The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Robert Thorn, 50, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont for possessing with intent to distribute heroin and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced Thorn to five years in prison, to be followed by a five-year period of supervised release.

According to court records and proceedings, on January 14, 2019, law enforcement stopped a vehicle after investigation into suspected drug activity at a residence in Winooski, Vermont. Thorn, a passenger in the vehicle, initially provided law enforcement a false name. Thorn was found to be carrying approximately 110 grams of cocaine base, over 8 grams of heroin, and over $3,300 in U.S. currency. Additional investigation revealed that Thorn, who was on probation at the time, had deposited over $36,000 cash in Vermont ATMs in approximately two months.

The government and Thorn entered into a plea agreement in which Thorn admitted to the offense. The Court accepted the parties’ agreement providing for a five year sentence and sentenced him accordingly.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Cate handled the prosecution.  Thorn was represented by Assistant Federal Defender Steven Barth.

FORT WAYNE – Joel Sanchez-Lopez, age 33, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Holly Brady for illegal reentry of a removed alien, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

Joel Sanchez-Lopez was sentenced to 15 months in prison and will be deported upon completion of his federal sentence

According to documents in this case, Mr. Sanchez-Lopez is a citizen of Mexico.  In 2008, Sanchez-Lopez was charged and sentenced for felony domestic battery.  In 2009, Sanchez-Lopez was found operating a vehicle while intoxicated at 3 times the legal limit (.24%) while on probation supervision for the felony domestic battery offense.  He was deported back to Mexico in 2010.  However, Sanchez-Lopez returned to the United States in 2014 without legal authorization, and in violation of the 2010 deportation order.  In 2017, he was charged with another domestic battery offense which was later dismissed, and he was again deported to Mexico in November 2017. Sometime in July 2018, Sanchez-Lopez returned to the U.S. without legal authorization and in violation of the 2010 deportation order.  He was found to be illegally present in the U.S. after he was charged in December of 2018 with operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he got into a verbal altercation with his wife, drove off at a high rate of speed and crashed into a ditch.  His blood alcohol was almost 3 times the legal limit (.238%) for the State of Indiana.     

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.  The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Nokes. 

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A Tulsa resident pleaded guilty today to making a false statement in a bankruptcy proceeding, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney R. Trent Shores. 

According to the information and written plea agreement filed in the case, Michael J. Fletcher, of Tulsa, filed a bankruptcy petition in August of 2011 in which he stated that he had no legal or equitable interest in any real property.  In November 2011, the Department of Justice filed a complaint objecting to the discharge of Fletcher’s federal income tax debts on the grounds that Fletcher had concealed his interest in real property located on 110^th Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  During the trial in that matter in October 2014, Fletcher testified that his parents owned the house on 110^th Street and that the down payment for the purchase was funded by a loan from his daughters to his father.  In pleading guilty Fletcher admitted that he was the source of the funds used for the down payment, and that he lied during his bankruptcy court testimony when he denied this fact

“By effectively combating white collar crime and prosecuting individuals like Mr. Fletcher, we can protect the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and creditors from fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Moreover, I hope this prosecution signals a warning to others who would seek to commit fraud. I know that deterrence requires enforcement. That’s why we will continue to uphold our oath and enforce the laws of the United States. From white collar criminals to violent criminals, they can expect us to diligently pursue justice.”

United States District Court Judge John Dowdell scheduled Fletcher’s sentencing for December 23, 2019. 

The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant Chief Andrew Kameros of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor Régal are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website. 

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted in two separate cases of Larceny and Possession of a Stolen Firearm, was sentenced on September 23, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

In the stolen firearm case, Judson His Law, a/k/a Judson Rhee Dannen Two Dogs, age 25, was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $729.70.  In the larceny case, His Law was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release to both run concurrently with the stolen firearm sentence. He was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.

His Law was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 12, 2019, and again on May 14, 2019.  He pled guilty in both cases on July 1, 2019.

