CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a woman to five years in prison for bilking an elderly suburban man out of $4.1 million through a telephone sweepstakes scam.

CORINNE DZIESIUTA was working for a call center in Costa Rica when she made numerous telephone calls and sent letters to the elderly victim, who lived in Palatine.  The victim was told that he won millions of dollars in a sweepstake but had to pay various fees and taxes in order to collect.  Dziesiuta and her co-schemers tricked and bullied the man into transferring large sums of money to accounts she and her co-schemers controlled.  Dziesiuta knew the man had not actually won any money, yet she continued to participate in the scheme for more than six years, causing the man to pay more than $4.1 million. 

Dziesiuta, 39, who is originally from New Jersey, pleaded guilty in August to one count of wire fraud.  U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin on Tuesday imposed the 60-month sentence in federal court in Chicago. 

The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nani M. Gilkerson.

The investigation revealed that Dziesiuta, using the name “Lisa Conti,” communicated with the victim from 2010 to 2016.  The man made 37 payments, ranging from $23,751 to $210,000. 

In 2016 the victim began cooperating with law enforcement, who directed him to inform Dziesiuta that he would only provide additional funds in person.  Dziesiuta agreed to travel to New York to meet the victim and collect additional money from him.  Dziesiuta was arrested when she arrived at LaGuardia Airport in New York City.

RICHMOND, Va. – Merrill Robertson, Jr., of Chesterfield, was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for his role in a $10 million fraud scheme.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Robertson, 37, started Cavalier Union Investments, LLC, with co-conspirator Sherman Carl Vaughn. From 2009-2016, Robertson and Vaughn made numerous misrepresentations to induce individuals to invest with their company, including telling them they could rollover their retirement savings. Robertson identified potential investors through various contacts; including contacts he developed playing football at Fork Union Military Academy, the University of Virginia, and in the National Football League, while Vaughn focused on developing investment opportunities.

As a result of this conspiracy, Robertson and Vaughn fraudulently obtained more than $10 million from over 60 investors, spending much of the money on their own personal living expenses, including mortgage and car payments, school tuitions, spa visits, restaurants, department stores, and vacations.

Once Robertson began having trouble raising new investor capital, he became involved in a loan fraud scheme.  Robertson approached Cavalier investors and others and suggested that he could help them obtain loans and lines of credit.  Robertson and his conspirators then submitted falsified loan applications to banks and credit unions, which included false statements about the borrowers’ personal financial status, the purpose of the loan, and whether the loan was secured by collateral.

On August 24, 2017, a federal jury convicted Robertson of fifteen offenses, including: conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud; conspiracy to commit bank fraud; five counts of mail fraud; two counts of wire fraud; four counts of bank fraud; and two counts of money laundering.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Kimberly Lappin, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, and Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after the sentencing by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. The case was formerly prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Lee Martin and Stephen E. Anthony.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission Division of Securities and Retail Franchising assisted with the investigation.

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 is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-33.

Twenty-six people were indicted in federal court for their roles in two separate conspiracies to bring large amounts of drugs – including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine – to Northeast Ohio, law enforcement officials said.

Fifteen people were charged in a 29-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and U-47700 (a fentanyl analogue). They are: Irwin Jose Vargas, 42, of Euclid; Keyra Linnette Martinez, 42, of Euclid; Irwing Vargas Rosario, 24, of Cleveland; Isidoro M. Gonzalez, 41, of Cleveland; Alcides Garcia, 46, of Ponce, Puerto Rice; Austin Natale, 27, of Cleveland; Kayle Mae Jonela, 22, of Brook Park; Rosemary Howell, 55, of Cleveland; Dennis Mansfield, 58, of Cleveland; William Rodriguez, 41, of Cleveland; Jeffrey Mack, 44, of Cleveland; Victor Felix, 39, of Cleveland; Nelson Benitez, Jr., 34, of Cleveland; Thomas Lopez, 39, of Cleveland, and Edgar Arroyo, 37, of Cleveland.

Twelve people were charged in a 26-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, N-Ethyl Pentalone (an analogue to MDMA or “molly”) and marijuana. They are: Emad Silmi, 43, of North Olmsted; Christopher Young, 46, of Westlake; Herbert Shaw, 44, of Cleveland; Samer Abu-Kwaik, 46, of Cleveland; Nelson Benitez, Jr., 34, of Cleveland; Jonathan Smith, 34, of Lathrup Village, Mich.; John D. Ciarlillo, 42, of Medina; Anthony Quinn Greenlee, 26, of Huron; Santana Jones, 22, of Cleveland; Gregory Lowery, 32, of Painesville; Mogahed Mustafa, 30, of North Olmsted, and Erkan Nevzadi, 29, of Cleveland.

Benitez is charged in both indictments.

“These groups brought hundreds of pounds of dangerous drugs into Northeast Ohio and sold them throughout our community,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “We will continue to work collaboratively to shut off the flow of drugs and seek long prison sentences for traffickers.”

