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

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Chucky Ellis, 22, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that at approximately 9:40 p.m. on February 1, 2019, Rochester Police officers initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle the defendant was driving in the area of Clifford Avenue and Goodman Street in Rochester. During the traffic stop, Ellis drove away from the scene. He and an unidentified front passenger then fled the vehicle on foot in the area of Bay and Iroquois Streets. The defendant was apprehended in the area of 124 Parkside Drive in Rochester. 

Officers searched Ellis and recovered a loaded .38 caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number in his front right pocket. Officers also located a fanny pack that the defendant had discarded during the chase, which contained 19 vials of cocaine, 19 vials of marijuana, and $70 in cash.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief La’Ron Singletary, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.

The case was brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of its Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 17, 2019, at 9:15 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.

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FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Justin Deger, 28, of Fresno, charging him with credit card fraud and possession of stolen mail, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between Dec. 5, 2018, and March 28, 2019, Deger allegedly conducted more than $1,000 in unauthorized transactions on another person’s credit card, possessed 15 or more people’s credit cards or other access devices without their authorization, and possessed more than 2,000 pieces of stolen mail.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincente Tennerelli and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Deger faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of credit card fraud, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the stolen mail count. Any sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced 40–year-old former Austin Capital One bank employee Paola Gallego of Round Rock, TX, to five years in federal prison for stealing over $1 million from a bank customer, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and Special Agent in Charge Laurie L. Younger, FDIC Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Dallas Region.   

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered Gallego to pay a monetary judgment forfeiture in the amount of $1.2 Million; pay $1,403,979.13 in restitution to Capital One Bank (which had reimbursed the victims for their losses); and, be placed on supervised release for a period of four years after completing her prison term.  Gallego remains on a $1 million bond pending Bureau of Prisons notification as to when and where to report to begin her prison sentence.

On May 9, 2019, Gallego pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and agreed to liquidate and remit certain assets and properties to be applied towards restitution. 

Court records and testimony show that beginning in April 2014, Gallego began servicing the Capital One accounts of an elderly Austin couple.  Gallego told one of her victims that if the spouse should die, another family member could take control of the money in their bank account—approximately $4.4 million. In September 2016, the victim took $400,000 and opened up an account at Wells Fargo Bank with Gallego’s assistance.  Over the next two weeks, Gallego spent $94,779.13 on personal and family expenditures including a $50,000 wire transfer to Bancolombia on September 28, 2016, and a $20,586.81 online credit card payment to Chase Bank to an account in the name of her mother.  Wells Fargo closed that account on suspicions of elder abuse.

Gallego and her victim subsequently opened another joint checking account, this time at J.P. Morgan Chase (Chase Bank).  Gallego told a Chase Bank employee that she was her victim’s caretaker and a stay-at-home mother, which was false.  Gallego then opened up a separate individual bank account at Chase Bank.  Between October 14, 2016 and April 20, 2017, Gallego’s victim withdrew $1.2 million from the joint Capital One account via cashier’s checks with the understanding that Gallego would deposit those funds into their joint account at Chase Bank for investment purposes.  Instead, Gallego deposited those checks into her own Chase Bank account and used the money for personal expenses, including purchasing a Range Rover Sport HSE, shopping, a Hawaiian vacation, making home improvements including a pool, making mortgage payments, paying off family member’s credit card balances, and purchasing a VW Passat for her parents.

“Stealing money by defrauding the elderly is reprehensible.  We will continue to smoke out wrongdoers in our community who take advantage of the most vulnerable citizens,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.

“This is a clear cut case of an individual taking full advantage of vulnerable victims for financial gain,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Combs.  “We will continue our vigorous pursuit of those who commit such unscrupulous actions with little or no regard for their victims.”

“The FDIC OIG, along with its law enforcement partners, is dedicated to pursuing those who commit schemes to defraud the nation’s federally insured financial institutions and its customers,” stated FDIC OIG Special Agent in Charge Younger.

Agents with the FBI, including an FBI Task Force officer from the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the FDIC OIG investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Galdo and Neeraj Gupta prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Liodam Gonzalez, 27, of Bakersfield, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Aug. 30, at 3:20 a.m., law enforcement officers received an alert indicating that gunshots had been fired on South Kern Street in Bakersfield. The spent shell casings were traced to Gonzalez’s residence where more bullet casings were found on the car that he drove. A search of the residence yielded a Glock handgun that was converted to fire as a fully automatic machine gun.

