SOUTH BEND – Kevin Pope, 32 years old, of South Bend, IN, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Miller, Jr., after pleading guilty to possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. 

Pope was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment and 4 years supervised release when released from prison. 

According to documents in the case, on or about April 5, 2017, Pope was in possession with intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin.

This case was investigated by the ATF with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

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BOSTON – A convicted fraudster who was apprehended last week after repeatedly failing to appear for his sentencing hearing was indicted today for bail jumping. 

David J. Aubel, 60, of Matthews, N.C., was indicted today on one count of failure to appear.

In November 2017, Aubel pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, one count of securities fraud, and three counts of wire fraud in connection with his role in a stock manipulation scheme. Aubel had been released by the Court pending sentencing.

According to court documents, in September and October 2018, Aubel repeatedly failed to appear for scheduled, and repeatedly re-scheduled, sentencing hearings. Each time, Aubel informed the Court by phone  or through counsel that his father was in poor health and that he was at his bedside. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris rescheduled Aubel’s sentencing hearing for Oct. 18, 2018; however, Aubel once again failed to appear at that hearing – informing the Court through counsel that he had been hospitalized the night before. Aubel’s sentencing was then rescheduled for Nov. 5, 2018. Again, Aubel failed to appear for his sentencing on that day. Subsequently, the Court issued a warrant for his arrest and on Nov. 16, 2018, Aubel was arrested as he exited a hotel in Charlotte, NC.

The charge of failure to appear provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 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. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Gregory Allyn Forest, U.S. Marshal of the Western District of North Carolina; and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordi de Llano, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Securities & Financial Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Sharon, Mass., man was arrested today and charged with trying to obstruct an investigation involving time-card fraud and the potential mishandling of classified information.

Ahmedelhadi Yassin Serageldin, 65, an Egyptian-born nationalized U.S. citizen, was arrested this morning and charged with one count of misleading conduct with intent to hinder, delay, or prevent communications to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission or possible commission of a federal offense. Serageldin was detained following an initial appearance this afternoon in federal court in Boston. A detention hearing is scheduled for Nov. 21, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.

The indictment alleges that Serageldin was a systems engineer at Raytheon Company in Massachusetts from August 1997 until he was terminated in May 2017. Serageldin had a secret-level security clearance in order to complete his assignments on several defense contracts for the U.S. government involving military radar technology.

According to court documents, in 2017, Raytheon investigated Serageldin for time-card fraud, as he was suspected of taking off every Friday from January to the end of March 2017, yet claiming on his time card that he worked on those dates. By doing so, Serageldin caused Raytheon to overcharge the federal government on the contracts he was assigned to. 

The time-card fraud investigation allegedly led Raytheon to uncover evidence that Serageldin had downloaded a substantial number of files from Raytheon’s computer network and had connected removable electronic storage devices to the network in violation of Raytheon’s security policy.  During the company’s internal investigation, the indictment alleges that Serageldin engaged in misleading conduct to hinder, delay, or prevent Raytheon employees from communicating with law enforcement about his time-card fraud and his potential mishandling and retention of classified information and national defense information. The indictment alleges that Serageldin did this by:

• Claiming that he was working on company business at home and that he was authorized to do so;
• Misrepresenting why and when he had downloaded files from Raytheon’s network;
• Falsely denying that he possessed an external hard drive or thumb drive and then later, making fraudulent and misleading statements about how he had used an external hard drive (a Western Digital external hard drive);
• Falsely denying that he possessed any Raytheon records or classified documents at his residence;
• Delaying the production of his Western Digital external hard drive and a personal laptop computer to Raytheon investigators, which both contained information pertaining to his work at Raytheon on U.S. military programs;
• Accessing the files on, and changing the content of, his Maxell thumb drive despite having been instructed not to do so; and
• Delaying delivery of his personal laptop computer to Raytheon so he could conduct research on how to wipe his personal laptop clean.

The charge of misleading conduct with intent to hinder, delay, and prevent the communication to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal offense provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greatest, restitution, and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Leo Lamont, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistance with the investigation was provided by Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston. Raytheon Company has cooperated with the investigation, which was launched after they notified federal authorities about the suspicious conduct. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott L. Garland, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s National Security Unit, is prosecuting this case with assistance of Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the Justice Department’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division.