“This long term investigation was aimed at stopping dangerous drugs from flowing into our city and streets, and holding accountable those that choose to illegally pollute our communities.  Heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and synthetic opioids were among the drugs seized, and the FBI, along with our many law enforcement partners, are committed to working to defeat this menacing threat one drug trafficking organization at a time."

"This investigation was the culmination of strong relationships between the various law enforcement partners,” Cuyahoga County Sheriff Cliff Pinckney said. “The Sheriff's Department will always vigorously pursue drug traffickers in conjunction with this partnership."

“Today's massive take down marks a major step forward in combating illegal opiate sales within the city of Cleveland,” Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said. “As you can see from this joint effort, law-enforcement remains committed to erasing this problem in Northeast Ohio.  Further, we encourage anyone battling addiction to utilize the many resources that are available and to strive to get well.” 

Vargas, Martinez and Gonzales arranged for shipments of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine from Puerto Rico between 2016 and the present. These shipments included at least a kilogram of fentanyl, a kilogram of heroin and five kilograms of cocaine. Many of these shipments came through the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS, according to the indictment.

Vargas, Martinez, Gonzales and Rosario then sold the drugs to other drug traffickers in Cleveland. Members of the conspiracy used several locations in Greater Cleveland to receive, store and distribute the drugs, including: 4705 Bridge Ave. (Vargas’ business, Santiago Auto Care Services, also known as Capu Auto and Sound); 6841 Day Drive, Apartment 605, in Parma and 754 Hemlock Drive in Euclid (Vargas’ and Martinez’s residences); 3871 Ridge Road (Gonzales’ business, Ways to Save Auto Sales); 5601 Wichita Ave. (Gonzales’ residence) and 11901 Lena Ave. (Howell’s and Mansfield’s residence), according to the indictment.

Vargas and Martinez often used the U.S. Postal Service online system to track shipments of parcels sent to Northeast Ohio from Puerto Rico, as well as packages shipped from China to Puerto Rico, according to the indictment

In the second conspiracy, Silmi obtained large amounts of cocaine from Abu-Kwaik and then sold it to other drug dealers from his business Global Auto Body & Collision at 4317 W. 130^th Street. He also obtained large amounts of N-Ethyl Pentylone – an analogue of “molly” – from Greenlee, which Greenlee had obtained from suppliers in China. Silmi sold the molly analogue to other dealers from his Cleveland auto body shop, according to the indictment.

Silmi obtained at least five kilograms of cocaine and more than 100 kilograms of marijuana between January 2016 and March 2017, according to the indictment.

Greenlee used 3006 Cleveland Road West, Apartment 8 in Huron (his residence) and U.S. Motor Sales at 4927 Brookpark Road in Parma (his business) to store and distribute drugs. Kwaik used U.S. Motor Sales at 4927 Brookpark Road, Parma, Ohio (his business) and 7358 Meadow Lane, Parma, Ohio (his residence) to store and distribute drugs, according to the indictment.

Greenlee and Nevzadi used firearms, ammunition and other weapons to protect their drug trafficking activities, according to the indictment.

Silmi is also charged with conspiracy to launder money as part of an effort to hide his drug profits, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Cleveland Division of Police, the IRS, and members of the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area personnel.

The NOLETF is a long standing multi-agency task force comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the police departments of Broadview Heights, Brooklyn Heights, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Euclid, Independence, North Royalton, the Regional Transit Authority, Westlake and Shaker Heights. The NOLETF is also one of the initial Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiatives. HIDTA supports and helps coordinate numerous Ohio drug task forces in their efforts to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in Ohio.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Matthew J. Cronin.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Eleven people from the Canton area were indicted in federal court for firearms violations, including firearms trafficking, illegal sale of a machine gun and drug charges, law enforcement officials said.

Indicted are: Rasheed Babb, 25; Shawntez Block, 25; Andre Bowers, 41; Ikasha Clark, 38; Darnell Curtis, 39; Kamari Kidd, 21; Tae’Vontae Miles, 22; Jesse Gulley, 44; Thomas Lorenz, 60; Arthur Keeney, 28, and Sean Foster, 33.

All the defendants live in Canton except Lorenz, who is from Dover, and Block, who is from Massillon.

Bowers was charged with illegally dealing firearms while Kidd and Miles were charged with assisting his firearms trafficking.

Bowers engaged in the unlicensed dealing of firearms between December 2016 and February 2017. Bowers’ previous convictions include aggravated assault, cocaine trafficking, domestic violence, escape and other crimes.

At various times he sold or possessed a Harrington & Richardson .32-caliber revolver, a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, a Glock .40-caliber pistol, another Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, a Marlin .22-caliber rifle, a Rossi 20-gauge shotgun and a Kel-Tec 5.56 mm pistol, according to the indictment.

Bowers also distributed heroin, according to the indictment.

