BECKLEY, W.Va. – Cayla Danielle Lindsay, 28, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Lindsay admitted that on July 23, 2020, during a traffic stop of a car she was driving in Beckley, law enforcement officers found approximately 27 grams of heroin that she intended to distribute.  They also found a Springfield, XDS 9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol Lindsay was carrying at the time.  Lindsay also admitted that on May 6, 2021, she possessed a SCCY, CPX-2, 9mm semi-automatic pistol.  The firearm was found during a search law enforcement conducted at her residence in Beckley.  Lindsay acknowledged that at the time she possessed the firearm, she knew she had been previously convicted in federal court of the felony offense of distribution of oxycodone and was prohibited from possessing firearms.      

Lindsay faces up to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, followed by a mandatory consecutive five years for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime when she is sentenced on February 4, 2022.

United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. 

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is handling the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00090.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Boone County woman was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Sherri Hill, 58, purchased approximately four ounces of methamphetamine from a confidential informant  on June 25,2020 at the Park and Ride on U.S. 119 in Boone County. After leaving the Park and Ride, law enforcement officers stopped Hill’s vehicle and located the methamphetamine Hill had purchased in her purse. After being arrested, Hill admitted to having sold methamphetamine for the last two years,  that she had sold ounce and multi-ounce quantities at a time, and that she usually profited approximately $600 a week from the drug sales.  Hill further admitted  that she had several people waiting to purchase methamphetamine from her that same day, as Hill had previously informed them that she would be obtaining methamphetamine to sell.

United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-0194.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty today to two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to statements made in court, Terrence Ramsey, 36,  admitted that on November 7, 2020, officers with the Charleston Police Department responded to a 911 call regarding a passed out driver located in a stopped car and found Ramsey passed out inside a gold Toyota Camry on the West Side of Charleston.  Ramsey was asked to exit the car and during the course of the pat down, Ramsey removed a Ziplock bag containing approximately 47 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture from his hoodie pocket.  Ramsey further admitted that when he was arrested on February 9, 2021 in connection with a federal warrant, officers seized approximately 26 grams fentanyl from the room in the home he was residing.

Ramsey faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on February 3, 2022.

United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00027.

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Miami, Florida – A United States federal district judge has sentenced Nikolas Cook, 23, of Stuart, Florida, to 840 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography.

According to court documents, on September 10, 2020, Cook communicated with others in a social media group created for individuals interested in child sexual abuse material.  While participating in the chat group, Cook produced and distributed multiple pornographic images of a three-year-old girl.  An investigation led agents to Cook’s residence. Agents arrested Cook within 12 hours of learning of his activity in the chat group.  During a search of Cook’s residence, agents located electronic devices containing multiple sexually explicit images and videos of minor children being sexually abused. 

The sentence was imposed by Judge K. Michael Moore after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Juan Antonio Gonzalez and Special Agent in Charge for FBI Miami George L. Piro announced the sentence.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Martin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Funk and Luisa Berti are prosecuting it.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 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 the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-14007.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan County man was sentenced today to seven years in prison for receiving child pornography.

According to court documents, Marvin Wayne Akers, 40, admitted that on December 21, 2016, he used his Facebook account to communicate with a person living in the Philippines and asked to see “her.”  In response, Akers received two images and a video that he knew were child pornography or images depicting children under the age of 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

Upon release from prison, Akers will be placed on federal supervised release for a period of 10 years and will be required to register as a sex offender.

United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Blackwell and Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00174.

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NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RYAN CLARK, age 35, of New Orleans, LA, was sentenced on October 13, 2021 to 42 months of incarceration by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk for having committed conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft (count 1) and aggravated identity theft (count 3).

According to court documents, the defendant was arrested after an investigation initiated by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service. CLARK and others created and sold fake Louisiana drivers’ licenses with the names and dates of birth of real persons who were victims of identity theft. Using the fake licenses, CLARK facilitated the sale of at least six motor vehicles from several local dealerships. The fraudsters would use the stolen identities and the fake licenses to buy high end used cars. No money was ever paid and the loans went into default.

