Category: United States Attorneys General

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Businessmen Sentenced for Operating BHO Lab in Warehouse Destroyed by Fire

PROVIDENCE, RI – Two Rhode Island businessmen responsible for running a butane honey oil (BHO) lab inside a Providence warehouse where a massive fire erupted in March 2015, destroying the warehouse and causing more than $1 million dollars in damages, were sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to two years probation with community service.

Graeme Marshall, 52, of Cranston, and Christopher White, 51, of Providence, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., in August 2017, for change of plea hearings. White pleaded guilty to endangering human life while manufacturing a controlled substance. Marshall pleaded guilty to money laundering. According to court documents and other evidence presented to the Court, White and Marshall used a portion of the Kinsley Avenue warehouse to operate a butane hash oil manufacturing laboratory. The fire that destroyed the warehouse began inside the room where the lab was located.

BHO labs are highly dangerous facilities used to extract tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a Schedule I controlled substance found in marijuana plants, through the use of butane.

Over a period of approximately two years, White and Marshall manufactured over 1,000 grams of BHO inside the Kinsley Avenue warehouse, which they sold for between $15 and $30 per gram. In addition to operating the BHO lab, Marshall and White operated a business that sold equipment and supplies for marijuana cultivation.

The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in the matter of the United States vs. Christopher White is 41-51 months. The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in the matter of the United States vs. Graeme Marshall is 37-46. In each matter, the government recommended a sentence within the U.S. Sentencing guidelines and a fine of $83,472. No fines were imposed.

The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Providence Arson Squad, Providence Police Department, Rhode Island State Police and Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The sentences are announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of ATF, Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Pare, and Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert and Richard B. Myrus.

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Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Two Individuals Plead Guilty To Possession Of Electronic Image Of Currency

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brandon Everett Barker, age 36, of Austin, Texas; and Michelle Denise Carson, age 39, of Indianapolis, Indiana, each pled guilty to one count of Possession Of An Electronic Image Of An Obligation Of The United States, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 474(a) and 2, punishable by not more than 25 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine, or both. 
                
The Indictment alleged that on or about September 17, 2017, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendants, Brandon Everett Barker and Michelle Denise Carson, did unlawfully and with intent to defraud, have in in their control, custody, and possession, a digital and electronic image of an obligation or other security of the United States, to wit: a one hundred dollar bill. 

The charges arose from an investigation by the Atoka Police Department and the United States Secret Service. 

The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Harrison County man admits to a firearms charge

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Clarksburg, West Virginia man has admitted today to illegally purchasing a firearm, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced. 

Michael Lewis Woodyard, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “False Statement to Acquire a Firearm.” He admitted to making a false statement when purchasing two pistols in Harrison County in March 2017. 

Woodyard faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, the Greater Harrison Drug &Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the West Virginia State Police, Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the Buckhannon Police Department, and the Weston Police Department investigated. 

The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
 
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided. 

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Men Sentenced for Recruiting Homeless to Cash Counterfeit Checks

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Three Georgia men have been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for recruiting individuals from local homeless shelters to cash counterfeit business checks.

 

Roderick Saunders, 30, of Atlanta, was sentenced today to 42 months, and Ka-Aron Powell, 26, of Stone Mountain, was sentenced to 65 months. Yumahnn Quashawn Brown, 30, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 75 months in prison on May 24, 2017.

 

According to their plea documents, Brown, Powell, and Saunders traveled from Georgia to Virginia and other states several times between August 2015 and August 2016, to steal mail, including business checks, from industrial parks and to cash counterfeit checks that had been made using the stolen checks as templates. During these trips, Brown and Powell traveled to homeless shelters, where Brown solicited individuals to perform construction and other day jobs. Brown and Powell then provided the recruits with clothing, food, cigarettes, and alcohol while transporting them to the other areas, often more than an hour away from their respective shelters. During these trips, Brown sent information about the recruited individuals to Saunders and other conspirators, who were transporting counterfeit checks and check-making tools in separate cars. These conspirators made the counterfeit checks payable to the homeless recruits in various amounts and provided them to Brown upon arrival in the targeted areas. Brown then told the homeless recruits that they would be cashing checks at nearby banks instead of performing the jobs he had described. In Virginia alone, the conspirators caused 30 homeless people to cash 70 counterfeit checks drawn on accounts belonging to 30 local businesses. The total value of these counterfeit checks was nearly $160,000.

 

Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencings by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin C. Gratton prosecuted the case.

 

This case was investigated through the U.S. Postal Inspection Services’ White Collar Crimes Financial Task Force.

 

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. 4:16-cr-75.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Member of Multi-State Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison

Columbia, South Carolina — United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Antonio Crawley, age 40, was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in federal court in Anderson.  The Court also imposed a money judgment against Crawley in the amount of approximately $231,000.

The evidence at trial showed that Crawley participated in a drug conspiracy that spanned 13 years, beginning in 2003.  Members of the conspiracy operated in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and Louisiana.  Testimony from numerous witnesses established that during the course of the conspiracy, members of the conspiracy distributed in excess of 100 kilograms of cocaine, over 1,000 pounds of marijuana, and in excess of 5 kilograms of crack cocaine.