Gulley, Clark and Lorenz were indicted for a transaction in July 2017 in which Lorenz transferred to Gulley and Clark a Heckler and Koch, 308-caliber machine gun, according to the indictment.

Gulley on July 25, 2017, possessed the aforementioned machine gun, ammunition and six other firearms, despite prior convictions for felonious assault and possession of cocaine. On the same day, Gulley and Clark possessed a sawed-off shotgun, according to the indictment.

“Cases like these are exercises in homicide prevention,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “These defendants have no business carrying firearms, given their previous criminal conduct. This operation has made Canton safer.”

“The value of these types of cases can be measured in human lives,” said Canton Police Chief Bruce Lawver. “These cases involve illegally possessed firearms in the hands of criminal. They demonstrate the cooperation that exists between the Canton Police Department and our federal law enforcement partners.”

“These arrests are just the next step in our work with our partners at the Canton Police Department and the FBI,” said Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division.  “We will continue to work together to make Canton and the surrounding communities safer by removing individuals who use violence to further their criminal activities from our streets.”

“These dangerous individuals will now be held accountable for their numerous criminal violations involving guns,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “The FBI commends the collaborative work done by all agencies involved, especially the ATF and Canton Police Department.”

Keeney possessed a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol and nine rounds of 9 mm Winchester brand ammunition on Dec. 7, 2016, despite prior convictions for felonious assault and improper handling of a firearm in a mother vehicle, according to the indictment.

Foster possessed a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber pistol , a Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol, a Fabrique Nationale .40-caliber pistol and 35 rounds of ammunition on Oct. 1, 2017, despite prior convictions for trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine, according to the indictment.

Block possessed a Ruger 9mm pistol on Jan. 16, 2016, despite prior convictions for aggravated drug trafficking and endangering children, according to the indictment.

Curtis possessed a Remingon 12-gauge shotgun and a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun on May 11, 2017, despite a prior conviction for aggravated robbery with a firearms specification, according to the indictment.

Babb possessed a Harrington and Richardson .32-caliber revolver on Oct. 19, 2017, despite a prior conviction for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, according to the indictment.

Approximately 30 firearms were seized as part of the operation, along with ballistic vests, ammunition, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.

These cases were investigated by the Canton Police Department, the ATF and the FBI, with assistance from the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron P. Howell and Henry F. DeBaggis.

If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the Court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines, which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation.  In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

A charge is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that YOHANDER HERNANDEZ-CEDENO, 21, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl-laced heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force revealed that Luis Sanchez, also known as “Viejo,” was distributing large quantities in Hartford’s South End.  On August 31, 2016, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 200 grams of heroin from Sanchez outside of a residence on New Britain Avenue that Sanchez shared with HERNANDEZ-CEDENO.  Sanchez was arrested at that time.  HERNANDEZ-CEDENO, who was inside the residence, was arrested after he was found in possession of approximately 83 grams of heroin, and a search of the residence revealed approximately 74 grams of heroin, 127 grams of cocaine, and items used to process and package heroin.

Subsequent laboratory testing of the seized heroin revealed the presence of fentanyl.

HERNANDEZ-CEDENO has been detained since his arrest.  On June 21, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 100 grams or more of heroin.

Sanchez pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on September 28, 2017, was sentenced to 33 months of imprisonment.

The FBI Task Force includes members of the FBI, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

DENVER – On November 30, 2017, Tramell Thomas, of Phoenix, Arizona, was found guilty by a jury in U.S. District Court in Denver on all counts charged stemming from a financial aid fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Bob Troyer.  Thomas was convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the government through 181 false Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSAs).  Thomas was also convicted of six counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud resulting from the mailing of debit cards that contained federal student aid to addresses under the conspirators’ control. 

In sum, the conspirators visited Department of Corrections websites for the states of Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio, and they retrieved the names, dates of birth, and release dates of state inmates.  Armed with this information, one of the conspirators obtained these inmates’ social security numbers through her employment at a bank.  Once the conspirators had this information, they filled out FAFSAs requesting federal student aid to attend community colleges in Colorado and Arizona.  The conspirators chose inmates serving long prison sentences, believing that these inmates were less likely to notice that their identities had been stolen.  All told, the conspirators filed claims seeking approximately $1.3 million dollars.  The Department of Education paid out approximately $582,000, with $419,000 of these funds forwarded to the conspirators in the form of debit cards.  These funds were to be used for authorized living expenses while attending college.  The remainder of the money was paid to the community colleges. Thomas’s conspirators, Heather Carr, Mercedes Diaz, and Marcelle Green, have all pled guilty and await sentencing.

“The expert investigative team and sophisticated prosecutors did a remarkable job,” said U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer.  “These thieves received a well-deserved education in federal justice.” 