In addition to incarceration, CLARK was sentenced to three (3) years of supervised release and payment of a mandatory $200 special assessment fee.  His self-surrender date is set for January 3, 2022, and a restitution hearing was set for January 5, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the agencies that contributed to this indictment, which represents a coordinated effort of federal and state law enforcement authorities within the United States Secret Service Louisiana Cyber Fraud Task Force (CFTF).    U.S. Attorney Evans also thanked the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera.

Miami, Florida – U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore has sentenced a 53-year-old man from Highlands County, Florida, to 120 months in prison for drug trafficking.

According to the court record, in 2019, Leon McNeil Roberts sold methamphetamine in Avon Park, Highlands County on three separate occasions. Specifically, on June 19, 2019, Roberts sold 27.38 grams of methamphetamine (actual) to a buyer.  On June 28, 2019, Roberts sold 27.227 grams of methamphetamine (actual) to a buyer.  And, on July 24, 2019, Roberts he sold 26.949 grams of methamphetamine (actual) to a buyer.  

Roberts previously pled guilty to distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine. 

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and La Verne J. Hibbert, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division made the announcement.

DEA Miami investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter is prosecuting it.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-14005.

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FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – A Ponsford man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violently assaulting a man on the White Earth Indian Reservation.

According to court documents, during the early morning hours of June 3, 2020, Wesley Robert Warren, 23, and another man got into an argument with the victim. The argument escalated into a physical altercation and Warren and the other man knocked out the victim. Once the fight was over and the victim was laying face down on the ground, Warren continued the assault by picking up a 42-pound cinderblock and dropping it on the back of the victim’s head. As a result of the assault the victim was hospitalized for several weeks due to brain trauma and was later transferred to a long-term care facility.

On June 17, 2021, following a four-day jury trial, Warren was found guilty of one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced the defendant.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, the White Earth Police Department, and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Caleb J. Dogeagle.

Miami, Florida – A Texas man was sentenced in federal district court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida yesterday for knowingly and willfully making a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation to Special Agents of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service during a criminal investigation of international trafficking of primates into the United States.

Gary Tucker, 64, of Alice, Texas, was sentenced to serve a three-year term of probation, with a special condition of home confinement for a period of three months, and to pay a criminal fine in the amount of $5,000 by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas.  Tucker had previously pled guilty to the charge before William P. Dimitrouleas.  In connection with his guilty plea, Tucker admitted that in the course of an interview by Special Agents of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) about potential illegal trafficking of wildlife, he was asked about his involvement in the procurement and importation to the U.S. of long-tailed macaques -- small non-human primates regularly employed in scientific research -- from Southeast Asia.  See included image.  In particular, agents asked Tucker whether he or others working for his employer, Orient BioResource Center (OBRC), prepared or submitted to OBRC any audits or reports concerning their visits to supplier sites in Cambodia.  Tucker responded to those questions in the negative, that is, that no supplier site visits were memorialized in any written reports to OBRC.  In fact, as Tucker well knew, during the relevant period from 2017 – 2019, preparation and submission of site visit reports was a standard procedure at OBRC.

Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Burke of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Special Investigations Unit made the announcement.

USFWS investigated the case with assistance from Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina of Homeland Security Investigations in Newark, New Jersey.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.

You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 21-cr-20263.

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            WASHINGTON – Jean-Paul Gamarra, 45, of Copiague, N.Y., was sentenced today on federal charges of threatening the President of the United States and the White House complex during an incident in March 2017, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Matthew R. Stohler, Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, U.S. Secret Service.

