Month: August 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Joshua Allen Saunders, 27, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 40 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams on Thursday, August 4, 2022.  Saunders previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

In addition to the sentence, Saunders was ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release and must pay $55,000 in restitution.

“There is no greater priority for all of law enforcement than protecting our community’s children from harm and predators,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “This lengthy sentence will ensure that this predator will no longer harm children and should send a message that this type of behavior only ends with significant time behind bars.”

“Identifying, investigating, and catching child predators is a critical part of our mission,” said Cleveland FBI Special Agent in Charge, Gregory Nelsen.  “The conniving conduct and domineering behavior Saunders exerted over his victims is detestable. The FBI is proud to collaborate with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure thorough investigations are conducted and we eliminate criminal behavior that exploits children.”

According to court documents, federal authorities began an investigation into Saunders after receiving information that he was involved in distributing child sexual abuse materials online.  On November 2, 2021, authorities executed a search warrant on Saunders at a residence in Akron.  During the search, agents seized and reviewed the contents of Saunders’ cell phone and observed two videos of Saunders engaged in sexual conduct with a minor.

The case was investigated by the Akron FBI and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

ROME, Ga. – Juan Cain Valencia-Ramirez has been sentenced for conspiring to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and to launder drug money.

“This defendant was responsible for importing, processing and distributing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine in the metro-Atlanta and Northwest Georgia areas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His long history of methamphetamine dealing and eluding arrest has ended thanks to the coordinated efforts of DEA and other federal and local law enforcement partners.”

“No matter how sophisticated the techniques get for smuggling drugs, the DEA and its law enforcement partners remain a step ahead of criminals and will deny them the opportunity to destroy communities with their insidious drugs,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This investigation was a success as it dismantled a once-thriving meth ring in North Georgia.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In April 2018, Juan Cain Valencia-Ramirez operated a methamphetamine processing and distribution cell in Rome, Georgia. Valencia-Ramirez processed liquid methamphetamine imported in vehicle gas tanks from Mexico and coordinated the distribution of the drugs in metro-Atlanta and Northwest Georgia. He also directed associates to deposit thousands of dollars in drug money that he funneled through bank accounts.

Valencia-Ramirez had remained an elusive law enforcement target because he frequently changed phones and relied on associates to complete drug deals. But federal investigators successfully tracked Valencia-Ramirez’s phone to his residence in Rome following an undercover methamphetamine purchase during which DEA agents recorded a phone call with him.

Undercover agents again recorded a phone call with Valencia-Ramirez during an attempted methamphetamine purchase in September 2018. In October 2018, DEA agents, the Dalton Police Department, and the Rome/Floyd Metro Task Force searched Valencia-Ramirez’s stash house located in a wooded area outside Rome. During the search, investigators recovered approximately 176 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (worth more than $1.1 million at 2018 prices), evidence of a methamphetamine processing lab, and several firearms. The drugs were buried in caches of camouflaged ice chests and plastic bins concealed in the woods around the property.

Valencia-Ramirez fled to Houston, Texas, following the search, where he continued managing his methamphetamine and money laundering operation. In November 2018, DEA agents searched a stash house belonging to Valencia-Ramirez in Houston where they seized approximately 17 kilograms of methamphetamine. DEA agents eventually located him in June 2019 in Smyrna, Georgia, and arrested him. That same day, agents searched the residence of two of Valencia-Ramirez’s co-defendants, Javier Rivera and Jasmine Garcia, and found more methamphetamine and firearms.

Juan Cain Valencia-Ramirez, a/k/a “Chapa,” 39, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to 22 years, one month in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. On November 1, 2021, a jury convicted Valencia-Ramirez of the offenses of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, attempted distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to launder money.

The following co-defendants pleaded guilty, including several who have been sentenced:

• Javier Rivera, 26, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to 17 years and one month of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the offenses of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and conspiracy to launder money on December 11, 2020.
• Luis Perez, 28, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced to 11 years and 10 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the offense of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on March 12, 2020.
• Ricky McPherson, 26, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to five years and five months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the offense of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 16, 2019.
• Jasmine Garcia, 24, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to the offenses of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to launder money, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense on December 1, 2020, and is awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance provided by IRS Criminal Investigations, the Dalton Police Department, and the Rome/Floyd Metro Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John DeGenova and Nicholas Joy prosecuted the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man was sentenced this week on the charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives, and Firearms Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.

Christopher Jawan Weaver, 39, was sentenced on the charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Weaver was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala to 57 months of imprisonment followed by 24 months of supervised release.

In April 2021, Weaver was involved in a domestic altercation with a juvenile while armed with a firearm.  During the altercation, Weaver struck the juvenile in the face with the firearm, causing a large laceration above the juvenile’s left eye. The juvenile was taken by ambulance to the hospital where the juvenile received stitches to close the wound.  Weaver was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he has three prior Alabama state court felony convictions for Robbery, First Degree.

“Our law enforcement partners are keenly aware that domestic abusers and firearms are a deadly combination,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Those who commit a domestic violence offense while illegally armed with a firearm will draw the attention of federal law enforcement and the imposition of strict federal penalties.”

