Muskogee Resident Convicted Of Aggravated Sexual Abuse

 MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Russell Garvis Griffith Jr., age 47, of Muskogee, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1151, 1153, 2241(c), and 2246(2)(C); Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Sections 1151, 1153, 2243(a), and 2246(2)(A); and Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1151, 1153, 2242(1), and 2246(2)(A). The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, July 26, 2021 and concluded on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 with the guilty verdicts. The defendant is facing imprisonment for not less than 30 years to life for the crimes the jury found he committed.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence the defendant sexually abused his stepdaughter repeatedly and continuously for approximately fourteen years, beginning when she was nine years old.  The victim testified she often objected to the abuse but was physically and emotionally abused by the defendant in response.  In addition, the victim testified the defendant exercised near complete control over her life, forcing her to drop out of school as a teenager, preventing her from spending time alone with friends or other family members, and requiring her to live in a rented house across the street from his own after she became an adult so he could monitor her activities.  Despite the victim telling her mother and others about the defendant’s abuse over the years, she was not believed, and the abuse continued.  When she was twenty-two years old, the defendant forcibly raped the victim in her home, which resulted in her becoming pregnant.  Approximately one week after the birth of defendant’s child, with the help of a supportive relative, the victim fled the defendant’s home with her newborn baby in the middle of the night and reported the abuse to law enforcement.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma ultimately prosecuted the case because the defendant is a member of a federally-recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Griffith was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich and Assistant United States Attorney Michael Cooper represented the United States.

District Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Accessing Child Pornography

 Defendant Apprehended in National Investigation

            WASHINGTON – Brian Kampel, 44, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for accessing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, and Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Washington, D.C.

            Kampel pleaded guilty earlier this month in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  He was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. Following his prison term, he will be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life. In addition, he will be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years following his release from prison. Judge Friedrich also ordered Kampel to pay $39,000 in restitution to his victims.

            According to the government’s evidence, Kampel was identified as part of a national investigation, conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), into a password-protected, fee-based website, that advertised child sexual abuse material. 

            After gaining access to the website, an individual could pay to purchase and download child pornography.  This commercial website advertised that it offered users, like Kampel, 600,000 images and 400 hours of video.  Kampel paid to purchase and download child pornography in August of 2017.

            Following a search of Kampel’s residence, in September of 2019, law enforcement found a laptop computer with over 1,000 images depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as infants and toddlers.  The forensic evidence in the case determined that Kampel had been accessing, downloading, and possessing child sexual abuse material for over eight years.

            This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

            In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Special Agent in Charge Villanueva commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.  They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy E. Larson, who prosecuted the case.

Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

 Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on July 28, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol.

Steven Roubideaux, age 51, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Roubideaux was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 2, 2021.  He pled guilty on May 3, 2021.

The conviction stems from Roubideaux failing to register as a sex offender as required by federal law between May 17, 2020, and May 28, 2020.  Roubideaux had previously been convicted of a sex offense in state court, which requires him to register for the rest of his life.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.

Roubideaux was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

North Carolina Man Sentenced to 12 ½ Years for Meth Trafficking Conspiracy

 Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Archdale, North Carolina, man who pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on July 28, 2021, by U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Erick Anaya, age 31, was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in federal prison, followed by five years of  supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Erick Anaya was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury on October 22, 2020.  He pleaded guilty on April 28, 2021.

During his involvement in the conspiracy, the Defendant transported approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine to South Dakota from California.  The defendant then dispersed methamphetamine to others for further distribution.  The Defendant also collected money from people in South Dakota and transported that money back to the suppliers.

This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Agency, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota National Guard, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.

Anaya was immediately returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Savannah tire store owner convicted of selling methamphetamine

 Jury found defendant guilty on all counts

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah tire store owner faces decades in federal prison after a U.S. District Court jury found him guilty of distributing methamphetamine.

Reginald Anderson, a/k/a “Red,” 49, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after being found guilty on three counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, said U.S. Acting Attorney David H. Estes. Anderson faces a possible statutory sentence of up to thirty years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Meth is deadly and highly addictive, and its corrosive effects are devastating to our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “’Red’ Anderson sold tires out of the front of his store and drugs from the back. That doesn’t make him a legitimate businessman; that makes him a drug dealer.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Anderson was the owner of Anderson’s Tire Shop, and was indicted in November 2019 after he sold methamphetamine on multiple occasions to informants for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in June 2018. Testimony was delivered in which Anderson had propositioned at least one person for sexual favors in exchange for narcotics, and that the methamphetamine that he was selling at the time was nearly 100 percent pure. A jury convicted him on all counts after a two-day trial in federal court.

“The success of this investigation was possible because of unified law enforcement cooperation,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “As a result of a trial verdict, this methamphetamine trafficker was found guilty on all counts and will now spend well-deserved time in prison.”

“The Postal Inspection Service, along with our local, state, and federal partners, will continue to pursue individuals that abuse the Postal Service for their illegal drug enterprise and this verdict is a testament of the diligent investigative work performed by Postal Inspectors,” said Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Bearden and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

Georgia Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Trafficking Meth in South Carolina

 Columbia, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart announced today that Rondedrick Robinson, 26, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison, after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.   

Evidence presented to the Court showed that, on February 25, 2020, officers from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Robinson.  In a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement located nearly 10 kilograms of methamphetamine.  Further investigation revealed Robinson had been paid to deliver the narcotics from the Atlanta area to South Carolina. 

Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Robinson to 70 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Flynn prosecuted the case.

Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing and Blackmailing Woman

 Defendant Arrested Following Series of Texts

            WASHINGTON – A Maryland man pleaded guilty today to sexually abusing and blackmailing a woman he met in August 2019 through a dating website, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips. 

            Steven B. Fabrizio, 57, of Chevy Chase, Md., pled guilty to one count each of blackmail and third-degree sexual abuse. He faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison on the blackmail charge and up to 10 years on the sexual abuse charge. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years. He is to be sentenced on Oct. 29, 2021, by the Honorable Marisa Demeo in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

            According to the government’s evidence, Fabrizio met the woman on Aug. 19, 2019, after corresponding via a dating website and text. They had consensual sex, and Fabrizio gave her $400 in cash, as agreed upon beforehand. The next day, Fabrizio sought to set up another meeting, and the woman declined. At that point, Fabrizio sent the first in a series of texts to her, warning that the woman’s employer, parents, and landlord would be told about their sex-for-cash arrangement unless it continued. Similar texts followed, and the woman agreed to see him. During that second encounter, on Aug. 20, 2019, Fabrizio sexually abused her. Fabrizio later persisted with the texts, and the woman contacted the Metropolitan Police Department. He was arrested on Aug. 21, 2019.

