Charles Dwight Stout, III, 19, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury and charged with obstruction of justice, announced Jack Smith, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. The charge relates to the ongoing investigation into the vandalism of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro on July 10, 2017.

According to the indictment, on July 10, 2017, Stout and another man vandalized the Islamic Center by placing bacon around an entrance and spray painting profane references to Allah on the exterior of the building. Islam prohibits the consumption of pork.

Both men wore masks during the crime to conceal their identities, including a World-War-II-era Nazi gas mask. Stout also used a cell phone to take photos during the vandalism.

Members of the Islamic Center discovered the vandalism within hours of its occurrence, when they attended Morning Prayer and immediately reported it to law enforcement. Following the vandalism, Stout destroyed the clothing that he wore and permanently deleted the photographs that he took with his cell phone. The indictment alleges that Stout deleted photographic evidence.

13031. tragic events in Charlottesville, Virginia remind us of the devastating impact that acts of hate have on our communities and our neighbors,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith. “When we are confronted with acts of hate it is incumbent upon every American to speak loudly and clearly that we will not tolerate such actions in America. Our reaction to such acts of hate speaks to who we are as individuals and as a society. Where those actions constitute federal crimes it is incumbent on federal authorities to vigorously investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of such heinous acts.

Our office will utilize all available means to protect the freedom to practice one’s religion without fear, intimidation or harassment. We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who, because of hate and ignorance, seek to interfere with that freedom. In desecrating this house of worship, the defendant sought to undermine the religious freedoms of members of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, the very freedoms that this country was founded upon. The FBI immediately began investigating these cowardly acts of intimidation against Muslims throughout Tennessee, however, the defendant sought to cover up his crimes by destroying evidence. Our investigation is continuing but this indictment is the first step toward holding him accountable for these despicable acts.”

Stout surrendered to U.S. Marshals this morning and will be making an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate later this afternoon.

If convicted, Stout faces up to 20 years in prison. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is continuing. Assistant United States Attorneys Henry C. Leventis and Sara Beth Myers are prosecuting the case.

At sentencing, Judge Peterson noted that Johnson’s criminal conduct caused a considerable financial loss to the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which are designed to protect the sick and the vulnerable.

The charges against Johnson were the result of a lengthy investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Federal investigators began investigating Johnson after being alerted to the possible fraud by two employees who worked at the pharmacy.

Acting U.S. Attorney Anderson commended the outstanding work of the investigators in the case and praised the two former employees who came forward with concerns about possible fraud. Anderson said, “Johnson’s case is an example of this U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to prosecuting those in the health care profession who abuse the public trust by defrauding the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”

The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.

Memphis, TN – Patricia Parsons, 49, of Brighton, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging her with aiding and abetting solicitation to commit kidnapping. Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

According to the facts revealed during the plea hearing and alleged in the criminal information, from February 2017 through May 2017, Parsons conspired with Suzanne Holland, a self-appointed Chief Justice of the Universal Supreme Court of the Tsilhqot’in Nation in Canada, to kidnap a Tipton County judge and a Nebraska sheriff.

On January 10, 2017, Michael Parsons (the defendant’s husband) was scheduled to appear in state court in Tipton County, Tennessee on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Mr. Parsons did not show up for court, removed his ankle monitor and fled the jurisdiction. Two days later, he was located and arrested in a small airport in Arapahoe, Nebraska after flying himself there in a plane.

On February 16, 2017, FBI New Orleans received information that Suzanne Holland, self-appointed Chief Justice of the Universal Supreme Court of the Tsilhqot’in Nation in Canada, was attempting to hire a bounty hunter to kidnap Sheriff Kurt Kapperman of Furnas County, Nebraska and Judge Joseph Walker of Tipton County, Tennessee and to break Mr. Parsons out of jail. Ms. Holland contacted an FBI Confidential Source in New Orleans, Louisiana and solicited the source to execute what were purported to be duly-issued "arrest warrants" for the sheriff and judge issued by the Tsilhqot’in Nation. Holland emailed "arrest warrants" to the source along with an "order to release Michael Parsons from jail." Further investigation revealed that the Tsilhqot’in Nation was a Sovereign Citizen group located on an Indian reservation in British Columbia, Canada.

