Month: September 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Audrey Jean Wolford (“Wolford”), age 45, from Barrigada, Guam, was sentenced in the United States District Court of Guam to 120 months imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), and Engaging in Monetary Transaction with Proceeds of Specified Unlawful Activity, in violation 18 U.S.C. § 1957. The Court also ordered five years of supervised release following imprisonment and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. The Court also ordered forfeiture of Wolford’s Barrigada residence, jewelry, and Infiniti vehicle to the government, as they were purchased with illegal drug proceeds.

From January 2013 to February 2019, Wolford, Vincent Raymond Rios (“Rios”), and other co-conspirators agreed to purchase and distribute methamphetamine in Guam. Wolford carried approximately $10,000 cash on her person as she accompanied Rios to purchase drugs from their supplier in the U.S. mainland. Rios packaged the drugs and Wolford prepared the U.S. Postal forms, mailing the packages containing methamphetamine to Guam. Wolford and Rios then traveled back to Guam where they retrieved their drug packages. The methamphetamine was then distributed to Eric Aponik, Joshua Ulloa, Josephine Quintanilla, and numerous other people in Guam, many of whom have been sentenced. The proceeds from the methamphetamine sales were returned to Wolford and Rios.

After the execution of search warrants, it was discovered that Wolford sent and received text messages that recorded her sales of methamphetamine by the gram, plate, and pound. She sold the methamphetamine out of her rental property located at 223 Bejong Street, Barrigada, Guam and met drug customers at hotels and other public places.

In 2016, the Wolford and Rios provided Aponik with $125,000 in drug proceeds that he deposited in his employer’s bank account, Reaction Inc. The company issued a check in the amount of $125,000 to Title Guaranty of Guam, Inc. where Wolford used the laundered money to purchase rental property in Barrigada.

Wolford also paid protection fees to a retired Guam Police Department officer, who advised Wolford how to avoid detection and arrest by law enforcement as she distributed drugs. As part of Wolford’s plea agreement, she agreed that 1,800 grams of methamphetamine were attributable to her conduct.

In June 2020, the district court sentenced Rios to 27 years imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty Grams or More of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); 20 years imprisonment for Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.SC. § 841(a)(1); and 10 years imprisonment for two counts of Money Laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957. Those sentences are being served concurrently at the federal Bureau of Prisons. Rios also forfeited over $1,183,939.00, in addition to a condominium at Apusento Gardens and a home in Gloria Circle, Dededo.

“This case reflects the hard work of the many law enforcement agencies that pursued this drug trafficking organization across multiple jurisdictions,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “It resulted in substantial criminal penalties, in addition to the forfeiture of a remarkable amount of ill-gotten gains to the government. We will continue to dedicate our resources toward identifying, disrupting, and dismantling these drug organizations in Guam.”

“Ms. Wolford’s actions clearly warrant this sentence,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson.  “The harm that these drugs bring to our communities are clear.  The fact that she recruited a retired law enforcement officer in her drug enterprise makes it that much worse.” 

“Using the mail to traffic harmful controlled substances hurts members of our community and everyone’s trust. Postal Inspectors will continue to work to keep controlled substances out of the U.S. Mail and our communities” said Kevin Rho, Acting Inspector in Charge, USPIS, San Francisco Division. “I would like to thank Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, and our federal law enforcement partners for their ongoing commitment to these prosecutions.”

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This joint investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the assistance from the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency.  The case was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.

Source: United States Department of Justice

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division joined U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross for the Western District of New York to announce a new initiative to combat unlawful acts of hate in the Western District of New York. The United Against Hate initiative seeks to directly connect federal, state and local law enforcement with traditionally marginalized communities in order to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland recently announced the nationwide launch of the initiative and its expansion to all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices over the next year.

“The Justice Department is committed to marshaling all resources at its disposal to hold people who engage in unlawful acts of hate accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “Through United Against Hate, we are bringing together community groups, local leaders and law enforcement at every level to build trust and strengthen coordination to combat unlawful acts of hate. Our communities, schools, workplaces, houses of worship and homes are all safer when we stand unified in the fight against hate.”

“The horrific events of May 14 took the lives of 10 members of our community because of their race, just because they were Black,” said U.S. Attorney Ross. “This type of race-based hate is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in this community or in our society. This community has shown that hate will not be accepted, through our actions in the days, weeks and months that followed, when our entire community stood together to send the message that hate will not win. The United Against Hate initiative will bring federal, state and local law enforcement together with those communities that are most vulnerable to becoming victims of hate crimes or hate incidents, while at the same time holding those who commit these acts accountable for their behavior. Together, we will continue to send the message that every person deserves to feel safe in their own community and that hate will not be tolerated.”