            In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips commended those who investigated the case from MPD’s Sexual Assault Unit. He also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Victim Witness Specialist Juanita Harris, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor, who is prosecuting the matter.

Man Sentenced to a Year and a Half in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded Gun During Looting in Downtown Chicago

 CHICAGO — A man who illegally possessed a loaded handgun during widespread looting in downtown Chicago last summer was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison.

Chicago Police officers attempted to detain JAVONTE T. WILLIAMS for suspected looting near North State Street and East Lake Street in downtown Chicago at 5:00 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2020.  As officers pursued and arrested Williams, a semi-automatic handgun fell from his body to the ground.  The gun was loaded with multiple rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one in the chamber.

During the investigation, law enforcement uncovered multiple social media postings by Williams in which he boasted about looting in Chicago in the summer of 2020.

Williams, 28, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  He was prohibited from possessing a gun after previously being convicted of a felony firearm offense in the Circuit Court of Cook County, for which he was sentenced to probation. 

U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall imposed the 18-month federal sentence after a hearing in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kristen de Tineo, 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 the charge. 

“During a night of complete lawlessness in the city of Chicago, the defendant put himself at ground zero and endangered the lives of law enforcement, the general public, and himself by carrying a loaded firearm in his waistband,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher V. Parente argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “The illegal possession of a firearm by a felon is always a dangerous and serious offense.”

Williams’s sentencing was the second sentencing this week in federal court for illegal firearm possession during looting incidents in downtown Chicago last summer.  Judge Kendall on Tuesday sentenced BRANDON PEGUES, of Riverdale, to a year in federal prison for illegally possessing a semiautomatic handgun on the Near South Side on May 31, 2020.

Browning Woman Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Manslaughter

 GREAT FALLS – Danielle Marie Marceau, also known as Danielle Marie Comesatnight, 35, of Browning, was sentenced on July 29, 2021 to 97 months in federal prison for fatally stabbing another individual during an argument.   Marceau was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $11, 735.90 in restitution by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris. 

In June 2020, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services responded to Marceau’s residence in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, to conduct a welfare check on the victim. Officers found the victim’s body in the residence and determined the last time the victim had been seen alive was late on May 30, 2020 with Marceau. Both were intoxicated and had been arguing. Marceau admitted to killing the victim and that she had used a knife to stab the victim during an argument. In the days following the incident, Marceau told multiple family members they had been in a fight and that she stabbed the victim.

The defendant previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Great Falls Police Department.

Former Member of New Bedford Latin Kings Chapter Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

 BOSTON – A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering charges.

Jose Vasquez, a/k/a “King Fearless,” 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Nov. 3, 2021.

As stated during the plea hearing, Vasquez served as the Enforcer for the New Bedford Latin Kings Chapter. In his role as Enforcer, Vasquez admitted to approving a “mission” or shooting of a victim that took place in June 2019. This victim was targeted for obtaining and selling drugs from a source that was not sanctioned by the Latin Kings. Vasquez also admitted to his participation in a shooting of two victims in May 2018. During that incident, multiple Latin Kings members chased the two victims to a vehicle, surrounded the vehicle, and slashed their tires. Another Latin Kings member then fired gunshots at the two victims striking them. Both victims fled in the vehicle and survived. Vasquez admitted that these victims were targeted due to one of the victims having previously objected to Latin Kings members conducting drug transactions in the victim’s driveway.

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Vasquez is the 47^th defendant to plead guilty in the case.

The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren A. Graber of Mendell’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

Nontargeted Brief Alcohol Interventions for Substance Use for Juveniles

 The practice is aimed at reducing substance use (alcohol and other hard drugs) by providing motivations or skills to promote behavior change in a relatively brief time, typically between one to five sessions. The target population are juveniles and young adults ages 11 to 30. 

CrimeSolutions assigns ratings to practices based on the preponderance of evidence from meta-analyses that have assessed outcomes related to crime, delinquency, or victimization prevention, intervention, or response. 

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Cortland County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting a Child

 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Lawrence Berry, 27, of Marathon, New York pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to sexually exploit a child and five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, announced Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

As part of his guilty plea, Berry admitted that he conspired with Brittany Berry (who has already pleaded guilty to the same charges) to sexually exploit a 3-year-old minor child in August and September of 2018 and that he directed Brittany Berry to sexually exploit the child on five different occasions for the purpose of creating and sending images and videos (live and recorded) of the sexual abuse to him over the internet.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 23, 2021 in Utica before United States District Judge David N. Hurd. Berry faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison on each of the six counts of conviction. He also will be required to spend at least 5 years and up to a lifetime term on post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.  Upon release from prison Berry will be required to register as a sex offender in any state where he lives, is employed, or is a student.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the City of Cortland Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Cayuga County Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography, and to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard J. Potter, Jr., age 57, of Springport, New York, pled guilty today to charges of receipt and possession of child pornography, and to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In pleading guilty before United States District Judge David N. Hurd in Utica, Potter admitted that from June 2018 to in or about January 2019, he used the Internet to search for and receive child pornography.  Potter also admitted that on January 23, 2019, he possessed a total of 33,066 images and 206 videos of child pornography on 35 separate electronic devices, and 451 images of child pornography in a cloud storage account that he maintained and controlled. 

Potter, who was previously convicted in 2003 of a crime related to the sexual abuse of a minor, faces at least 15 years and up to 40 years in prison for the child pornography crimes, as well as a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life.  Upon his release from prison, Potter will be required to register as a sex offender in any state where he lives, is employed, or is a student.

Potter also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, admitting that on January 23, 2019, he possessed a 12-gauge shotgun.  For this offense, Potter faces up to 10 years in prison. 

A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. 

This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

Oskaloosa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine Resulting in Death

 DES MOINES – An Oskaloosa man, Cody James Vancenbrock, age 28, was sentenced on July 29, 2021, by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger, to 240 months in prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine Resulting in Death. Following imprisonment, Vancenbrock is ordered to serve five years of supervised release, pay restitution, and pay $100 to the Crime Victims Fund. Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal made this announcement.