On February 17, 2017, Ms. Holland provided a telephone number for the source to facilitate further discussions. FBI Memphis determined this number to be that of Mr. Parsons’ wife, defendant Patricia Parsons.

Based on initial telephone conversations, Ms. Holland and the source agreed to draft a contract, signed by both parties, describing duties and payments. A final negotiated price of $250,000 was agreed upon for the arrest of the sheriff and judge and the facilitating release of Mike Parsons from jail. Mike Parsons was described as an Associate Justice of the Tshilhqot’in Nation.

On February 23, 2017, the source and Ms. Holland agreed on an initial payment of $5,000 to begin arranging all travel and other details related to the operation. Holland told the source that Patricia Parsons would have the money and be available to meet in Memphis. On March 6, 2017, the source advised Holland that a business associate would meet Patricia Parsons to coordinate the payment. An amended contract was drawn up and signed by both parties. The source then contacted Patricia Parsons to discuss the transaction.

On March 3, 2017, Ms. Holland requested the source to accept a Corvette in lieu of the $5,000 payment. The Corvette was owned by the Parsons and located on Patricia Parsons’ property in Brighton, Tennessee. In telephone conversations, Patricia Parsons advised that the Corvette had some problems but was worth approximately $7,000. Three days later, during a series of phone calls, the source advised the defendant that an associate was traveling to the Parson’s property to complete the payment transaction.

Further the source explained to Parsons what the overall operation would entail, including: selling the vehicle to help fund the operation; breaking Mr. Parsons out of jail; kidnapping the Tennessee judge (who was scheduled to preside over her husband’s impending trial) and the Nebraska sheriff; using the plane to transport the abducted individuals to Holland in Canada; and using 30 operatives divided into two teams to accomplish these objectives.

During these calls, defendant Parsons advised that her phone was tapped by the FBI and agreed to call the source on another phone. The defendant called on a different line and indicated that she was ok with the source taking the vehicle and using the plane in Nebraska "as long as the FBI don’t come knockin at my door again." The source explained that the operatives would need to go to Canada because "once we kidnap a judge and a sheriff, our heads are gonna be on the choppin block… and once we do what we gotta do we can never come back." After these discussions, the defendant agreed to meet one of the operatives to complete payment transaction.

On March 6, 2017, an undercover FBI employee posing as an associate of the source exchanged phone calls with the defendant and subsequently met at her residence in Brighton, Tennessee to obtain the Corvette. Due to the fact that the Corvette was inaccessible at the resident, the defendant agreed to provide the associate a 1991 Ford Ranger truck as the down payment for the operation. Parsons could not find the title but signed a note transferring ownership of the vehicle and gave the associate keys to the truck.

Between March 11 and March 15, 2017, the associate made three separate telephone calls to Parsons in order to gain further information on Tipton County Judge Joseph Walker. The associated asked about an address and photo of the judge’s house. The defendant responded that she did not know the specific address but that the judge’s name was "Joseph Walker III" and advised that he was located in Ripley, Tennessee in Lauderdale County. She also agreed to find out more information on the judge. On another call, the defendant advised the associate about a Ripley P.O. Box for the judge and stated he presided over courts in Tipton, Lauderdale, Hardeman, Fayette and one other county. At no time did Parsons attempt to notify any authorities of the impending plot to kidnap a sheriff and judge and free Mr. Parsons’ from jail.