Community Relations Service Director Paul Monteiro, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Darren Cox and Buffalo Police Department Deputy Commissioner Al Wright also joined the event. After they spoke to an audience of community leaders, civil rights advocates and community members, subject matter experts from their offices engaged in a presentation and direct discussions with community leaders and advocates about taking steps to identify, report and prevent hate crimes and incidents. Through using hypothetical scenarios and video clips depicting real-life hate crime cases and stories, the presenters emphasized the importance of reporting unlawful acts of hate. They also highlighted differences between hate crimes versus hate incidents, and provided options for responding to hate incidents when situations do not constitute a federal or state crime. Presenters also distinguished unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, including identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes.

As part of its United Against Hate programming, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will engage with communities across the Western District of New York to deepen connections with those communities, further hate crimes prevention efforts and encourage more people to report hate crimes and hate incidents.

The nationwide launch of United Against Hate follows a successful pilot of the program last spring by three U.S. Attorneys’ Offices — New Jersey, Massachusetts and the Eastern District of Washington. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the conclusion of the pilot for the United Against Hate program at a Justice Department event in May commemorating the one-year anniversary of his memorandum on improving the department’s efforts to combat unlawful acts of hate and the enactment of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes and Khalid Jabara-Heather Heyer NO HATE Acts.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Chance Seneca, 21, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays to one count of kidnapping.

According to his plea agreement, Seneca admitted that on June 20, 2020, he used Grindr, a dating application for gay and bisexual men, to kidnap and attempt to murder H.W., a gay man. Specifically, Seneca acknowledged that he used Grindr to propose a meeting with H.W., and that he drove H.W. to an isolated house, took out a handgun and told him to put on handcuffs. Seneca then attempted to murder and dismember H.W. Seneca acknowledged that he intended to murder and dismember H.W. for the purpose of satisfying his homicidal urges, and that he had planned to continue murdering until he was caught or killed. 

“The actions and intentions of the defendant in this case were shocking,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The internet should be accessible and safe for all Americans, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. The Justice Department will continue to identify and hold accountable anyone who uses online spaces as a means to terrorize or abuse others.”

“The facts surrounding the events that took place in this case are very disturbing,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “It is nothing short of miraculous that the victims who endured the vicious attacks from this defendant survived. We will continue to fight to seek justice for victims who suffer at the hands of defendants such as this.”

The statutory maximum for the kidnapping offense is life imprisonment. Seneca faces additional exposure under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines if the sentencing court finds beyond a reasonable doubt that he intentionally selected the victim because of the victim’s actual or perceived gender or sexual orientation. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2023.

Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Brown and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. for the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI and the Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Myers Namie of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division. 

Source: United States Department of Justice News

LAFAYETTE, La. – Chance Seneca, 21, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays, to one count of kidnapping.

According to his plea agreement, Seneca admitted that on June 20, 2020, he used Grindr, a dating application for gay and bisexual men, to kidnap and attempt to murder H.W., a gay man.  Specifically, Seneca acknowledged that he used Grindr to propose a meeting with H.W., and that he drove H.W. to an isolated house, took out a handgun and told him to put on handcuffs.  Seneca then attempted to murder and dismember H.W. Seneca acknowledged that he intended to murder and dismember H.W. for the purpose of satisfying his homicidal urges, and that he had planned to continue murdering until he was caught or killed. 

“The actions and intentions of the defendant in this case were shocking,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The internet should be accessible and safe for all Americans, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. The Justice Department will continue to identify and hold accountable anyone who uses online spaces as a means to terrorize or abuse others.”

“The facts surrounding the events that took place in this case are very disturbing,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “It is nothing short of miraculous that the victims who endured the vicious attacks from this defendant survived. We will continue to fight to seek justice for victims who suffer at the hands of defendants such as this.”

The statutory maximum for the kidnapping offense is life imprisonment. Seneca faces additional exposure under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines if the sentencing court finds beyond a reasonable doubt that he intentionally selected the victim because of the victim’s actual or perceived gender or sexual orientation. Sentencing is scheduled for January 25, 2023.

Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Brown and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. for the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI and the Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Myers Namie of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division. 

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