According to court documents, on August 4, 2019, Vancenbrock intentionally injected methamphetamine at an Oskaloosa apartment into a twenty-four-year-old female victim. Soon after, the methamphetamine injected by Vancenbrock caused the death of the victim. After the victim died in the apartment, Vancenbrock and another person carried the victim’s body out of the apartment, placed her in a vehicle, drove to a location in rural Mahaska County, and disposed of the body in the Skunk River. The body was later found and recovered on August 6, 2019.

The United States Attorney’s Office-Southern District of Iowa prosecuted this case. This investigation was conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation, the Oskaloosa Police Department, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office.

Gregg County Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Trafficking Violations

 TYLER, Texas – A Kilgore man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.

Christopher Marcell Mumphrey, 43, pleaded guilty on March 20, 2021, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.

“So long as there are those who have committed themselves to infesting their communities with illegal drugs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with our state and local partners, are committed to interdicting those efforts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.  “We will continue to go after meth dealers in East Texas.” 

According to information presented in court, on Feb. 5, 2020, Mumphrey was a passenger in a vehicle which was used to transport and distribute methamphetamine in Smith County, Texas.  Mumphrey exited the vehicle and signaled to the buyer to approach the vehicle to complete the transaction.  Mumphrey was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 6, 2000 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety - CID and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.

Former Medical Student Sentenced for Online Sextortion Scheme

 NORFOLK, Va. – A Canadian man was sentenced to 40 years in prison today for orchestrating an online sextortion scheme and producing images of child sexual abuse.

“The defendant repeatedly engaged in the sexual exploitation and extortion of numerous young girls using threats and fear to commit devastating crimes,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “As this case demonstrates, we will aggressively pursue perpetrators of this unfathomable form of abuse – no matter how long it takes – to help bring a measure of justice and healing for the victims.”

According to court documents, Marco Viscomi, 36, of Ontario, was first identified by the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in 2012. In January 2012, a father of two girls, then ages 13 and 17 years old, reported to the VBPD that his daughters had been sexually extorted by someone they met online. The person online threatened the girls and forced the sisters to engage in sexually explicit conduct while he watched online from Canada. The VBPD and HSI traced the culprit to Ontario and identified Viscomi as the person responsible. Viscomi was a 26-year-old medical student at that time.

“After nearly a decade, this case is finally coming to a close because of the relentless work of law enforcement,” said Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. “Viscomi manipulated young victims into engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and then, once identified, fought tirelessly to avoid facing charges for his actions. Today, justice was served, and another child predator is behind bars.”

Additional investigation uncovered Viscomi had engaged in similar sextortion conduct with hundreds of other victims, but not all victims were able to be identified. HSI was able to identify and locate over 70 such minors, including several sets of sisters who Viscomi terrorized online. In July 2012, Viscomi was charged in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia and arrested in Canada. He fought extradition to the United States until December 2019, when the Canadian courts finally ordered him to be extradited to Norfolk to face the charges.

Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C.; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth M. Yusi and E. Rebecca Gantt prosecuted the case.

Tampa Man Who Set Fire To Champs Store During Civil Disturbance Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison

 Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Terrance Lee Hester Jr. (21, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for damaging or destroying by fire a building used in interstate commerce. The court also ordered Hester to pay restitution and to serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison sentence.

According to court documents, the events that led to Hester’s conviction occurred around midnight on May 31, 2020, in a shopping plaza located at 2301 East Fowler Avenue in Tampa.  Simultaneously with a peaceful protest going on in the area, certain individuals began to loot and destroy property, including setting fire to the Champs Sports store located in the plaza. The building, which also housed other businesses, became fully engulfed in fire, resulting in major damage and loss of property. The loss to the building, the Champs Sports store, and the other businesses is estimated at $1.25 million.         

Video footage obtained by investigators revealed that Hester tossed a flaming piece of cloth into the Champs Sports store through a broken window. Fire investigators determined that the fire originated inside the Champs Sports store, and Hester’s act caused or contributed to the cause of the fire.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and Tampa Fire Rescue. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.

Aroostook County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charge

 BANGOR, Maine: An Aroostook County man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.

According to court records, between approximately July 2018 and May 2019, members of the conspiracy obtained methamphetamine in western and southern states from sources in Mexico.  Zane Willhide, 24, and his co-conspirators then distributed the drugs in Aroostook County and other parts of central and northern Maine.

Willhide faces between 10 years and life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. He also faces between five years and a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case with the assistance of multiple state and local law enforcement agencies. 

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Federal Grand Jury Indicts 18 for Roles in Drug Trafficking Organization Operating in Huntington

 Over 47 Pounds of Fentanyl, 6.5 Pounds of Methamphetamine, 4.5 Pounds of Cocaine, 2 Pounds of Heroin, 14 Firearms and More Than $335,000 Seized

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – After a lengthy investigation, 18 individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Huntington. Seventeen of these individuals are charged with conspiracy to distribute a variety of drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base (crack), oxycodone, and heroin.  Other charges in the indictment include the distribution and possession with intent to distribute various drugs and using a telephone to facilitate a felony drug trafficking offense. The indictment was returned under seal on July 28, 2021 and unsealed today after the arrest of 14 defendants.

Earlier today, federal agents and officers from various law enforcement agencies executed arrest and search warrants in numerous locations in and around Huntington. Federal agents also executed a search warrant last week in Columbus, Ohio, leading to the seizure of approximately 36 pounds of fentanyl and the arrest of Brayan Luces. 

The indictment alleges that Brayan Luces frequently supplied William Raeshaun Byrd of Huntington with large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine.  The investigation revealed that Byrd often received multi-kilogram shipments of fentanyl and cocaine from Luces which were transported from Columbus to Huntington by vehicle.  Byrd supplied multiple individuals including Christopher Leon Vest with fentanyl and cocaine.  Vest in turn supplied Scott Lee Midkiff and Erica Antionette Kirker with fentanyl and methamphetamine.  Byrd, Vest, Midkiff, and Kirker all distributed significant quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine to other dealers in the Huntington area.  This DTO utilized multiple residences throughout Huntington to store and prepare various drugs for distribution.  Other individuals in the conspiracy distributed and or assisted in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base (crack), oxycodone and heroin in the Huntington area and other locations in West Virginia.

“The hard work and dedication of our law enforcement partners has led to the disruption of this dangerous DTO that was distributing large amounts of illegal drugs in the Huntington area,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston.  “I want to thank the FBI and our federal, state, and local partners that conducted the lengthy investigation and the many law enforcement officers who assisted in today’s takedown. Our efforts in this case should reassure the people of Huntington that we will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute drug dealers at all levels in order to keep our communities safe.”