Parsons faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $125,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2017, before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERISON PERALTA, 39, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a heroin trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 21, 2016, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama conducted a motor vehicle stop of a car hauler that was carrying a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. A search of the Malibu revealed that it contained a hidden compartment (“trap”), which is commonly used to conceal and transport illegal contraband, including narcotics, firearms and currency. Law enforcement officials obtained court authorization to install tracking devices on the vehicle and, between October 2016 and January 2017, HSI agents observed it at various locations in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

On January 17, agents located the vehicle at 1091 Maple Avenue in Hartford. On January 20, surveillance officers observed activity on another vehicle located at the Maple Avenue residence consistent with manipulating a mechanical hidden compartment. Officers then observed an individual placing two duffel bags into that second vehicle and then driving off. At approximately 8:30 p.m., a Hartford Police cruiser pulled the car over. The vehicle also contained a hidden trap, but a search revealed no contraband.

PERALTA was arrested after he and others were located inside of 1091 Maple Avenue and a search of the residence revealed more than six kilograms of heroin, approximately 500 grams of cocaine and a “finger press,” which is used to process bulk quantities of heroin into 10-gram-bags known as “fingers.” Agents also seized drug distribution materials, including sifters, grinders, scales, vacuum sealers and kilo wrappers, which were coated in heroin residue and field-tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. Agents then searched the Malibu, which was located in the garage of 1091 Maple Avenue, and recovered approximately $260,000 in cash from inside the trap.

Subsequent laboratory testing of the seized heroin revealed that most of it contained fentanyl.

PERALTA has been detained since his arrest. On March 24, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin.

PERALTA, who faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term, has agreed not to contest his deportation.

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Hartford Police Department and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the Baldwin County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

LAFAYETTE, La. –Acting U.S.Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Mexican citizen pleaded guilty to reentering the United States illegally after being removed at least three times.

Juan Jose Mendoza-Ibarra, 38, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, the defendant was found to be in Lafayette in July of 2017 after an arrest. He had previously been removed from the United States at least three times on March 11, 2016, August 5, 2016 and February 10, 2017.

Mendoza-Ibarra faces two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a November 27, 2017 sentencing date.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti is prosecuting the case.

ATLANTA - Brandon Otoupal and Franklin Lee Clark Gilmore have been sentenced to federal prison, in separate court proceedings, for child pornography offenses. Otoupal both produced child pornography and posted a video on a website. Gilmore collected a library of child pornography files and shared them on the Internet in order to access more child pornography.

“These two men took perverse pleasure in the sexual abuse of children,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Otoupal went a step further and bullied a teenage girl into producing child pornography for his own enjoyment. These two cases show that the Internet remains a thriving marketplace for the worst victimization of our children, as well as our commitment to doing everything we can to stop it.”

“Child pornography production is, bluntly, recording the sexual exploitation of innocent children, and those who encourage its production are directly responsible for promoting and encouraging child sex abuse,” said HSI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan. “As this case shows, no matter where or how these criminals may seek out their illegal acts, ICE Homeland Security Investigations is committed to investigating and seeking prosecution of child exploitation cases as one the agency’s highest priorities.”

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: In July 2015, special agents with Homeland Security Investigations received information that a person had posted on a foreign website a file of a young child being sexually abused by an adult. Based on further investigation, the agents determined that the video was uploaded to the website from a house in Carrollton. When special agents executed a federal search warrant on August 17, 2015, they found that Branden Otoupal not only possessed numerous images of child pornography, but he had also produced child pornography. Specifically, he used a cell phone app to coerce a teenage girl to produce child pornography of herself and  send it to him for his own sexual enjoyment.

The charges and other information presented in court show that Franklin Lee Clark Gilmore had been downloading child pornography from the Internet beginning around June 2014. He collected files of very young girls being sexually abused on cell phones, tablets and computers. Eventually, to manage his collection, he transferred it to the cloud. He chatted with numerous men online where he gave them links to his collection, and they in turn gave him additional child pornography.

Brandon Otoupal, 27, of Carrollton, Georgia, was sentenced to 16 years in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. Otoupal was convicted of these charges on April 11, 2017, after he pleaded guilty.