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Newman is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Gonzalez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

FORT WAYNE – Adonnis Carswell, age 34, of New Haven, Indiana was found guilty by a jury on 4 counts as charged in a Superseding Indictment; maintaining a drug involved premises, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady, presided over this four day jury trial. 

According to evidence presented at trial, in June 2017, a search warrant was executed on a residence in New Haven, Indiana where Carswell lived.  During the search agents found numerous firearms, to include a Smith and Wesson pistol, a Scorpion Pistol and a rifle which contained a 100 round drum magazine, 124 rounds of ammunition, over 60 grams of heroin, along with other indicia of drug distribution (packaging, scales, and over $25,000 in cash). While agents were executing the search warrant, Carswell attempted to bribe an agent by offering the agent money to dispose of heroin, which did not happen. 

Carswell’s sentencing will be set at a later date. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Indiana State Police with the assistance of the New Haven Police Department as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Geller and Sarah Nokes. 

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TULSA, Okla. –A federal grand jury has indicted a Tulsa doctor and his two employees for conspiring to illegally distribute prescription opioids to patients, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arrested the trio this morning.

Dr. Christopher V. Moses, 66, Melisa D. Million, 49, and Kay Speir, 54, are charged with drug conspiracy and aiding and abetting each other to distribute Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Carisoprodol, Clonazepam, Morphine Sulfate, Hydrocodone, and Tramadol. In court filings, the United States alleged that three patients died as a result from opioids prescribed by Dr. Moses.

The defendants distributed the prescriptions from January 2010 to January 2018 at the Southside Medical Clinic in Tulsa. The indictment alleges that Dr. Moses prescribed highly addictive and often abused opioids to his patients without valid medical purpose or for reasons outside of his scope of practice and that Moses and Speir also illegally made pre-signed prescriptions for the medications available to patients when Moses was absent.

“The opioid epidemic has taken a deadly toll on communities across our nation, including here in Oklahoma. As alleged in the indictment, Dr. Moses and his co-conspirators operated a ‘pill mill’ through which they distributed highly addictive opioids without a medical purpose,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “In fact, the United States has sought detention for Dr. Moses in this case because, in part, we believe he presents a danger to our community here in Northern Oklahoma where his alleged illegal prescribing actions resulted in three people dying from opioid-related overdoses. Make no mistake, my office will vigorously prosecute unscrupulous doctors and their cohorts who enrich themselves by illegally distributing opioids.”

“The DEA is actively battling the opioid epidemic that we are facing as a nation,” said John P. Scott, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Oklahoma District. "DEA Tulsa is committed to combating the opioid problem in Northeast Oklahoma and recognizes the community impact the overprescribing of opioids plays in this epidemic.  Hopefully these arrests will act as a reminder that the DEA will continue to investigate corrupt doctors, pharmacies, and/or manufacturers who illegally distribute these highly addictive drugs.”

The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick is prosecuting the case. AUSA McCormick serves as the lead attorney for the United States Attorney’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that three defendants appeared in federal court this week on gun crimes.

Tristan Monroe Baldwin, 23, of Charleston, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  Following his prison sentence, Baldwin must complete an in-patient drug treatment program as part of his three year term of supervised release.  According to public court hearings and documents, on October 11, 2017, the pastor of Baber-Agee United Methodist Church entered a building on church property and found Baldwin, who had broken into the building through a window.  Baldwin fled into the woods.  Later the same day, Baldwin burglarized several vehicles on a property on Dutch Creek Road in Charleston, before the property owners’ dogs chased Baldwin away.  Police investigators ultimately found Baldwin carrying a duffle bag that held a loaded .40 caliber pistol, a methamphetamine pipe, and various stolen items.  Baldwin admitted to investigators that he had been heavily using methamphetamine for three years.  As an unlawful drug user, Baldwin was federally prohibited from possessing a firearm.  The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation.   Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman handled the prosecution.

Melvin Peters, 32,  of Charleston, pled guilty to prohibited possession of a firearm.  Peters admitted that during a traffic stop near the Greyhound Bus Station in Charleston, he threw a Rossi Model 46102, .357 Magnum revolver underneath the car he was driving.  Peters had a previous conviction of domestic battery.  Peters faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced on December 11, 2019.  The ATF and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation.  Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is handling the prosecution.

Keanna Carter, of Charleston, pled guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  Carter admitted that she possessed 251 oxycodone pills at her house with the intent to distribute them for money.  Carter further admitted that she possessed firearms for the purpose of assisting her with the drug trafficking.  Carter faces a minimum five year sentence in prison when sentenced on December 11, 2019.  The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Joseph Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Arthur is handling the prosecution.