            Gamarra was found guilty on May 27, 2021, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, of one count each of threats to the President and threatening and conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive. He was sentenced by the Honorable John D. Bates. Gamarra already had been in custody for 41 months, and the judge sentenced him to the time already served, which is an effective sentence at the higher end of the applicable guidelines range. Under the sentencing order, Gamarra will be placed on three years of supervised release. During that time, he must meet a number of conditions, including staying away from the White House, maintaining mental health treatment, cooperating with the Secret Service in assessing his future risk, and avoiding all physical and online contact with any Secret Service protectee.

            As established at trial, on March 28, 2017, at about 10:17 a.m., Gamarra approached a uniformed, on-duty officer of the U.S. Secret Service at a pedestrian access gate l on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, within 100 yards of the White House. He presented the officer with a priority mail package, stating it contained a “nuclear bomb detonator” that was being presented for “safekeeping.” Written on the package, in what appeared to be Gamarra’s handwriting, were the words: “Warning this is a tre threat on the President and Senator life” and “Warning 100% threat Brand New Electronic Detonator Device,” as well as Gamarra’s name and address.

            In response to Gamarra’s claims, the U.S. Secret Service cleared the surrounding area, including the north fence line of the White House, Lafayette Park, and other areas near 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. People inside nearby buildings were instructed to shelter in place while the Metropolitan Police Department Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit evaluated the package. After approximately 90 minutes, the package was declared “safe,” and the area reopened. Inside the package was a Bluetooth keyboard and letter. Gamarra was arrested at the scene and was in custody until August 2020.

            Gamarra was previously interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service in 2014 regarding threats to then-President Barack Obama. In 2014, Gamarra admitted to Secret Service agents that he had threatened President Obama in order to gain the “attention” of the Secret Service so he could “expose” “corruption.” During that interview, agents warned Gamarra that threats on the President of the United States are not protected speech and counseled Gamarra that such conduct was taken seriously by the Secret Service.

            In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Special Agent in Charge Stohler commended the work of those who investigated the case from the U.S. Secret Service and those who provided assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Seifert, Nicholas Coleman, and Daniel Lenerz, and Paralegal Specialists Genevieve De Guzman and Jorge Casillas. They expressed appreciation for the work of former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Hutchinson and Mary Freeman, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Pearlman, who handled prior stages of the matter.

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Texas returned an indictment today charging a former Chief Technical Pilot for Boeing with deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration’s Aircraft Evaluation Group in connection with their evaluation of Boeing’s 737 MAX airplane, and scheming to defraud Boeing’s U.S. based airline customers to obtain tens of millions of dollars for Boeing.

According to court documents, Mark A. Forkner, 49, formerly of Washington State and currently of Keller, Texas, allegedly deceived the FAA AEG during the agency’s evaluation and certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX airplane. As alleged in the indictment, Forkner provided the agency with materially false, inaccurate, and incomplete information about a new part of the flight controls for the Boeing 737 MAX called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).

Because of his alleged deception, a key document published by the FAA AEG lacked any reference to MCAS. In turn, airplane manuals and pilot-training materials for U.S.-based airlines lacked any reference to MCAS — and Boeing’s U.S.-based airline customers were deprived of important information when making and finalizing their decisions to pay Boeing tens of millions of dollars for 737 MAX airplanes. 

“Forkner allegedly abused his position of trust by intentionally withholding critical information about MCAS during the FAA evaluation and certification of the 737 MAX and from Boeing’s U.S.‑based airline customers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In doing so, he deprived airlines and pilots from knowing crucial information about an important part of the airplane’s flight controls. Regulators like the FAA serve a vital function to ensure the safety of the flying public. To anyone contemplating criminally impeding a regulator’s function, this indictment makes clear that the Justice Department will pursue the facts and hold you accountable.”     

“In an attempt to save Boeing money, Forkner allegedly withheld critical information from regulators,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham for the Northern District of Texas. “His callous choice to mislead the FAA hampered the agency’s ability to protect the flying public and left pilots in the lurch, lacking information about certain 737 MAX flight controls. The Department of Justice will not tolerate fraud – especially in industries where the stakes are so high."

