Month: August 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Fargo –United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Tammy Longie of Tokio, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to serve life in prison after having plead guilty to Second-Degree Murder within Indian Country; three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country; and Child Neglect in Indian Country.

On May 6, 2020, agents with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to the home of Erich and Tammy Longie on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Law enforcement observed a deceased 5-year-old child in the basement of the home and observed bruising throughout the body. An autopsy concluded the death a homicide and identified the cause of death as bilateral subdural hematomas incurred from assault. The pathologist observed abrasions and contusions consistent with “multiple episodes of inflicted trauma.” The child’s sibling was examined at a local hospital and determined to need a higher level of care and was hospitalized for more than a month. An attending physician explained the child had bruising over the child’s body consistent with abuse. The primary medical concern, however, was heart failure due to malnutrition.

Spirit Lake Tribal Social Services (“SLTSS”) had placed the two children in foster care in the home of Erich Longie, Jr., and Tammy Longie in July of 2019.

The investigation revealed that two biological children were also abused including with objects and hands.

“This is a tragic and horrifying case,” said United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl. “The children endured prolonged physical and emotional abuse by Longie, who was responsible for caring and protecting them. In particular, Longie’s physical and psychological abuse of five-year-old R.T. and seven-year-old Z.T. represents some of the worst of humanity; for Longie ultimately killed R.T. and severely injured Z.T. Today’s sentence ensures that she will be removed from her community forever.”

Co-defendant Erich Longie, Jr. plead guilty to First-Degree Murder; three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, and Child Neglect in Indian Country and was also sentenced to serve life in prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office, with Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy assigned to the case.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

EL PASO – Trevor Dylan Lehew, 28, of Plano, pleaded guilty today to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey, El Paso Field Office.

According to court documents, between November 2014 and December 2015, Lehew engaged in the continuing sexual abuse of a six-year-old child at a residence located on Fort Bliss. During this period, Lehew was an active-duty soldier stationed at the military installation. By pleading guilty, Lehew admitted that he knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a child.

At the time of his arrest for these crimes, Lehew was serving a Texas state sentence for aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child related to two other minor children.

A sentencing date has not been set. Lehew faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.  FBI-Louisville and FBI-Seattle, Tacoma Resident Agency also assisted with this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Winters is prosecuting the case.

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 Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.justice.gov/psc.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Mason County man pleaded guilty today to possession of prepubescent child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 11, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Joseph Curtis Hubman, 50, of Henderson. Officers recovered multiple external hard drives, mobile phones, two desktop computers and a micro SD memory card. A forensic analysis of the devices revealed more than 12,000 videos depicting child pornography. Hubman admitted that he possessed the child pornography, and that it included videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Hubman is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Hubman must also register as a sex offender.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Mason County Sheriff’s Department, and the West Virginia State Police.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Julie White is prosecuting the case.

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 Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-24.

 

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that George McEntire Smith, age 22, of Wagoner, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Murder in the First Degree in Indian Country and one count of Causing the Death of a Person by Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, August 1, 2022, and concluded on Friday, August 5, 2022, with the guilty verdicts. Based on the verdicts, the defendant is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment.

During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on April 8, 2021, a 69-year-old male was shot and killed inside his residence in Wagoner. The physical evidence indicated that the victim was shot twice in the back of the head, at a relatively close distance, with a .25-caliber firearm. The Defendant told responding officers that he was with the victim when unknown intruders entered the residence, shot the victim, then fled. Subsequent investigation revealed that the Defendant was in possession of a .25-caliber firearm several hours before the victim was killed and that Defendant’s account of how the killing occurred was inconsistent with the physical evidence at the scene.

The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Wagoner Police Department, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the Defendant in this case is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation.

The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. Chief District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, in Oklahoma City, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report and the Defendant will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until then.

Assistant United States Attorneys James Montoya and Casey Richmond represented the United States.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            CONCORD, N.H. – Michael Chick, 39, of Eliot, Maine, was charged via complaint in federal court with interstate stalking, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            Chick was arrested without incident on Friday evening in Eliot, Maine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Chick was employed as a school bus driver and was assigned to bus routes servicing the Greenland Central School in Greenland, New Hampshire. Chick is alleged to have threatened a child attending the Greenland Central School and threatening the child’s family, and to have travelled from Maine to New Hampshire to make the threats.

            Chick had an initial appearance hearing in federal district court this afternoon. The Court ordered him detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for August 18, 2022.

            This matter was investigated by the Greenland Police Department, the Eliot, Maine Police Department, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kasey Weiland.

            The charges contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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