These cases are being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Follow us on Twitter:SDWVNewsand USAttyStuart
 

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SALT LAKE CITY –  A federal grand jury returned a 10-count superseding indictment Wednesday afternoon charging eight individuals in connection with a fraud scheme primarily targeting widowed women over 65 years old.  The indictment alleges that over approximately two years, the defendants defrauded dozens of victims out of more than $6 million, which they laundered through accounts they controlled.

According to the indictment, the defendants and unnamed co-conspirators used social media and social gaming applications to target widows.  The defendants created false identities to befriend potential victims, feigned romantic interest, and eventually pressured them to send money to the defendants. The indictment also alleges the defendants engaged in a series of subsequent transactions to disguise the origins of the funds and promote the operation of the conspiracy – often sending significant sums of money overseas.

Charged in the indictment are Jeffersonking Anyanwu, age 25, Daniel Negedu, age 21, Onoriode Kenneth Adigbolo, age 31, Chukwudi Kingsley Kalu, age 28, and Godsent Nwanganga, age 24, all Nigerians living in Orem; David Maduagu, age 27, a Nigerian living in Taylorsville; and Richard Ukorebi, age 38, and Adrianna Sotelo, age 20, both of West Valley City. Ukorebi is also Nigerian.

All defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.  Anyanwu, Negedu, Adigbolo, Kalu, Ukorebi, Nwanganga and Sotello are also each charged with one count of money laundering.

The indictment alleges that in the typical execution of the scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators would create a fake online personality on a social media website or dating application, befriend a woman through that website, and convince the woman through the fake persona that they had some urgent financial need. The fake profiles included a businessman in Europe, high ranking United States military officers, a successful Utah businessman, an individual in Sweden under house arrest, and an engineer working as a subcontractor for a large oil company working in Oman.  The fake schemes alleged in the indictment included telling women that a U.S. military member was stranded overseas, pitching loans or investment opportunities, and describing an urgent business need to purchase equipment. After presenting the false financial need, the victims were provided with the defendants’ bank account information. Once the money was in the defendants’ accounts, they would transfer the money to each other and to overseas accounts, withdraw the money as cash, or use the money for personal expenses. The indictment includes several examples of fake profiles the defendants allegedly used to obtain and launder money from victims. The victims in these examples ranged in age from 52 to 76.

One victim of the alleged scheme, a 75-year-old woman identified as C.S. in the indictment, was contacted on social media by the defendants using the profile “Aaron.Brain.” “Brain” claimed to be a businessperson living in Germany.  “Brain” provided photos and discussed his business, claiming he was involved in a business supplying pipe for a sewer in Turkey.  “Brain” provided photographs of industrial pipes in a warehouse.  He told the victim she could make $600,000 in his business venture.  He convinced C.S. to send 10 checks totalling $275,000 and make five wire transfers totalling $81,000 between April 2, 2018 and May 17, 2018.

The defendants and their unnamed co-conspirators used the name of a U.S. military general to befriend N.W., a 74-year-old woman, through social media.  Using the persona of the general, they pretended to be a high-ranking officer at Ft. Bragg deployed overseas.  They claimed to have a “portfolio” that was restricted due to customs fees and he needed her assistance to get his “portfolio” released.  They instructed N.W. to send checks made out to several of defendants.  The address they provided for mailing the checks was an address for Negedu in Vineyard, Utah, and other locations.  N.W. sent approximately $140,150.

The maximum potential penalty for each of the first four counts in the indictment is 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 (or double the stolen amount).  The penalty for each money laundering and money laundering conspiracy count is 10 years in federal prison and $250,000 (or double the laundered amount).

Anyanwu, Negedu, and Adigbolo were initially charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in late May.  They were arraigned on the charges and entered pleas of not guilty.  They will remain in custody pending resolution of the case after U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul M. Warner found them to be a financial danger to the community, a risk of non-appearance, or both.  Ukorebi, Maduagu, and Sotelo were previously charged by criminal complaint and arrested.  Ukorebi and Maduagu were ordered detained pending trial.  Sotelo is released on supervision pending trial.  Nwanganga is incarcerated on unrelated charges.  Kalu remains at large. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Salt Lake City are prosecuting the case.  Special agents of the FBI and Postal Inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case.

The defendants were arrested and charged as part of DOJ’s Operation reWired, a coordinated international enforcement operation.  (DOJ September 10, 2019 Press Release).