Forkner allegedly withheld crucial information about the Boeing 737 Max and deceived the FAA, showing blatant disregard for his responsibilities and the safety of airline customers and crews," said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI. "The FBI will continue to hold individuals like Forker accountable for their fraudulent acts which undermine public safety." 

“There is no excusing those who deceive safety regulators for the sake of personal gain or commercial expediency,” said Inspector General Eric J. Soskin of the U.S. Department of Transportation. “Our office works continuously to help keep the skies safe for flying and protect the traveling public from needless danger. Today’s charges demonstrate our unwavering commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold responsible those who put lives at risk.”

According to court documents, Boeing began developing and marketing the 737 MAX in and around June 2011. The FAA AEG was responsible for determining the minimum level of pilot training required for a pilot to fly the 737 MAX for a U.S.-based airline, based on the nature and extent of the differences between the 737 MAX and the prior version of Boeing’s 737 airplane, the 737 Next Generation (NG). At the conclusion of this evaluation, the FAA AEG published the 737 MAX Flight Standardization Board Report (FSB Report), which included, among other things, the FAA AEG’s differences-training determination for the 737 MAX, as well as information about differences between the 737 MAX and the 737 NG. All U.S.-based airlines were required to use the information in the 737 MAX FSB Report as the basis for training their pilots to fly the airplane.

As Boeing’s 737 MAX Chief Technical Pilot, Forkner led the 737 MAX Flight Technical Team and was responsible for providing the FAA AEG with true, accurate, and complete information about differences between the 737 MAX and the 737 NG for the FAA AEG’s evaluation, preparation, and publication of the 737 MAX FSB Report.

In and around November 2016, Forkner discovered information about an important change to MCAS. Rather than sharing information about this change with the FAA AEG, Forkner allegedly intentionally withheld this information and deceived the FAA AEG about MCAS. Because of his alleged deceit, the FAA AEG deleted all reference to MCAS from the final version of the 737 MAX FSB Report published in July 2017. As a result, pilots flying the 737 MAX for Boeing’s U.S.‑based airline customers were not provided any information about MCAS in their manuals and training materials. Forkner sent copies of the 737 MAX FSB Report to Boeing’s U.S.-based 737 MAX airline customers, but withheld from these customers important information about MCAS and the 737 MAX FSB Report evaluation process.

On or about Oct. 29, 2018, after the FAA AEG learned that Lion Air Flight 610 — a 737 MAX — had crashed near Jakarta, Indonesia, shortly after takeoff and that MCAS was operating in the moments before the crash, the FAA AEG discovered the information about the important change to MCAS that Forkner had withheld.

Having discovered this information, the FAA AEG began reviewing and evaluating MCAS. 

On or about March 10, 2019, while the FAA AEG was still reviewing MCAS, the FAA AEG learned that Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 — a 737 MAX — had crashed near Ejere, Ethiopia, shortly after takeoff and that MCAS was operating in the moments before the crash. Shortly after that crash, all 737 MAX airplanes were grounded in the United States.

Forkner is charged with two counts of fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce and four counts of wire fraud. He is expected to make his initial court appearance on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison on each count of fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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

The Chicago field offices of the FBI and DOT-OIG are investigating the case, with the assistance of other FBI and DOT-OIG field offices.

Trial Attorney Cory E. Jacobs, Assistant Chief Michael T. O’Neill, and Trial Attorney Scott Armstrong of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lewis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

Three men face federal charges related to the alleged homicide of a Tulsa man whose body was discovered in his front yard Oct. 9, 2021, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Stephen John Rose, 56, and Vernon Leon Weaver, 49, were charged by criminal complaint Thursday with murder in the first degree in Indian Country. Rose and Weaver were further charged, along with Christopher James Squirrel, 28, with conspiracy to commit robbery. The men were arrested by the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and FBI Tuesday evening.