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

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that two defendants pled guilty to federal drug charges before United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.  Darla Reed, 39, of Alderson, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.  Jacqueline Pauley, 29, of Sophia, pled guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.  Stuart commended the investigation conducted by the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

“Unfortunately, meth seems to be the drug of choice throughout much of southern West Virginia,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Drug task forces are working closely with us to get meth dealers off the streets.”

Reed admitted that on June 13, 2018, she used text messages to arrange to purchase an ounce of methamphetamine from Jacqueline Pauley and another person.  Later, Pauley and the other person met Reed in Sam Black Church in Greenbrier County, where Pauley distributed about an ounce of methamphetamine to Reed.  Reed was immediately stopped by police and admitted that she intended to sell some of the methamphetamine that she had just purchased from Pauley.   Pauley admitted that she had helped set up and complete the deal with Reed. 

Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on March 6, 2019.  Assistant United States Attorney John File is handling the prosecution.

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CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Michael Hildebrand, 50, of Orchard Park, NY, who was convicted of assault within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, was sentenced to one year probation by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Cantil, who handled the case, stated that on December 20, 2017, the defendant was a passenger on a United Airlines flight from Newark, NJ to Buffalo, NY. During the flight, Hildebrand assaulted a woman by grabbing the victim’s groin area without consent.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police, under the direction of Chief George Gast.

# # # #

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Todd County, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault by Striking, Beating and Wounding.

Franklin Jones, age 37, was indicted on October 16, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 16, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 1 year in federal prison and/or a $100,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release, and $25 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on September 1, 2018, Jones unlawfully and repeatedly assaulted two individuals.

The charges are merely accusations and Jones is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.   

Jones was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Brian Louis, 55, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 92 months in federal prison, for possessing firearms as a convicted felon.  Louis pleaded guilty to this charge on August 20, 2018.  His prison term will be followed by a three-year period of supervised release.

On April 3, 2018, Louis was arrested by the Stevens Point Police Department while he was in possession of two firearms that he had stolen.  The firearms were a .22 magnum rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun. 

Louis has an extensive criminal history, including two felony drug convictions.

This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime.  The PSN approach involves collaboration by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. 

The charge against Louis was the result of an investigation conducted by the Stevens Point Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow. 

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mitchell, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

Eli Erickson, age 31, was indicted on November 14, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 20, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that beginning at a time unknown but no later than January 1, 2016, and continuing through the date the Indictment was filed, Erickson combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with persons to knowingly distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams of more of methamphetamine. The Indictment also alleges that during this time, Erickson possessed multiple firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  One of the firearms Erickson possessed was a short-barreled shotgun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and another had the serial number obliterated.

The charges are merely accusations and Erickson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity.  Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers.  It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.   

Erickson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Quentin P. Bruguier, Jr., a/k/a “JB,” of Lake Andes, South Dakota, was convicted by a federal jury of fifteen counts of sexual abuse offenses involving children, fear, and force.  The jury returned the verdict on November 16, 2018.

According to the evidence presented at trial, between 1992 and 2016, Bruguier, who was a former Yankton Sioux Tribal Official, engaged in sexual acts with children.  Bruguier used fear, force, or both when perpetrating the sexual assaults.

For the most serious offenses, the maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, 5 years and up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  For five of the counts of conviction, Bruguier faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years of imprisonment for each count.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.   

Bruguier, age 55, is currently detained pending sentencing.  A sentencing date has been set for February 11, 2019.  

A Euclid woman was sentenced to more than five years in prison for a college student aid scam in which she fraudulently obtained more than $205,000.

Elizabeth Westmoreland, 69, was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison. She previously pleaded guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, theft of government property and aggravated identity theft.

“This money was supposed to be used to help legitimate students pay for tuition and cover the cost of books and supplies,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “This defendant got hundreds of thousands of dollars because she is a scammer. This prison sentence is deserved.”

Westmoreland, from 2013 through 2017, recruited “students” whose identities she could use to fraudulently enroll them at several community colleges, including Lakeland Community College, Owens Community College, University of Rio Grande and Edison State Community College. At least one “student” was incarcerated while he purported to attend Lakeland, according to court documents.

