DCWSC belonging to a Ford Fiesta parked in a neighboring business’ parking lot. Officers later executed a search warrant on the vehicle, which was registered to ZIEGLER, and recovered several items, including liquor bottles, a store receipt dated May 28, 2020, for three bandanas, partially full and empty boxes of push pins, an empty cardboard box for twelve Ball brand mason jars, an empty Kingsford brand lighter fluid bottle, isopropyl alcohol bottles, a plastic jar containing a clear unidentified liquid and T-pins, and a store receipt dated May 27, 2020 for nail polish remover. Officers located ZIEGLER and HENDERSON on a road near the DCWSC, and they were taken into custody.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Apple Valley Police Department, and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander D. Chiquoine, Chelsea A. Walcker, and Joseph S. Teirab.

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

 

Defendant Information:

GARRETT PATRICK ZIEGLER, 24

Long Lake, Minn.

Charges:

• Arson, 1 count
• Possession of unregistered destructive devices (Molotov cocktails), 1 count

 

FORNANDOUS CORTEZ HENDERSON, 32

Savage, Minn.

Charges:

• Arson, 1 count
• Possession of unregistered destructive devices (Molotov cocktails), 1 count

Joint Statement on Vandalism to the Hugo L. Black United States Courthouse and Robert S. Vance Federal Building and United States Courthouse

BIRMIMGHAM, Ala. – U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. and United States Marshal Marty Keely today release the following statement:

“Those who cause any damage to federal property have committed a federal crime and will be prosecuted in a federal court.  We have zero tolerance for those who incite, organize, encourage, or engage in civil unrest, violence, and destructive behavior anywhere in the Northern District of Alabama.  And make no mistake, we will bring those individuals to justice who do.”

FBI Update on Shooting Incident at Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland

SAN FRANCISCO—The FBI San Francisco Division, the Oakland Police Department (OPD), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), continue to investigate a shooting incident that took place at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland on May 29, 2020. One officer was killed and another was injured. FBI agents and members of the FBI Evidence Response Team are conducting interviews, following leads, and collecting evidence as part of the ongoing investigation in conjunction with OPD investigators.

FBI agents have identified the deceased victim as Dave Patrick Underwood, born February 12, 1967. Underwood died from gunshot wounds sustained after shots were fired by an unidentified subject in a vehicle. The FBI extends our deepest condolences to the victims and their families, and requests that their privacy is respected during this difficult time.

The shooting occurred on federal property, and the victims were working on duty as contract security officers for the Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service (FPS). The FBI is the lead investigative agency and will continue working closely with OPD as this investigation continues.

FBI San Francisco has not yet determined a motive for this shooting. The investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made yet at this time. Any information regarding this crime can be made at tips.fbi.gov. All tips can remain anonymous.

Original FBI statement released on May 29, 2020:

FBI San Francisco and the Oakland Police Department are investigating a shooting that occurred at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building at 1301 Clay Street in Oakland, California. At approximately 9:45 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020, a vehicle approached the building. An individual inside the vehicle began firing gunshots at contract security officers for the Federal Protective Service of the Department of Homeland Security. One officer was killed and another was injured. The FBI has deployed investigators and the Evidence Response Team to the crime scene. We will continue to work this investigation alongside the Oakland Police Department. We will not be commenting further at this time.