The affidavit filed with the complaint states that on or about Oct. 9, 2021, Rose, Weaver and Squirrel conspired to rob the victim and collect money owed to Rose. During the robbery, Rose and Weaver allegedly stabbed the victim using one or two knives, resulting in the victim’s death.

At approximately 3:15 pm on Oct. 9, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting the discovery of a man lying in the front yard of a home located at 1525 E. 56^th St. North in Tulsa. Upon arrival, deputies observed the victim’s body and visible signs of injury to the victim’s head and what appeared to be stab wounds to the victim’s face, hands, arms, neck, upper back, back of the neck, upper chest, and top and back of his head. Law enforcement learned that at least one neighbor also observed discarded money near the victim’s body.

This matter will proceed in U.S. District Court in Tulsa, where the Complaint is currently pending. A Complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal grand jury within 30 days. Once a Grand Jury returns an Indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra M. Williams is prosecuting the case.

          LOS ANGELES– A federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment charging three Pomona-area gang members and Mexican Mafia associates with murdering an inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in downtown Los Angeles.

          The superseding indictment alleges Jose Valencia Gonzalez, a.k.a. “Swifty,” 39, Carlos Gonzalez, a.k.a. “Popeye,” 38, and Juan Sanchez, a.k.a. “Squeaks,” 28, all of Pomona, killed the victim on June 28, 2020 at the direction of Mexican Mafia member Michael Lerma, a.k.a. “Big Mike,” 65, also of Pomona, who also is charged with the murder. The victim’s murder was ordered in retaliation for the victim’s failure to pay off a drug debt to the Mexican Mafia, according to the indictment.

          These defendants previously were charged with conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act related to the Mexican Mafia’s control of the City of Pomona and surrounding areas, and included a separate conspiracy to murder, a kidnapping, and a carjacking. The superseding indictment alleges Lerma exercised control over, and extorted drug proceeds from, Latino street gangs in and around Pomona, as well as from inmates at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County. Members of Lerma’s criminal enterprise also engaged in robberies, identity theft and fraud, drug trafficking, kidnapping, and other acts of violence, the indictment alleges.

          The in-custody murder was committed while the defendants were in federal custody awaiting trial scheduled for April 12, 2022. In addition to the murder charges, the superseding indictment describes the enterprise’s takeover of MDC and seizing control of the drug trafficking within the facility. If convicted, these defendants would each face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison or death. A decision whether to seek the death penalty will be made in the future.

          This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles Metropolitan Violent Crime Task Force in conjunction with the FBI’s San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force (SGVSSTF), which is comprised of agents and officers with the FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Pomona Police Department, the El Monte Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The Pomona Police Department is the sponsoring agency of the SGVSSTF and has been the headquarters for the task force since its inception in 2008.

          Assistant United States Attorneys Max B. Shiner of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, and Shawn J. Nelson and Keith D. Ellison of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.

           Montgomery, Ala. –    Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart and IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey announced that two Montgomery women, operating separate tax preparation businesses, have pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. On October 14, 2021, Alisaya Danita Thompson-Dixon, 43, entered a guilty plea to for her role in filing false tax returns. Last month, Lashunda Deann Crittenden, 42, pleaded guilty to the same charge.

            According to court records, Ms. Thompson-Dixon operated a tax preparation business under the name Magic Tax Service in Montgomery. In June of 2021, a grand jury returned an indictment against Ms. Thompson-Dixon charging her with numerous counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false returns for clients from 2015 through 2017. During her plea hearing, Ms. Thompson-Dixon specifically admitted to assisting in filing false tax returns on at least two occasions.  First, on February 15, 2016, Ms. Thompson-Dixon aided a client in a tax return that falsely claimed business income in the amount of $2,150.00 while claiming expenses in the amount of $67,107.00. Ms. Thompson-Dixon knew the client was not entitled to claim any business income or expenses and this deception resulted in a loss of $11,294.00 to the IRS. In addition, Ms. Thompson-Dixon also admitted to facilitating an illegal tax return on January 16, 2018. In similar fashion, she claimed false business revenue and expenses for a client that resulted in a tax loss of $10,499.00.

