The Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Craig Cowles, 53, of Richmond, Vermont, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to five years of probation following his guilty plea to federal income tax evasion.  Chief District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered that Cowles pay restitution totaling about $262,000 to the IRS for unpaid taxes.  Since pleading guilty, Cowles has already paid the IRS more than $80,000 toward this restitution obligation.  

In fall 2019, a federal grand jury in Rutland returned an indictment charging Cowles with five counts of tax evasion and 14 counts of structuring bank transactions to avoid currency reporting requirements.  Last fall, Cowles pled guilty to one of the tax evasion counts.  

According to court records, Cowles is the owner of Cowles Excavating, an earth-moving business located in Richmond.  Between 2012 and 2017, Cowles generated approximately $2.8 million in gross revenue from Cowles Excavating and other businesses he operated.  During that period, Cowles filed no tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and paid no federal income taxes despite earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in net profits.  

Court records also reflect that Cowles structured financial transactions to avoid federal currency reporting requirements.  Under law, a financial institution must file a report with the Secretary of the Treasury whenever a customer engages in a financial transaction, such as a bank deposit or withdrawal, that involves more than $10,000 in cash.  Cowles structured a number of transactions to avoid this reporting requirement.  He did this by breaking down checks he received from business clients into cash amounts that were slightly under $10,000, then using additional funds from the checks to buy cashiers checks payable to himself.  Cowles often converted these cashiers checks into additional cash.  Federal law prohibits anyone from structuring deposits and withdrawals that are intended to circumvent the $10,000 cash reporting requirement.

The case was investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.

Cowles was represented by attorneys Tris Coffin and Tim Doherty.  The prosecutor was Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.

            WASHINGTON — A U.S. Capitol Police officer was arrested today following his indictment on federal charges of obstruction of justice stemming from communications and actions in the aftermath of the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, which disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Michael A. Riley, 50, was indicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on two counts of obstruction. The indictment was unsealed following his arrest this morning, and he made his initial court appearance this afternoon. He was released on personal recognizance pending a hearing on October 26.

            According to the indictment, Riley has more than 25 years of experience and was at work on Jan. 6, 2021. Although he was not on duty inside the Capitol building itself during the attack, he was aware of what was taking place. That day, he responded to reports of an explosive device near the Capitol complex.

            From Jan. 7 through Jan. 20, the indictment alleges, Riley communicated via direct messages on social media with an individual identified as “Person 1,” who had posted photographs, videos and other commentary on social media admitting his presence and conduct inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. On Jan. 7, Riley directed “Person 1” to conceal evidence, writing, “im a capitol police officer who agrees with your political stance.  Take down the part about being in the building they are currently investigating and everyone who was in the building is going to charged. Just looking out!” 

            On Jan. 19, according to the indictment, “Person 1” was arrested and interviewed by the FBI. He sent Riley messages on Jan. 20 regarding having turned himself in, and added, “The fbi was very curious that I had been speaking to you if they haven’t already asked you about me they are gonna … They took my phone and downloaded everything.” After Riley received that message, on Jan. 20, he deleted all of his messages to and from “Person 1,” and, the following day, Riley ceased all communications with the individual.

            Each count of obstruction of justice charge carries a statutory maximum of 20 years. 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.

            Michael Riley stamped Indictment.pdfThe case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with significant assistance provided by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Capitol Police.  The case is being prosecuted by the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Mitchell, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Russell Duane Hubbeling, age 57, was indicted on October 5, 2021.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on October 8, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that Hubbeling, who had previously been convicted of a sex crime and required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, failed to do so between August 5, 2021, and September 2, 2021.

The charge is merely an accusation and Hubbeling is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.   

Hubbeling was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for December 14, 2021.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA– Nathaniel O. Cox, 30, was found guilty by a federal jury on Thursday of Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a Kel-Tec SUB-2000 assault rifle during the commission of a crime of violence, announced Acting United States Attorney Jason R. Coody.  Cox was previously convicted of a similar crime in the Middle District of Georgia in 2015; for which he was sentenced to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, having been released in May 2020. 

