Month: December 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DANTE BOWMAN, age 23, a resident of Florida, pled guilty on November 30, 2022 before United States District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to a one-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute five hundred grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to court documents, following a traffic stop on Interstate-10, law enforcement officers located approximately 3.1 pounds of methamphetamine within locked canvas bags hidden in the spare tire area of a vehicle rented by BOWMAN.

BOWMAN is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2023. BOWMAN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, at least five (5) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions

Source: United States Department of Justice News

WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Cody Drumheller, age 28, of Berwick, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 2, 2022, to 66 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann for possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, in July 2021, Drumheller possessed a stolen 9mm handgun and two sawed-off 12-gauge shotguns, in Berwick, Pennsylvania.  Drumheller is prohibited from possessing firearms based on prior convictions.        

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Pennsylvania State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur prosecuted the 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.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GLEN CAMPBELL, also known as “Nick,” 41, a citizen of Guyana residing in Queens, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 12 months and one day of imprisonment for helping to sell U.S. Savings Bonds that had been stolen from an elderly woman who had purchased the bonds for her grandchildren and other family members.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Jhanannie Singh, also known as “Jasmine” and “Sharmala Persaud,” stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in U.S. Savings Bonds from an elderly woman for whom she provided home health services.  The victim had purchased the bonds for her grandchildren and other relatives.  After the victim died, Singh contacted Campbell who enlisted the help of another individual to redeem the stolen bonds at a financial institution and provide Singh and Campbell with a portion of the proceeds.  Between October 2020 and January 2021, as part of an undercover investigation, law enforcement coordinated the purchase of more than 100 savings bonds, with face values ranging from $50 to $1,000, from Singh and Campbell.  Campbell traveled to Connecticut to complete the transactions.

Singh and Campbell were arrested on January 29, 2021.  At the time of the arrests, the value of the bonds they had delivered during the undercover investigation was $287,312.39.

On June 15, 2022, Campbell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.

Singh, also a citizen of Guyana, pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on November 28, 2022, was sentenced to 57 months of imprisonment.

Singh and Campbell face immigration proceedings when they complete their prison terms.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens, Michael S. McGarry and Robert S. Ruff.

The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud.  The Hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers.  Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed.  When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller.  The Hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant Assisted in Theft of Laptop from Office Suite

            WASHINGTON – A New York man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Rafael Rondon, 25, of Watertown, New York, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting in the obstruction of an official proceeding.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Rondon and his mother, Maryann Mooney-Rondon, attended a rally on the Ellipse and then marched to the Capitol, where they illegally entered the grounds. The two entered the Capitol Building at approximately 2:23 p.m. through the Senate Wing Door. They moved through the building and, at approximately 2:32 p.m., entered the office suite of the Speaker of the House. They then moved into a conference room, where they assisted an unidentified male in the theft of a laptop. They later moved to the Senate Gallery, where each stole an escape hood with a satchel, a filtering respiratory protective device maintained for members of Congress and staff. They exited the Capitol Building at approximately 2:52 p.m.

            Maryann Mooney-Rondon, 56, also of Watertown, also is charged in this case. She has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting further court proceedings.

            Rondon was arrested on Oct. 1, 2021, in Syracuse, New York. He is to be sentenced on March 13, 2023. He faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison for obstruction of an official proceeding, as well as potential financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI Albany Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Rondon as #224 in its seeking information photos.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 22 months since Jan. 6, 2021, nearly 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 275 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.