Category: United States Attorneys General

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Registered Sex Offender Arrested, Charged With Enticement Of A Minor

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

Buffalo, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Carlos Francisco Lopez, 28, of Los Angeles, CA, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempting to transport a minor across state lines to engage in sexual activity. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on January 16, 2018, the City of Tonawanda Police Department received a request to conduct a welfare check on a 15 year old girl (victim) who was reported to have run away from home and gotten on a bus. Police officers located the bus in Tonawanda, stopped it, and located the victim who was a passenger. The victim told officers she was running away from home and intended to travel to California to visit family, claiming that her uncle purchased the bus ticket for her.

Subsequent interviews revealed that the victim met an unknown individual, with the username “playfulchaos,” on the internet application Kik in a group for runaway youth. In addition to discussing the victim running away, the two also discussed having sex. According to the victim, the two continued to communicate on the internet application Text Free, making plans for the victim to travel to California.  

On January 18, 2018, an undercover law enforcement (UC) officer posed as the victim to continue to communicate with Lopez. The UC wrote, “hey u there… this bus ride sucks.” The UC stated she was due into California around 10:00 pm on January 19, 2018 and asked what to do upon arrival. The defendant replied, “call me or text me. Wait at the station, and ill send an uber.” Lopez was arrested after the UC sent a message that the bus had arrived and the defendant ordered an Uber.

In 2011, Lopez was convicted of a sexual offense against a child under the age of 14 in the State of California. He is a registered sex offender. The defendant was released from prison in 2016 and is an active parolee. 

Lopez was arrested in Los Angeles, California and made an initial appearance in Federal Court in the Central District of California. The defendant will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.   

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen, the City of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Strassburg, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zack.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Jackson County Man Charged With Federal Firearm Violation

 

On December 5, 2017, Anthony I. Hunter, a/k/a “Shug,” 29, of Murphysboro, was charged by one-count indictment with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Donald S. Boyce announced today. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred on October 4, 2017, in Jackson County. Hunter made his initial appearance in federal court on January 24, 2018. He is currently being held without bond pending a January 26, 2018, bond hearing.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The firearm offense carries a maximum penalty of up to ten years of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Murphysboro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Jackson County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Williamson County Man Charged With Federal Firearm Violation

 

On October 3, 2017, Reginald L. Cavitt, a/k/a “Reggie,” 36, of Marion, was charged by one-count indictment with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Donald S. Boyce announced today. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred on June 28, 2017, in Williamson County. Cavitt made his initial appearance in federal court on January 23, 2018. He is currently being held without bond pending a January 30, 2018, bond hearing.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The firearm offense carries a maximum penalty of up to ten years of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Marion Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Williamson County Resident Charged With Methamphetamine Offenses

 

On January 17, 2018, a Williamson County man was indicted for methamphetamine offenses, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Donald S. Boyce announced today.

Benjamin A. Burns, 44, of Pittsburg, was charged in a two-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred between April 2017, and January 2018, in Williamson and Jackson Counties. Burns made his initial appearance in federal court on January 19, 2018. At his January 24, 2018, detention hearing, Burns was ordered held without bond pending a March 12, 2018, jury trial.

The conspiracy offense carries a maximum penalty of 5-40 years of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine. The distribution offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburg Police Department, and Williamson County States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Information: Federal Court Arraignments

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that those persons listed below were arraigned before the U.S. Magistrate and the indictments handed down by the Grand Jury unsealed.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on January 25, 2018 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

• BRANDON LEE REYNOLDS, a 34-year-old resident of Acton, appeared on charges of felon in possession of firearms.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, REYNOLDS faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.   PACER Case Reference.  17-147

• BRANDON CARL RUSSELL, a 29-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and distribute of methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, RUSSELL faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the FBI Task Force.  PACER Case Reference.  18-12

• TIMOTHY FREDERICK WOOD, a 46-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, WOOD faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the FBI Task Force.  PACER Case Reference.  18-12

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Johnston in Great Falls on January 24, 2018 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

• IRVING URIEL GALINDO SANTOS, a 29-year-old resident of Mexico, appeared on charges of illegal reentry.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, SANTOS faces 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol.  PACER Case Reference.  18-05

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on January 23, 2018 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

• BRANDON JAMES BELAKOVICH, a 43-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of distribution of methamphetamine.  .  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, BELAKOVICH faces 40 years in prison, $5,000,000 in fines and 4 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the FBI Task Force.  PACER Case Reference.  18-06

• DAVIDA KESHA BLAINE, a 42-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of distribution of methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, BLAINE faces 40 years in prison, $5,000,000 in fines and 4 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by Department of Homeland Security.   PACER Case Reference.  18-07

• GRADY EWING MAYS, a 66-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of failure to register as a sex offender.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, MAYS faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.   PACER Case Reference.  17-131

• SHAWNA MAE SMITH, a 39-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of felon in possession of a firearm.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, SMITH faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.   PACER Case Reference.  18-13

If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system so that you stay current and not miss any important developments in the case.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.