Trial evidence revealed that on the evening of October 22, 2020, Cox entered the Publix supermarket located at 5998 Mobile Highway in Pensacola, Florida, where he confronted a store manager and another employee, warning that he was armed and there to rob the store. Cox then instructed them to take him to the money room. Once inside, Cox brandished his semi-automatic rifle and instructed the two employees, along with a third employee who was inside the room, to gather the money and place it in his backpack. The employees were then ordered to lay on top of each other and to count out loud or they would be shot. Cox then fled the supermarket with the stolen United States currency. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was the first to respond to and investigate the crime scene. Working in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, law enforcement officers were able to locate Cox at the international airport in Jacksonville, Florida, after he fled Pensacola, where he was taken into custody without incident. Law enforcement also recovered the assault rifle used to commit the robbery. 

“The investigation and prosecution of violence crime – in this case by an armed repeat offender – is central to our mission to protect the public,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “As a result of the collaboration and outstanding investigative work of our law enforcement partners at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, this violent, armed robber has been adjudicated guilty and will be sentenced for his criminal conduct.”

“A priority for ATF is reducing violent crime and protecting the public. Through collaborative efforts with our local law enforcement partner’s, we were able to capture this dangerous felon and prevent him from any further threats to our communities. This prosecution demonstrates that working jointly with our local partners makes the communities safer,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig W. Saier. 

“We are pleased that our working relationship with our federal partners led to the arrest and conviction of Mr. Cox. This is another example of local law enforcement and federal agencies coming together to serve and protect our community,” said Escambia County Chief Deputy Tommi Lyter 

This conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted the case. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works 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.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

Cox’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 21, 2021, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before the Honorable United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Due to a prior federal violent crime conviction, Cox faces a mandatory minimum 25 years’ imprisonment on the charges. 

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on October 13, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Theophile Jesse Taken Alive, age 38, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Taken Alive was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2021.  He pled guilty on July 12, 2021.

The conviction stems from Taken Alive failing to register as a sex offender as required by federal law between March 19, 2020, and November 3, 2020.  Taken Alive had previously been convicted of a sex offense in federal court which requires him to register for the rest of his life.

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

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

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Julian N. Waddell, of Durbin, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 84 months of incarceration for firearms charges, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.

Waddell, 37, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to two counts of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Waddell, a person who isn’t permitted to have a firearm because of a prior conviction, admitted to having three revolvers, a shotgun, and a semi-automatic rifle in April and July 2019 in Pocahontas County.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. Bauer prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Mountain Region Drug Task Force investigated.

U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possessing a handgun in furtherance of a drug crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

Armond Holloway, 45, of Hamilton, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp via videoconference to Count Two of an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Judge Shipp imposed the sentence by videoconference today.

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

On July 31, 2017, Holloway was on parole after having served a term of imprisonment.  Holloway’s parole officer received information from an anonymous source that Holloway, who had known gang affiliations, was in possession of a gun, 300-400 bricks of heroin, and a large amount of money at his residence. 

On Aug. 1, 2017, the parole officer, along with other law enforcement officers, conducted a parole search of Holloway’s residence, where they recovered a Masterpiece Arms 9 mm firearm with an obliterated serial number, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, under Holloway’s bed. They also found a barrel extension that fit the gun. Also recovered from Holloway’s bedroom was more than $14,000 in cash and more than 400 bricks of heroin from Holloway’s basement.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Holloway to five years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews in Newark; the New Jersey State Parole Board, under the direction of Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri Jr.; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. 

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elisa T. Wiygul and Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Dustin Cain Anderson, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 24 months of incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.