“Federal student aid exists so that individuals can pursue and make their dream of a higher education a reality, it’s not a personal slush fund.  As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Education, ensuring that those who steal student aid or game the system for their own selfish purposes are stopped and held accountable for their criminal actions is a big part of our mission,” said Adam Shanedling, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General's Western Regional Office.  "That’s why I’m proud of the work of OIG special agents and our law enforcement colleagues for holding Mr. Thomas accountable for his criminal actions.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to ensuring that these types of predatory schemes are investigated aggressively,” said Acting U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Nicole Davis of the Denver Division.  “It is imperative that we continue to work with our partners to protect those vulnerable individuals in our society who unknowingly fall prey to these schemes.  We cannot allow fraudsters to utilize the U.S. mail to further their schemes.”

At his April 12, 2018 sentencing hearing, Thomas faces up to 10 years in federal prison on his conspiracy conviction and up to 20 years in federal prison on each of his six mail fraud convictions.  He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Education, Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martha A. Paluch and Bryan D. Fields.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A former family and marriage counselor was convicted by a jury Thursday for soliciting a minor for sex, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Ian Alexander Pincombe, 49, of Las Vegas, was found guilty of one count of coercion and enticement, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey presided over the jury trial. Sentencing is set for March 5, 2018. Pincombe faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

According to the indictment and criminal complaint, on April 30, 2014, during an undercover operation, a law enforcement detective located an advertisement on Craigslist.com in which an individual, later identified as Pincombe, was seeking females for sex. The advertisement included a nude photograph. The undercover detective, posing as a 13-year-old girl, began communicating with Pincombe. Over the next two days, Pincombe exchanged sexually explicit emails and text messages with the girl, one of which included a sexually explicit photograph of himself. On May 2, 2014, law enforcement arrested Pincombe at a shopping center parking lot in Henderson where he had agreed to meet the girl for a sexual encounter. Pincombe was later charged with coercion and enticement, and the child pornography charges.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Henderson Police Department, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Coumou and Elham Roohani are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

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MADISON, WIS. -- A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictment today.  You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes.  If convicted, the sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Seara Closs, 30, Ladysmith, Wis., is charged with delaying mail entrusted to her which was intended to be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.  The indictment alleges that Closs, while an employee of the U.S. Postal Service, delayed mail in August 2017.

If convicted, Closs faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.  The charge against her is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma. 

            CONCORD, N.H. - Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Vincent M. Torraco, 26, of Athol, Massachusetts, was sentenced to serve 43 months in federal prison for a series of bank robberies that occurred in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. 

          According to court documents and statements made during Torraco’s earlier plea hearing, Torraco robbed TD Bank branches in Gardner, Massachusetts, on September 16, 2016, in Rindge, on September 23, 2016, and in Winchester, Connecticut, on September 24, 2016.  In each robbery, Torraco passed a note to a bank teller demanding money.  In at least two of the robberies, the notes included warnings not to include dye packs with the money.  Torraco was identified as the robber in each instance through bank security images, which revealed distinctive clothing and physical characteristics common to Torraco, and in one case a fingerprint on the demand note.  Torraco was arrested on September 27, 2016, in Huntersville, North Carolina.

          Torraco previously pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery.  After serving his sentence, he will serve a three-year term of supervised release.

          “Bank robberies are inherently violent offenses that can jeopardize the lives of bank employees and customers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with all of our law enforcement partners to combat violent crime and to improve the safety of our communities.”

          Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division said, "Mr. Torraco not only took money from a federally insured bank, he also  intimidated the tellers, and  wasted taxpayer resources by requiring law enforcement officers to search for him.  This sentence imposed on the defendant reflects the serious nature of bank robbery. The FBI is proud of the relationship with its law enforcement partners and working together, we are able to make our community a safer place."

          The investigation of this matter was overseen by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and conducted by the Rindge (N.H.) Police Department, the Gardner (Massachusetts) Police Department, the Winchester (Connecticut) Police Department and the Huntersville (North Carolina) Police Department.  The prosecution of the case is being coordinated with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Massachusetts and Connecticut, the Middle District (Massachusetts) Attorney’s Office, and the Litchfield County (Connecticut) State’s Attorney’s Office.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Morse.

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Jackson, Miss – Today, Mike Hurst, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, along with the Jackson Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and many other federal, state and local law enforcement and community leaders, announced the rollout of a new collaborative initiative to combat violent crime in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

Known as PROJECT EJECT, the initiative is designed as an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates decades of experience in bringing various levels of law enforcement together with stakeholders in the community, with the overall goal of producing a long-term, meaningful reduction in and prevention of violent crime.

PROJECT EJECT stands for “Empower Jackson Expel Crime Together.”

Joined by law enforcement, community, faith-based, non-profit, neighborhood association and business leaders in Jackson, U.S. Attorney Hurst described the project as a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach that combines law enforcement arrests and prosecutions of violent criminals with prevention efforts, rehabilitation and reentry, educational initiatives, and improved communication.

