Month: August 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to34 months in prison for violating federal drug trafficking and firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Hazeon Kidd, age 21

According to information presented to the court, Kidd was arrested by the Allegheny County Police on May 13, 2021, after a search of the vehicle he occupied revealed four firearms, more than $10,000 in cash, and about 13 grams of a cocaine and fentanyl mixture. One of the firearms and the cocaine and fentanyl mixture were found on the Kidd’s person. Kidd was precluded from possessing a firearm under federal law because he was then an illegal drug user. Kidd was released on bond after his May 13, 2021, arrest until he was arrested again on June 28, 2021, this time by the North Huntington Police, after selling $600 worth of a cocaine and fentanyl mixture to a confidential informant. At that point, the Court revoked his bond and he is currently detained.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon stated that a portion of the sentence was attributable to the fact that the defendant was on bond from the May 2021 arrest at the time of the June 2021 offense.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Chung commended the Allegheny County Police Department and the North Huntingdon Police Department for the investigations leading to the successful prosecution of Kidd.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic City, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Cory Newman, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On May 20, 2021, agents with Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, (HSI) served a search warrant at Newman’s residence in Atlantic City and discovered electronic devices containing numerous videos and images of children being sexually abused.  

Because Newman has been previously convicted of possession of child pornography, the charge of possession of child pornography carries an enhanced mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2023.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of HSI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Reinhold. He also thanked the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds, and the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Interim Officer in Charge Deputy Chief James A. Sarkos, for their assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Johns of the Criminal Division in Camden.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

ATLANTA – Ibnisa Durr has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing a firearm after a felony sentence. Durr fled from officers in a highspeed chase on Georgia 400 before ultimately crashing his vehicle and attempting to throw a bag containing a loaded firearm over an interstate guardrail.

“Durr has a serious criminal history, which includes robbery and aggravated assault convictions,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “His reckless conduct seriously endangered the lives of innocent motorists and officers.  However, the coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies led to Durr’s capture, and subsequent sentence.”

“The message from this sentencing is clear. Anyone who thinks about possessing an illegal firearm and compounding that crime by fleeing from police and putting innocent civilians in danger, will get caught, and when they do, they will serve significant time in prison,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the assistance from our local law enforcement partners, the threat from this criminal is eliminated from our streets.”

“Anytime we take a career criminal off the streets of our great city, it’s a win-win situation for the city and the citizens of Atlanta,” said Interim Chief Darin Schierbaum. “The collaborative efforts of the Atlanta Police Department and the Sandy Springs Police Department is another example of two law enforcement agencies working together to bring a criminal to justice.”

“Lawlessness and criminal behavior should not be tolerated in a civilized society. This sentence imposed will serve as a reminder to all who would commit violent crimes, that you will pay a high personal price for your misdeeds.  Metro Atlanta law enforcement will always work together to make our cities, roads, and neighborhoods a safe place for all,” said Sandy Springs Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone.

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: On May 30, 2021, officers with the Atlanta Police Department (APD) responded to a residence in Atlanta, after receiving reports that a person had been shot.  When they arrived, APD discovered the victim had been shot multiple times with non-life-threatening injuries.  Through a subsequent investigation, APD identified Durr as the shooter and obtained a warrant for his arrest. 

Approximately three months after the shooting, APD’s Fugitive Unit located Durr and observed him enter a vehicle. When APD attempted to take Durr into custody, he sped away, and a highspeed chase ensued on Georgia 400. During the chase, Durr attempted to elude police by rapidly changing lanes, which led him to crash into two police vehicles, as well as an uninvolved motorist’s vehicle. Durr tried to flee on foot, and in doing so, he attempted to throw a bag containing a loaded firearm over a nearby guardrail.  The firearm was recovered by the arresting officers.

Ibnisa Durr (“Paper Lovee”), 26, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to seven years and four months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On May 25, 2022, he pleaded guilty to the offense of felon-in-possession of a firearm.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Atlanta Police Department and the Sandy Springs Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dash A. Cooper prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.

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

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Bobby James Mitchell, 42, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to six years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and violating his supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 11, 2021, a Hurricane Police officer pulled over a vehicle driven by Mitchell on Interstate 64 in Putnam County. Mitchell admitted that the officer found 499 pills containing approximately 54 grams of fentanyl in the vehicle. Mitchell further admitted that he intended to sell the fentanyl.

Mitchell was previously convicted of distributing heroin in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on November 21, 2016. Today’s prison sentence includes one year and one month for committing crimes while on supervised release.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Hurricane Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the case.

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-71.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man were sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine and other illegal drugs in the Huntington area.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Marvin Jerome Calvin, 41, admitted that he sold approximately 1.8 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington on July 6, 2020. Calvin further admitted that he distributed cocaine base, also known as “crack,” to a confidential informant on June 25 and 26, 2020. On August 6, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Calvin’s residence in Huntington and recovered approximately 1.6 grams of cocaine. Calvin admitted that he intended to sell the cocaine.

Calvin pleaded guilty to the distribution of fentanyl. The case is the result of a long-term investigation that disrupted the DTO and its distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone, heroin, cocaine and crack. All 18 defendants have pleaded guilty.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force. The Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force consists of officers with the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Hurricane Police Department, and the Marshall University Police Department, with support from the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West. The Ohio Highway Patrol, the Kentucky State Police, and the FBI and DEA in Columbus, Ohio also assisted in the investigation.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Cremeans prosecuted the case.

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.

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. 3:21-cr-109.

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