Anderson, 27, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Anderson, a person prohibited from having firearms, admitted to having a .22 caliber revolver in November 2020 in Upshur County.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. Bauer prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced Charvez Deonte Brooks, age 32, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, to 124 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit a commercial robbery in connection with the robbery of a gas station owner.  Brooks was convicted of that charge on August 20, 2020, after a five-day trial.  Brooks has been detained since his arrest. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Charlie Patterson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to testimony at trial and court documents, Brooks and two others conspired to rob a gas station owner.  According to court documents, one of the co-conspirators, Jesse James Elder, was a frequent customer of the gas station, located in the 10000 block of Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills, Maryland, and was friendly with the employees, including the owner.  On January 16, 2018, video surveillance showed that the owner was already at the gas station when Elder pulled into the parking lot.  Elder went inside the gas station to play the lottery, then left the store and waited in his car in the parking lot.  Shortly thereafter, the owner placed approximately $17,000 in gas station proceeds into a bank bag and left the store.  As the owner walked out, he stopped next to Elder’s vehicle and began talking to Elder.  While the owner and Elder were talking, Brooks and co-conspirator Levon Verian Butts approached from a neighboring parking lot and hid behind other parked cars.  When the owner walked away from Elder’s vehicle, Butts and Brooks charged the owner, pushed him to the ground, and grabbed the bank bag from his hand.

Witnesses testified that as Brooks and Butts tried to run back to the adjacent parking lot, a bystander who had seen the incident gave chase and tripped Butts, causing him to run out of his shoes, which Butts left in the parking lot.  Brooks also dropped some of the money as he was running away.  Brooks and Butts made it back to the adjacent parking lot, got into Brooks’ silver Infiniti, and fled the area.  According to trial evidence, the bystander followed the vehicle and took two photographs of the car as it fled from the parking lot.  Meanwhile, Elder drove around the owner, who was lying motionless in the parking lot, and left the gas station.  The evidence presented at trial showed that while Brooks was attempting to get away, he crashed into another car that was waiting at a red light and  continued driving to an area near Liberty Road, where he left the Infiniti.

As a result of being pushed to the ground, the owner of the gas station hit his head on the pavement and was knocked unconscious.  He was transported to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with multiple skull fractures, a cerebral hemorrhage, and remained in critical condition for several weeks.  He suffered a traumatic brain injury and has not returned to normal function.

Baltimore County Police officers responded to the gas station and recovered the money that had been dropped by Brooks along with Butts’ shoes from the gas station parking lot.  They also recovered surveillance video from the gas station, a .22-caliber handgun, and additional money in the parking lot near where the Infiniti had been parked.  Officers spoke with several witnesses, including the bystander who had taken photos of Brooks’ vehicle, as well as Elder, who provided a false statement.  The photograph taken by the bystander of Brooks’ vehicle showed that it had a fraudulent New York license plate and was missing the insignia from the rear of the car.  Subsequent testing of the shoes recovered from the robbery found that DNA from the shoes matched Butts’ DNA.

According to court documents and witness testimony, while at the crime scene, Elder remained in contact with Brooks and Butts, via Butts’ cell phone.  Brooks, Butts and Elder met later at Reisterstown Plaza, discussed the robbery, the evidence that was, and divided the proceeds from the robbery.

Several months later, Butts and Elder were charged with the robbery.  Elder was arrested on May 10, 2018. Five days later Brooks spoke to Elder over a jail phone, which records all inmate calls.  During the recorded call, Brooks used coded language to tell Elder not to tell police that Brooks was involved in the robbery.

Investigators later identified Brooks as the third participant in the robbery and he was subsequently charged federally.  During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Brooks drove a silver Infiniti with the same unique markings as the getaway vehicle, and that he had access to fraudulent license plates.  For example, when Brooks was stopped by Baltimore County police officers for a traffic violation a few months before the robbery, he was driving a silver Infiniti with a missing insignia on the back of the car and a fraudulent temporary Florida license tag.  On the day of the robbery, Brooks and Butts were seen arriving at Elder’s house, where Brooks took off his license plate and attached a fraudulent New York tag. 

Levon Verian Butts, age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.  Elder, age 46, of Owings Mills, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a commercial robbery and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for Elder on December 17, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. 

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

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren E. Perry and Anatoly Smolkin, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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CAMDEN, N.J. B A Camden County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine in the city of Camden, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.  

Carlos Perez, 48, of Collingswood, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of a mixture or substance containing heroin, as well as a mixture and substance containing cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl.

