Month: September 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the September 2022 Federal Grand Jury A.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.

Raul Angel Alvarado-Ramos. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Alvarado-Ramos, 28, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been deported on May 29, 2020, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-295

Lori Ann Bailey. Bank Fraud (Counts 1-5, 11); Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 6-10); Possession of Stolen Mail (Count 12); Theft or Receipt of Stolen Mail (Counts 13-15). On May 1, 2022, Bailey, 42, of Sand Springs, allegedly broke into mailboxes at an apartment complex and stole mail, including a victim’s Arvest Bank debit card. She then used the debit card to make purchases totaling $750 at various stores, including Burlington, Reasor’s, IHOP, Walmart and AutoZone, thus committing bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. On May 13, 2022, she further attempted to pass a forged and fraudulent check from an American Heritage bank account. She also allegedly possessed stolen mail on Aug. 6, 2021, including a package, checks, and Harley Davidson tags. On Nov. 3, 2021, she further stole three packages left for collection. Finally, on Dec. 14, 2021, she stole a package from a mail receptacle and authorized depository for mail matter. Finally, on Dec. 22, 2021, Bailey stole another package which had been left for collection. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-296

Curtis Edward Barnes Jr. First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country. Barnes Jr., 42, of Haskell, is charged with entering the victim’s home through an unlocked door on July 27, 2022, violating a protective order. The following day, Barnes allegedly returned and forced his way through the back door of the victim’s home then hit and strangled the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case.  22-CR-315

Douglas Colby Barnes. Violence Against Mass Transportation Systems on Land (Count 1); Kidnapping in Indian Country (Count 2); Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country (Count 3); Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding (Misdemeanor) (Counts 4-6). On Aug. 13, 2022, Barnes allegedly rushed a Tulsa City bus driver while the bus was in motion and assaulted the driver and three other passengers who intervened. The driver was able to stop the bus, but the assault on the driver continued. At one point, the bus began moving again slowly until it crashed into a telephone pole. During the assault, Barnes allegedly struck the driver with force 14 times along with other strikes and slaps to the head, causing serious bodily injury. Barnes was finally subdued by a man who saw the bus hit the telephone pole. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chantelle D. Dial is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-297

Mikaili Diwani Cohn. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography; Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Cohn, 25, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly receiving, distributing, and possessing child sexual abuse material from May 26, 2022, to July 12, 2022. He also allegedly failed to register as a sex offender staring on March 29, 2022, through the date of the indictment. Cohn was previously convicted in the Northern District of Oklahoma for possession of child pornography on Nov. 3, 2017. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Victor A.S. Régal and George Jiang are prosecuting the case. 22-CR-298

Gonzalo Coronado-Aguilar. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Coronado-Aguilar, 40, a Guatemalan National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed at or near Miami, Florida, on April 18, 2011. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-299

Manuel Flores- Topete. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Flores-Topete, 48, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 8, 2013, at or near El Paso, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case.  22-CR-300

Juan Antonio Garcia-Rivera. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia-Rivera, 30, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 30, 2019, at or near Paso Del Norte, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra M. Williams is prosecuting the case.  22-CR-301

Juan Carlos Hernandez-Nava. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez-Nava, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Nov. 28, 2017, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-302

Brandon Jordan Lancaste. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. On Aug. 13, 2022, Lancaste, 20, of Tulsa, allegedly shot victim Keith Brown, killing him. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-316

Henry Mauricio Lopez-Villanueva. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lopez-Villanueva, 35, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 8, 2013, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-303

Mauricio Lorenzo-Juarez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lorenzo-Juarez, 35, a Guatemalan national, was charged with unlawfully reentering the United States on July 31, 2009, at or near Harlingen, Texas. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-304

Darrell Lamont Love. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. From June 1, 2022, to Aug. 18, 2022, Darrell Lamont Love allegedly failed to register as a sex offender. The U.S. Marshals Service and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. Bailey is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-305

Milgen Perez-Chun. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Perez-Chun, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentered the United States after having been removed on Feb. 17, 2019, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-306

Damien Rodrigues-Munis. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodrigues-Munis, 49, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Dec. 10, 2011, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-307

Jose Rodriguez-Soto. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez-Soto, 29, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on June 5, 2013, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Rubens is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-308

Miguel Segura-Jasso. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Segura-Jasso, 37, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Feb. 5, 2010, at or near Nogales, Arizona. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-309

Jose Rosendo Valadez-Chavez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Valadez-Chavez, 30, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 1, 2019, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-310

Tory Ceonta Williams. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 1, 3); Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (Counts 2, 4); Receipt of Stolen Property in Indian Country (Misdemeanor) (Count 5). On Aug. 15, 2022, Williams, 18, of Tulsa, allegedly shot two male victims with intent to do bodily harm. He is also alleged to have knowingly received stolen federal law enforcement equipment. The FBI equipment included two sets of body armor, ballistics plates, four AR-15 magazines and a Glock 19 magazine. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan H. Heatherman is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-312