Westmoreland applied for financial aid using the fraudulent students. This aid covered the cost of tuition and other fees, which were sent directly to the schools, but also additional expenses, such as money for books, supplies, transportation and other fees. This money was sent from the U.S. Department of Education directly to the students, according to court documents.

As part of the conspiracy, Westmoreland and the fraudulent students split the proceeds of the student aid money. Westmoreland arranged for and/or personally completed the coursework online so the students continued to receive aid, according to court documents.

The checks were mailed to addresses controlled by Westmoreland, then she and other would transport the recruited fraudulent students to various locations to cash the checks and split the proceeds, according to court documents.

The U.S. Department of Education was defrauded approximately $178,476 and the Social Security Administration was defrauded approximately $27,267 as part of the conspiracy, according to court documents.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration -- Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education -- Office of Inspector General, Postal Inspection Service and Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Kern and Danielle Angeli.

St. Louis, MO –Terrance Wilson, a/k/a “Mutt,” 30, of St. Louis, was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking offense resulting in death. 

On April 24, 2018, Terrance Wilson, a/k/a “Mutt,” entered pleas to drug conspiracy and a firearms charges.  According to the plea agreement, defendant Wilson also served as an enforcer for the Donald White Drug Trafficking Organization and participated in the murders of Ronald James, Michael McGill, and Darrion Williams, Jr.

According to Wilson’s plea agreement he participated in several murders.  On July 28, 2009, Wilson participated in the murder of Ronald James in front of Dismas House.  The Donald White Organization enlisted Wilson and another to gun down James as part of an ongoing drug war.  On March 26, 2010, Michael McGill was lured to the 5100 block of Maffitt, where he was murdered by members of the White Organization, including Wilson, who acted as a shooter. On July 23, 2010, Darrion Williams, Jr. was lured to an alley behind the 5100 block of Maffitt for a purported drug deal where he was gunned down by members of the White Organization.  As part of his plea agreement, Wilson also admitted to his involvement in the murder of Damon Walker on April 30, 2010. 

In May 2018, a jury convicted Donald Stewart, Wilson’s codefendant, of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and firearms charges related to the murders of Michael McGill and Darrion Williams, Jr.  Stewart’s sentencing is set in January 2019. 

The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Intelligence and Homicide Divisions, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEPHEN T. GIONFRIDDO, 68, of Middletown, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to fraud charges stemming from a scheme in which he embezzled more than $500,000 from his former employer, and then stole nearly $400,000 from his brother to pay back his employer.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Gionfriddo was hired by a Rocky Hill law firm as a paralegal in approximately August 2013.  Beginning in approximately December 2013, Gionfriddo caused the firm’s bookkeeper to prepare checks payable to various of Gionfriddo’s creditors by misrepresenting that the funds were needed to pay client expenses.  Gionfriddo also intercepted numerous checks payable to the law firm or to the firm’s clients, endorsed the checks over to himself, and then deposited the checks into his personal bank account for his own use.

In July 2017, Gionfriddo forged the signature of one of the firm’s partners on a Notice of Certificate Maturity in order to cancel a certificate of deposit (CD) in the name of one of the firm’s clients, and then mailed the form.  When the $112,748.21 distribution check representing the proceeds of the client’s CD was mailed to the firm, Gionfriddo intercepted it, forged the signature of the payee, and converted it to his own use.

Through this scheme, Gionfriddo stole $543,372.21 from the law firm and its clients.

In late September 2017, the principals at the law firm confronted Gionfriddo about the theft of funds, and Gionfriddo promised to repay the firm.  On October 3, 2017, Gionfriddo called the Thrift Savings Plan (“TSP”), a defined contribution plan for federal employees, and impersonated his brother, who had worked for the federal government and maintains a TSP account.  During the call, Gionfriddo obtained information about how to effect a hardship withdrawal of money from the account and have it sent to a bank account he controlled.  Gionfriddo also was advised on that call that TSP would issue a Form 1099 in January as a result of the hardship withdrawal.

On October 4, 2017, Gionfriddo faxed a form requesting a withdrawal of $195,000 from his brother’s TSP account for “medical expenses.”  Gionfriddo directed the TSP to deposit the funds into a bank account that he controlled.