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Philip Michael Harr, 29, Rushville, Indiana, was charged by criminal complaint with Sexual Exploitation of a Child, and Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography. Harr had his initial appearance in the United States District Court on Thursday, September 19, 2019.  

“Public officials are entrusted to perform their work duties and to serve the community without committing criminal conduct on the job,” said Minkler. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to identifying and prosecuting individuals who utilize social media and other vehicles to exploit innocent children.”

According to the allegations in the court documents, Harr used a social media application to pose as a teenage girl, and solicit images and videos depicting at least two minor victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The alleged victims were from Mississippi and Indiana. Harr used the same media application to allegedly distribute, receive, and possess images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

Harr allegedly engaged in much of this alleged criminal conduct while on duty as a Rush County Special Sherriff’s Deputy and a Rushville, Indiana fireman. Harr was also employed by the Rush County Government as a courtroom security officer and dispatcher. Harr is alleged to have misused his position of public trust by using a law enforcement database to conduct searches for one of his minor victims.

This investigation was jointly conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rush County Sheriff’s Department.

A spokesperson for the Rush County Sheriff’s Department said, “Our department would like to thank everyone involved in this investigation. Officers worked tirelessly to bring charges against Mr. Harr and seek justice for his victims.” 

According to Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston who is prosecuting this case for the government, Harr faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment if convicted on all counts.

A criminal complaint is merely a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.

If you believe you have been a victim of Philip Michael Harr, please contact the Indianapolis FBI Office at https://tips.fbi.gov/ or call 317-595-4000 to make a report.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to utilize and partner with law enforcement agencies to prosecute individuals engaged in the sexual exploitation of children. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 4.1.

SHREVEPORT, La. –United StatesAttorney David C. Joseph announced that Paul Andrew Talley, 51, of Coushatta, Louisiana, was sentenced Wednesday by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for accessing the internet with intent to view child pornography.  Talley is also required to register as a sex offender. 

According to documents presented at Talley’s guilty plea hearing on April 11, 2019, law enforcement agents identified Talley’s computer as accessing a “Dark Web” child porn site and being a regular user.  Forensic analysis on the computer equipment seized from Talley’s home on August 20, 2015, revealed more than 2,300 images of child pornography.  The images found on the computer matched the images from the “Dark Web” site.

The Dark Web, also called the DarkNet, is a collection of underground marketplaces where websites selling illegal content design their sites to hide identities of users and evade law enforcement detection. For more information, visit www.fbi.gov/news/stories/a-primer-on-darknet-marketplaces.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.           

Those concerned may leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The Shreveport FBI office number is (318) 861-1890.

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Matthew Enhoffer (34, St. Petersburg) has been arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography. If convicted, Enhoffer faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, and up to 20 years, in federal prison. Federal agents arrested Enhoffer, a police officer with the St. Petersburg Police Department, yesterday without incident.

According to the complaint, an individual using the screen name “thehoff727” distributed child pornography on Snapchat, a mobile web-based communications application. Further investigation revealed that the Internet Protocol (IP) address and subscriber information associated with that account was linked to Enhoffer’s residence.

On September 11, 2019, agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Enhoffer’s home and seized several electronic devices. An examination of Enhoffer’s cellphone revealed a collection of child-pornographic images and videos, including multiple images and videos involving children under the age of 12 in bondage, being raped, and forced to perform sex acts.

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

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

This is another case 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, 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.  

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Ernest Gill, 65, of pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that, on July 20, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Gill’s residence and recovered a Samsung cell phone, which contained a collection of child pornography. A subsequent search of Gill’s Dropbox and Yahoo accounts also revealed child pornography. In addition to possessing child pornography, Gill acknowledged that he also distributed child pornography.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for January 9, 2020. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 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 Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Allegheny County District Attorney Investigations Unit, and the Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gill.

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Freedom, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Adam Hosie, age 25, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on July 12, 2018, Hosie possessed images and videos in computer graphic files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, some of whom had not yet attained 12 years of age.

Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for January 9, 2020 at 2 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 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 Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, and the Western Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hosie.

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, 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.

FARGO– First Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Chase, District of North Dakota, announced that on September 17, 2019, Jonathan James Hill, age 22, an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe and the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Peter D. Welte, Fargo, ND, to an Indictment charging him with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.

At the plea hearing, Hill admitted that between December 26, 2018, and January 1, 2019, he assaulted a baby by hitting the baby with his fists and shoving the child into walls. 