Franklin Lee Clark Gilmore, 26, of Cartersville, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 years, four months in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. Gilmore was convicted of these charges on June 9, 2017, after he pleaded guilty. There is no parole in the federal system. Both Otoupal and Gilmore will be required to register as sex offenders upon their release from prison.

These two cases were investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul R. Jones prosecuted the cases.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

NOTE: All media members must present government-issued photo I.D. (such as driver’s license), as well as valid media credentials.

Media are required to RSVP to Cherri.Green@usdoj.gov.

A complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging former Queens, New York, resident Su Ming Ling with smuggling and conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods for his participation in a sophisticated scheme to import approximately 200 shipping containers of counterfeit brand-name apparel from the People’s Republic of China.

Ling was arrested last night in California as he attempted to board a flight from San Francisco to Taiwan. Ling made his initial appearance today at the Phillip Burton Federal Building and United States Courthouse in San Francisco, California, before United States Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim. Ling was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, 2017.

The arrest was announced by Bridget M. Rohde, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Debra Parker, Acting Special-Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Newark Division, and Leon Hayward, Acting Director, New York Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

“Using a combination of internet savvy and old-fashioned counterfeit distribution techniques, defendant Ling perpetrated a lucrative counterfeiting scheme involving fake name-brand items,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rohde. “This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to protecting the intellectual property of U.S. brands, on which the economic integrity of U.S. markets depend.”

“Homeland Security Investigations has seized counterfeit goods from Mr. Ling’s criminal organization,” stated Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Parker. “HSI and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling transnational counterfeiting that significantly impacts local economies. These arrests and seizures embody our commitment to disrupting the importation and sale of counterfeit goods.”

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcement actions provided a critical link in an ongoing investigation that resulted in the takedown of an elaborate criminal enterprise,” stated CBP Acting Director Hayward. “It is through our interagency partnerships, and collaborative approaches like the one leading to today’s arrests, that law enforcement successfully combats modern criminal organizations.”

According to the complaint unsealed this morning, between May 2013 and January 2017, Ling used aliases to register and create numerous Internet domain names and email addresses that resembled the Internet domain names of real U.S. businesses. The defendant then used the fraudulently obtained email addresses to pose as a representative of the real businesses, and hired CBP-licensed customs brokers for file customs entry forms on behalf of the businesses whose identities he had stolen. Ling provided those customs brokers with falsified shipping documents for numerous shipments of counterfeit brand-name apparel that misrepresented the true contents of the shipping containers. Working with co-conspirators, Ling then arranged for the shipping containers of counterfeit goods to be distributed to, among other places, warehouses and storage facilities in Brooklyn and Queens, New York, and in New Jersey.

The shipping containers inspected by HSI and CBP were found to contain purported brand-name merchandise including purported Nike brand sneakers, UGG brand boots, National Football League-brand athletic jerseys, and True Religion brand jeans which CBP import specialists later determined to be counterfeit.

As detailed in the complaint, after searching the defendant’s cellular telephones in December 2015, HSI agents found photographs and notes of names and email addresses the defendant kept in an apparent effort to keep track of his fraudulent identities. Among other things, HSI agents found messages between Ling and his coconspirators with delivery instructions and photographs of delivery orders for shipping containers that HSI and CBP had inspected and found to contain counterfeit apparel.

The charges in the complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces a statutory maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for smuggling, and 10 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian C. Richardson and Alexander Mindlin are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendants:

SU MING LING

Age: 50

Former Residence: Middle Village, Queens

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-MJ-774

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Steven M. Pace (25, Sarasota) to nine years and one month in federal prison for possessing four destructive devices and for knowingly possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Court also ordered him to forfeit the firearms and ammunition seized as part of this case.

Pace pleaded guilty on January 23, 2017.