In an effort to conceal this scheme from his brother, Gionfriddo contacted the U.S. Postal Service and had his brother’s mail held for the entire month of January.

Gionfriddo also stole from his brother’s bank and investment accounts in the total amount of $201,518.

Gionfriddo was arrested on a criminal complaint on June 12, 2018.

Gionfriddo pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud.  Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for February 12, 2019, at which time Gionfriddo faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.

Gionfriddo was convicted of federal wire fraud and mail fraud offenses in 2006 for embezzling more than $633,000 from clients while acting as their attorney.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan L. Wines.

NEWARK, N.J. – A Jersey City, New Jersey, man was arrested and appeared in federal court today for allegedly distributing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Nader Ahmed, 29, is charged by complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography. He made his initial appearance today in Newark federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor and was detained without bail.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In January 2018, Ahmed uploaded two videos depicting the sexual abuse of children onto a child pornography website. Computer equipment seized from Ahmed’s residence revealed hundreds of files titled with names indicative of images of child sexual abuse.                      

The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan L. O’Neill of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Protection Unit in Newark.

Cape Girardeau – Bobby David Lowrey, 51, of Parma, MO, and Lowrey & Lowrey Inc. were indicted on November 13, 2018 for illegally applying Dicamba to crops.

According to the indictment, Bobby David Lowrey owned and operated Lowrey Farms.  In the calendar year 2016, Lowrey Farms, under the management of Bobby David Lowrey, engaged in the cultivation of cotton and soybean crops on approximately 6,700 acres over numerous fields and plots located in the Eastern District of Missouri.  The soybean and cotton crops planted on Lowrey Farms in 2016 were genetically modified to be resistant to the pesticide dicamba.   Dicamba is a broadleaf herbicide used to kill unwanted weeds.  The dicamba-based pesticide product was not approved for post-planting application to cotton crops and had limitations on its soybean application.

On multiple occasions in 2016, under the direction of Bobby David Lowrey, dicamba-based pesticides were applied at Lowrey Farms post-planting to cotton and to non-mature soybean crops prior to the approved preharvest application interval.  Multiple farmers with crops growing in the vicinity of soybean and cotton fields or plots cultivated by Lowrey Farms reported damage to their crops in May and June of 2016 consistent with drift from the use of dicamba-based pesticides applied on Lowrey Farms.  In response to numerous reports of crop damage in the vicinity of Lowrey Farms, Missouri Department of Agriculture responded to the area in late June 2016.  Investigators with MDA requested to meet with Bobby David Lowrey and asked Lowrey Farms to provide current spray application records for cotton and soybean crops. 

On several dates in 2016, Bobby David Lowrey made false statements to investigators and provided fraudulent documentation to investigators certifying that dicamba-based products had only been applied during burndown applications.  In truth, Bobby David Lowrey knew he had provided altered documents to investigators to hide the fact that dicamba-based products had been used at Lowrey Farms outside of the application guidelines.

If convicted, Bobby David Lowrey faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000.  In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.  The Indictment alleges forty-nine instances of misapplication of a pesticide, a false statement and three acts of obstruction of justice.

“Although weed killers like Dicamba have been around for decades, it is critical that applicators follow manufacturer instructions when applying them,” said EPA Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Martinez.   “The misuse of this product has resulted in significant crop damage at neighboring farms.  Yesterday’s indictment shows that EPA and its law enforcement partners will do what it takes to ensure the safe and legal use of herbicides.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Department of Agricultural.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

ALEXANDRIA, La. –A senior leader of the Aryan Circle (AC) and a gang member were sentenced today for being an accessory-after-the-fact to racketeering murder, announced U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana and Assistant Attorney General Bryan A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

United States District Court Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced David Wayne Williams, 38, of Sulphur, Louisiana, a senior leader in the gang, was sentenced to serve 157 months in prison and four years of supervised release and Richard Alan Smith, 47, of Little Rock, Arkansas was sentenced to serve 150 months in prison to be served consecutive to his current state charges and three years of supervised. 