“We want to empower Jackson and its citizens, expel crime from our communities, and work together to make our Capitol City safe for everyone.  The message to violent criminals in Jackson is simple - if you violate our laws and terrorize our neighborhoods, you will be ejected from our community.  In the federal system, we will immediately lock you up, move to detain you without bond, you will serve a significant prison sentence without parole, and we will seek to have you serve your sentence away from Mississippi.” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.

“But, there is hope in all of this.  To those terrorizing our neighborhoods, put down your illegal guns and obey the law, and you can live as law-abiding citizens with us in our communities.  And, if you do break the law and are ejected, know that there is grace at the other end. After you serve your sentence, you can choose to be rehabilitated, follow the law and re-enter society.  The ultimate goal of PROJECT EJECT is a safer Jackson for all of us.”

The goal of PROJECT EJECT is to reduce violent crime and make Jackson neighborhoods safer for all to enjoy.  Part of the project will include discussions with the public and encouraging communities to help law enforcement in this effort, as well as communicating to the criminals that they will be prosecuted and punished for gun crimes and violent crimes.  The Project will also seek to support locally-based prevention, rehabilitation and re-entry efforts, to stop violence and crimes before they occur and to help those whom have been punished to return to society as law-abiding citizens.

PROJECT EJECT is comprised of approximately a dozen agents and task force officers from various federal and state agencies who interact on a daily basis with the Jackson Police Department to identity and respond to violent crimes when they occur in Jackson.  Cases arising from these crimes are then presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.  Over the next few months, PROJECT EJECT will seek to hold town hall meetings to educate the public and solicit input, conduct media campaigns to raise awareness of the project and its consequences to would-be criminals, and grow and strengthen the partnership between the project and its stakeholders in the community.

“If we expect Jackson and the surrounding metropolitan area to be a viable option for our children and their future, then we need to work diligently to reduce not only violence in general but violence committed with a firearm,” said Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Jackson Division. “We will leverage the full resources of the FBI to provide a long term solution to dramatically reduce violent crime in the city of Jackson, and create a safer place today and for our children in the future.”

“Ensuring the safety and security of our residents in the city of Jackson, Mississippi is a priority for ATF,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols. “We are proud to partner with local law enforcement, our federal partners, the United States Attorney's Office, and the community on this violent crime initiative. Project EJECT is another example of how by working together, law enforcement and the community, we can truly make a difference in the city of Jackson.”

Today’s announcement of PROJECT EJECT follows a recent directive from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to the U.S. Department of Justice to reinvigorate DOJ’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) with the intent to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America.  PROJECT EJECT is the Southern District of Mississippi’s PSN initiative specifically tailored to address violent crime in the City of Jackson.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is leading PROJECT EJECT, with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca guiding the taskforce and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin serving as the Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator.

St. Louis, MO – Sean McChord O’Donnell pled guilty to charges of racketeering, involving the use of interstate facilities to promote prostitution occurring between November 2016 and January 2017.

According to court documents, in November 2016, O’Donnell travelled to the First Western Inn, 4828 North Broadway, Saint Louis, Missouri.  He did so to meet with a 21-year-old heroin addicted prostitute referred to as MB and paid MB to engage in commercial sex acts. He also drove MB on prostitution calls, provided security for her, rented hotel rooms for her and lent her money. The defendant also posted online advertisements on MB’s behalf on escort/prostitution websites. During the course of a late November visit, O’Donnell observed 15-year-old Jane Doe in the hotel lobby. Jane Doe had just recently left her pimp. Jane Doe was a missing juvenile and St. Louis County Police had been looking for her since September 2016.  O’Donnell handed Jane Doe his card and told her to call him. O’Donnell subsequently engaged in commercial sex acts with Jane Doe.

Between late November and January 2017, Jane Doe moved between several hotels in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, Missouri. O’Donnell rented most of the rooms for Jane Doe since she had no identification. O’Donnell began to post and pay for Jane Doe’s advertisements on Backpage.com.  The defendant took pictures of a scantily clad Jane Doe, which were included in postings. He posted the advertisements with her pictures using his email address.  O’Donnell continued to engage in commercial sex acts with Jane Doe and took explicit photos of Jane Doe and used his phone to send images to others.

Officers had been searching for Jane Doe since September 2016, and on or about January 23, 2017, observed her image on Backpage.com.  Police attempted to arrange a prostitution visit with Jane Doe and determined that she was at the Econolodge at 4576 Woodson Road, in a room rented by O’Donnell. On January 24, 2017, officers were able to locate and retrieve Jane Doe from a motel room.

O’Donnell, 52, of St. Louis, MO, pled guilty to one felony count of Racketeering Using Interstate Facilities to Promote, Manage, Establish and Carry on the Unlawful Activity of Prostitution before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig. Sentencing has been set for March 18, 2018.

This charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.  In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police, Bridgeton Police, St. Charles County Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Howard Marcus is handling the case. 

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Mountain Grove, Mo., woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to smuggling counterfeit Louis Vuitton material into the United States so that she could make and sell counterfeit merchandise on her website.