According to court documents, in February 2016, Pace, along with Katie Smith, possessed two improvised pipe bombs and two improvised grenades. He also possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 280 grams of AB-fubinaca, a synthetic form of marijuana. Pace and Smith had a number of firearms in their home, one of which was stolen. Pace admitted to carrying at least one of those firearms during his drug transactions.

Smith previously pleaded guilty to possessing destructive devices and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

This case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, along with Daryl R. McCrary, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline strategy to reduce violent crime in our communities.

St. Louis, MO – Julian Campbell, 23, of Chicago was sentenced to 40 months today in U.S. District Court for his role in stealing more than $150,000 in luxury handbags from Saks Fifth Avenue at Plaza Frontenac. Campbell is the sixth of eight defendants to be sentenced in U.S. v. Dejaun Wingard et al. An additional five defendants await trial in U.S. v. William Curry et al.

Campbell admitted to traveling from Chicago on November 26, 2016 with a group of associates, stealing the purses and leading police on high-speed chase before being apprehended near Litchfield Illinois. Campbell also acknowledged conducting similar heists in Cincinnati, Ohio; Northbrook, Illinois and at Plaza Frontenac earlier in 2016.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Frontenac Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the Montgomery (Il.) County Sheriff’s Department, the Montgomery (Il.) County Prosecutor’s Office and the St. Louis County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Albus is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Raymond Adams (29, St. Petersburg) to eight years and five months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. He pleaded guilty on May 31, 2017.

According to court documents, Adams and others planned to break into a St. Petersburg home to steal marijuana and later distribute it. Adams was armed with a 9-mm handgun during the attempted burglary and, when detected by law enforcement officers, he left with his associates in a vehicle that later crashed. Adams then fled on foot and discarded the gun. Officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department apprehended him and recovered the gun.

At the time of the incident, Adams was a felon whose prior criminal history included a 2010 manslaughter conviction. As such, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James C. Preston, Jr.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, along with Daryl R. McCrary, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. This case was also prosecuted as part of the St. Petersburg Violent Crime Reduction Initiative.

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Hector Tavoris Gonzalez, age 30, of Wellford, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville to a single-count indictment charging violations of felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm after sustaining a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will impose sentence after United States Probation prepares a pre-sentence report. Gonzalez has prior prohibiting convictions to include a prior convictions for domestic violence, and therefore, is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison and remains in custody.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on September 11, 2016, shortly after midnight, officers with the Spartanburg Police Department (SPD) responded to Westview Blvd in reference to a man firing a gun at a woman. At the scene, the victim relayed to officers that a male, later identified as Hector Gonzalez, had a gun. A witness also told officers that they saw Gonzalez shooting a black handgun at the female victim in a parking lot. SPD recovered three .40 caliber shell casings from the parking lot. Two additional shell casings were located in the street. 

In a detailed statement to SPD, the victim relayed that she and Gonzalez had gotten into an argument that led to a physical altercation. After the altercation, Gonzalez fired shots towards the vehicle that the victim was driving. Several bullet holes were observed in the vehicle. The victim also told officers that Gonzalez threw the gun aside when he saw SPD approaching. SPD searched the area and located a Glock .40 caliber pistol in the yard of a residence one house south of where the victim was contacted.

The prosecution of Gonzalez’s case in federal court is a direct result of “Home Front,” a focused deterrence-based initiative to combat domestic violence led by 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette.  The initiative launched in December of 2016 and has the full support and partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  This case and others are being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells, who is a 7th Circuit Assistant Solicitor specially designated by the United States Attorney’s Office to handle cases from the Seventh Circuit.

Modelled after a program started in High Point, North Carolina, members of the Home Front task force began earlier this fall, meeting with representatives from every police department in Spartanburg county as well as the Sheriff’s Office.  The Spartanburg County State Probation office and victim’s advocate stalwart, SAFE Homes, also serve as critical partners in this effort. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, domestic violence is a community crime problem that costs the United States over $5.8 billion every year. It is a major drain on law enforcement resources as domestic violence generates a high volume of calls and repeated calls to the same location. Domestic violence homicides make up 40–50 percent of all murders of women in the United States. Women who have experienced a history of domestic violence report more health problems than other women and they have a greater risk for substance abuse, unemployment, alcoholism, and suicide attempts.