            In the second case, Lashunda Deann Crittenden operated a tax preparation service located on South Court Street in Montgomery, Alabama where she prepared federal income tax returns for others. During her plea hearing, Ms. Crittenden admitted that on February 26, 2018, she electronically transmitted a return prepared by her that claimed a client incurred $8,726.00 in qualified solar electric property costs, $6,358.00 in medical and dental expenses, and $8,364.00 in gifts to charity despite knowing that the client was not entitled to claim these items for calendar year 2017. The IRS subsequently paid a larger refund to the taxpayer based on Ms. Crittenden’s misrepresentations.

            “By aiding in the completion and filing of these fraudulent tax returns, both defendants stole taxpayers’ hard-earned money,” stated Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. “I applaud the Internal Revenue Service for their efforts to identify tax fraud like this and hold the offenders accountable.” Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart also encourages all taxpayers to review their returns and confirm that they recognize the items on them. If a tax preparer refuses to let you examine your tax return before it is filed, or if you review your tax return and see a business that is not yours or expenses you do not recognize, ask for clarification or seek a second opinion from a different return preparer. For additional guidance, see the IRS fact sheet on their website at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/fs-08-10.pdf.

            “Thompson-Dixon and Lashunda Crittenden knowingly manipulated taxpayers’ returns for the sole purpose of generating large refunds and preparer fees,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Please be advised, if you file false tax returns for others, it is illegal, and you will face the consequences.”

            A sentencing hearing will be held for Ms. Thompson-Dixon and Ms. Crittenden in the coming months. At their hearings, they will be facing up to 3 years in prison for each count along with significant fines. They will also be subject to an order of restitution to the IRS after the total losses are determined by the court.

            These cases were investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the cases.

PADUCAH, KY – A Marshall County, Kentucky man was sentenced on October 13, 2021, to 8 years in federal prison for Importing and Distributing U-47700, commonly known as “U-4” or “Pink,” a Schedule I controlled substance. 

According to court documents, Jevan Sheppard, 29, of Marshall County, Kentucky, admitted to conspiring with others to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute U-4, a Schedule I controlled substance over the period from November 14, 2016, to March 22, 2017.  Further, Sheppard admitted to distributing U-4 on or about March 13 and 14, 2017, and to possessing U-4 with the intent to distribute on or about March 22, 2017.  Sheppard also admitted to importing U-4 into the United States from China during the period from November 14, 2016, until March 22, 2017. 

“I commend the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and the Assistant United States Attorneys who worked tirelessly to ensure the successful prosecution of Mr. Sheppard,” stated Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett.  “Individuals who traffic drugs in the Western District take notice.  No matter the type or source of the poison you trade in, you will be identified, prosecuted, and sent to prison.”  

“Mr. Sheppard, and others like him who damage our communities by selling illicit drugs, deserve to be put away,” said Special Agent in Charge Todd Scott, who heads the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division.  “I’m very proud of the work done by DEA and our law enforcement partners to ensure he feels the full weight of the justice system.”

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Calvert City Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, McCracken County Sheriff’s Department, Paducah Police Department, and United States Customs and Border Protection all investigated the case, with assistance from the Marshall County Attorney’s Office and the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Marshall County.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth A. Hancock and Raymond McGee prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S Attorneys Nicole Elver and Amy Sullivan.

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BOSTON – A Sudbury man was arrested today on child pornography charges.

Tyson Tu, 49, was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Tu will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.