On Aug. 22, 2018, Williams pleaded guilty to the charge of accessory-after-the-fact to racketeering murder of Clifton Hallmark, drug trafficking and weapons possession.  On July 25, 2018, Smith pleaded guilty to the accessory-after-the-fact charge.     

According to the plea agreement, the AC is a race-based, multi-state organization that operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the United States.  The AC was established in the mid-1980s within the Texas prison system (TDCJ).  Recently, the AC’s structure and influence expanded to rural and suburban areas throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri.  The AC emerged as an independent organization during a period of turmoil within the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT).  The AC was relatively small in comparison to other prison-based gangs, but grew in stature and influence within TDCJ in the 1990s, largely through violent conflict with other gangs, white and non-white alike. 

The plea agreement further alleges that the AC enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the organization.  Members, and oftentimes associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.

In pleading guilty to the accessory charge, Williams and Smith admitted to being accessories to the murder of Hallmark on or around July 1, 2016, when a fellow AC member shot Hallmark in the side of his head at point blank range at an AC “church” meeting in Turkey Creek, Louisiana.  Williams and Smith both admitted to being members of the AC criminal enterprise.  Williams admitted to being a senior leader of the gang.

This case is being investigated by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Louisiana State Police; Evangeline Parish, (LA) Sheriff’s Office; Evangeline Parish District Attorney’s Office; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; New Jersey Department of Corrections-Special Investigations Division; Arnold (MO) Police Department; Jefferson County (MO) Sheriff’s Department; St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; St. Louis County (MO) Police Department; Montgomery County (TX) Precinct 1 Constable’s Office; Indiana State Police; Indiana Department of Corrections; Carrollton (TX) Police Department; Waller (TX) Police Department; Montgomery County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Travis County (TX) Sheriff’s Office and the Tarrant County (TX) Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY– November 20, 2018

SAN DIEGO – Yesterday, federal authorities charged Salam Razuki, Sylvia Gonzales and Elizabeth Juarez with offenses related to a conspiracy to kidnap and kill a business associate over a dispute involving real estate investment properties, most of which were leased to marijuana dispensaries.  All three defendants were arrested last week.

According to the complaint, in October 2018, Salam Razuki and Sylvia Gonzales met with a Confidential Human Source and asked the source to arrange to kill one of their business associates, N.M. (name redacted for privacy reasons).  Razuki and Gonzales stated that they had invested in multiple properties and business ventures with N.M. and were now involved in a civil dispute over their assets. They wanted the source to “shoot him in the face,” “to take him to Mexico and have him whacked,” or kill him in some other way.  Razuki and Gonzales provided the source with a picture of N.M.

In subsequent conversations earlier this month, defendants Razuki and Gonzales, eventually joined by Elizabeth Juarez, reiterated their desire to have N.M., who they nicknamed “the midget,” taken to Mexico and killed, with Gonzales and Juarez stating they wanted to “put the turkey up to roast before Thanksgiving.”  Defendants offered to pay the source $2,000, with $1,000 to be paid immediately. Defendant Gonzales went to the Goldn Bloom Dispensary and returned with $1,000 cash, which defendants provided to the source along with two addresses for N.M.

The complaint further states that on or about November 13, 2018, Gonzales called the source and indicated that she and Razuki would be with N.M. in court at the Hall of Justice at 330 West Broadway in San Diego.  Gonzales asked the source to join them in order to see N.M. in person. The source declined going into the courtroom, but agreed to stand outside the building and wait for N.M. to exit. While inside the Hall of Justice, Gonzales took a picture of N.M. with her phone, sent it to the source and then called the source to describe what N.M. was wearing. Gonzales left the Hall of Justice and met with the source to further describe N.M. During this meeting, Gonzales identified the locations of two businesses N.M. manages and stated “if they take him now, it’s gunna be good.” Gonzales went back into the courthouse and provided updates as N.M. was departing the Hall of Justice, to ensure the source observed N.M. as he left.

According to the complaint, on November 15, 2018, the source met with Razuki and stated, “I took care of it.” Razuki replied, “So he will take care of it, or it’s done?” The source replied, “Done.” Razuki quickly changed the subject to discuss other business investments and pending loans. Later in the conversation, the source asked whether Razuki wanted to see proof. Razuki replied, “No, I'm ok with it. I don't want to see it.” The source then requested the remainder of the agreed-upon payment and Razuki indicated Gonzales would handle this.