The convictions stemmed from two incidents.  The first occurred on November 3, 2018, when His Law stole another person’s pickup truck that was parked at a gas station in Eagle Butte.  The second incident involved His Law stealing four firearms from a home near Eagle Butte on February 13, 2019.  In the process of stealing the firearms, His Law damaged property at the home.

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 local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.  

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.

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

NEWARK, N.J. – An Atlantic City, New Jersey, woman was indicted today on charges including drug distribution that resulted in a death, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Rajeri Curry, 30, is charged by indictment with one count of distribution of heroin and fentanyl that resulted in a death, one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of possession with the intent to distribute heroin. Curry was charged by complaint in March 2019 and has been detained without bail.

According to documents filed in this case:

On June 1, 2018, Curry distributed a substance containing heroin and fentanyl to an individual who died as a result of using the substance. Law enforcement found the deceased victim inside a vehicle in the parking lot of an Atlantic City, New Jersey, restaurant. Inside the victim’s vehicle were multiple wax folds that contained heroin and fentanyl and were stamped with the words “BODY COUNT.” Shortly before the victim’s death, surveillance footage captured Curry distributing narcotics to the 30-year-old victim. 

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the DEA’s Newark Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, officers from the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Henry M. White Jr., and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Damon G. Tyner, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The drug distribution resulting in death charge carries a maximum punishment of life in prison and a fine of $1 million. The other counts are each punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison.

The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and Curry is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine R. Murphy and Heather Suchorsky of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man was charged today with online enticement to produce, as well as receipt of, images of child sexual abuse, U.S Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. 

Samuel Schwinger, 34, of Lakewood, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count each of sexual exploitation of a minor, online enticement of a minor to produce child pornography and receipt of child pornography. Schwinger is already in custody on state charges; his initial appearance will be scheduled for a later date.

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

Schwinger met an underage girl through an online social media application while he purported to be an underage girl. Schwinger asked the girl to send him sexually explicit videos through the application and directed her to produce certain images in the videos. During his communications with the victim, Schwinger also sent her sexually explicit videos claiming to be the girl depicted in those videos. 

The charge of online enticement carries a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. The charge of sexual exploitation of a child carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence 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 of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael in Newark; the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; and the Lakewood, New Jersey, Police Department under the direction of Chief Gregory Meyer with the investigation leading to the charges. 

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.  

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

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division hosted a roundtable September 23^rd, 2019 for community organizations to discuss the problem of racial and national origin discrimination in housing, U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced.

The event included local legal aid offices, fair housing organizations, civil rights organizations, faith-based organizations, and other community groups.  Those organizations were invited because they often work with populations likely to become victims of housing discrimination.  United States Attorney Krueger stated:  “Federal law provides individuals with the right to obtain access to housing and lending free from discrimination.  Our office is dedicated to uncovering violations of those rights and vigorously enforcing the law.”

The Department of Justice, through the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Civil Rights Division, enforces the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability.  The Department of Justice may bring lawsuits where there is reason to believe that a person or entity is engaged in a “pattern or practice” of discrimination or where a denial of rights to a group of persons raises an issue of general public importance.  The Department of Justice also brings cases where a housing discrimination complaint has been investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD has issued a charge of discrimination, and one of the parties to the case has “elected” to go to federal court.  In FHA cases, the Department can obtain injunctive relief, including affirmative requirements for training and policy changes, monetary damages and, in pattern or practice cases, civil penalties.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division held the roundtable to raise awareness in the Eastern District of Wisconsin about options to help victims experiencing discrimination in housing.  Attendees were encouraged to be alert and encourage that victims to report housing discrimination to the Civil Rights Division and the United States Attorney’s Office. 

The Justice Department encourages anyone who has experienced racial or national origin discrimination in housing, or knows someone who has, to contact the Division by calling 1-800-896-7743 or https://www.justice.gov/crt/housing-and-civil-enforcement-section-overview.           

Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may also file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 414-297-1700 or visiting https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/contact.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Apache Junction, Arizona man pled guilty to possessing methamphetamine and heroin,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Clint Gentile, 39, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.

“550 grams of meth and 11 grams of black tar heroin,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Gentile was coming from Arizona, but I don’t care where drug dealers are bringing drugs from – we don’t want out-of-state drug dealers peddling their poisons here.”

Gentile admitted that on July 26, 2019 he was traveling on I-64 in Cabell County, West Virginia.  The vehicle was pulled over for various traffic violations.  Members of the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West searched the vehicle and found approximately 550 grams of methamphetamine and 11 grams of black tar heroin.  Gentile admitted that he had traveled to West Virginia with the intent to distribute the methamphetamine and heroin. 

Gentile faces up to twenty years in prison when sentenced on January 6, 2020.

The Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is handling the prosecution.

Follow us on Twitter:SDWVNewsand USAttyStuart
 

 
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United States Attorney Mike Stuart to Hold Press Conference in Huntington Tomorrow

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement officials, will hold a press conference in Huntington on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.  to discuss major law enforcement actions. 

Where:             Sidney L. Christie Federal Building

                        845 Fifth Avenue

                        Huntington, WV

When:              Wednesday, September 25, 2019 @ 3:00 p.m.

Follow us on Twitter:SDWVNews  
 

 
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A Sioux City man was sentenced September 20, 2019, to more than 9 years in federal prison.

On April 25, 2019, Brandon Esquibel, age 26, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.  Esquibel was previously convicted of a felony controlled substance violation in 2012 and possession of a controlled substance 3^rd or subsequent offense in 2017, both in the Iowa District Court.

Evidence at the detention, change of plea, and sentencing hearings revealed that on October 30, 2018, defendant fled from law enforcement, grabbed a gun from his waistband and discarded it as he fled.  During the foot pursuit, defendant ran into an officer, grabbing the handrails of the officer’s rifle.  Esquibel continued to flee from officers and was subsequently tased, and taken into custody.  Law enforcement later determined that the firearm defendant possessed – a loaded pistol -- had been reported as stolen.       

Esquibel has a substantial criminal history, including an assault conviction and involvement in an assault committed while he was in custody. In addition, Esquibel has a history of fleeing from law enforcement, and violating previous grants of release from custody.

Esquibel was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Esquibel was sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 19-CR-4005.

Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

BOSTON –  A California businessman became the second parent to be sentenced to prison today in connection with his involvement in the college admissions case.

Devin Sloane, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani to four months in prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered to complete 500 hours of community service and pay a fine of $95,000. Sloane is the chief executive officer of AquaTecture, LLC, a privately held Los Angeles-based company involved in the water and wastewater industries. In May 2019, Sloane pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. The government recommended a sentence of one year and one day in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $75,000.

Sloane conspired with William “Rick” Singer and others to have his son admitted to the University of Southern California (USC) as a water polo recruit, even though his son did not play water polo. As part of the scheme, Sloane purchased water polo gear online, and photographed his son purporting to play water polo in the family swimming pool, later hiring a graphic design firm to manipulate the photos to make them appear more realistic. Sloane also made a purported contribution of $250,000 to Singer’s sham charity, Key Worldwide Foundation, with the intention that the money be used to bribe USC officials to facilitate the fraud. 

Previously, the first parent sentenced in the case, Felicity Huffman, was sentenced to two weeks in prison for her involvement in the scheme. 

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.          

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, and Kristen A. Kearney of Lelling’s Securities and Financial Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced a federal indictment charging ROBIN LEE LUSSIER, 30, WILLARD DUANE REED III, 24, and JOSHUA ADAMS HANKS, 24, with distribution of methamphetamine and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering activity.^[1] LUSSIER and REED made their initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz. They were ordered detained pending a detainment hearing scheduled for Thursday September 26, 2019 at 2:45 pm.