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

Nineteen defendants were arrested in late 2018 based on the FBI’s investigation of a drug trafficking organization that ran the open air narcotics trade on the 400-500 block of Pine Street in Camden for several months in 2018. The investigation used video surveillance, confidential informants, consensual recordings, controlled drug purchases, and several court-authorized wiretaps to uncover the inner workings of the drug trafficking organization. The organization included street-level sellers who worked various shifts on the “drug set,” selling drugs to customers and collecting proceeds. The sellers were supervised by different layers of managers who, in turn, supplied the drug set with pre-packaged heroin, some of which was mixed with fentanyl, as well as cocaine and crack cocaine. Perez was a high-level supervisor for the drug trafficking organization and was responsible for obtaining powder cocaine from drug suppliers, converting or “cooking” the powder cocaine to manufacture crack cocaine and packaging the crack cocaine that was distributed on the Pine Street drug set. The FBI and other law enforcement officers recovered multiple firearms from different locations connected to the drug organization at the time of the 2018 arrests. Perez agreed, as a member of the conspiracy, that he was jointly responsible for the distribution of over 1 kilogram of heroin, as well as substantial quantities of crack cocaine, cocaine and fentanyl.

Sixteen of the defendants already have entered guilty pleas on drug conspiracy charges before Judge Bumb. Three defendants are awaiting trial. The charges and allegations against those three defendants are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Perez to five years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley S. Benavides; the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gabriel Rodriguez; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Acting Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer; the Camden County Sherriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Gilbert L. Wilson; the Cherry Hill Police Department, under the direction of  Chief William P. Monaghan; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. She also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance.

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

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Aliabadi and Patrick C. Askin of the U. S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Yankton, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of Production of Child Pornography.

Jason Sejnoha, age 43, was indicted on October 5, 2021.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on October 13, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $400 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between May 6, 2021, and August 12, 2021, Sejnoha knowingly used three minor females and one minor male to produce visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct, knowing that such visual depictions would be produced with materials that had been made out of state.

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

The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.   

Sejnoha was released on bond pending trial, which has been set for December 21, 2021.

Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced MS-13 leader Jorge Guerra-Castillo, a/k/a “Pelon”, age 40, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 45 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a racketeering conspiracy, including three violent murders and two attempted murders, leaving one of the victims without the use of his hand, which was nearly severed during the murder attempt. 

At today’s sentencing hearing, the government presented testimony detailing Guerra-Castillo’s leadership of the gang, which continued while he lived in Florida and while he was in prison.  The testimony included details about Guerra-Castillo exhorting MS-13 gang members to find and kill more rivals, to sell more drugs, extort more victims to obtain money, and to recruit more members.  There was also testimony that Guerra-Castillo raped and kidnapped a 14-year-old girl, who he took to live with him in Florida.  Guerra-Castillo was 33 years old at the time of the kidnapping.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Jason Lando of the City of Frederick Police Department; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad.

“As a leader in MS-13, Guerra-Castillo directed and approved the violent murders of individuals thought to be rival gang members,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “Guerra-Castillo will now serve practically a life sentence for his crimes.  The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and our partners are committed to stopping violent gangs like MS-13 to ensure that citizens can live peacefully and without fear in their communities.”

MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador and other central American countries.  Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland.  According to his guilty plea, beginning some time before January 2015, Guerra-Castillo was a member of the Fulton Locos Salvatruchas (“FLS”) clique of MS-13 and agreed with other MS-13 members to conduct and participate in gang activities through a pattern of racketeering activity that included conspiracy to commit murder, extortion, and drug distribution.

At all times of this conspiracy, members of MS-13 were expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons.  To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members were expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence.  MS-13 had mottos consistent with its rules, beliefs, expectations and reputation including “mata, viola, controla,” which translates as, “kill, rape, control,” and “ver, oir y callar,” which means, “see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing.” One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, often referred to as “chavalas,” whenever possible. 

MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang, as well as against rival gang members.  Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increase the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang, and opens the door to promotion to a leadership position. 