Research shows that the repeat domestic violence offender tends to have a significant criminal history that includes a wide range of both domestic violence and non-domestic violence offenses. Most of these offenders are readily identified as they are known to the criminal justice system. The Home Front initiative exposes the repeat domestic violence offender to sanctions because of his pattern of criminal behavior.  According to the 2015 Violence Policy Center “When Men Murder Women” report, South Carolina led the nation in rates of women murdered by men. Sixty-six percent (66%) of the victims were killed with a firearm and ninety-six percent (96%) of women murdered were killed by someone they knew.  In Spartanburg County during the 2015 calendar year, SAFE Homes serviced 6726 victims of domestic violence. In the same time frame, the Spartanburg Police Department charged 907 domestic violence cases and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office charged 1068 domestic violence cases. There were fourteen (14) domestic related deaths in Spartanburg County in 2015.

Solicitor Barnette has had enough.  “Domestic violence is violence, period.  It continues to plague our community--so costly and harmful to families and children, persisting year after year.  It is time for these offenders to get our best shot—our best efforts.  That is Home Front.”

United States Attorney Beth Drake agrees.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) welcome the opportunity to partner with Solicitor Barnette and state law enforcement, and to use federal gun laws to pull violent offenders who are abusing their families and loved ones out of the community.  The goal is simple – stop the abuse, or swift and sure, the full force of a coordinated law enforcement effort will come to bear to stop you from abusing.  Home Front takes the burden of addressing abusers from the victims and shifts it to us – a very engaged group of local, state, and federal law enforcement.”

The Spartanburg Police Department and ATF investigated the Gonzalez case. Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Jennifer Wells, serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case.

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Memphis, TN – Bobby McKinley, 27, of Memphis was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on February 9, 2016, at approximately 7:19 p.m. Memphis Police Officers observed the defendant operating a gold Honda Accord heading westbound on Vollintine with the bright lights on and facing incoming traffic. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and noticed the strong smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.

The defendant produced a Tennessee ID card. After checking their data base, MPD discovered that his driver’s license had been suspended. While searching the car, officers found a pill bottle containing 100 Alprazolam pills and a loaded Ruger .45 caliber pistol.

On August 31, 2017, the Honorable Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced McKinley, who had four prior violent felonies, as an armed career criminal to 235 months’ imprisonment and 3 years supervised release to begin after his incarceration.

This case was investigated by Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Memphis Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who all work jointly to address gun-related crimes through aggressive investigation and prosecution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney J.William Crow prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Tikita Foster, age 31, of Spartanburg, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville to a single-count indictment charging violations of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm and ammunition after sustaining a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. United States District Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will impose sentence after United States Probation prepares a pre-sentence report. Foster has prior prohibiting convictions to include a conviction for domestic violence, and therefore, is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on May 13, 2016, officers with the Spartanburg Police Department (SPD) were dispatched to a Farley Street residence in reference to a fight outside involving weapons.  Upon arrival, SPD made contact with Tikita Foster and another individual who were outside the residence arguing.  When asked by SPD if either had any weapons on them, Foster stated that he had a weapon.  SPD then recovered a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol from Foster.  Foster later told SPD that the firearm belonged to his girlfriend but that he had it because someone was trying to fight his cousin. 

The Spartanburg Police Department and ATF investigated the case. Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Jennifer Wells, serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Timothy Andrew Wofford, age 39, of Campobello, pled guilty  in federal court in Greenville to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. United States District Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will impose sentence after United States Probation prepares a pre-sentence report. Wofford, based on prior felony convictions, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on the evening of October 6, 2016, members of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) responded to a vehicular accident in Campobello, South Carolina. Timothy Wofford was the driver of the vehicle involved and was thrown from the vehicle during the wreck.  Officers recovered a 9mm pistol next to Wofford and secured a 12-gauge shotgun from the Wofford’s vehicle.  The 9mm pistol was reported stolen out of Lebanon, Tennessee. 