As alleged in the indictment, from December 1, 2015 through January 1, 2019, LUSSIER and REED conspired with each other and others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that LUSSIER and HANKS were members of the Native Mob gang, a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engage and have engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and assault. Finally, the indictment alleges that members and associates of the Native Mob meet regularly to discuss, among other things, acts of violence and crimes committed against rival gang members, gang rules and by-laws, law enforcement interactions, and to share with one another the identities of individuals who might be cooperating with law enforcement and propose actions to be taken against those individuals.

As alleged in the indictment, on December 5, 2018, LUSSIER and HANKS committed an assault resulting in serious bodily injury to individual, for the purposes of maintaining and increasing positions in the Native Mob gang.  

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota Department of Corrections, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Red Lake Tribal Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew R. Winter and Bradley Endicott are prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

ROBIN LEE LUSSIER, a/k/a Ratchet, 30

Red Lake, Minn.

Charges:

• Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
• Assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering activity, 1 count

WILLARD DUANE REED, III, a/k/a Left, a/k/a Leftfield, 24

Bemidji, Minn.

Charges:

• Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count

JOSHUA ADAM HANKS, a/k/a Souless, 24

Minneapolis, Minn.

Charges:

• Assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering activity, 1 count

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

Assistant Attorney General of National Security John C. Demers and United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald for the District of Minnesota today announced the sentencing of Negar Ghodskani, 40, to 27 months in prison for her participation in a conspiracy to illegally export controlled technology from the United States to Iran. Ghodskani, who pleaded guilty on Aug. 9, 2019, was sentenced this morning before United States District Judge Joan N. Ericksen in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea, Ghodskani assisted in establishing and operating Green Wave Telecommunication, Sdn Bhn, (“Green Wave”) a Malaysian company located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Since its incorporation in 2009, Green Wave operated as a front company for Fanavar Moj Khavar (“Fana Moj”), an Iran-based company that specializes in both broadcast communications, microwave communications as well as in the production of digital video broadcasting equipment. Fana Moj supplies microwave radio systems and wireless broadband access in Iran. Fana Moj’s principal customer was the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which is controlled by the Government of Iran.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, from 2008 until 2011, Ghodskani, who was based in Tehran, falsely represented herself as an employee of Green Wave to U.S. Companies in order to acquire unlawfully sensitive export controlled technology from the United States on behalf of Fana Moj. In order to accomplish these acquisitions, Ghodskani and her co-conspirators concealed the ultimate unlawful destination and end users of the exported technology through false statements, unlawful financial transactions, and other means. Further, as part of the conspiracy, the defendant’s co-conspirators would contact producers and distributors of the sought-after technology, solicit purchase agreements, and negotiate the purchase and delivery of the goods with the seller.

 Both the IRIB and Fana Moj have been designated by the United States Department of the Treasury as a Specially Designated National for providing financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRGC).     

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Export Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats and Trial Attorney David Recker of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. 

Defendant Information:                                                                                                                     

NEGAR GHODSKANI, 40

Citizen of Iran

Convicted:

• Conspiracy to defraud the United States, 1 count

Sentenced:

• 27 months in prison

 
 
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of DAMIEN JAMES McDONALD, 41, to 110 months in prison. McDONALD pleaded guilty on March 8, 2019, to two counts of armed bank robbery. He was sentenced earlier today by U.S. District Court Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on April 14, 2018, the defendant brandished and pointed a firearm at two tellers working at a local U.S. Bank branch and demanded they fill a plastic Aldi’s grocery shopping bag with money from their teller drawers. On June 6, 2018, the defendant robbed at gunpoint a credit union in Eagan. Again, he pointed a firearm at the tellers, demanding that they fill his bag with cash. Surveillance video captured the defendant stopping in front of the credit union in a Mazda CX-7 SUV then leaving in the same Mazda at the conclusion of the robbery. Upon execution of a search warrant on vehicles and at a residence associated with McDONALD later that day, law enforcement recovered clothing and sneakers that matched the clothing and sneakers worn by the robber, a bandana worn by the robber to partially cover his face, and thousands of dollars in cash hidden inside the residence. Additionally, cash that matched marked bills taken from the credit union were found on McDONALD.