Tonya Virtue, 33, of Mountain Grove, Mo., waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, to one count of smuggling goods into the United States.

Virtue admitted that she sold approximately $50,000 worth of counterfeit Louis Vuitton items through her online store, Soul Sisters, to customers throughout the United States. Virtue received shipments of fabric and material affixed with counterfeit Louis Vuitton trademarks and logos from an overseas Chinese manufacturer between Jan. 1 and Sept. 27, 2017. Virtue created counterfeit handbags, purses and other items from the counterfeit fabric, which she sold to consumers who believed they were purchasing items created by Louis Vuitton.

Under the terms of her plea agreement, Virtue must forfeit to the government $50,000 derived from the proceeds of the criminal scheme, as well as 17 Louis Vuitton clutch bags, 34 Louis Vuitton shoulder bags, 4 Louis Vuitton duffle bags, 9 Louis Vuitton wallets, 5 incomplete Louis Vuitton shoulder bags, 3 13-by-55-foot sheets of Louis Vuitton material, 1 15-by-55-foot sheet of Louis Vuitton material, 60 13-by-26-inch sheets of Louis Vuitton material, 36 Louis Vuitton-branded boxes.
 
Under federal statutes, Virtue is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that an Ozark, Mo., man has pleaded guilty in federal court to a scheme to sell counterfeit automotive airbags and components online.
 
Aleksey Illyuk, 28, of Ozark, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, to one count of mail fraud and one count of smuggling goods into the United States.

Illyuk admitted that he sold counterfeit automotive airbags and airbag components on his online eBay stores, CarPro 417 and CarPro Electronics. Illyuk received shipments from various Chinese manufacturers of airbags, airbag covers and other items that contained the trademarks of Honda, Toyota, Chevy, Ford and other companies. Each of these imported airbags contained trademarks and markings that made it appear the legitimate holder of the trademark had manufactured the airbags. Illyuk fraudulently marketed these items as airbags that had been manufactured by the legitimate trademark holder, when he knew that the parts were counterfeit and not manufactured by the legitimate trademark holder.

Illyuk sold approximately $120,000 worth of counterfeit items to consumers throughout the United States through his online stores from Jan. 1, 2015, to Aug. 17, 2017. The fact that the airbags and the airbag components parts were counterfeit and not manufactured by the legal holders of the displayed trademark or logo on the item was never truthfully disclosed to the consumers.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Illyuk must forfeit to the government $103,000 obtained from the proceeds of his illegal scheme, as well as 150 counterfeit Toyota airbags and component parts (including 24 inflators and fully assembled airbags); 77 counterfeit Honda airbags and component parts (including 4 fully assembled airbags); 70 counterfeit Chevy/GMC airbags and component parts; 54 counterfeit Ford airbags and component parts; 207 counterfeit Nissan airbags and component parts (including 2 fully assembled airbags, 102 name plates, and 25 airbag covers); 8 counterfeit Infiniti airbag covers; 10 counterfeit Accura airbags and component parts; 13 counterfeit Hyundai airbags and component parts; 7 counterfeit BMW airbags and component parts (including 5 fully assembled airbags); 4 counterfeit Subaru airbags and component parts;    4 counterfeit Lexus fully assembled airbags; 1 counterfeit Mazada airbag and component part; and $17,000 seized by law enforcement agents.

Under federal statutes, Illyuk is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a sealed three-count indictment last week, against Cameron Fox, 34, of Rocklin, charging him with online enticement of a minor for sexual purposes, production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed after Fox’s arrest on December 5, 2017. Fox was arraigned on Tuesday and he pleaded not guilty.

According to court documents, it is alleged that Fox enticed a minor to meet with him to engage in sexual activity, and that he produced child pornography of that same minor on at least one occasion. It is also alleged that Fox possessed other child pornography. Fox’s next court date is January 4, 2018.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marin County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosanne Rust is prosecuting the case.

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

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about Internet safety.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than six kilograms of cocaine.

Demond Robins, 36, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 12 years in federal prison without parole.

On March 20, 2017, Robins pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine from May 22 to Dec. 14, 2015, and to participating in a money-laundering conspiracy from Dec. 13, 2013, to Dec. 16, 2015.

Robins admitted that he provided cocaine to co-defendant Jonathan Villegas-Escobar, 26, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo., who then distributed the drugs to customers and delivered the drug money back to Robins. During the course of this conspiracy, Villegas-Escobar and Robins distributed approximately 1.9 kilograms of cocaine to a law enforcement confidential informant. Villegas-Escobar has pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12, 2017.

Robins needed someone to hold the proceeds of his drug sales and to help legitimize those illegal proceeds. During this time period, Robins did not have a job or an otherwise legitimate source of income. Robins’s girlfriend, Constance Anderson, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., assisted Robins in laundering his illicit drug proceeds. Anderson has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

During the conspiracy, Robins provided Anderson money to keep in either bank accounts, a safe deposit box, or elsewhere. Anderson later gave the money back to Robins when he needed it to purchase additional drugs for sale. Robins started out getting $5,000 at a time from Anderson to purchase 18 ounces of cocaine at a time, which he would then sell, but later he increased the amount he would get nearly $10,000 at a time, so that he could purchase larger amounts of cocaine.