“The suspects charged in this indictment made a business out of selling dangerous, illegal drugs,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “Today’s arrests send the message that their business venture is over. We will not tolerate brazen drug dealers operating in plain view near schools and in the community we all call home. The FBI focuses on dismantling these types of criminal organizations from the top down. I want the community in and around the Huntington area to know we, alongside our partners, are committed to making it a safer place for everyone.”

“The Cabell County Sheriff’s Department is proud to have participated in this long-term drug investigation with the FBI and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies,” said Cabell County Sheriff Chuck Zerkle.  “Through our collaborative efforts, we have removed many drug dealers from our streets, some of which have plagued our community for over 10 years.”

Those charged include:

William Raeshaun Byrd, 31, Huntington

Marvin Jerome Calvin, 40, Huntington

Mark Anthony Chandler, 30, Huntington

Kimberly Ann Combs, 44, Huntington

Robert Lamont Congleton, 41, Huntington

Reginald Jerome Hairston, 43, Huntington

Marcus Allen Johnson, 37, Huntington

Erica Antoinette Kirker, 34, Huntington

Brayan Luces, 24, Columbus, Ohio

Aaron Scott Midkiff, 36, Huntington

Edward Shane Midkiff, 34, Huntington

Scott Lee Midkiff, 35, Huntington

William Edward Nellons, Jr., 37, Huntington

Leonard Brandon Joe Rice, 34, Louisa, Kentucky

Dennis Wayne Snyder, 31, Hurricane

Ricky Lee Taylor, 57, Charleston

Christopher Leon Vest, 33, Huntington

Dillon Andrew Young, 28, Sissonville

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force consisting of the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Hurricane Police Department, and the Marshall University Police Department, with support from the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.  The Ohio Highway Patrol, the Kentucky State Police, and the FBI and DEA in Columbus also assisted in the investigation. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Cremeans are prosecuting this case for the government.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Pittsburgh Man Off to Prison for Attempting to Rob a South Side Bank while in a Wheelchair

 PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 46 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release on his conviction of attempted bank robbery, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today. 

Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Emanuel Luna, 56.

According to information presented to the court, on August 13, 2019, at approximately 3:19 p.m., Emanuel Luna, in a wheelchair, entered the First National Bank located at 114 E Carson Street.  Mr. Luna, wearing dark pants, a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan undershirt, glass and a black hat, handed a note to the teller that stated: “I have a bomb if you don’t want to die you will give and it is in my backpack I will press the button and kill us all for no less than $50,000 dollars please try me.”  The teller activated the alarm and used her telephone to call the manager. 

The Court was further informed that upon seeing the teller begin to cry and before receiving money from the teller, Luna wheeled himself to the front door and exited the bank.  Surveillance footage captured Mr. Luna exiting the bank, abandoning the wheelchair, and walking to the corner of 12th Street and Carson Street where he waited to board an Allegheny County Port Authority Bus, and also captured Mr. Luna on the bus. 

The City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police along with agents and task force officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, responded to the robbery.  Investigators located the black wheelchair at the corner of E. Carson Street and 12th Street, and recovered a fingerprint from it, which matched Mr. Luna’s fingerprint.  Mr. Luna was later apprehended by law enforcement and has been in custody since then. 

At sentencing, Mr. Luna, through counsel acknowledged that it was a “really stupid crime” and “inconceivable” that he would get away with it. 

The Court, in sentencing Mr. Luna to a within guideline range sentence, of 46 months imprisonment and three years supervised release, explained that the sentence balanced all of the factors the Court is to consider.  The Court explained that the sentence reflects that this was a “very serious” offense, and that going into a bank and threatening to have a bomb is a “terrible situation” to put people under who have no way of knowing whether you actually have a bomb.  The Court further stated that this type of sentence addresses the need to promote respect for the law, signaling to others that it is “not worth it to rob a bank.”  The Court acknowledge that Mr. Luna, whose criminal history only started in his 50s, was given a sentence at the low end of the guideline range for a term of imprisonment, but the maximum amount of time on supervised release, taking into account the need to protect the community from Mr. Luna and ensure that he receives the services he needs to become a productive member of society upon release.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

 The Federal Bureau of Investigation and City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Luna. 

This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-basedprogram 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.

Troy Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking a Kilogram of Heroin

 ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jose Leon Roldan, age 42, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute a kilogram of heroin.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Rensselaer County Sheriff Pat Russo.

In pleading guilty, Leon Roldan admitted to working with his father, Carlos Leon Rivera, and Mario Figueroa-Portalatin, to sell heroin in Troy, from November 2019 to March 30, 2020.  Jose Leon admitted to regularly traveling to New York City with his father, where they would acquire heroin from Figueroa’s source of supply.  They brought the heroin back to Troy, where they and Figueroa prepared and packaged it for sale to customers. 

Leon faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, as well as post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, when Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby sentences him on December 8, 2021. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Figueroa-Portalatin, age 42, of Troy, pled guilty on August 11, 2020 to conspiring to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin, and is scheduled for sentencing on November 4, 2021.

Leon Rivera, age 63, of Troy, pled guilty on June 9, 2021 to conspiring to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin, and is scheduled for sentencing on October 28, 2021.

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett

Kentucky Man Charged With Federal Child Pornography Offenses

 NASHVILLE – A criminal complaint unsealed yesterday, charged a Florence, Kentucky man with attempted production of child pornography, attempted enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee. 

Thomas Niemeyer, 42, was arrested by FBI agents in Kentucky yesterday and made an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Kentucky.  He will be returned to the Middle District of Tennessee for further proceedings. 

According to the complaint, an FBI agent in middle Tennessee was conducting a covert online investigation, posing as an underage female on an online dating app.  Although the app requires users to be at least 18 years of age, it is widely known that many users under the age of 18 misrepresent their age. 

On March 30, 2021, the FBI agent was contacted online by an individual, later identified as Neimeyer, whose profile indicated that he was 38.  The FBI agent verified to Neimeyer that she was actually 13 years old and Neimeyer almost immediately turned the conversation to a sexual nature.  During the course of the next few months, the FBI agent and Neimeyer continued their conversations on the Snapchat app and Niemeyer sent numerous photos and videos depicting sexual activity and made several requests to the FBI agent to send nude photos. 