On January 1, 2019, emergency medical technicians responded to a residence in Fort Totten, ND, within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation, for a report of an unresponsive baby.  Medical providers described the 20-month-old baby as “noticeably bruised to face & entire body.”  The baby was diagnosed with multiple acute and chronic injuries to the brain and body.  The injuries were characterized by medical providers as “non-accidental” and were determined to be consistent with abusive head trauma and child physical abuse.  The baby’s injuries required air transport for medical treatment, surgical intervention, and months-long hospitalization. 

Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2019, at 9:00 AM before Judge Peter D. Welte.  A 10-year minimum prison sentence applies given the nature of the injuries and the age of the victim.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that John Bennett Roof, Jr., a/k/a “Brent Roof,” a/k/a “Ice Man”, age 34, of Chester, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  Following the term of imprisonment, Roof will remain on federal supervised release for an additional 3 years.  United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs of Columbia imposed the sentence.

Evidence presented in court established that on April 17, 2018, officers with the Chester Police Department Narcotics and Gang Unit and a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a traffic stop of a Mazda sedan on West Elliott Street in Chester.  Officers noticed a strong odor of marijuana and asked Roof, the only occupant of the vehicle, to step out of the car.  A search of the car produced a 9mm handgun loaded with seven rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one in the chamber; 4.86 grams of methamphetamine; what appeared to be cocaine, hydrocodone, three ecstasy pills, and a jar of marijuana; and $560 in U.S. currency.  Roof admitted the firearm and narcotics were his, that he is a methamphetamine dealer, that the pistol was stolen, and that he traded methamphetamine for the firearm.

Federal law prohibits Roof from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon multiple prior state convictions, including a 2008 conviction for distributions of marijuana, a 2012 conviction for distribution of a controlled substance, and a 2006 conviction for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature related to an incident where Roof threw an infant on the ground, cracking the infant’s scull.  In addition, Roof has at least five prior drug possession convictions from 2002 through 2018, and a 2016 conviction for criminal domestic violence.  Roof has 16 outstanding charges in the state system.  Evidence presented in court also indicated Roof is a validated member of a criminal street gang.

The case was investigated by the ATF and the Chester Police Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Assistant United States Attorney Elliott B. Daniels of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal grand jury has charged DAVID QUY, D.O., 62, an Oklahoma City resident who practiced medicine in Warr Acres, with dispensing opioids illegally and identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.

According to the indictment, Quy saw patients at Family Medicine Center, 5500 N.W. Expressway, in Warr Acres.  It is alleged that from November 2014 until May 8, 2019, he conspired to dispense Schedule II prescription opioids, including Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, outside the usual course of professional medical practice and without legitimate medical purpose when he wrote prescriptions for certain of his employees and then directed those employees to fill the prescriptions and bring the pills back to him.  He is also charged with 55 counts of illegally dispensing Schedule II opioids on specific dates from November 2014 to April 2019.

In two separate counts, he is charged with identity theft based on allegations that he wrote prescriptions for Hydrocodone-Homatropine Syrup, a Schedule II opioid, in the names of minor children of employees when he intended that those prescriptions be used by someone else.

On May 14, 2019, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs issued an emergency suspension of Quy’s license to prescribe controlled substances.

If found guilty of conspiracy or any of the 55 substantive counts of dispensing opioids illegally, Quy faces up to twenty years in prison, not less than three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.  If found guilty of identity theft, he could be imprisoned up to five years, serve an additional three years on supervised release, and be subject to a $250,000 fine.

This case is a result of an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott E. Williams is prosecuting the case.

The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  Reference is made to public filings for more information.

SOUTH BEND – Jerry Harris, age 28, of South Bend, Indiana and David Gibson, age 46, of Chicago, Illinois were found guilty, late September 19^th,  after a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Jon DeGuilio, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

In March of 2018 Jerry Harris and Gibson were indicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin.  The jury deliberated about three hours and found them both guilty of conspiring to distribute over a kilogram of heroin in the South Bend area.   In an earlier case (United States v. Corey Harris, et al.), several individuals who sold heroin for Harris and Gibson pled guilty; some have been sentenced and others are awaiting sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “I have directed my Office to focus on individuals who distribute heroin and other dangerous opiate narcotics, especially in light of the opioid crisis that exists across the United States.  This successful prosecution was the result of cooperative efforts throughout local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.  We will aggressively investigate, prosecute and hold accountable those who flood our streets with these drugs to make our communities safer.” 