According to the charging document, from approximately Feb. 20, 2021 through April 13, 2021, Tu received child pornography. Tu also allegedly possessed child pornography on or about April 13, 2021.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MICHAEL CASTILLO, a/k/a “Squirrel,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl to 276 months in prison for the March 10, 2011 murder of Hector Arias in the Bronx, New York.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “In 2011, Michael Castillo shot and killed Hector Arias in cold blood in front of his fiancée and her young child.  Today’s lengthy sentence shows that law enforcement will never give up on murder victims and their loved ones, no matter how long it takes to achieve justice.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and other filings and statements made in court:

CASTILLO was a member of a conspiracy to distribute marijuana centered near 193rd Street and Broadway in Manhattan.  CASTILLO was hired by the leader of the conspiracy, DAVID ESPINAL, a/k/a “D-Block,” to kill Hector Arias, the leader of a rival marijuana business operating in the same area.  On March 10, 2011, CASTILLO shot and killed Arias near 712 East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, New York.  Arias’s fiancée and her eight year-old child witnessed the murder.  CASTILLO and ESPINAL’s murder plot arose out of the rivalry between ESPINAL and Arias’s two marijuana businesses.  After CASTILLO completed the murder, ESPINAL paid him in cash. 

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In addition to his prison sentence, CASTILLO, 38, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. 

On or about December 8, 2020, CASTILLO’s co-defendant, ESPINAL, pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill Arias, among other offenses.  During his guilty plea, ESPINAL admitted to hiring a hitman to kill Arias.    

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this case. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie Bagliebter, Maurene Comey, Peter J. Davis, Scott Hartman, Lindsey Keenan and Jacqueline Kelly are in charge of the prosecution.

Tampa, Florida – Hao Kuo Chi (40, La Puente, CA) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy and computer fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, for years Chi and others conspired to—and in fact did—gain unauthorized access to the Apple iCloud accounts of hundreds of individuals across the country. Using the online moniker “icloudripper4you,” Chi marketed himself as capable of hacking into iCloud accounts and stealing the content stored therein. Chi created email accounts for the purpose of impersonating Apple customer support representatives, and Chi’s conspirators sent Apple IDs and passwords of unsuspecting victims to these email accounts.

During the conspiracy, Chi hacked into more than 300 iCloud accounts belonging to victims from across the United States. Chi and his conspirators specifically sought out nude photographs and videos of young women, which the conspirators referred to as “wins.” Chi kept hundreds of thousands of stolen images for his personal collection and maintained a terabyte of cloud storage for this purpose. Chi also shared and traded these images with his conspirators, using a foreign-based, end-to-end encrypted email service. Some of those conspirators subsequently released the images into the public sphere.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.

Acting United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the October 2021 Federal Grand Jury B.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. 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.

Osakwe Bandele; Marvin Leon Bowie Jr; Larry Hutton. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Counts 1,3) Felon in possession of ammunition. Bandele, 31, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Glock .357 caliber pistol and ammunition. Bowie Jr., 40, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Finally, Hutton, 47, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Beretta .40 caliber pistol and ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-466

Garrett Gene Barlow. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Barlow, 29, of Claremore, is charged with assaulting another individual with a knife on Sept. 22, 2021, in Tulsa. The defendant is alleged to have unsheathed his knife, held it to the victim’s neck in a show of force, threatened the victim, cut the victim’s arm, then punched the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-467

Tyler Gene Coddington. Kidnapping in Indian Country (Count 1); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 2, 4); Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country (Count 3); Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Count 4); Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Count 5).  Coddington, 27, of Tulsa, allegedly threatened the victim with a taser andkidnapped her on Dec. 26, 2019. He took the victim to a remote location where he tased and strangled the victim. Then on Feb 16, 2020, the defendant pointed a loaded firearm at the victim. Coddington is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2017 domestic violence conviction. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Briden is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-460

William Colby Cox. Felon in Possession of Firearms;Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise (superseding).Cox, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a FEG 9mm pistol, a Rohm GMBH .25 caliber pistol; an Intratec 9mm pistol; a Rohm GMBH .22 caliber revolver; a Lorcin .380 caliber pistol; a Taurus Inc. .22 caliber pistol, and more than 85 rounds of ammunition. Cox, an alleged member of the Irish Mob, is also charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He is further charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is also charged with possessing firearms to further his drug trafficking crimes and with maintaining a Tulsa residence for the purpose of distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Tulsa Country Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-356