Robins provided money (from the proceeds of drug sales) to Anderson, so that she could then purchase vehicles and real estate for him. One of the vehicles she purchased was a 2011 Jaguar XJ from a dealer in Chicago, Ill., for $33,421. Robins admitted that the purchase of a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 2008 BMW 650i convertible and a 2015 Ford F150 was made with the proceeds of drug trafficking. Anderson also purchased property on Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. The purpose of these purchases was to transform money from illegal drug sales into legitimate property. 

On Dec. 17, 2015, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant on Anderson’s safe deposit box. Agents recovered $142,680 in cash from the box, along with various vehicle and property titles, vehicle keys and jewelry. Some of the money found in the safe deposit box was the pre-recorded buy money law enforcement used in purchasing cocaine from Villegas-Escobar. Agents also recovered approximately $9,995 in cash hidden in the trunk of Anderson’s car.

Robins has forfeited the Jaguar XJ and the cash seized by law enforcement agents, as well as any ownership interest in the real estate and other vehicles, to the federal government.

In addition to the approximately 1.9 kilogram of cocaine Robins and Villegas-Escobar sold to the confidential informant, the approximately $152,675 recovered equates to approximately 3.392 kilograms (based on approximately $45/gram). Additionally, Robins received approximately three kilograms of cocaine from Jose Aguayo-Rodriguez, 25, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo.; to avoid double-counting, only one additional kilogram of cocaine is attributed to Robins. This results in a total of approximately 6.292 kilograms of cocaine. Aguayo-Rodriguez pleaded guilty and was sentenced on June 1, 2017, to three years in federal prison without parole.
 
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Mexican national has been indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing more than two kilograms of cocaine thrown from his vehicle while fleeing from police officers.

Rosvel Flores Montantes, 33, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Kan., was charged with one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. The indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint filed against Flores on Nov. 15, 2017.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, the investigation began with a confidential source who was in contact with a broker in Mexico to engage in a cocaine transaction. Investigators were informed that a transaction would take place in the parking lot of the Super 8 motel in Riverside, Mo.

Flores arrived at the parking lot driving a Ford F-250 and approached a Nissan sedan. Flores got out of his truck, engaged in conversation with the occupant of the other vehicle, then got into the passenger side of the Nissan. Flores got out of the Nissan and retrieved something from the truck, then returned to the passenger seat of the Nissan. Flores got out of the Nissan again, this time carrying a pastel-colored bag, got back into the truck, and began to leave the parking lot.

Officers attempted to make a traffic stop, the affidavit says, because the license plates on the truck belonged to another vehicle. However, upon observing the lights and sirens of the police vehicles, Flores began to elude law enforcement officers by speeding and failing to stop for traffic signals. The F-250 truck began traveling at high speeds onto I-635 North, ignoring the emergency lights and sirens of multiple law enforcement marked and unmarked units.

The F-250 truck performed several evasive maneuvers for approximately seven to 10 minutes in an attempt to evade law enforcement. The F-250 finally came to an abrupt stop going north bound on 69 Highway just past Merriam Lane in Merriam, Kan. Flores and a passenger got out of the truck and attempted to flee from law enforcement officers on foot. They were both arrested.

Investigators found the pastel bag, which had been discarded during the pursuit, by retracing the path of the fleeing vehicle. According to the affidavit, the bag contained four brick-size amounts of cocaine wrapped in dark-colored wrapping, which weighed a total of 2,355 grams.
 
Larson cautioned that the charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Clark. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
 

NORFOLK, Va. – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Manufacture and Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, and Furanyl Fentanyl resulting in death.

According to court documents, Rashad L. Clark, 38, of Elizabethport, New Jersey, supplied local ringleader, Erskine Dawson, Jr., with heroin and fentanyl from September to December 2016 while co-supplier, Kenneth Stuart, aka “Bones,” aka “Brutal,” was incarcerated on state charges. Clark concealed the narcotics in stuffed animals and trafficked them from New Jersey to Virginia where he would stay for days at a time to oversee Dawson’s operation, which was based out of a Studios 4 Less motel in Virginia Beach. Clark supplied Dawson with thousands of wax baggies containing heroin and fentanyl stamped with labels like “King of Death,” “Last Call,” “Mad Max,” “Bentley,” “No Evil,” “Black Dynamite,” “Superman,” “Tango Cash,” “Moneybag,” “Tower of Power,” and “Steph Curry.”