On June 18, 2021, Neimeyer and the FBI agent agreed to meet in middle Tennessee to engage in sexual activity, however, Neimeyer contacted the FBI agent that morning and said he had changed his mind after driving some distance toward Tennessee because he was afraid of being met by law enforcement when he arrived.  Further investigation by the FBI identified Neimeyer as the suspect and confirmed the location of the IP address as Neimeyer’s home in Florence, Kentucky.

If convicted, Neimeyer faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years, and up to life in prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Morrison is prosecuting the case.

St. Paul Man Sentenced to Prison for the Assault and Attempted Robbery of a Postal Employee

 MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for assaulting and attempting to rob a postal employee.

According to court documents, on June 4, 2020, James Wilbert Jackson, Jr., 23, tried to pick up a package from a post office located in Oakdale, Minnesota, but the postal employee was not authorized to give Jackson the package because his name and address did not match the recipient or sender address on the package. Jackson left the post office and returned multiple times that same day, each time trying to convince the postal employee to give him the package. Shortly before the post office closed for the day, Jackson returned and again demanded the package. When the employee walked away, Jackson leapt over the service counter, followed the employee into the back office, and punched the employee repeatedly in the head. The two struggled and fell to the ground before postal employees were able to restrain Jackson. As a result of the assault, the employee suffered scrapes, abrasions, and bruises to his head and knees, as well as a badly broken finger that required surgery to repair. A subsequent search of the package Jackson was trying to retrieve showed that it contained approximately 500 grams of marijuana.

“This defendant attacked an innocent U.S. Postal Service employee, a public servant, who was simply doing his job,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “Postal workers are frontline employees who serve the public during challenging times, particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and they deserve to be safe and free from violence as they carry out their duties.”

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced the defendant.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Oakdale Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine.

South Padre Island man sentenced for child pornography convictions

 BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 25-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography and transferring obscene material to a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Miguel Angel Lopez pleaded guilty Oct. 24, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. sentenced Lopez to a total of 180 months in federal prison. Lopez was further ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Lopez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

In January 2018, authorities initiated an investigation into child pornography sharing on the internet. This led them to the address of Lopez in Brownsville.

Law enforcement later executed a search at his residence and seized several electronic and digital devices. Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of  63,975 unique images and 853 unique videos of child pornography.

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

Homeland Security Investigations - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation.

Erie Man Pleads to Child Sexual Exploitation Charge

 ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

Cody A. Neely, 33, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from May 2019 to October 2019, Neely received computer images and movies depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. A forensic examination of Neely’s digital devices revealed thousands of items of child sexual abuse material.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for December 7, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Neely.

Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Heroin Drug Conspiracy

 An Arizona man was sentenced Wednesday in federal court for taking part in a methamphetamine and heroin drug conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Anthony Ward Irving pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy on Nov. 25, 2020, and today was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan. Following his prison sentence, Irving will serve 5 years on supervised release.

In his written plea agreement, Irving admitted to conspiring with Tymalk Love, Casey Eastwood, and others to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine from January 2018 to February 2019. He further admitted to possessing with the intent to distribute heroin.

Irving acted as a “broker” for the transfer of the drugs between bulk distributors in Arizona and Love and his associates in Oklahoma and elsewhere. Irving admitted that he and his coconspirators coordinated drug deals using cell phones, drug couriers, and electronic transfers of cash. Irving received monetary compensation for his participation in the drug conspiracy.

In December, Eastwood also pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy. Love, who led the conspiracy while incarcerated in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty in June to drug conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas E. Duncombe and Kevin C. Leitch prosecuted the case.

Camp counselor sentenced to 14 years for child pornography charge

 MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David Jonathan Weston, of Westminster, Maryland, was sentenced this week to 168 months of incarceration for a child pornography charge, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.

Weston, 42, pleaded guilty in March 2021 to one count of “Attempted Solicitation of Child Pornography.” Weston, who had served as a camp counselor at Camp Tohiglo in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania around the time of the crime, admitted to persuading a 15-year-old female to send inappropriate pictures and videos to his smart phone. From July 2020 to September 2020, Weston exchanged nearly 1,000 messages via Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram with the minor, who lives in Berkeley County.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly D. Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated with assistance from Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.

Sapulpa Man Sentenced to 15 years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Lure a Minor for Sex

 A Sapulpa man who thought he was meeting a 14-year-old for sex but instead was met by deputies from the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office was sentenced today in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Nicholas Robert Hale, 36, to serve 15 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Hale pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor in April.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will identify, locate, and prosecute individuals, like Nicholas Hale, who seek to harm children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Nassar and Sandy Urban are to be commended for taking this child predator off the streets.”

In a written plea agreement, Hale admitted that from Nov. 9, 2020, to Dec. 22, 2020, he used a social media app to persuade and entice an individual he believed was a minor to engage in sexual activity. Hale believed he was interacting with a 14-year-old male but instead was communicating with an undercover officer from the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office. The two eventually agreed to meet at a convenience store in Verdigris in order to have sex. When Hale arrived, he was arrested and found to be in possession of methamphetamine, a loaded pistol in the front driver’s side door and an AR-15 rifle in the trunk of the car. During the investigation, child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse material, was discovered on Hale’s electronic devices.

The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office opened the investigation into Hale after they received a tip that Hale had tried to entice a minor living within the Northern District of Oklahoma.

The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the Creek County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra M. Urban and Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case.

Delaware County Man Sentenced to Over 22 Years For Abusing Three-Year-Old Child and Recording the Abuse

 PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that David Carbonaro, 28, of Upper Darby, PA, was sentenced to twenty-two years and one month in prison, lifetime supervised release, and was ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution by United States District Court Judge Chad F. Kenney for numerous child exploitation offenses including abusing a three-year-old in order to produce pornography.

The defendant pleaded guilty in November 2019 to charges of production, distribution, and possession of child pornography, stemming from his horrendous sexual abuse of minor child in his care when she was just a toddler. Carbonaro conducted “photo shoots” of Minor #1, as she is referred to in court documents, in sexualized poses and directed his co-defendant Kayla Parker, to sexually abuse Minor #1 for his viewing pleasure. Law enforcement came upon the evidence of these deplorable crimes while investigating the defendant for distributing child pornography over the internet. The search warrant executed at Carbonaro’s residence in Delaware County yielded thousands of images of child pornography in his collection, including nine images depicting the sexual abuse of Minor #1. 