According to Guerra-Castillo’s plea agreement, on April 7, 2015, MS-13 members murdered Victim 1, a suspected rival gang member, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing rank in MS-13. Prior to the murder, gang leadership in Maryland sought and received approval from Guerra-Castillo to kill Victim 1. Guerra-Castillo also arranged for another gang member to participate in the murder of Victim 1. As part of the scheme to murder Victim 1, MS-13 members lured Victim 1 to a wooded area in Frederick, Maryland where members repeatedly struck Victim 1 with a machete and a knife until he was dead.  The day after the murder, MS-13 members buried Victim 1 in a wooded area where Victim 1’s body was ultimately recovered. 

Prior to May 10, 2015, at the direction of Guerra- Castillo, MS-13 gang members forced Victim 2 to make regular extortion payments to the gang.  On May 10, 2015, Guerra-Castillo directed other MS-13 members and associates to kidnap and kill Victim 2, who had stopped making the extortion payments to the gang.  Gang members held Victim 2 at gunpoint while Victim 2 was forced into a vehicle and taken to a wooded area.  Once Victim 2 agreed to pay the gang, Guerra-Castillo and other leadership approved the release of Victim 2, despite their original order directing MS-13 members to murder Victim 2 for lack of payment. 

As stated in his plea agreement, in August 2015, MS-13 members and associates sought and received approval from Guerra-Castillo to murder Victim 3, whom they believed to be a rival gang member.  Several days prior to August 28, 2015, MS-13 gang members surveilled Victim 3 and his girlfriend, Victim 4 to determine when Victim 3 would be home. On the morning of August 28, 2015, gang members went to the apartment and waited inside for Victim 3 and Victim 4 to return.  When they arrived, three gang members attacked Victim 3 and Victim 4 with a machete and knives.  Although both victims survived the attack, Victim 3 was left with severe wounds to the face and both hands nearly severed.  As a result of the attack, Victim 3 has lost all function of one hand and still has only limited use of the other. 

Guerra-Castillo also admitted that he approved and assisted in the planning of the murder of a suspected associate of a rival gang, identified as Victim 18.  On June 24, 2017, Guerra-Castillo’s girlfriend lured Victim 18 to a location so MS-13 members could kidnap and kill the victim.  Once the victim was in the car, MS-13 members transported the victim to a secluded area in Crownsville, Maryland, where other MS-13 members had dug a grave and gathered weapons.  When the victim arrived, MS-13 gang members attacked Victim 18 with a machete and knives, until the victim was dead. Victim 18’s body was then dismembered and buried in the grave.  The murder of Victim 18 was intended to maintain and increase the status of MS-13 and allow members to maintain or increase their status within the gang.

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

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

Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to call the FBI’s nationwide tipline, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713).  The FBI tipline allows individuals to provide information about MS-13’s criminal activities to a central location and the FBI will then disseminate the information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for investigation.  Your identity will be protected.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI; HSI; the Frederick Police Department; the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; the Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County Police Departments; and the Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys for their work in the investigation, and the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark, Zachary Stendig, and Anatoly Smolkin, who are prosecuting this case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that PHILIP JAY SCALES, age 44, of Cheyenne, Wyoming pleaded guilty to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm during a plea hearing held on October 12, 2021 in front of Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal.
Scales was arrested on July 29, 2021 in Cheyenne and indicted by a federal grand jury. He faces up to 10 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment.
This crime was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cheyenne Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom.
Case Number 0:21-cr-00093

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man and a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Lanny Leif Vensand, Jr., age 58, was sentenced on September 27, 2021, to 235 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Robin Jo Vensand, a/k/a Robin Jo Graff, age 57, was sentenced on October 13, 2021, to 262 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

The Vensands were indicted by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2021.  Lanny pled guilty on June 18, 2021, and Robin pled guilty on June 21, 2021. 

The convictions stemmed from incidents beginning on an unknown date and continuing until on or about January 12, 2021, when the Vensands knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with others, to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance.

They voluntarily and intentionally joined in an agreement or understanding to distribute methamphetamine.  At the time they joined in the agreement or understanding, they both knew the purpose of that agreement or understanding.

They purchased over 500 grams of methamphetamine from co-conspirators, which they sold to other co-conspirators.  They were aware that the methamphetamine supplied would be distributed to drug customers in South Dakota and elsewhere.

