Month: September 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

AUGUSTA, GA:  All four defendants in an Augusta methamphetamine-trafficking ring await sentencing now that the conspiracy’s lead defendant has admitted guilt.

Magnum Jelani Neely, 38, of Millen, Ga., an inmate at Dooly State Prison, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Neely’s guilty plea subjects him to a minimum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life, along with substantial financial penalties and a minimum of five years of supervised release after completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“With substantial assistance from co-conspirators, Neely was able to direct a high volume of meth distribution even as he served a 10-year state sentence for violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “This investigation shut down his operation, and federal sentences will ensure these traffickers are held accountable for their crimes.”

As described in court documents and testimony, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in November 2021 joined investigators from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office in identifying Neely as coordinating a methamphetamine trafficking operation from inside prison. Neely used contraband cell phones to contact couriers outside prison to deliver drugs to buyers. The Georgia Department of Corrections assisted in the investigation, and Neely and three co-conspirators were indicted in April 2022.

The three co-conspirators include:

• Patricia Gregory, 45, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
• Fanesia Smith, 39, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and,
• Yvonne Smith, 57, of Augusta – mother of Fanesia Smith – faces a statutory sentence of up to three years in prison after pleading guilty to Misprision of a Felony for knowing of, and helping to conceal, the criminal activity of the conspiracy.

Each of the defendants will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall after completion of a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.

“The ringleader of a once-thriving methamphetamine ring profited by spreading this insidious poison throughout Richmond County and elsewhere, all while serving a prison sentence,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “But DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to holding criminals accountable, no matter whether they’re locked up or on the streets.” 

“Any type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we appreciate the support and assistance of our law enforcement partners on every level, in our efforts to see that justice is being served on those who pose a threat to the safety of the public and the operations of our facilities,” said Georgi Department of Corrections Commissioner Timothy C. Ward.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Department of Corrections, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah L. Johnson

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CONTACT: Barbara Burns   
PHONE:       (716) 843-5817 
FAX #:          (716) 551-3051  

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Montrya D. Brown, 31, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated that on January 6, 2022, New York State Parole Officers searched Montrya’s St. Paul Street residence, and seized a 12-gauge shotgun and multiple rounds of ammunition. Montrya was previously convicted in September and October of 2015, and in June of 2020, of felony crimes in Monroe County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing ammunition.

The sentencing is a result of an investigation by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito.  

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

EVANSVILLE – Nathaniel J. Jacobs, Sr., 54, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and witness tampering. Jacobs was found guilty on June 2, 2022, following a three-day federal jury trial.

According to documents and evidence introduced in court, on January 31, 2020, Jacobs was admitted to a local hospital for a gunshot wound to his hand. At the hospital, he told law enforcement officers that he accidently shot himself with one of the three guns he had at his home. Jacobs is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his numerous felony convictions, including multiple crimes of violence. Law enforcement searched Jacobs’ home pursuant to a warrant and found three handguns, ammunition, and approximately 7 grams of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine had been divided into smaller amounts and prepackaged in plastic bags for easy distribution.

After being indicted by a federal grand jury, Jacobs contacted a material witness on several occasions via telephone and video calls. During those calls, he falsely told the witness that she was under criminal investigation for shooting him in the hand, and the two of them needed to get married to legally protect themselves. Jacobs believed that his marriage to the witness would prevent her from testifying against him at trial. Jacobs told the witness that they could get divorced after the case concluded.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Indianapolis, made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The Evansville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration provided valuable assistance. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. As part of the sentence, Judge Young ordered that Jacobs be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and Todd Shellenbarger who prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ROBERT ECKERT, 56, of West Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Eckert used multiple internet platforms, including MeWe and Kik, to solicit, receive and distribute images of child sexual abuse and to communicate with others about the distribution of child pornography.  He accessed the online platforms on his phone, at his residence, and at the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester where he was employed as its executive director.  Between September 2019 and May 2020, Eckert possessed 1,837 image files and 73 videos depicting child sex abuse, including the abuse of prepubescent minors.

Eckert was arrested on April 8, 2021.

Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for November 28, at which time Eckert faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Eckert is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Manchester Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy V. Gifford and Daniel Cummings.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Ryan Spencer George, 37, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. George was sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. to 108 months (9 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.  George pleaded guilty on May 26, 2022 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On March 31, 2020, detectives with the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force were assisting the Lake Charles Police Department and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle being driven by George. Subsequent to his arrest, law enforcement officers found multiple plastic bags containing at least 25 grams of methamphetamine, a small digital scale and a wallet containing various denominations of U.S. Currency inside the front pocket of his pants. George admitted to officers that the bags contained methamphetamine and that some of the money was gained from selling narcotics. While searching George’s vehicle, officers found a loaded SCCY 9mm pistol on the floorboard between the driver’s seat and the console.

Further investigation by law enforcement revealed that George had multiple prior felony convictions, including distribution of methamphetamine (2015) and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon (2018), prohibiting him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lake Charles Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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