“This is a truly horrifying case. Sexually exploiting and abusing a three-year-old child is simply too awful for most people to even think about,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Strong law enforcement collaboration between our Office, Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General resulted in justice for this defendant and his victims. Anyone we find abusing children in this District we will held accountable for their crimes.”

“Children are among the most vulnerable members of our Commonwealth, and thanks to the strong communication and collaboration with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we were able to hold the defendant accountable for his abhorrent crimes,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “My Office will always stand up for survivors of sexual abuse.”

“Rescuing children from these predatory violators is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said Brian A. Michael, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia. “HSI Special Agents and our state and local partners will spare no resource and will exhaust every effort to hunt them down and bring them to justice.  Working closely together with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office as HSI did in this case, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who commit the particularly heinous crimes of producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison.

Lebanon Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution

 BANGOR, Maine—A Lebanon, Maine man was sentenced today in federal court for distributing fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark announced.

Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Angel Valle, 55, to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release. Valle pleaded guilty in February 2020.

According to court records, an FBI investigation revealed that Valle distributed fentanyl in the Lebanon area. During the investigation, Valle and two associates sold fentanyl to a confidential informant on two occasions in May 2019. In total, Valle and his associates distributed approximately 500 grams of fentanyl to the informant.   

The FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force of New Hampshire investigated the case, with the assistance of the Maine State Police. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids.

St. Louis man pleads guilty to drug trafficking and weapons charges resulting in death

 ST. LOUIS – Floyd Barber, 25, of St. Louis, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge Ronnie L. White on today’s date and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with an intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death.

On October 3, 2017, Barber and others traveled in a vehicle to the 4700 block of Goodfellow Boulevard in St. Louis to buy controlled substances from an individual.  After buying drugs from this individual and leaving the area, Defendant and his associates returned to the area to steal drugs, money, and other valuables from that same individual. Barber and one or more of his associates were armed with loaded firearms.

During the robbery, Barber and one or more of his accomplices shot the victim multiple times.  The victim died from his gunshot wounds.   

The judge has not set a sentencing date.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.

Manchester Woman Sentenced to 54 Months for Participating in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

             CONCORD –Chrystal Callaghan, 43, of Manchester, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl and crack cocaine, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in the spring of 2020, investigators received information from confidential sources that Chrystal Callaghan and her co-defendant son, Jovan Callaghan, were selling crack cocaine and fentanyl from their residence in Manchester. Law enforcement officers learned that Chrystal Callaghan and another co-conspirator, Melissa Gazaway, would travel to New York to purchase crack cocaine. On three separate occasions, officers conducted lawful traffic stops of their vehicle returning from New York and seized over 300 grams of crack cocaine. In late 2020, confidential sources conducted six controlled purchases of fentanyl and crack cocaine from the three co-defendants.

            On December 24, 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at the Manchester residence and seized over one kilogram of fentanyl and a firearm, along with large amounts of cash and drug use and packaging materials. 

            Chrystal and Jovan Callaghan previously pleaded guilty on March 30,2021.  Jovan Callaghan is awaiting sentencing.  Gazaway pleaded guilty on April 20, 2021 and awaits sentencing.

            “Drug traffickers continue to pose a serious threat to the health and safety of New Hampshire’s residents,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “We work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold drug dealers accountable for their unlawful and dangerous conduct.”

            “DEA is committed to bring to justice poly drug traffickers like Ms. Callaghan,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire.”

            This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Hampshire State Police, the Manchester Police Department, and the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald and Jennifer Cole Davis.

Leader Of New Rochelle Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To More Than 7 Years In Prison For Distributing Cocaine

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ULYSSES LOPEZ was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román to 87 months in prison for leading a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed kilograms of cocaine out of a grocery store located in New Rochelle, New York.  LOPEZ pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy on August 27, 2020. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Today’s sentence sends a message that destructive drug trafficking in our communities will not be tolerated.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep our neighborhoods free of addictive and dangerous narcotics.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment, and statements made in court filings and during court proceedings:

From April 2018 up to October 2018, ULYSSES LOPEZ, together with six charged co-defendants, conspired to distribute five kilograms and more of powder cocaine.  LOPEZ was the leader and organizer of the drug trafficking conspiracy, which operated out of several buildings in the vicinity of, and including, the SuperMercado Mexico located in New Rochelle, New York, which was owned and operated by LOPEZ and his father and co-defendant, Valentino Lopez (“Valentino”). 

After being arrested, and while detained at the Westchester County Jail, LOPEZ attempted to obstruct justice by encouraging one of his charged codefendants, Felipe Barajas, to provide false statements to the Government regarding their relationships and Barajas’s use of his residence to store cocaine on LOPEZ’s behalf.  

Six of the charged defendants, including LOPEZ, Valentino, and Barajas, have pled guilty and been sentenced.  Valentino was sentenced on June 25, 2021, to 60 months in prison for his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy.  The seventh defendant remains a fugitive. 

*                *                *

In addition to his prison sentence, LOPEZ, 41, of New Rochelle, New York, was sentenced to four years of supervised release, and forfeiture of $150,000 and a Mercedes Benz ML350.

Ms. Strauss praised the excellent work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Deininger, David Felton, and Celia Cohen are in charge of the prosecution.

Judge Sentences “11 Hunnit” Gang Member to 5 Years for Crack Cocaine Distribution Scheme

 PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Wilkinsburg, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to five years’ imprisonment on his conviction for violating the federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Sanzio Williams, 33, formerly of Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County (PA).

According to information presented to the Court, Williams conspired with others in the Western District of Pennsylvania to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (in the form commonly known as “crack”). Williams was indicted and charged with drug trafficking following a months-long wiretap investigation targeting the narcotics trafficking activity of the “11 Hunnit” neighborhood street gang operating in the Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh (and elsewhere). In addition to his five-year term of imprisonment, the Court sentenced Williams to four years of supervised release under the supervision of the United States Probation Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Kaufman commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police (Bureau of Narcotics Investigations) who led the multi-agency investigation in this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. This Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force investigation was a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Former Attorney And Therapist Sentenced To 12 Years In Federal Prison For Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Images Using A Popular Online App

 Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced John Robert Cooney (54, Orlando) to 12 years in federal prison for receiving images of children being sexually abused using an online social media application (app). The court also ordered Cooney to register as a sex offender and forfeit the electronic devices that he used to commit this offense. 

Cooney had pleaded guilty on March 15, 2021.