The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Highway Patrol, and ATF investigated the case. Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Jennifer Wells, serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the US Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case.

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The United States Attorney’s Office will implement an online messaging campaign in September during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month to highlight the importance of law enforcement wellness and suicide prevention. According to Badge of Life, more officers die of suicide than from gunfire and traffic accidents combined. The Police Suicide Study estimates that an average of 130 law enforcement suicides occur per year, which is more than ten per month.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb said, “Law enforcement officers and first responders routinely encounter life-threatening situations, horrific violence, disturbing crime scenes, motor vehicle accidents, child abuse, and other stressful situations that take a psychological toll. We should reward their courage and selflessness by encouraging them to prioritize their psychological wellness and helping them to achieve it.”

Over the course of the month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will disseminate specific messages via social media using the hashtag #OfficerWellness.

Citizen of Ecuador Pleads Guilty to Passport Fraud

CONCORD, N.H. – Einstin Antonio Cantos, a 39-year-old citizen of Ecuador, has pleaded guilty to passport fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.

According to court documents filed, in December 2005, Cantos completed an application for a U.S. passport using the name, date of birth, social security number, and other personal identifying information that belong to a United States citizen, “J.S.” The application was submitted to the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with passport-sized photographs of Cantos and a certified copy of J.S.’s birth certificate. Relying on the information in the application and the supporting documentation, the Passport Center issued a U.S. passport to Cantos in J.S.’s name.

On March 1, 2013, Cantos completed an application for a U.S. Passport Card, using J.S.’s name and personal identifying information. Relying on the information provided in this application, on March 7, 2013, the National Passport Center issued a U.S. Passport Card in J.S.’s name to Cantos. Law enforcement officers later located the true J.S. and learned that Cantos was the individual who was using the identity of J.S.

Cantos will be sentenced by United States District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty on December 11, 2017.

The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Kinsella is prosecuting the case.

Anchorage, Alaska – Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that Jafari Lewis-Daniel, 22, and his brother, Jarron Lewis-Daniel, 23, of Anchorage, were sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess for their roles in an armored car robbery in December 2014.

Jafari Lewis-Daniel pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a bank robbery, and was sentenced yesterday to serve 69 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Jarron Lewis-Daniel pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, and was sentenced yesterday to serve 18 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release.

In mid-December 2015, Jafari Lewis-Daniel met with at least two individuals and learned of a plan to rob an armored car. He allowed his white Impala to be used during the robbery, which occurred on Dec. 23, 2015. At least three individuals drove in his white Impala to a Wells Fargo Bank in Anchorage. After the armored car arrived at the bank to deliver money, two men jumped out of Jafari Lewis-Daniel’s vehicle and approached the armored car drivers. One of the robbers pointed a gun at the armored car driver while a second person grabbed a bag of money that was being delivered to the bank. At least one other individual drove away from the bank in Jafari Lewis-Daniel’s vehicle. total, the robbers stole over $230,000. Following the robbery, Jafari Lewis-Daniel and Jarron Lewis-Daniel met with others involved in the robbery and received a cut of the stolen money.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agents and Anchorage Police Department (APD) detectives analyzed security video from Wells Fargo to identify Jafari Lewis-Daniel’s Impala. Additional investigation identified multiple cash purchases made by the brothers. These included two vehicles and a motorcycle. The brothers also purchased multiple electronic devices, televisions, and jewelry.

Law enforcement officials executed a search of the apartment the brothers shared in January 2015. During the search, FBI agents found a gun and $18,400 in a duffel bag outside Jafari Lewis-Daniel’s bedroom window. Jafari Lewis-Daniel threw this money out the window when he heard police knocking at his door. In Jarron Lewis-Daniel’s room was $26,000 and a gun. In a third bedroom was nearly $50,000 in loose cash.

