Month: May 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Richard G. Frohling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 5, 2022, John E. Fredenburgh (age: 37) of the Village of Suring, in Oconto County, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison by Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach.

In November of 2021, Fredenburgh pled guilty to “Transportation of a Minor with the Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity” and “Child Enticement.” The facts adduced at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that Fredenburgh sexually abused a Suring minor beginning when she was 12 years old. The abuse continued for another five and a half years. In February of 2021, the victim came forward and reported the abuse  to Oconto authorities. In addition to the repeated sexual abuse, Fredenburgh supplied the minor with alcohol and illegal drugs. He also committed acts of violence against her.   

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach noted the horrendous nature of the crimes and the need to deter Fredenburgh from engaging in further abuse. He stated his belief that a 25-year prison sentence was lengthy enough to protect the community while at the same time providing a measure of justice for the victim. Upon the completion of his federal prison sentence, the defendant will serve the remainder of his life on supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office, the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office, the Menominee, Michigan Sheriff’s Office, the Menominee (Michigan) Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

#   #   #

For further information contact:

Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales                                                                     

(414) 297-1700

Follow us on Twitter

Source: United States Department of Justice News

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Todd County, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor.

Fremont Menard, a/k/a Fremont Menard, Jr., age 19, was indicted on February 8, 2022.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 5, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between on or about August 23, 2021, and September 4, 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, Menard knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, sexual contact with a minor under the age of 16, by the use of force.  The Indictment further alleges that on or about September 4, 2021, Menard knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with a different minor under the age of 16, by the use of force.

The charges are merely accusations and Menard is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.     

Menard was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has been set for June 28, 2022.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Fargo – Interim United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota entered into a settlement agreement with the Milnor Public School District (“School District”) to resolve an allegation that the School District violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”).

The settlement agreement resolves an ADA complaint alleging that the newly constructed playground at the Milnor Public School is inaccessible to students with disabilities, and that the School District failed to provide accessible transportation to a student with a disability for a field trip. Through its investigation into the complaint, the U.S. Attorney’s Office learned of serious barriers to access for students with disabilities at the playground. These barriers included a newly installed Engineered Wood Fiber playground surface that was loose and unstable, such that a wheelchair user would have extreme difficulty navigating the playground surface. Additionally, the route to the playground area included changes in level, running slopes, and cross slopes far exceeding those permitted under the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Further, the U.S. Attorney’s Office learned about an incident in which a student with a disability was, rather than provided with accessible transportation, picked up and carried on to a non-accessible school bus for a field trip during the school day.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the School District will make modifications to the playground by September 1, 2022, to bring it into compliance with the ADA. Further, when transporting students with disabilities who use mobility devices, the School District will use vehicles with features such as lifts or ramps to properly assist and secure these students.

Interim U.S. Attorney Chase commended the School District for its exemplary cooperation throughout this investigation and for its commitment to the ADA. “Every child in North Dakota should have equal access to educational facilities,” said Interim U.S. Attorney Chase. “I personally thank the Milnor Public School District for its full cooperation with our investigation and for its agreement to correct the issues at the playground before the upcoming school year. We hope other schools, park districts, and providers of playground equipment and installation services remain focused on the requirements of the ADA. Our office is committed to ensuring children with disabilities have full and equal access to educational and recreational opportunities in North Dakota.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara Vavrosky Iversen and Melissa H. Burkland represented the United States in this matter, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Michelle Erdmann.

Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in North Dakota is not accessible to persons with disabilities may file a complaint online at www.ada.gov or contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 701-297-7400.

# # #

Source: United States Department of Justice News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Devan Andrew Martinez, 34, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on May 5 to four years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Martinez pleaded guilty on Oct. 12, 2021.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on July 18, 2018, a law enforcement officer observed a vehicle parked inside a gated entrance to the Sedillo Range Unit on the south side of Interstate 40, which is on the Pueblo of Laguna. They did not have a title or bill of sale for the car, and the officer checked for a vehicle identification number. While checking the vehicle, the officer observed a loaded Taurus .45 caliber handgun on the floorboard under the front passenger seat.

After the officer found the firearm, Martinez and the other person were taken into custody. A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle and resulted in the discovery of nine rifles, four shotguns and two handguns, among other items including ammunition. In his plea, Martinez acknowledged that he knew that as a previously convicted felon he could not legally possess firearms or ammunition.

In the days prior to his arrest, Martinez went on a crime spree through communities west of Albuquerque, including the Pueblo of Laguna. He broke into a home, vehicles, a trailer, and gun safes to steal the fifteen firearms he possessed on July 18, 2018, as well as other personal effects. The State of New Mexico prosecuted Martinez for aggravated burglary (armed after entering), burglary of a vehicle, and residential burglary, all of which arose out of this crime spree. For those crimes, Martinez was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by five years of supervised probation. The sentence handed down today will be adjusted to account for time served for the state convictions. Because Martinez has been incarcerated since July of 2018, and accounting for this adjustment, his release from his federal term of imprisonment is forecast for October of this year.

Upon his release from prison, Martinez will be subject to three years of supervised release.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Pueblo Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.

# # #

Source: United States Department of Justice News

The mayors of two municipalities in Puerto Rico were arrested yesterday for allegedly engaging in conspiracy, soliciting bribes, and extortion. 

According to the indictment, unsealed yesterday in the District of Puerto Rico, Javier García-Pérez, 46, Mayor of Aguas Buenas, was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which, from 2017 through 2021, he received and accepted cash payments from two businessmen in exchange for awarding municipal contracts for waste disposal services, asphalt and paving services, and debris removal and paying outstanding invoices on the contracts. The indictment alleges that García-Pérez received at least $32,000 in cash payments from the two businessmen from August 2020 through September 2021.

A second indictment unsealed yesterday alleges that Reinaldo Vargas-Rodriguez, 48, Mayor of Humacao, was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which, from January to July 2021, he received and accepted cash payments from two businessmen in exchange for awarding municipal contracts for waste disposal and asphalt and paving services, and for paying outstanding invoices on the contracts. The indictment alleges that Vargas-Rodriguez received at least $15,000 in cash payments from the two businessmen from March 18, 2021, through April 15, 2021. 

If convicted of all counts, García-Pérez and Vargas-Rodriguez each face up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and Assistant Director Luis M. Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. 

The cases are being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Nicholas W. Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott H. Anderson for the District of Puerto Rico.

The cases are part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matters, the Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the District of Puerto Rico for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts. See United States v. Luis Arroyo-Chiques, 21-485 (SCC); United States v. Eduardo Cintron-Suarez, 22-151 (SCC); United States v. Felix Delgado-Montalvo, 21-463 (RAM); United States v. Oscar Santamaria-Torres, 21-464 (RAM); United States v. Raymond Rodriguez, 21-465 (RAM). 

Additionally, the department recently obtained indictments charging several former officials and contractors with bribery related to municipal contracts, and those cases are still pending.  See United States v. Mario Villegas-Vargas, 21-468 (FAB); United States v. Angel Perez-Otero, 21-474 (ADC); and United States v. Radames Benitez-Cardona, 21-475 (PAD).

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.