According to court documents, on July 7, 2020, Cooney, a former attorney and therapist, received images depicting children as young as 1-2 years old being subjected to sadistic sexual abuse using a popular online messaging app. On August 21, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Cooney’s home and seized several computers and electronic devices. A forensic review of Cooney’s devices revealed more than 1,800 images and 2,400 videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. In addition to receiving these images, Cooney was also trading and exchanging online cloud storage links to collections of child sexual abuse materials with other users on this mobile app.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Daniels.

Rochester Drug Dealer Going To Prison

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jakeel Irvin, 27, Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to distribute, and distributing, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 71 months in prison by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who handled the case, stated that the defendant conspired with others to sell fentanyl in the area of Wilkins Street in Rochester between April and November 28, 2018. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Irvin utilized 133 Thomas Street to store, manufacture, and distribute controlled substances. On November 28, 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at the Thomas Street residence and recovered 81 baggies containing cocaine, 203 baggies containing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, assorted drug paraphernalia, and packaging materials. A second search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence on Bernard Street in Rochester and approximately $1,598 in the proceeds of illegal drug distribution were recovered. Irvin acted as a supervisor in the conspiracy, directing at least one other individual who worked at the Thomas Street drug house and who worked on Wilkins Street in the City of Rochester.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division; and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley.

Syracuse Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Possession of Child Pornography

 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Thomas Sczerbaniewicz, age 53, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 120 months (ten years) in federal prison for possessing child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Sczerbaniewicz admitted that he was convicted of possessing child pornography in 2009, was on supervised release for that offense at the time he committed the current offense in January 2021, and committed the new offense while in the bathroom of his sex offender counseling service using a mobile phone to access the internet and view child exploitation images.

Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd also sentenced Sczerbaniewicz to four (4) months imprisonment for violating the terms of his supervised release (to be served concurrently with his 120-month sentence) and to a new 15-year term of supervised release to begin following his imprisonment. Sczerbaniewicz also will be required to continue to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

Sczerbaniewicz’s case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), after a referral from the United States Probation Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

Two St. Joseph Men Indicted for Heroin Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

 KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two St. Joseph, Missouri, men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and for illegally possessing firearms.

Roderick A. Hughes, 48, and Franklin T. Hicks Jr., also known as “Frankie,” 40, were charged in a seven-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, July 21. That indictment was unsealed and made public today following their arrest.

The federal indictment alleges that Hughes and Hicks participated in a conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin from Sept. 1, 2019, to March 26, 2021.

In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Hughes and Hicks are charged together with one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. They allegedly were in possession of a silver revolver (with no marking), a Glock 9mm handgun, a Stoeger 9mm handgun, and a Jennings Bryco 9mm handgun on Feb. 23, 2021. Hughes and Hicks are also charged together with one count of being felons in possession of the Glock 9mm handgun, Stoeger 9mm handgun, and Jennings Bryco 9mm handgun.

Hicks is also charged with one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Hicks allegedly possessed a Rock Island Armory .380-caliber handgun and a Ruger 9mm handgun on Jan. 22, 2021.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges 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 Byron H. Black. It was investigated by the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department, the Buchanan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Missouri Fugitive Arrested in Guatemala, Returned to United States

 Indicted for Kidnapping Murder Victim’s Daughter

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Noel, Missouri, man has been arrested in the Republic of Guatemala and returned to the United States to face a federal indictment for kidnapping the 4-year-old daughter of a woman whose body was discovered in a suitcase last year.

Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 39, a Somali national, was charged in an indictment returned on Aug. 20, 2019. The indictment alleges that Mahamed kidnapped a minor victim (identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1) and transported her from Missouri to Iowa.

Mahamed, who has been a fugitive from justice since the indictment, was recently arrested in Guatemala, expelled from that country, and returned to the United States. His initial court appearance was held today in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. He remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Aug. 2, 2021.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original federal criminal complaint, the body of Jessica McCormack, of Noel, was discovered on July 29, 2019, near Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Mo., and Noel. The last time McCormack was seen alive, the affidavit says, was when law enforcement officers responded to a call at her home on July 16, 2019. Also present in the residence were Mahamed, who was identified as McCormack’s paramour, and McCormack’s three daughters, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1 (four years old), Jane Doe 2 (two years old), and Jane Doe 3 (six months old).

McCormack’s children could not be located after her body was discovered and identified. An Amber Alert was issued for McCormack’s three children, who were located at a residence in Des Moines, Iowa, and taken into state custody on Aug. 8, 2019. According to the affidavit, a woman who formerly worked with Mahamed at the Tyson plant in Noel told law enforcement officers that Mahamed arrived at her Des Moines residence with the children on Aug. 5, 2019. She discovered he had left on Aug. 8, 2019, the affidavit says, when she found a note from Mahamed informing her that he could not care for the children.

Investigators confirmed with the father of McCormack’s oldest child that Mahamed did not have his consent to take Jane Doe 1 outside the state of Missouri.

The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges 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 Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Des Moines, Iowa, Police Department.

Illegal Possession of Drugs and Guns Result in Time in Federal Prison

 SHREVEPORT, La. – Three men charged with drug trafficking and firearms charges in three separate cases have been sentenced to time in federal prison, Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced.

Henry Cota, Jr., 38, of Ontario, California, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to spend 135 months (11 years, 3 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Cota was charged in a superseding indictment in January 2020 and pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 17, 2021. The charges stemmed from an investigation into shipments of methamphetamine that were sent in March, April and July 2019 to individuals in the Shreveport area. During an investigation into these shipments, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service learned that Cota, along with another co-defendant, were shipping the packages containing methamphetamine from post offices in the California area to Shreveport for distribution.

The DEA and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted this investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.

Percy Charles Johnson, 36, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to spend 33 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On February 20, 2020, officers with the Shreveport Police Department responded to a welfare check at an apartment complex in Shreveport. Officers found Johnson sleeping on a hallway floor and he had a loaded pistol in his pocket. Johnson is a convicted felon and knew that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. His prior felony conviction was for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in Caddo Parish in 2009.