The complaint reflects that defendants’ business dispute with N.M. involved approximately $40 million.  In an interview with FBI, N.M. advised that he had invested in real estate with Razuki in order to lease buildings to various entities, which were primarily marijuana dispensaries.

Detention hearings for defendants Salam Razuki and Elizabeth Juarez are scheduled to occur on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell Dembin.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Fred Sheppard.

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

DEFENDANT                                                Case Number 18MJ5915                                         

Salam Razuki

Sylvia Gonzales

Elizabeth Juarez        

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, United States Code, Section 956 - Conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim an individual

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(c) - Conspiracy to kidnap

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

ROCKFORD — A Champaign man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Rockford before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala to two drug trafficking charges.

SETH LASHAWN HUNTER, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

Hunter has been in federal custody since his arrest on Nov. 8, 2018. Sentencing is set for May 10, 2019, at 9:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Phillip G. Reinhard in Rockford.

According to the written plea agreement, on June 20, 2018, Hunter arranged for an individual in Long Beach, Calif., to ship two packages containing narcotics to Hunter at the residences of two of Hunter’s family members in Rockford. One package contained approximately 250 grams of heroin, and the other package contained approximately 998 pills that were designed to look like pharmaceutically manufactured oxycodone but contained amounts of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl.  Hunter arranged for the packages to be delivered to fictitious persons at Hunter’s family members’ residences in Rockford via the U.S. Postal Service.  Hunter admitted that he traveled to Rockford over the weekend of June 22-24, 2018, to retrieve the packages of narcotics, and that he intended to distribute the heroin and the pills containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl after he received the packages.  Law enforcement officers, however, intercepted the narcotics before the two packages were delivered.

The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Craig Goldberg, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago; and James M. Gibbons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Talia Bucci.

Attempted possession of 100 grams or more of heroin with intent to distribute carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison, a period of supervised release after imprisonment of at least four years, and a fine of up to $5 million.  Attempted possession of a detectable amount of fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a period of supervised release after imprisonment of at least three years, and a maximum penalty of $1 million. The sentence will be determined by the United States District Court, guided by the Sentencing Guidelines.

BOSTON – A Virginia husband and wife pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to their roles in operating a long-running interstate prostitution ring. 

Yoon I. Kim, 36, and Taehee Kim, a/k/a “Hyunsook Kim,” 46, both of Haymarket, Va., each pleaded guilty in separate hearings to one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce individuals to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled Yoon Kim’s sentencing for Feb. 12, 2019, and U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock also scheduled Taehee Kim’s sentencing for Feb. 12, 2019.

Co-conspirators Jineok Kim, 38, of Watertown, Mass., and Susan Bashir, a/k/a “Susan Redmon,” a/k/a “Susan Redmond,” 41, of Stone Mountain, Ga., previously pleaded guilty to the same charges. Kyung Song, 52, of Lexington, Mass., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Bashir is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 11, 2018; Jineok Kim on Jan. 9, 2019; and Song on Jan. 29, 2019.   

From at least 2013 until March 2018 when they were arrested, the defendants operated an interstate prostitution network with multiple brothels in high-end apartments in Cambridge, Mass.; Atlanta, Ga.; and eastern Virginia. They advertised appointments with Asian women primarily on three websites: www.bostonasiandolls.com, www.exoticasiansatlanta.com, and www.redhotflowers69.com. The women advertised on the websites were moved from city to city within the network, at Taehee Kim’s direction, working as prostitutes for the organization. Co-conspirators collected the cash earnings from the women working at the brothels and funneled the money into accounts controlled by Yoon and Taehee Kim. Co-conspirators also used U.S. Postal money orders and the U.S. Mail to transport proceeds around the prostitution network. Yoon Kim rented several of the brothel locations, including multiple apartments in and around Cambridge.

The charge of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce women to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain/loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to engage in money laundering provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering transactions, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Andrew E. Lelling; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Joseph W. Cronin, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Field Division; and Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard Jr. made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. D’Addio and Amy Harman Burkart of Lelling’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team are prosecuting the case. 