This case is a result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including its Cellular Analysis Survey Team and Computer Analysis Response Team, the Eagan Police Department, and the Roseville Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Bejar and Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.

Defendant Information:

DAMIEN JAMES MCDONALD, 41

St. Paul, Minn.

Convicted:

• Bank robbery (armed), 2 counts

Sentenced:

• 110 months in prison
• 5 years Supervised Release
• $12,261 in restitution 

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for firearm and witness tampering crimes.

“Deaton is a convicted felon who exploited his relationship with his girlfriend to straw-purchase multiple firearms and ammunition,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are doubling down on our efforts across the District to prosecute any and all straw purchasing cases. We cannot allow prohibited individuals to purchase, possess, or traffic firearms. To all those being asked to purchase a firearm for someone else, do not lie for the other guy – It is a felony.”

According to court documents, Christopher Allen Deaton, 22, a previously convicted felon, was part of a straw-purchasing and gun-trafficking scheme in which he had his girlfriend purchase five handguns for him, so he could resell them at a profit to out-of-state buyers. He drove with his girlfriend to the gun store, told her which guns and ammo to buy, and directed her to commit multiple felonies by lying about being the actual buyer of the guns on a federal form regulating gun transactions. He then took possession of the handguns.

“Gun traffickers do not simply commit paperwork violations when illegally purchasing, selling and transporting firearms,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division. “These criminals put guns into the hands of serious criminals who pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities. ATF will therefore continue working with our law enforcement partners to combat this illegal practice.”

While in jail on unrelated crimes, Deaton used the jail phone to convince his girlfriend not to cooperate with federal agents or testify in the proceedings against him. He started witness-tampering hours after ATF agents met him at a jail visit to discuss his knowledge about the criminal scheme.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-37.

SALT LAKE CITY – A former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officer, who pleaded guilty in March to attempting to communicate, deliver, or transmit information involving the national defense of the United States to the People’s Republic of China, will serve 10 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Dee Benson imposed the sentence Tuesday afternoon in Salt Lake City.

Ron Rockwell Hansen, 60, of Syracuse, Utah, was arrested June 2, 2018, on his way to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Wash., as he was preparing to board a flight to China while in possession of SECRET military information.

Hansen pleaded guilty to the lead count of a 15-count indictment returned in June 2018, charging him with attempt to gather or deliver defense information, acting as an agent of a foreign government, bulk cash smuggling, structuring monetary transactions, and smuggling goods from the United States.  On the motion of federal prosecutors, the court dismissed the remaining counts of the indictment at the sentencing.

“One of three ex-US intelligence officers recently convicted of acting on behalf of the People’s Republic of China, Ron Rockwell Hansen received hundreds of thousands of dollars for betraying his country and former colleagues,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. “These cases show the breadth of the Chinese government’s espionage efforts and the threat they pose to our national security.  Our intelligence professionals swear an oath to protect our country’s most closely held secrets and the National Security Division will continue to relentlessly pursue justice against those who violate this oath.”

“The Chinese government continues to attempt to identify and recruit current and former members of the United States intelligence community.  This is a very troubling trend. These individuals must remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity. The Hansen case is an example of what will happen to those who violate the public’s trust and risk our national security by disclosing classified information,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today.

“Ron Hansen was willing to betray his oath and his country for financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office.  "This case brings to light that not all spies are foreign adversaries.  Insider threats pose a significant national security risk, and the FBI will continue to aggressively investigate those who put our country and citizens at risk.”

