Month: March 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CHICAGO — Two brothers from Chicago have been arrested on a labor trafficking charge for allegedly forcing undocumented Mexican immigrants to work in the construction trade.

AGUSTIN ARIAS LOPEZ, 30, and JUAN ARIAS LOPEZ, 32, conspired to illegally bring two individuals from Mexico to the United States on the condition that they work for the brothers’ construction business and repay the purported costs of their transport into the U.S., according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  After they arrived in Chicago, the undocumented immigrants worked 12-15 hours per day, seven days per week, in exchange for weekly payments from the Arias Lopez brothers of $800 to $1,000, the complaint states.  From that sum, the immigrants were required to pay the Arias Lopez brothers $500 per week, which the brothers claimed went towards not only the costs of the transport but also rent, as the immigrants resided in Agustin Arias Lopez’s unfinished basement in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, the complaint states.

The complaint alleges that the Arias Lopez brothers threatened the immigrants with violence if they did not pay the money.  On one occasion in November 2021, Agustin Arias Lopez allegedly pointed a handgun at one of the immigrants.

The complaint charges the Arias Lopez brothers with conspiracy to knowingly bring, transport, harbor, and induce aliens to come to, enter, remain in, and reside in the U.S.   The brothers were arrested Thursday.  A detention hearing in federal court in Chicago is set for March 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

The complaint and arrests were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General in Chicago; and Angie Salazar, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Mulaney.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  The charge in the complaint is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

A Vinita man was convicted in federal court for attempting to sexually entice an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old boy.

“John Flechs attempted to groom a child for sexual abuse via social media, but instead, was messaging an undercover officer with the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Law Enforcement’s online undercover work is vital to unmasking predators who may have already reached out to a child or plan to do so in the future. Because of his conduct, Flechs was convicted of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.”

At trial, federal prosecutors argued that John William Thomas Flechs, 37, attempted to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce the “teenager” through common grooming tactics such as flattery, joking, and the introduction of sexual topics, that escalated over several days of messaging. 

Starting on Jan. 15, 2021, Flechs initiated a conversation with the undercover officer. In Kik messages, Flechs complimented the “teenager” and asked him to send photographs on three occasions. Flechs further described sexual encounters he had with male relatives, introduced graphic sexual topics that would allude to sexual acts on the boy, discussed the boy’s penis size, and asked if he had ever had anal sex. He then suggested they meet.

Still posing as the 14-year-old boy, the undercover agreed to meet Flechs at a skate park. Flechs was taken into custody when he arrived at the park.

The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Edward Snow are prosecuting the case.

The case was 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 the 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 identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

LAREDO, Texas – Two soldiers stationed in Texas have been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to transport undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery

Isaiah Gore, 21, and Denerio Williams, 22, pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2021, another co-conspirator Ivory Palmer, 21, pleaded guilty Jan. 10. All are active duty soldiers with the U.S. Army.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed a 30-month-term of imprisonment for Gore, while Williams received 24 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Marmolejo noted that Gore and Williams, as soldiers in the Army, were “not the average citizen,” which justified a tougher sentence. Judge Marmolejo also emphasized that everyone involved in the scheme knew that wearing a uniform would assist in evading detection or arrest.

The investigation began June 13, 2021. On that day, authorities caught Emmanuel Oppongagyare and Ralph Gregory Saint-Joie smuggling undocumented aliens in the trunk of a vehicle at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint located in Hebbronville. At the time of arrest, both men were wearing their U.S. Army uniforms.

Oppongagyare later admitted Gore recruited them to pick the aliens up from McAllen and drive them to San Antonio. Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie were indicted and pleaded guilty Aug. 11 and 12, respectively, in 2021. Both are currently awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña.

A joint investigation later confirmed Oppongagyare, Saint-Joie, Williams and Palmer each served a role in the conspiracy as drivers who would travel to locations in Texas to transport the aliens in exchange for money. Authorities further confirmed that Gore actively recruited people to pick up undocumented aliens.

Both Gore and Williams were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Gore has since been discharged from the Army.

Palmer is currently pending sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and Mark Hicks prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Linwood Douglas Thorne, 50, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today by a jury of multiple counts related to large-scale drug trafficking case in which law enforcement seized five firearms and more than 44 kilograms of heroin, one of the largest seizures of heroin in D.C. history

            The verdict, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

            Thorne was found guilty of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and a firearms charge.

            “This case demonstrates our resolve to protect our community from the dual threats of illegal guns and drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Fentanyl has had an especially devastating impact on neighborhoods here and across the nation. With the support of the FBI, ATF and other partners, we will continue to target these activities and get illegal guns and drugs off our streets.”

            “The impact of this investigation will be far-reaching as due to the actions of the defendant, a devasting amount of heroin laced with fentanyl was introduced onto the streets, which fanned the flames of a growing epidemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Jacobs of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division. “We will continue in our unyielding pursuit of those who traffic in guns and drugs and the resulting harm they bring to our communities.  This investigation is yet another great example of the dedicated work the FBI and its partners undertake to hold these individuals accountable for their actions.”

            “The individuals that took part in the activities surrounding this investigation are who we at ATF try to keep our communities safe from,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Patterson. “We work diligently with all of our partners to combat violent crimes in an effort to maintain public safety.”

            In 2018, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force began investigating Thorne, as a major heroin supplier. On Dec. 19, 2018, the FBI and ATF executed simultaneous search warrants on Thorne’s Maryland business and D.C. residence, finding 44 kilograms of heroin laced with fentanyl; 55 pounds of marijuana; five firearms; and significant drug paraphernalia. In addition to the search warrants, the task force’s investigation—which began in July of 2018—has led to the recovery of eight additional firearms, approximately 1.5 additional kilograms of marijuana, 260 additional grams of heroin, and several firearms magazines and accessories.

            During trial, the government presented over a dozen civilian and law enforcement witnesses, along with digital and business records establishing and corroborating the defendant’s guilt. With these convictions, Thorne faces up to life imprisonment. He will be sentenced on July 8, 2022, by the Honorable Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. 

            In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Special Agent in Charge Patterson commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI and ATF. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by joint law enforcement and prosecution partners, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Rosen and Brandon Regan, as well as Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson of the Federal Major Crimes Section.