“ATF will continue to combat violent crime by holding individuals who unlawfully and knowingly possess firearms and use them to commit crimes of violence.  Domestic violence is a growing problem across the country, and we will tirelessly fight to keep the citizens in our communities safe. Federal law prohibits individuals who have been convicted of domestic violence from legally possessing firearms” said ATF SAC Mickey French.

The ATF investigated the case along with the Lipscomb Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darius Greene and Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case. 

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Lisa O. Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, announced today that the United States of America has been authorized to seize an Airbus A319-100 (the “Airbus”) owned and controlled by sanctioned Russian oligarch Andrei Skoch, pursuant to a seizure warrant from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which found that the airplane is subject to seizure and forfeiture based on probable cause of violation of the federal anti-money laundering laws.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Today’s affidavit and warrant authorizing the seizure of Andrei Skoch’s private airplane demonstrate the Southern District’s partnership commitment with the task force to pursuing sanctioned Russian oligarchs and their blocked property.  We will continue to use every legal tool available to enforce our anti-money laundering laws and to pursue those who seek to use the U.S. financial system to violate and evade sanctions.” 

Task Force KleptoCapture Director Andrew C. Adams said:  “Once again U.S. law enforcement has demonstrated that international shell games will not suffice to hide the fruits of corruption and money laundering. Through today’s warrant, the Department of Justice lays out a roadmap for those engaged in the legitimate financial sector to follow when assessing transactions with Skoch’s laundering network, while taking steps to freeze, seize, and forfeit the fruits of his criminal activities.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said:  “An oligarchy is defined as a government in which a small group exercises control for their own selfish and corrupt gain.  Members of that group in Russia have long hid and disguised their illegal activities using the U.S. dollar in the process.  The sanctions levied by the U.S government and the work of this task force demonstrate to these offensively wealthy oligarchs who support Russia’s military aggression that they are not untouchable, and we are dramatically impacting their way of life.”

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod said:  “Today’s action demonstrates that the U.S. government will be relentless in our efforts to bring to justice those that are enabling Putin’s heinous war against Ukraine.  Coordination and collaboration between federal law enforcement and international partners is essential to effective enforcement of U.S. law, and I’m proud of our team of dedicated law enforcement professionals.”

According to the seizure warrant and affidavit sworn out today:[1]

Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), the National Emergencies Act, and Executive Orders Issued by the President of the United States, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) designated Andrei Skoch as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) on April 6, 2018 “for being an official of the Government of the Russian Federation,” “a deputy of the Russian Federation’s State Duma,” and because of his “longstanding ties to Russian organized criminal groups, including time spent leading one such enterprise.”  After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, OFAC issued further sanctions against Skoch and his assets.  On March 24, 2022, OFAC designated Skoch and other members of the Duma, for “support[ing] the Kremlin’s efforts to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”   On June 2, 2022, OFAC identified the Airbus as blocked property in which Skoch had an interest. 

Skoch is the beneficial owner of the Airbus through a series of shell companies and trusts tied to his romantic partner.  After OFAC designated Skoch in April 2018 and continuing through at least 2021, U.S. dollar transactions were made to pay for the registration of the Airbus in Aruba and for aviation insurance premiums for the Airbus, each of which was a necessary expense to maintain and operate the Airbus. 

The Airbus (pictured below), bearing tail number P4-MGU and serial number 5445, is believed to be worth more than $90 million.

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Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security.  Mr. Williams further thanked the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs, and OFAC for their assistance in this investigation. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit and National Security and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua A. Naftalis and Nicholas S. Bradley are in charge of the investigation. 

The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine.  Announced by the Attorney General on March 2 and run out of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW BERN, N.C. – This past Friday, a federal jury convicted 43-year-old Barbara Oppong of Bronx, New York on charges of naturalization fraud, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and theft of government property. 

Evidence presented at trial revealed that in February of 2019, a tipster alerted Fort Bragg U.S. Army CID (Criminal Investigation Division) that Samuel Agyapong, a U.S. citizen and soldier, was engaged in a sham marriage with Barbara Oppong, a citizen of Ghana who was unlawfully present in the United States.  Agyapong agreed to engage in the sham marriage in exchange for and upfront $10,000.00 in cash and the benefit of additional Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) funds he would receive from the Army for having a dependent spouse.  Oppong would obtain a lawful permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card. Agyapong and Oppong were married in New York in January 2015.

Thereafter, Agyapong and Oppong submitted fraudulent applications to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting Oppong’s adjustment of status as a lawful permanent resident in the United States, which she received. Based on the marriage to Agyapong, Oppong then filed an application for U.S. citizenship.    Over the course of this sham marriage, roughly $110,000 of undeserved BAH was paid out by the U.S. Army.

Additional evidence presented at the trial showed that Oppong resided in New York, and Agyapong purchased a residence in Fayetteville, and they seldom, if ever, travelled to see each other nor had they engaged in an actual marital union.  Further, evidence revealed that around the time Oppong and Agyapong were married and filed the applications, they omitted the fact that Oppong had two children with another man.

Agyapong was separately tried at a prior trial in which he was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison and restitution of more than $110,000.  As a result of this past Friday’s conviction, Oppong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison at her own sentencing hearing scheduled for the November 15th term of court.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan accepted the verdict. The Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) in the Eastern District of North Carolina led by Homeland Security Investigations and assisted by the Diplomatic Security Service and U.S. Army CID investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-00423-FL-6

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