In another case involving a convicted felon illegally possessing a firearm, United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced Steven Randell Johnson, 29, also of Shreveport, to spend 20 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. On May 3, 2020, while patrolling the Line Avenue area, an officer with the Shreveport Police Department heard gunfire nearby and went to investigate. The officer observed a vehicle being driven down the street with the driver’s side front door open. Another responding officer saw an adult male jump from the vehicle and run into a nearby residence. Law enforcement officers stopped the vehicle and ordered the driver, determined to be Johnson, to exit the vehicle and he complied. The officer observed a semi-automatic pistol on the front passenger floorboard and Johnson admitted to officers that the pistol, which was loaded with 19 live rounds and one in the chamber, belonged to him. He has prior felony convictions for second degree cruelty to a juvenile (2015) and simple burglary (2012), and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted both investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth D. Reeg and Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the cases.

Little Rock Man Guilty of Trafficking Methamphetamine in Nacogdoches, Texas

 BEAUMONT, Texas – A Little Rock, Arkansas, man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.

Leanthony Ray Moses, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn.

“Today’s plea is just another example of how there is no substitute for the diligent and thorough work of our local law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.  “Thanks to the quick thinking of the stopping officer, three kilograms of methamphetamine—originally destined for our East Texas communities—has been taken off the street.”

According to information presented in court, on Sep. 17, 2019, Moses was stopped by a local law enforcement officer for a traffic violation.  The officer’s canine partner alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.  During a search, nearly three kilograms of methamphetamine were discovered.

Moses was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 20, 2019.  He faces up to life in federal prison at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Nacogdoches Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.

Money Launderer for Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Federal Prison

 PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican National who jointly operated Tienda Mexicana González Bros., a small convenience store and market in Southeast Portland, was sentenced to federal prison today for using the business and its money transmission licenses to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds on behalf of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization operating in the Portland Metropolitan Area.

Jesus González Vazquez, 37, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.

“Money launderers who help drug trafficking organizations transfer their illegal proceeds are equally culpable for the path of destruction caused by illegal drugs. While drug trafficking organizations can quickly replace low-level couriers and dealers when they are arrested by law enforcement, it’s much harder for these organizations to quickly replace savvy, large volume money launderers like Mr. González Vazquez and his brother Mr. Romo. Mr. González Vazquez’s prosecution and lengthy prison sentence will challenge this organization’s ability to profit from their crimes and sends a strong message that money laundering is a serious crime with significant consequences,” said Scott Erik Asphaug, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“Drug cartels thrive on their lust for money and power,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Operating under the guise of a small convenience store, Vazquez funneled millions of drug profits back to Mexico. This sentence is a successful step towards removing the ability of the cartels to collect their profits from the poison they inject into our communities.”

“This case highlights the importance of teaming with our federal and local partners in order to address these and other related large-scale issues,” said Interim Chief Claudio Grandjean of the Gresham Police Department. “The opioid crisis is ravaging so many in our communities across the region and across the country. I’m proud of the part the Gresham Police Department was able to play in holding those accountable who seek to profit from others’ misery.”

According to court documents, beginning in 2018, two men, Samuel Diaz and Faustino Monroy, organized, led, and ran a drug trafficking organization, based in Mexico, responsible for trafficking hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and heroin into Oregon for distribution. Diaz and Monroy worked closely with two associates, Edgar Omar Quiroz and Gerson Fernando Martinez-Cruz, who ran a Portland distribution cell. At its peak, Quiroz and Martinez-Cruz’s cell was responsible for distributing as much as 77 pounds of methamphetamine and 55 pounds of heroin weekly in and around Portland.

The organization’s numerous sources of supply would import large quantities of illegal drugs that were taken to stash houses throughout the metro area where they were processed and prepared for sale. A large network of local drug dealers would then distribute user quantities of each drug. The organization would routinely change stash locations, rotate vehicles and phones, and pay individual couriers to take time off to avoid detection by law enforcement.

In approximately 2011, González Vazquez moved to Oregon and began working with his co-defendant and brother, Juan Antonio Romo, 46, also of Jalisco, at the González Bros. market. During this time, the market was an authorized agent for Sigue Corporation; Servicio UniTeller, Inc.; and Continental Exchange Solutions/Ria Financial, three large money services businesses known primarily for international money wires. Between January 2015 and October 2019, the majority of money transfers initiated at the market were conducted by González Vazquez and Romo.

On a continuing basis, González Vazquez and Romo would receive the proceeds of the Diaz-Monroy organization’s illegal drug sales in the form of bulk cash delivered by couriers to the González Bros. market. González Vazquez and Romo would wire the money to various DTO contacts throughout Mexico, structuring the transfers into multiple smaller transactions to avoid detection by the money services businesses or financial regulators. According to the government’s evidence, between January 2015 and October 2019, González Vazquez and Romo laundered at least $19 million dollars in drug proceeds from the market.

In addition to laundering the DTO’s proceeds, González Vazquez also performed other illegal functions for the organization, including facilitating the purchase of weapons in the U.S. to smuggle to Mexico, facilitating large drug transactions, assisting the escape of a fugitive to Mexico, assisting various drug dealers obtain false driver’s licenses, and helping DTO associates illegally enter the U.S.

In October 2019, González Vazquez and many of his co-defendants were arrested as part of a coordinated, multi-agency law enforcement operation. Investigators executed federal search warrants at more than a dozen locations throughout the Portland area, seizing 22 pounds of methamphetamine, quantities of heroin and cocaine, and seven firearms. González Vazquez and his co-defendants arrested as part of the takedown joined several others already in state custody on related charges. In total, law enforcement seized 51 firearms, including assault rifles, shotguns, and handguns, from defendants affiliated with the Diaz-Monroy drug trafficking organization.

On October 24, 2019, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 61-count superseding indictment charging González Vazquez and 41 others for their roles in the drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.

On March 24, 2021, González Vazquez pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering.

During his sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon ordered González Vazquez to forfeit all assets seized by law enforcement during the investigation, including body armor, firearms, magazines, several dozen cell phones, and more than $250,000 in criminally-derived proceeds seized by law enforcement.

González Vazquez is the twentieth defendant sentenced for his role in the conspiracy. Defendants have been sentenced to as much as 235 months in prison. 24 defendants are awaiting sentencing and one is pending trial. Diaz, Monroy, and several other defendants are fugitives believed to be in Mexico.

Acting U.S. Attorney Asphaug, Special Agent in Charge Hammer, and Interim Chief Grandjean made the announcement.

This case was investigated by HSI Portland and the Gresham Police Department with assistance from the FBI; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Oregon State Police; Portland Police Bureau; and the Multnomah, Clackamas, and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the department’s strategy for reducing the availability of drugs in the U.S. OCDETF was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack on drug trafficking by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in coordination with state and local law enforcement.