In pronouncing the sentences, Judge Burgess emphasized the serious of the crime. “This was a serious crime…this was a robbery of an armored car with armed guards. This could have been disastrous,” said Judge Burgess. Judge Burgess also described the impact this crime had on the victims. “This was a life changing event for the people who had guns stuck in their faces,” said Judge Burgess. “[The victims] can’t do the job they did before because they worry they might end up dead. This has real consequences,” said Judge Burgess. Judge Burgess acknowledged that there remained significant questions surrounding the defendants’ involvement in the robbery, including the identity of the other individuals involved.

This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI and APD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Reardon prosecuted the case.

Acting United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced federal criminal charges against JEREMY RICHARD LUNDIN, 30, for operating a Ponzi scheme through which he stole more than $1 million from individual investors. LUNDIN, who was charged via a criminal information, will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date.

According to the information, from approximately December 2014 until May 2017, LUNDINclaimed that he conducted “options trading” through his company Big Island Capital. LUNDIN worked through a network of associates and friends to solicit investors to invest with Big Island Capital by promising those potential investors exponential growth through options trading. LUNDIN solicited more than $1 million from investors, but instead of using the funds for options trading, LUNDIN spent investors’ money to fund his and his wife’s lavish lifestyle.

According to the information, as part of the scheme, LUNDIN provided victim investors with written materials relating to his purported investment strategy. Through these materials, LUNDIN claimedthat the goal of Big Island Capital was to “generate profits with options trading” and that while he could not “guarantee” an exact percent, he would “shoot for” returns of between 40 percent and 80 percent. LUNDIN also entered into contract agreements with victim investors. These agreements, titled, “Big Island Capital Investment Advisory Agreement,”purported that the assets of Big Island’s account would be held for safekeeping in a brokerage account. LUNDIN regularly represented that the value of the account was several hundred thousand dollars. For example, “Welcome Packet” materials LUNDIN sent to a new victim investor on November 24, 2015, claimed that the firm’s capital was then $730,000 when, in reality, LUNDIN did not even open the brokerage account until December 21, 2015.

According to the information, in order to appear legitimate and promote his scheme, LUNDINcreated phony account statements. He also provided victim investors with online access to fictitious quarterly statements and purportedly “up to date” information about the rate of growth and the market value of the accounts, which commonly and falsely showed double-digit gains. As part of the scheme, LUNDIN directed his victim investors to make their checks payable to “Big Island Capital,” he would then deposit those checks into a bank account he had established in the company’s name. Between May 2015 and May 2017, at least $992,000 was deposited into that account. During roughly the same time period, however, LUNDIN transferred $933,950 from the business account directly into his and his wife’s personal checking account. LUNDIN and his wife used the majority of those investor funds on personal expenses including travel, luxury automobiles, a boat, jewelry, retail purchases, and more than $366,000 in credit card payments.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Minnesota Department of Commerce Fraud Bureau.

Assistant United States Attorney Amber M. Brennan is prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

JEREMY RICHARD LUNDIN, 30

Mound, Minn.

Charges:

• Mail fraud, 1 count
• Money laundering – transaction involving fraud proceeds, 1 count

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

BOSTON – A Southbridge man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for distributing oxycodone.

John Tautenhan III, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to two years in prison and two years of supervised release. In April 2017, Tautenhan pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute oxycodone and one count of distribution of oxycodone.

In June 2016, Tautenhan was arrested and charged along with three others for distributing oxycodone in Worcester County. Tautenhan sold oxycodone pills to an undercover officer on nine occasions. In addition, a Court authorized wiretap evidenced that Tautenhan actively distributed oxycodone in and around Southbridge.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Southbridge Police Chief Shane Woodson made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg A. Friedholm of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.