Hansen retired from the U.S. Army as a Warrant Officer with a background in signals intelligence and human intelligence.  He speaks fluent Mandarin-Chinese and Russian, according to court documents. Upon retiring from active duty, DIA hired Hansen as a civilian intelligence case officer in 2006. Hansen held a Top Secret clearance for many years and signed several non-disclosure agreements during his tenure at DIA and as a government contractor.

As Hansen admitted in the plea agreement, in early 2014, agents of a Chinese intelligence service targeted him for recruitment, and he began meeting with them regularly in China.  During these meetings, the agents described to Hansen the type of information that would interest Chinese intelligence.  Hansen stipulated that during the course of his relationship with Chinese intelligence, he received hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation for information he provided them.

Between May 24, 2016, and June 2, 2018, Hansen admitted he solicited national security information from an intelligence case officer working for the DIA.  Hansen admitted knowing that the Chinese intelligence services would find the information valuable, and he agreed to act as a conduit to sell that information to the Chinese.  He advised the DIA case officer how to record and transmit classified information without detection, and how to hide and launder any funds received as payment for classified information.  He admitted he now understands that the DIA case officer reported his conduct to the DIA and subsequently acted as a confidential human source for the FBI.

Hansen admitted meeting with the DIA case officer on June 2, 2018 and receiving individual documents containing national defense information that he had previously solicited.  The documents he received were classified. The documents included national security information related to U.S. military readiness in a particular region -- information closely held by the federal government. Hansen did not possess a security clearance nor did he possess a need to know the information contained in the materials.

As a part of his plea agreement, Hansen admitted he reviewed the documents, queried the case officer about their contents, and took written notes which contained information determined to be classified.  He advised the DIA case officer that he would remember most of the details about the documents he received that day and would conceal notes about the material in the text of an electronic document he would prepare at the airport before leaving for China.  He admitted he intended to provide the information he received to the agents of the Chinese Intelligence Service with whom he had been meeting.  He also admitted knowing that the information was to be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation.

As a part of the plea agreement, Hansen has agreed to forfeit property acquired from or traceable to his offense, including property used to facilitate the crime.

The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Lund, Karin Fojtik, Mark K. Vincent and Alicia Cook of the District of Utah, and Trial Attorneys Patrick T. Murphy, Matthew J. McKenzie and Adam L. Small of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.  Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington assisted with this case.  

The prosecution is the result of an investigation by special agents of the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Army Counterintelligence, and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

BIRMINGHAM – Federal prosecutors today charged a Calhoun County resident with a wire fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a one-count information in U.S. District Court, charging ANGELA CHEATWOOD, 41, with a wire fraud scheme. 

According to the information, Cheatwood embezzled over $484,000 from Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church and Sacred Heart School in Anniston, Alabama.  Cheatwood was the bookkeeper for the church and the school.  During her time as bookkeeper, Cheatwood wrote unauthorized checks to her personal bank account from the church bank account.  Additionally, Cheatwood took cash which had been collected from fundraisers and donations for the school and deposited those funds into her personal bank account instead of the school’s bank account. 

“Cheatwood substituted her own personal priorities ahead of the needs of parishioners, teachers, and the students, and betrayed their trust,” Town said. “Sadly, churches and schools are not immune from fraud, but hopefully prosecutions such as this will discourage others who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of their community.”

“Ms. Cheatwood’s betrayal as a bookkeeper for her own personal gain not only caused a significant loss to her church and it’s school, but to the Anniston, AL community that it serves,” Davis said.  “The U.S. Secret Service will always seek prosecution of those that would exploit their position of trust for their own enrichment.” 

The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  

United States Secret Service investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Peeples is prosecuting.

An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Today, a jury in Brooklyn returned a verdict finding Dilkhayot Kasimov, a citizen of Uzbekistan and resident of Brooklyn, guilty of conspiracy and of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).  The verdict followed a one-week trial before United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II.  When sentenced, Kasimov faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict.