On Sept. 7, 2016, H.D. consumed fentanyl supplied by Dawson via Clark and suffered a fatal overdose. On Nov. 14, 2016, G.M. consumed heroin supplied by Dawson via Clark and suffered a fatal overdose. On Dec. 8, 2016, the DEA in partnership with officers from the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake police departments executed search warrants on motels in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk, made arrests, and seized guns and over 1,800 wax baggies of heroin and fentanyl.  From September to December 2016 over $70,000 cash was deposited by members of this conspiracy into a Wells Fargo account controlled by Clark.

Six of the eight co-conspirators have now pleaded guilty and four have been sentenced. Co-defendants Kenneth Stuart and Carolyn Freeman are scheduled for trial Jan. 17, 2018.

Clark faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on April 2. 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.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia, Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, and Kelvin L. Wright, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Bosse, Daniel T. Young, and William D. Muhr 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 is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-61 and 2:17-cr-92.

BOSTON - A Salvadoran national pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

Gerardo Alberto Perez-Fuentes, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.  U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for March 8, 2018.

Perez-Fuentes was previously deported on Oct. 8, 2015.  On Sept. 6, 2017, law enforcement in Chelsea encountered Perez-Fuentes and determined him to be illegally present in the United States.

The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Perez-Fuentes will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.

BOSTON – An Illinois man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for attempting to sexually exploit two minors.

Zack Sawyer, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 15 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release. In June 2017, Sawyer pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of minors.

Around May 2010, Sawyer used X-Box Live to contact a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy in Hampshire County, Mass., and asked them both to send him nude photographs.  According to the statement of facts, when the first boy refused, Sawyer threatened to rape and kill him. Sawyer then asked the second boy, and when he, too, refused, Sawyer again threatened rape, adding that he had a drug that would paralyze people.

The government told the court that Sawyer also enticed a third boy in Loudon County, Va., and asked him to pose for a sexually explicit picture over the internet.  Sawyer met the boy while playing the online game Minecraft.  Sawyer sent a sexually explicit picture of himself to the boy, and Sawyer continued to ask the boy for sexually explicit videos.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana J. Boente; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Weinreb’s Springfield Branch Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Prabhu of Boente’s Cybercrime Unit prosecuted the case.

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

WASHINGTON– Former North Charleston, South Carolina, Police Department (NCPD) Officer Michael Slager, 36, was sentenced to 20 years in prison today for his commission of a federal civil rights offense during his fatal shooting of Walter Scott, Jr. on April 4, 2015. This sentence resulted from the Court’s determinations that Slager’s actions in shooting Mr. Scott constituted second-degree murder, and his subsequent conduct constituted obstruction of justice as defined by federal sentencing guidelines.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Beth Drake of the District of South Carolina, Special Agent in Charge Alphonse “Jody” Norris of the FBI’s Columbia Division, Solicitor Scarlett A. Wilson of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and Chief Mark Keel of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced today’s sentence by U.S. District Judge David C. Norton.    

According to documents filed in connection with the guilty plea entered on May 2, 2017, Michael Slager, while acting as an NCPD Officer, willfully used deadly force on Walter Scott even though it was objectively unreasonable under the circumstances.  Slager had stopped Scott’s vehicle after observing that a brake light was not working.  During the stop, Scott fled on foot and Slager pursued him.  During the foot chase, Slager deployed his Taser and Scott fell to the ground.  Scott managed to get off of the ground and again run away.  Scott was unarmed and running away when Scott fired eight shots at him from his department-issued firearm.  Five shots hit Scott, with all of the bullets entering from behind.  Scott died as a result of the injuries from Slager’s gunshots.

“Law enforcement officers have the noble calling to serve and protect,” Attorney General Sessions said. “Officers who violate anyone’s rights also violate their oaths of honor, and they tarnish the names of the vast majority of officers, who do incredible work. Those who enforce our laws must also abide by them—and this Department of Justice will hold accountable anyone who violates the civil rights of our fellow Americans. On behalf of the Department of Justice, I want to offer my condolences to the Scott family and loved ones.”
“This state, this nation, owe a tremendous thanks to the Scott family for their commitment to see this case through,” said U.S. Attorney Drake.  “Their grace, their commitment are a lesson for us all.  The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, with the support of the FBI, conducted a thorough investigation that enabled us to build an excessive force case against former officer Michael Slager. I am so proud of the work put into this case by the dedicated law enforcement, victim advocates and trial teams at the state and federal level.” 

“When a law enforcement officer—who swears an oath to protect and serve—violates the civil rights of an individual, it erodes the public’s trust in the entire law enforcement community,” said Special Agent in Charge Norris. “The FBI will always respond to these acts and support our state and local partners, like the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), as we all strive to ensure the perpetrator meets justice.  The excellent work of SLED, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice in bringing this matter to a close is to be commended.”

The federal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Williams and Alyssa Richardson of the District of South Carolina, Special Litigation Counsel Jared Fishman, and Trial Attorney Rose Gibson of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Columbia Division and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The state case is being prosecuted by Scarlett A. Wilson and the Office of the Solicitor of the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

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