According to evidence presented at trial, Jerry Harris and Gibson conspired with at least six others persons from that earlier case to sell heroin in and around the Miami Hills area of South Bend.  The conspirators shared a cellphone that customers called to arrange purchases of heroin.  The evidence showed that undercover law enforcement officers purchased heroin from members of the conspiracy on 28 separate occasions between March and October of 2017.  Phone records show that the shared cellphones had over 80,000 contacts during the time of the conspiracy.  The investigation included search warrants on five houses and cars.  Harris and Gibson directed the sales conducted by those who sold heroin to the undercover officers.

Mr.  Jerry Harris and Mr. Gibson are scheduled to be sentenced on January 30 of 2020.  Both face a minimum of ten years to life incarceration.   Gibson was recently convicted of carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime in Wyoming and is currently serving a twelve year sentence.

The case was investigated by the DEA and ATF with assistance from several local police agencies including the St. Joseph County Drug Investigation Unit, Indiana State Police, South Bend Police Department, Mishawaka Police Department, the Elkhart Police and ICE unit, the St. Joseph County Police Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.   The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Molly Donnelly. 

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Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Brian Ryan, Town of Greenburgh Police Chief, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging 11 defendants with narcotics distribution offenses in and around Westchester County, New York.  The defendants, RANDY SARGEANT, a/k/a “Black,” KELVIN GANPAT, JEANCARLOS LAUREANO, a/k/a “Rico,” CHRISTOPHER MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Panama,” HOWARD MEREDITH, WILLIAM BRITO, AMANDA COPPOLLA, JAMAAL PETERS, a/k/a “Mega Head,” BERT HICKSON, CHRISTINE MORRISON, and CRYSTAL MARTINE, were presented in White Plains federal court yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, these defendants were responsible for selling crack cocaine, a potentially lethal commodity that plagues far too many of our communities.  Thanks to the FBI and the Greenburgh Police, the defendants are in custody and facing federal criminal charges.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “The outstanding work of our law enforcement partners on the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force should give the community peace of mind that we are working every day to make their lives safer.  These groups pushing illegal drugs create chaos and violence which put innocent people at risk.  Our work going after these criminals won’t stop.”

Greenburgh Police Chief Brian Ryan said: “I would like state my appreciation for this outstanding example of what can be achieved when local and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate to maximize our efforts in battling drug trafficking in our communities. We are committed to maintaining our partnerships with all our law enforcement partners and staying vigilant in our efforts to keep our communities safe.”

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

From at least 2018 until September 2019, RANDY SARGEANT, a/k/a “Black,” KELVIN GANPAT, JEANCARLOS LAUREANO, a/k/a “Rico,” CHRISTOPHER MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Panama,” HOWARD MEREDITH, WILLIAM BRITO, AMANDA COPPOLLA, JAMAAL PETERS, a/k/a “Mega Head,” BERT HICKSON, CHRISTINE MORRISON, and CRYSTAL MARTINEZ conspired to distribute 280 grams and more of crack cocaine.       

*                *                *

All defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams and more of crack cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.   

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

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force.  The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force is comprised of Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the FBI, US Probation, ATF, New York State Police, Westchester County PD, Westchester County DAs Office, NYPD, Yonkers PD, Mount Vernon PD, Peekskill PD, Greenburgh PD and New Rochelle PD.  The Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Greenburgh PD, Tarrytown PD, Sleepy Hollow PD, Dobbs Ferry PD, Ardsley PD, Irvington PD, Hastings PD and Elmsford PD. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Brumwell is in charge of the prosecution.

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

WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison for robberies at four local stores, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Kenneth W. Cade, 29, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and one count of carrying a firearm during a robbery. In his plea, he admitted committing the following robberies:

• Dollar General Store, 915 S. Glendale in Wichita, Nov. 22, 2017. Cade admitted pointing a gun at an employee and demanding money.
• C-Store, 837 S. Oliver in Wichita, Feb. 7, 2018. Cade admitted serving as a lookout while a co-defendant pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money.
• Arby’s, 4308 E. Harry in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018. Cade admitted pointing a firearm at an employee and demanding money.
• Circle K Store, 515 N. Seneca in Wichita, Feb. 14, 2018. Cade admitted grabbing cash from a register after a co-defendant pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money.

Co-defendant Savannah Cole, 22, Wichita, Kan., is set for sentencing Oct. 4, 2019.

McAllister commended the FBI, the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case, which was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative targeting violent crime.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Sept. 16 was:

Lisa Marie Skunkcap, 36, of Browning, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Skunkcap faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Skunkcap was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI. Pacer case reference. 19-60.

If the above case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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