“As found by the jury today, Kasimov was part of a conspiracy in which he  sought to help fund a foreign fighter’s travel and expenses in Syria to wage violent jihad,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “The Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners will continue working relentlessly to protect our country from those who would provide support to terrorists seeking to harm the United States and its allies.”  Mr. Donoghue expressed his grateful appreciation to Homeland Security Investigations, New York Field Office, for its assistance during the investigation.

“Dilkhayot Kasimov worked to support ISIS, including by collecting and giving money to another individual to fund his travel to join the terrorist group,” stated Assistant Attorney General Demers.  “The jury has held Kasimov accountable for his crimes.  The National Security Division is committed to help defend the nation against foreign terrorist groups and those who support them.  I would like to thank all of the agents, analysts and prosecutors who are responsible for this case.”

“This verdict should serve as a warning to those who provide support of any kind to foreign terrorist organizations and their sympathizers,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.  “Today, Kasimov joins a growing list of individuals facing significant jail time for their efforts to fund or carry out acts of terror.  The public should know that the FBI continues to make every effort to protect Americans at home and abroad, and we’ll continue to work with our international partners to mitigate the threat posed by terrorists and would-be terrorists worldwide.”

“This case highlights how vital our work is in intercepting and halting those among us who remain willing to support the terrorism that threatens innocent lives,” stated NYPD Commissioner O’Neill.  “It shows our commitment to remaining vigilant, with our law enforcement partners, against all forms of terrorist threats around the world and here at home.”

The evidence at trial established that Kasimov’s co-conspirators, Abdurasul Juraboev and Akhror Saidakhmetov, planned to travel to Syria to fight on behalf of ISIS, and Kasimov provided money – his own and cash collected by others – to help fund Saidakhmetov’s travel and expenses.  On the evening of Saidakhmetov’s scheduled departure in February 2015, Kasimov drove to John F. Kennedy International Airport, met Saidakhmetov at Terminal 7 and handed him $1,600 in cash on behalf of himself, co-conspirator Abror Habibov and others. 

Co-conspirators Juraboev, Saidakahmetov and Habibov, as well as co-conspirators Akmal Zakirov and Azizjon Rakhmatov, have previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS.  Juraboev and Saidakahmetov were each sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.  Habibov, Zakirov and Rakhmatov are awaiting sentencing.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas M. Pravda, David K. Kessler and J. Matthew Haggans are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Steven Ward of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

The Defendant:

DILKHAYOT KASIMOV
Age:  31
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 15-CR-95 (S-3)(WFK)

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joseph Williams, 30, of Watertown, New York, pled guilty today to distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, James N. Hendricks, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett.

In entering his guilty plea today in United States District Court, Williams, admitted that he used the Kik Messenger application to distribute and receive child pornography from other Kik users from January 2016 through June 2016.  Williams used his iPhone to trade images of child pornography via the internet.  Execution of search warrants on Williams’ desktop and laptop computers revealed that he possessed 4,875 images and 2,052 video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images and videos included depictions of the rape and sodomy of prepubescent children and toddlers.

Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy will sentence Williams on January 2, 2020.  He faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison for the distribution and receipt charges and up to 20 years in prison on the possession charge, a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000. Williams will also be required to register as a sex offender.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood.  Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jose Guadalupe Flores-Ayala, age 50, and a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to time served (1 month in prison) for illegally re-entering the United States.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas E. Feeley, Director of the Buffalo Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Flores-Ayala has been arrested six times for being illegally present in the United States. 

On August 24, 2019, he was encountered and arrested by an ICE Officer in Ballston Spa, New York.  A fingerprint check of Flores-Ayala resulted in the discovery of the prior arrests and removals from the United States. 

Following his sentencing, Flores-Ayala was remanded to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, for removal proceedings.

This case was investigated by ICE-ERO and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.