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that DEAN JONES, a/k/a “Kurupt,” was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 26 years in prison for robbing a restaurant in 2012, during which JONES shot an innocent customer, as well as for JONES’s participation in a wide-ranging conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, and other drugs.  JONES was convicted of robbery-related and narcotics-related offenses at separate jury trials in April and December 2017 before United States District Judge Vernon S. Broderick.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “While robbing a restaurant, Dean Jones shot and badly injured an innocent civilian.  What is more, Jones committed this robbery during the same time that he was selling large amounts of crack, heroin, and other drugs.  Thanks to the exceptional work of the ATF, Jones will now spend decades in prison.  Today’s sentence sends a strong message that this kind of violent and destructive behavior will not be tolerated.”

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In addition to the prison term, JONES, 37, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.  Of the 10 defendants charged in connection to this case, all 10 have pled guilty or been convicted at trial.

Mr. Berman thanked and praised the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for its outstanding work in this investigation.  

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Clore, Jessica Feinstein, Thomas McKay, and Hagan Scotten are in charge of the prosecution.

In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced 17 individuals, including ringleader Horace Lee Caruther, for their alleged roles in a narcotics distribution ring operating in and around the Taylor, TX, area announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, Houston Division.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel sentenced:

• Horace Lee Caruther, age 43 of Round Rock, TX, to 210 months in federal prison;
• William Collins (aka “Bugs”), age 62 of Taylor, TX, to 87 months in federal prison;
• Trevor Deshaun Hunt, age 26 of Taylor, to 57 months in federal prison;
• Gregory Bean, Jr., age 45 of Pflugerville, TX, to 15 months in federal prison;
• Robert Carl White, age 39 of Temple, TX, to 77 months in federal prison;
• Angel Amado Rodriguez, age 24 of Austin, to 188 months in federal prison;
• Kenneth Xavier Garza, age 23 of Austin, to 60 months in federal prison;
• Esmerelda Rodriguez, age 23 of Austin, to three years probation;
• Salomon Orozco-Benitez (aka “Viejito”), age 34 of Austin, to 168 months in federal prison;
• Elias Montiel, age 27 of Sanford, NC, to 46 months in federal prison;
• Federico Alvarez-Mendoza, age 37 of Cameron, NC, to 30 months in federal prison;
• David Ibarra, age 26 of Broadway, NC, to 30 months in federal prison;
• Miguel Benitez-Benitez (aka “Daniel Sanchez Benitez”), age 39 of Pflugerville, to 262 months in federal prison;
• Sandra Parra-Velez (aka “La Coyota”), age 34 of Austin, to 70 months in federal prison;  
• Jose Parra-Martinez (aka “Vitaminas”), age 36 of Austin, to 60 months in federal prison;
• Maria Loreto Bustamonte, age 53 of Laredo, TX, to time served (approx. 14 months incarceration); and,
• Ana Patricia Gonzalez, age 48 of Laredo, to three years probation.
   

Previously, Garza and Parra-Martinez pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and Esmerelda Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of felony.  The remaining defendants mentioned above pleaded guilty to either conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine or possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Co-defendant James Wilbert McNeil, age 71 of Round Rock, was sentenced on August 27, 2018, to time served (approx. 9 months incarceration) after pleading guilty to one count of misprision of felony.  Also, co-defendant Jesus Parra-Martinez (aka “Chuy”), age 24 of Austin, was sentenced on October 26, 2018, to 87 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. 

According to court records, from July 2016 to October 2017, members of this organization were responsible for the distribution of large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine and diverted pharmaceutical narcotics. The narcotics would be transported from Laredo to Central Texas and ultimately to areas across the U.S., including North Carolina, for further distribution. Defendants would also collect, transport and launder cash proceeds derived from the sale of narcotics. To date, this investigation has resulted in the arrests and conviction of 20 defendants; and, the seizure of $161,020 in U.S. Currency, six kilograms of cocaine, two ounces of “crack” cocaine, 42 pounds of marijuana and, three guns.

The DEA Austin High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force investigated this case. The Austin Police Department, Cedar Park Police Department, Georgetown Police Department, Lakeway Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are participating agencies in the HIDTA Task Force.

The principal mission of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.