Month: May 2022

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Security News: North Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA —Deontrae Clyde Smalls, 37, of North Charleston, has pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and no contest to possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Evidence presented to the Court revealed that Smalls was stopped by Charleston County Sheriff’s Office deputies after running a red light. Smalls was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and deputies immediately smelled marijuana when they approached the driver’s side window. After searching the vehicle, deputies found a loaded .40 caliber handgun and marijuana, packaged in 26 small bags, inside the dashboard of the vehicle. Smalls also had more than $1,000 in cash in his pocket at the time of arrest. Smalls is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior drug distribution conviction for which he served five years. During the stop, Smalls told deputies he knew he was not supposed to possess a gun.

Smalls faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.  United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks accepted the plea and will sentence Smalls after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Orville is prosecuting the case.

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Security News: Rosebud Man Charged with Escape from Custody

Source: United States Department of Justice News

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Escape from Custody.

Marlow Poor Thunder, age 27, was indicted on May 10, 2022.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 12, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

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

The indictment alleges that on March 29, 2022, following a furlough to attend a medical appointment, Poor Thunder failed to report to the Winner City Jail as ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.

The charge is merely an accusation and Poor Thunder is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem is prosecuting the case.   

Poor Thunder was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set. 

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Security News: Sioux Falls Man Found Guilty of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of Two Victims and a Drug Conspiracy Charge

Source: United States Department of Justice News

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Jeffrey Darnell Moore, age 53, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (heroin) and two counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl) Resulting in Death, as a result of a federal jury trial in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The verdict was returned on May 13, 2022.

Each charge of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison and/or a $1 million fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, per charge.

The charge of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $1 million fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. 

Moore was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 20, 2020. 

On or about November 2, 2018, in the District of South Dakota, Jeffery Darnell Moore, did knowingly and intentionally distribute fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and the distribution of said fentanyl resulted in the death of Victim #1.

On or about June 15, 2019, in the District of South Dakota, Jeffery Darnell Moore, did knowingly and intentionally distribute fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and the distribution of said fentanyl resulted in the death of Victim #2.

Beginning on a date unknown and continuing until on or about July 20, 2020, in the District of South Dakota and elsewhere, Jeffery Darnell Moore, did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate, and agree together, with others known and unknown, to knowingly and intentionally distribute heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

Moore was also charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, but was found not guilty of that charge.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and sentencing will take place August 1, 2022.  The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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Defense News: NAVSUP, mission partners in Greece continue support to Truman Carrier Strike Group

Source: United States Navy

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUDA BAY, Greece – Logisticians assigned to Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella (NAVSUP FLCSI) and their mission partners at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay Greece coordinated the loading of cargo, mail and food provisions to USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) at the Marathi NATO Pier Complex, May 3, 2022.

USNS Supply departed the pier with 18 pallets of milk equaling 6,000 gallons after the cargo onload, delivering the provisions to the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS), May 7, 2022.

“The customer service and flexibility demonstrated by our NAVSUP FLCSI team at NSA Souda Bay was critical for the mail and provisions load to USNS Supply,” said Bong Cabling, NAVSUP FLCSI executive director. “In particular, our customs clearance agents worked with Greek officials to clear the milk and fresh frozen provisions before a national holiday.”

The RAS this month is the most recent of multiple replenishments for HSTCSG since it arrived in the Mediterranean Sea in December. In February, NAVSUP FLCSI and its mission partners supported the replenishment of HSTCSG from strategic locations at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, and NSA Souda Bay in support of the NATO-led activity Neptune Strike.

“NAVSUP FLC Sigonella has been critical to our success throughout this entire deployment,” said Cmdr. Autumn Daniel, USS Harry S. Truman’s supply officer. “They’ve played a key role in keeping our Sailors fed and healthy, along with keeping us materially ready.”

The HSTCSG has been on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to maintain and generate maritime stability and security for the U.S., and Allied and Partner interests in Europe and Africa. Read more about HSTCSG’s presence in the Mediterranean Sea here.

Truman, flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG), along with the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56); Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and USS Mitscher (DDG 57) have supported NATO enhanced Air Policing missions and national and Alliance interests during their time in theater, bolstering the defense of the NATO Alliance. They have been joined at various points in deployment by NATO Allied and partner ships, including the Norwegian Royal Navy Fridjof Nansen-class frigate HNoMS Fridjtof Nansen (F310) and Italian Navy Bergamini-class guided-missile frigate ITS Carabiniere (F 593).

Fritdjof Nansen recently detached from the HSTCSG after a cooperative workup cycle and deployment with the strike group for the past eight months.

USNS Supply is one of Military Sealift Command’s fast combat support ships whose ability to replenish ships at-sea provides greater flexibility to remain underway for extended periods of time.

NAVSUP’s mission partner in Greece, NSA Souda Bay, is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in the U.S. European, Africa, and Central Command areas of responsibility.

FLCSI is one of NAVSUP’s eight globally-positioned commands that provides for the full range of solutions for logistics, business and support services to the U.S. Naval, Joint, NATO and Allied Forces across 14 enduring and forward operating sites; forward contingency and cooperative security locations in 13 countries in Europe and Africa.

(Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jamica Johnson, Carrier Strike Group 8 Public Affairs contributed to this story)

 

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Security News: U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. Recognizes Police Week

Source: United States Department of Justice News

In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”

U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “Law enforcement officers sacrifice so much for our community to keep us safe from the criminal element. I want to offer my appreciation for their tireless work, and I ask everyone to recognize their contribution to a safe society. Please continue to support law enforcement throughout the year and thank them for their service.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021.  Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. 

Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents.  Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year.  In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting.  Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program. 

The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.