Month: June 2022

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Defense News: U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship hosts JMSDF admirals

Source: United States Navy

JMSDF Vice Adm. FUKUDA Tatsuya, commander, Fleet Escort Force, and Rear Adm. SHIMIZU Hitoshi, commander, Escort Flotilla Two, spent time meeting with Charleston’s crew, touring the ship, and discussing the unique aspects of the Independence-class littoral combat ship.

Charleston’s commanding officer explained the ship’s mission and role during their current rotational deployment to U.S. 7th Fleet.

“USS Charleston was honored to host admirals FUKUDA and SHIMIZU and all the JMSDF officers and sailors who visited during our time in Sasebo.” said Cmdr. John I. Actkinson, commanding officer of Charleston. “Anytime we can welcome strong Allies like the Japanese on board, we build our relationship and gain greater understanding of our capabilities. Doing this makes it easier for us to operate together and ensure freedom of the seas.”

During the visit, FUKUDA and SHIMIZU toured significant areas of the ship to include the mission bay, integrated combat centers, hangar bay and flight deck, and the pilot house. Officers and Sailors discussed their skillsets, day-to-day operations and highlights of their current rotational deployment with the JMSDF admirals.

Charleston recently became the first LCS in over three years to complete a preventive maintenance availability in Sasebo, providing more flexibility and expanding the area the ship has been able to operate.

Attached to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, Charleston is on a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the region, and to work alongside allied and partner navies to provide maritime security and stability, key pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed destroyer squadron in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore, functions as Expeditionary Strike Group 7’s Sea Combat Commander, and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements.

Under Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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Security News: West Virginia Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Travelling to PA to Have Sex with a Minor

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Moundsville, West Virginia, has been sentenced in federal court to 108 months’ imprisonment followed by 10 years’ supervised release on his conviction of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Jason W. Lynn, age 44.

According to information presented to the court, from April 4, 2019, until May 3, 2019, Lynn communicated online and through text messages with an undercover law enforcement officer who Lynn believed to be a real minor. In the beginning of May 2019, Lynn made arrangements with the purported minor to meet at a hotel in Pittsburgh for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. Lynn was arrested on May 3, 2019 by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation after Lynn traveled from West Virginia to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to meet the purported minor.

Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Chung commended the FBI for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lynn.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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Security News: Former Orangeburg Public Schools Employee Sentenced to Almost Three Years for Defrauding School District of More Than $550,000

Source: United States Department of Justice News

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Former Orangeburg School District Employee David Cortez Marshall was sentenced today to almost three years for defrauding the Orangeburg County School District of over $550,000. 

“Fraud of any nature is illegal and wrong, but fraud against a public school – in the middle of a pandemic – is unconscionable,” said U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis. “Mr. Marshall’s prison sentence reflects the seriousness of his offense and our dedication to deterring public fraud.  His restitution order ensures that he’ll be obligated to pay back every penny he stole from the public.”

“Today, justice was served, and a criminal was held accountable,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Columbia Special Agent in Charge, Susan Ferensic. “Our work is not finished.  We will continue to hold perpetrators accountable and see that their crimes are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent.”

Evidence presented to the Court showed that Marshall, a former media communications specialist employed by the Orangeburg County School District, created a scheme to defraud the district while purchasing remote learning cameras for school classrooms.  Through the use of shell companies, fabricated documents, forged signatures, and a false identity, Marshall steered the district’s purchasing contracts to companies he created and controlled, purchased the cameras, then sold them to the school at a substantial markup.  Marshall also received funds from the school district for the cameras that he never paid to the seller.  Through his scheme to defraud, Marshall received more than $550,000 in illegal proceeds.  His scheme was eventually discovered by other school district employees, who confronted Marshall and reported the matter to the FBI for further investigation.

United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Marshall to 33 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Marshall was also ordered to pay approximately $600,000 in restitution.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brook Andrews is prosecuting the case.

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Security News: South Carolina Woman Sentenced for Role in International Money Laundering, Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy

Source: United States Department of Justice News

ABINGDON, Va. – A Greenville, South Carolina woman, who was involved in a longtime romantic relationship with the leader of an extensive methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, was sentenced this week to 36 months in federal prison.

Lisa Yvonne Fleming Neely, 56, pled guilty in February 2022 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering with the intent to promote the carrying on of a crime – specifically to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

According to court documents, in 2012, Neely began a romantic relationship with Joshua Desorcy while he was incarcerated. Upon his release from prison, Desorcy began selling methamphetamine in the Greenville, South Carolina area and Neely assisted him by wiring funds to various sources connected with a Mexican drug cartel.

Desorcy moved to Bristol, Virginia to expand his drug dealing business and Neely continued to support him by coordinating his travels to purchase massive amounts of methamphetamine from additional sources in Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas.

When Desorcy was arrested in 2021, Neely conspired with him to threaten a co-conspirator into falsely claiming ownership of a firearm that was found in Desorcy’s possession.  In addition, Neely not only continued to facilitate communications between the incarcerated Desorcy and his drug suppliers, but also organized additional shipments of methamphetamine into the Southwest Virginia area at his direction.

In February 2022, Desorcy was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of DEA’s Washington Division made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted the case.

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Security News: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Armed Fentanyl Trafficking and Possession of a “Ghost Gun”

Source: United States Department of Justice News

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Manassas man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to distribute counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and possessing a firearm during drug trafficking.

According to court documents, from in or around May 2020 through December 2021, Justice Edward Ansah, 26, conspired with others to distribute counterfeit, pressed pills containing fentanyl. During the conspiracy, the defendant sold hundreds of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills to customers in northern Virginia. At the time of his arrest in December of 2021, Ansah was carrying a privately manufactured 9mm firearm devoid of a serial number or other unique identifier, aka “ghost gun”. A search of Ansah’s two residences in Manassas revealed over 6,700 grams of fentanyl, over 1450 grams of cocaine, and tens of thousands of grams of marijuana and THC products. The search also resulted in the discovery of two additional privately manufactured firearms devoid of serial numbers, two pistols, one rifle, various ammunition, and over $28,000 in cash. Ansah had previously been convicted of a felony offense in Virginia and was thus prohibited from possessing firearms at the time of this offense.

Ansah is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Washington Field Division; and Peter Newsham, Chief of Prince William County Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael C. Tucker is prosecuting the case.

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 are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-88.