Month: September 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against residents of Everett, Washington, Brian Ulises Rangel, 21, and Martin Velazquez, 29, charging Rangel with being a felon in possession of a firearm and Velazquez with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Aug. 15. 2022, law enforcement officers in Fresno County conducted a traffic stop on a car occupied by Rangel and Velazquez. Because neither individual had a valid driver’s license, the car was towed. During a search of the car, two firearms (one stolen and the other with an obliterated serial number) and ammunition were found.

Both defendants are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of  previous convictions in the state of Washington. Rangel was convicted for possession with intent to manufacture or deliver methamphetamine and Velazquez was convicted for unlawful firearm possession.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, the defendants face a minimum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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 U.S. Department of Justice 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

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Victor Blanco, age 39, and Isaac Carreno, age 25, inmates at United States Penitentiary Canaan (USP Canaan), Waymart, Pennsylvania, were indicted on September 13, 2022, by a federal grand jury for assault and unlawfully possessing a prohibited object.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on August 24, 2022, Blanco and Carreno assaulted another inmate using a sharpened piece of metal with a bed sheet handle. The indictment further alleges that Carreno was in possession of the weapon. 

The matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney James Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is ten years’ imprisonment.    A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Calvin Foust, age 40, of Dover Township, Pennsylvania, was charged yesterday with drug trafficking and firearms offenses. 

According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Foust distributed methamphetamine and engaged in the business of manufacturing and dealing firearms without a license in Cumberland and Dauphin Counties between March 1, 2021 and April 26, 2022.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the offenses charged in the indictment is up to 105 years’ imprisonment, a $11,250,000 fine, and up to lifetime supervised release.  A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is also 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.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

Miami, Florida – A federal grand jury in West Palm Beach has charged five men with one count of conspiracy to distribute child pornography and multiple counts of distribution and solicitation of child pornography. 

Anthony Wayne Santiago, 28, of Novi, MI; Jacob Dominic VanDyke, 25, of Muskegon, MI; Johnathan Scott Fleak, 32, of Pryor, OK; Aaron Ray Iuliano, 27, of Ravenna, OH; and Michael Paul Gianfrancesco, 39, of Livingston, TN, were members of a chat room predicated on the distribution of pornography of children under the age of 13 years.

According to the indictment, from September to October 2021, the five defendants entered and participated in a private online chat.  These defendants all distributed and or solicited child pornography amongst more than 50 other individuals.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Ric Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), made the announcement.

HSI Miami and PBSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

An indictment contains mere allegations and defendants are innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-80127.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

CAMDEN, N.J. – A fugitive from justice who was captured in the Dominican Republic on July 12, 2022, by the U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement officials in the Dominican Republic has been returned to the United States to serve her prison sentence, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

In 2006, Ramona Cruz pleaded guilty to an indictment charging her with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. In 2007, Cruz was sentenced to a term 40 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. She was given the opportunity to voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at a later date. Approximately three days prior to her surrender date, Cruz cut off her ankle bracelet and fled to the Dominican Republic to avoid prison, where she remained a fugitive until her recent apprehension.

The narcotics charge to which Cruz pleaded guilty to stems from illegal narcotics activity in 2005, which she took part in with her codefendant (and brother) Ramon Dejesus. In July 2005, an individual was apprehended upon entry into the United States while in possession of approximately three kilograms of cocaine. Later, while under surveillance by law enforcement, Cruz and Dejesus took possession of a piece of luggage which they believed contained the cocaine. The investigation revealed that all three individuals involved had been in touch with the same narcotics contact in the Dominican Republic. Dejesus also pleaded guilty to the narcotics charge and has since served his prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos Jr., and special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Cherry Hill Office and Newark Division Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Reinhold, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Deputy U.S. Attorney Andrew Carey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.