Crawley operated primarily in Anderson, South Carolina, as a local distributor.  The evidence showed that Crawley utilized multiple sources of supply for cocaine from Atlanta, Georgia and the Upstate of South Carolina. Crawley participated in the conspiracy for approximately nine years.

Law enforcement officers utilized remote surveillance, wiretaps, confidential sources and other investigative techniques to ultimately charge in excess of 20 defendants in the case.  Crawley and co-defendant Eric Scott were the only defendants who went to trial.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized in excess of $1.5 million in U.S. Currency, over 5 kilograms of cocaine, quantities of marijuana and crack cocaine, and numerous firearms.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Anderson Police Department, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Department of Public Safety, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Franklin County (GA) Sheriff’s Office, and the Douglas County (GA) Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Moorman, Head of the Narcotics Unit, was the lead prosecutor. 

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Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: West Columbia Man Pleads to Federal Drug Charge

Columbia, South Carolina —- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Harry Lee Goodwin, age 44, of West Columbia, pled guilty today in federal court to possessing heroin and “crack” cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs, of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office.

Evidence presented in court established that in April 2017, a confidential informant, acting under the supervision and direction of West Columbia Police Department agents, made three controlled buys of heroin from Mr. Goodwin at his home on Augusta Street. 

As a result of the controlled buys, agents executed a search warrant at the home on April 13, 2017.  Agents seized approximately $1500 in cash, including a $20 bill used in one of the earlier controlled purchases.  Agents also recovered eight (8) foil packages containing heroin, as well as a small amount of “crack” cocaine, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia. 

Goodwin admitted to agents that he sold approximately 30 – 40 bags of heroin each day, between 6 a.m. and noon, and made between $1200- $1500 each day.   After noon, he then went to Columbia to continue selling drugs from another location. 

Goodwin faces a maximum of 20 years, a fine of $1,000,000, and at least 3 years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the West Columbia Police Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Nancy C. Wicker of the Columbia office handled the case.

Project Ceasefire is South Carolina’s continued application of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

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Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Illegal Alien Located in Columbia Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-entry

Columbia, South Carolina —- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Juan Arturo Ramirez-Rojo, age 39, of Mexico, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, to Illegal Re-Entry, a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a).  United States District Judge  J. Michelle Childs, of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Ramirez-Rojo was encountered by ICE-Homeland Security Investigations agents on January 10, 2017, at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia after he was arrested for Trafficking Cocaine. An investigation revealed that Ramirez-Rojo is a citizen of Mexico who had been deported two times pursuant to an order of removal. U.S. Attorney Drake stated the maximum penalty for Illegal Re-Entry is imprisonment for 2 years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the ICE-Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

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Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Press Conference Lumberton, NC

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

WHEN:     Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at 2:30 pm

 

WHERE:    Lumberton Police Department

          Goodson Conference Room

          1305 Godwin Avenue

          Lumberton, NC 28358

         

Re:  Suspects in PNC Bank Robbery Update

 

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office announces a press conference to discuss the cases against 5 suspects who shot at 8 patrol cars after robbing PNC Bank in Lumberton, North Carolina on January 23, 2018.

The following law enforcement leaders are scheduled to join United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. at the event:  the FBI Special Agent in Charge John Strong, Lumberton Police Chief Michael McNeill, and Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealey.

Credentialed members of the media are invited to attend. For additional information please e-mail Don Connelly at usance.PublicInfoOfficer@usdoj.gov.  Please RSVP your intentions to attend the event.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Lexington Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Arson of Qdoba Restaurant

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Bennie Davis, 21, of Lexington, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison, by United States Senior District Court Judge Joseph M. Hood, for arson of a commercial building.  Davis was also ordered to pay restitution, in the amount of $250,000.

 

Davis previously admitted that, on April 25, 2017, he forcibly entered the Lexington Qdoba Mexican Restaurant on Nicholasville Road, after the store had closed.  Davis admitted that he had been an employee of the store, but had been fired just before the arson.  Davis started the primary fire in the back room and stole a cash drawer from the safe.  Davis pleaded guilty to the charges in October of 2017. 

 

Under federal law, Davis must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years.

 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Stuart Lowrey, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF, jointly announced the sentence.

 

The ATF and the Lexington Fire Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Roger W. West represented the United States.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Elkhart Man Sentenced To 188 Months Imprisonment

FORT WAYNE – The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, announced that Enrique Cordova Campos, age 42, of Elkhart, Indiana was sentenced before Chief Judge Theresa Springmann on his guilty plea to conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.

 

Campos was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release.       

 

According to documents in this case, from May through August of 2016, Campos was supplying kilograms of cocaine to a drug distribution group in the Fort Wayne area.  Campos supervised several other individuals who delivered drug shipments this group and who collected money from it.  In May of 2016, officers stopped one of these men and seized about $100,000 in drug proceeds.  In August of 2016, officers served a search warrant at Campos’s Elkhart residence, finding about $44,000 of drug proceeds in his vehicle and a firearm in his residence. 

 

United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II said, “My office, with our law enforcement partners, is focusing our resources on drug distribution networks in an attempt to reduce illicit drugs on the streets of northeast Indiana.”

 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes the FBI, Indiana State Police, Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and Fort Wayne Police Department.  The Elkhart Police Department and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department also assisted with this investigation.  This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony W. Geller and Stacy R. Speith.

 

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