Zachary Ray Young; Kiarah Danea Shaw. Robbery in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. On Aug. 1, 2022, Young, 22, and Shaw, 20, both of Tulsa, allegedly assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon and stole the victim’s wallet. The victim suffered serious bodily injury during the assault. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 22-CR-311

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Spokane, Washington –United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Dennis Ray Hopkins, Jr., 42, of Sacramento, California, to 10 years in federal prison for offenses related to trafficking in methamphetamine and heroin and the unlawful possession of firearms. Judge Rice also ordered Hopkins to forfeit his interest in $5,685. Hopkins will also serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison. Hopkins pleaded guilty to the four offenses on March 23, 2022. He has been in federal custody since his arrest on July 29, 2021.

According to court documents, after Hopkins checked out of a Spokane-area hotel in June of 2019, hotel employees found abandoned property in his room that included approximately 600 grams of methamphetamine. No state charges were filed against Hopkins at that time. Two years later, on July 29, 2021, federal agents served a search warrant on another room rented by Hopkins at a Spokane-area hotel. Agents seized over twelve ounces of methamphetamine, nearly five ounces of heroin, and three firearms. As a prior convicted felon and an unlawful user of controlled substances, Hopkins was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm. As part of his plea agreement, Hopkins accepted responsibility for the abandoned methamphetamine found in 2019 and the methamphetamine, heroin, and firearms seized during the search in 2021.

Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, praised the investigative team for building the case that resulted in the issuance of the 2021 search warrant and Hopkins’ arrest. She also remarked on the importance of interagency cooperation in combating drug trafficking that crosses state lines, especially in cases involving firearms. “Mr. Hopkins had multiple firearms in a Spokane-area hotel along with large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin,” U.S. Attorney Waldref stated. “Where guns and drugs intersect, we will continue to work closely with our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners to ensure dangerous offenders are held accountable.”

“The FBI is dedicated to combating violent crime through the investigation of drug and firearm violations,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “The FBI and our partners are working every day to protect the communities where we live and work. Mr. Hopkins’s case is a perfect example of the hard work we all do to combat violent crime in Washington state.”

This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the FBI, with significant assistance from the Spokane Safe Streets Task Force (which includes the FBI, the Spokane Police Department, the Spokane Valley Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington Department of Corrections, and the United States Border Patrol). The FBI Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force also contributed to this case. The case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Ohms, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

GREAT FALLS — A Wolf Point woman who admitted to assaulting a toddler on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced on Thursday to 34 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

Shelby Loves Him, 23, pleaded guilty in May to an indictment charging her with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and felony child abuse.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that Loves Him had been caring for the victim, a toddler, identified as John Doe, when on Dec. 8, 2021, law enforcement officers were contacted about John Doe being unresponsive at the Poplar Community Hospital. The officers observed bruising and scratches on John Doe’s head, arms and legs. When questioned about events prior to John Doe arriving at the hospital, Loves Him told officers that she had struck John Doe multiple times in the week leading up to an incident on Dec. 8, 2021, when she assaulted him. John Doe was flown to Salt Lake City, Utah, for emergency life-saving surgery and continues to suffer significant impairment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy A. Johnson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Montana Highway Patrol and Fort Peck Tribes Police Department.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

One Defendant Also Convicted of Money Laundering and Federal Income Tax Violations

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CLEVELAND – Terry L. Jackson Sr., 50, of Elyria, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, September 8, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent to more than 21.5 years in prison after Jackson was convicted in a trial by jury of distributing cocaine base (crack) and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base (crack) and methamphetamine. 

“This sentence is another example of the successful cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement authorities in combating the scourge of opioids in our community,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “Repeat drug traffickers earn their way to federal court to answer for the poisoning of our communities.”

“Drug trafficking cases remain one of the highest priorities of the FBI,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen.  “This sentence underscores an unwavering commitment to combatting drug trafficking.  The FBI, together with our federal, state, and local partners, remain steadfast in disrupting the flow of deadly drugs that pose the greatest threat to the well-being of every person in the United States.”

According to court documents, in February of 2019, law enforcement officers with the Elyria Police Department began an investigation into Jackson, after receiving information that Jackson was distributing drugs out of an Elyria-area motel room.  As a result, investigators conducted a controlled buy from Jackson and purchased a quantity of cocaine base (crack) from him.  Shortly after, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for the hotel room where Jackson was staying.

During the execution of the warrant, investigators encountered Jackson alone in the room and seized quantities of fentanyl, cocaine base (crack) and methamphetamine from him.  Jackson was arrested at that time.

Jackson was classified as a career offender during the sentencing hearing due to multiple prior felony convictions, including drug trafficking and felonious assault.  A career offender is an individual that commits either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense after two prior felony convictions for either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.

This investigation was conducted by the Elyria Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Payum Doroodian and Robert J. Kolansky.

This case was investigated as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.)., a joint law enforcement initiative that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.