Richard Allen Fisher. Receiving, Possessing, and Concealing a Vehicle in Indian Country. Fisher, 37, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing and concealing a stolen vehicle on Sept. 27, 2021. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-461

Isaac Ryan Foreman. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Foreman, 20, of Twin Oaks, is charged with stabbing another individual in the neck on Sept. 17, 2021. The FBI and Delaware Country Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-462

Corbin Gaylin Doyle Hairgrove. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying Firearms During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Hairgrove, 25, of Sapulpa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Taurus 9 mm caliber pistol, a Rossi .38 caliber revolver and 18 rounds of associated ammunition. He is further charged with knowingly possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and with carrying firearms during and in relation to his drug trafficking crimes. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bartlesville Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly is prosecuting the case.n21-CR-463

Earnest Clay Johnson Jr. Robbery in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding (Misdemeanor). Johnson Jr., 31, of Tulsa, took the victim’s car keys, car, social security card and identification card on July 21, 2020, after he allegedly beat and strangled the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-464

Jeremy Aaron Mills.Possession of Child Pornography; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Mills, 27, of Claremore, is charged with possessing child sexual abuse material depicting minors under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct on Oct. 1, 2021. He is further charged with knowingly receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material depicting minors under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct from June 6, 2021, to Oct. 1, 2021. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Paisner is prosecuting the case.21-CR-468

Jorden Michael Roberts. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender; First Degree Burglary in Indian Country (superseding). Roberts, 35, of Tulsa, is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from Oct. 30, 2020, to Jan. 31, 2021. He is further charged with breaking into a residence that was occupied at the time by kicking the door open and breaking the chain on the door. The U.S. Marshals Service and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-265

Shawn Alexander Simpson. Sexual Abuse of an Incapable Victim in Indian Country; First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Abusive Sexual Contact with an Incapable Victim in Indian Country. On July 18, 2021, Simpson, 51, of Tulsa, allegedly broke into a residence and sexually abused a victim he knew was incapable of giving consent. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-469

Aleta Necole Thomas; Pepper Jones; Katrina West. False Statement to a Financial Institution; (Counts 1-5); False Statement (Counts 6-15); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 16, 17) (2^nd superseding). In total, Thomas, 42, Jones, 42, and West, 38, all of Tulsa, together and separately, are alleged to have fraudulently applied for and received nearly $800,000 worth of Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans administered by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Some of the false businesses the defendants allegedly used to apply for the loans included the Lead Us Kids Home Daycare, Coming Correction Community Ministries, Coming Correct Community Ministries II, and Lead Us Kids Daycare II. The Office of Inspector General Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; U.S. Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are the investigative agencies. 21-CR-239

William Ray Turner. Wire Fraud (Counts 1-27); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 28-37). Turner, 30, of Tulsa, was a car dealership sales associate who allegedly devised and carried out a scheme where he used stolen identities to purchase vehicles and sometimes sold the vehicles to other individuals for cash. In total, Turner was responsible for more than $1 million in fraudulent vehicle sales.

From March 2019 to the date of this indictment, Turner was employed as a sales associate at a car dealership in Bartlesville. Turner sold cars, assisted customers in obtaining financing for the purchase of vehicles, and received commission payments for his sales. As part of his scheme, starting in May 2020, Turner acquired various means of identification belonging to individuals living throughout the United States. The defendant allegedly used the stolen means of identification to purchase vehicles from the dealership in the victims’ names. The vehicles would then leave the dealership’s lot. On at least one occasion, after Turner processed a fraudulent car sale, he transferred the vehicle to another individual, who paid the defendant via CashApp.

In the indictment, Turner is charged with 27 counts of wire fraud after causing wire communications related to the fraudulent loan applications and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft for fraudulently using others’ identities when applying for the loans. The U.S. Secret Service and Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case. 21-CR-470