This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Lanny Vensand and Robin Vensand were immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

WILLIAMSPORT –The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that yesterday Alfonso Algeria, age 39, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary Allenwood (USP Allenwood) was indicted by the federal grand jury for possessing a weapon in prison.

According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges that on September 4, 2021, while an inmate at USP Allenwood, Algeria possessed an approximately 7 1/2-inch long piece of wood, sharpened to a point and wrapped with tape and cord to form a hand grip and lanyard, concealed within his rectal cavity.

This case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Prisons and the FBI.  Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel is prosecuting the case.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Algeria faces a maximum term of 5 years’ imprisonment on the single count of the indictment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of three years. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Gaithersburg, Maryland, husband and wife pleaded guilty on September 30 and today, respectively, to engaging in a kickback scheme in which they unlawfully received money related to a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant program and to conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by not paying income taxes on the kickbacks they received.

According to court documents, since around 2002 through 2019, Ana Veronica Giri, 49, a NASA subcontractor, conspired with her husband, Vishesh Giri, 45, to receive kickbacks in exchange for Ana Giri ensuring that a specific vendor would be selected to provide information technology and audio-visual services necessary for a NASA contract. Vishesh Giri served as a runner by traveling to the vendor’s office locations in the Eastern District of Virginia to collect the payments.

Court records show the Giris and the vendor agreed to a payment routine in which the Giris would receive 10% of each contract awarded to the vendor. In addition to the monetary kickbacks, the vendor provided the Giris with televisions, computers, and other electronic equipment. Since 2011, the Giris received at least $707,331, paid through 260 kickback payments. The Giris did not report these earnings on their 2011 through 2019 income tax returns, which resulted in a tax loss of at least $165,471. As a result of this conspiracy, the Giris were able to maintain a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of multiple real estate properties between 2005 and 2018 in Maryland and North Carolina.

The Giris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and to defraud the IRS. Ana Giri and Vishesh Giri iare scheduled to be sentenced on February 25, 2022. The Giris each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; NASA Inspector General Paul K. Martin; and Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III accepted the pleas.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Shartar and Jamar K. Walker are prosecuting 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 Nos. 1:21-cr-196 and 1:21-cr-197.

            WASHINGTON - Isabelle Garcia, 56, former controller for the George Town Club, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison on a federal charge of wire fraud stemming from a scheme in which she defrauded the establishment of more than $300,000. 

            The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division.  

            Garcia pleaded guilty in July 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She was sentenced by the Honorable John D. Bates. Following her prison term, she will be placed on three years of supervised release. She also is required to pay $300,422 in restitution and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment.

            According to a statement of offense submitted to the Court at the time of her guilty plea, Garcia began work in 2006 as the controller for the George Town Club, a private dining club located in the District of Columbia. She was responsible for maintaining the club’s financial affairs and had a great deal of discretion. From December 2006 to September 2013, Garcia used her control over financial accounts to make payments to herself and to third parties for her personal benefit.  Through her scheme, Garcia wrongfully obtained $300,442.

            An investigation led to Garcia’s indictment in 2018 and her subsequent arrest.

            In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Special Agent in Charge Jacobs commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office.  They also expressed appreciation for the work of Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Frijas.  Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Lallas and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Saler, who prosecuted the case.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Lumberton man was sentenced today to 192 months in prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon.  On June 9, 2021, Michael Hucks pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, from December of 2019 until January of 2020, law enforcement conducted an investigation into illegal firearm and drug trafficking occurring at 55 Van Born Drive in Lumberton, North Carolina. 55 Van Born Drive was a known drug house where armed drug dealers sold significant quantities of crack cocaine. In addition, multiple shootings were reported in and around the residence.  

On December 12, 2019, a confidential informant purchased a loaded AR-15 style rifle from Michael Hucks and another target of the investigation. Less than a week later, on December 18, 2019, a confidential informant purchased another rifle from Hucks.

Prior to December 12, 2019, Hucks had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was prohibited from possessing firearms. In fact, Hucks was previously convicted of three violent felony offenses and determined to be an Armed Career Criminal at his sentencing hearing.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Lumberton Police Department, and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Rhoades prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-CR-00184-D.