Month: December 2022

Posted on

Armed Career Criminal Sentenced To Over 25 Years In Prison For Firearm And Drug Related Offenses

Source: United States Department of Justice News

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Lorenzo Joshua Johnson, Jr., 41, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to 27.25 years in federal prison after he was convicted at trial of drug trafficking and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon on April 8, 2022.  The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“The collaborative efforts of our partners in the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative continue to produce impactful results, and we will continue working tirelessly to make North Florida safer,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses.”

Johnson will serve concurrent sentences of 5 years for the Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and 27.25 years for the Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon charges.  Johnson’s prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release

“On behalf of the Gainesville Police Department, I want to express my appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the successful prosecution of this case,” said Chief Lonnie Scott, Gainesville Police Department.  “The collaboration exhibited by the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation is an exemplar of the power of teamwork. Thank you all for helping to keep our community safe.”

“We are more effective in our efforts to combat gun violence when we work together with our fellow law enforcement partners and will continue to make public safety a number one priority for our community,” said Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr.

On December 5, 2019, detectives with the Gainesville-Alachua County Drug Task Force conducted a surveillance operation in the Porter’s neighborhood in Gainesville, Florida, after receiving citizen complaints about narcotics activity.  These complaints included specific information about Johnson being one of the primary drug dealers in the neighborhood.  During the surveillance operation that day, detectives observed Johnson engaging in hand-to-hand transactions and collecting cash from other street-level dealers.  They also observed Johnson to be wearing a distinctive backpack and driving a white Chevrolet Impala.  Towards the end of the surveillance operation, detectives called in marked patrol units to detain several suspects who had been observed engaging in suspected drug transactions, to include Johnson.  A search of Johnson’s person revealed over $600 cash and the key to the white Chevrolet Impala he had been seen driving.  Johnson was arrested that day for driving on a suspended driver’s license, he bonded out of jail while the investigation into the Impala was still ongoing. 

A certified narcotics detection K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the Impala, which was parked nearby, and positively alerted to the odor of narcotics.  The Impala was towed and later searched pursuant to a search warrant.  During the search, detectives located the backpack Johnson had been wearing and discovered it to contain a loaded Bersa 9 millimeter pistol with cocaine residue on the slide, two bags containing about one ounce of marijuana, a small baggie containing crack cocaine, a baggie containing over ten grams of tablets (later determined to contain a mixture of methamphetamine and Eutylone), two smart phones, empty baggies, digital scales, and personal documents belonging to Johnson.  One latent fingerprint recovered from one of the digital scales was identified to Johnson.  Detectives confirmed that Johnson is a multi-time convicted felon.  An arrest warrant was obtained for state charges relating to the drugs and firearm recovered from the Impala, and it remained outstanding until Johnson was arrested on November 10, 2020.  At that point, the case was brought to the attention of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms adopted the case for federal prosecution and conducted additional investigation, to include execution of a federal search warrant for Johnson’s DNA, which was compared to DNA recovered from the Bersa firearm by an analyst at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  A mixed DNA profile recovered from the firearm was determined to include Johnson as a possible contributor.  Johnson had multiple prior felony convictions, including Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Sell, Sale of Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine x2, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer x2, Resisting an Officer with Violence x2, Child Abuse, Burglary Structure, Felony Criminal Mischief, and Felony Driving on Suspended License. Johnson had served two state prison sentences, including seven years in prison from 2010 to 2017.  Johnson was determined to qualify as an Armed Career Criminal, which provided for an enhanced sentence, including a fifteen-year minimum mandatory term of imprisonment.

This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Elsey. 

The Gainesville GVI was established in April 2019, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida in an effort to stem the escalating gun violence in Gainesville and the surrounding area.  As GVI partners, the State Attorney’s Office for the Eight Judicial Circuit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua Police Department, the University of Florida Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections share this commitment to protecting public safety.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Posted on

South Street Jeweler Convicted of Selling Counterfeit Rolexes and Financial Fraud Crimes

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Dimitre Hadjiev, 41, of Upper Darby, PA, was convicted at trial of charges including trafficking in counterfeit goods and financial fraud offenses related to his sale of counterfeit luxury wristwatches.

In September 2019, the defendant was charged by Indictment with a number of charges stemming from his scheme to sell counterfeit Rolex watches and watches with counterfeit Rolex parts. Evidence presented at trial showed that, since at least 2014, Hadjiev operated a jewelry store on the 300 block of South Street in Philadelphia, out of which he sold and customized watches and other jewelry. An investigation by the IRS and FBI revealed that Hadjiev was knowingly buying and selling counterfeit Rolex watches and customizing Rolex watches with counterfeit Rolex parts. Also, a review of the defendant’s bank records showed that he structured deposits from his store sales to avoid activating his banks’ reporting requirements and failed to make required reports for cash sales of more than $10,000. In total, amount of money involved in the defendant’s illegal scheme is more than $750,000.

“The defendant trafficked in counterfeit merchandise and structured his deposits to conceal the cash flowing into his jewelry business,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “This Office and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting consumers from unknowingly purchasing phony merchandise, and to holding defendants accountable for their greed.” 

“Dimitre Hadjiev’s store wasn’t a legitimate business – it was a front for fraud,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “The FBI and our partners are working hard to crack down on crooked businesses of all stripes, whether they’re cheating the public, the government, or, as in this case, both.”

“A jury of Mr. Hadjiev’s peers confirmed what the government first alleged during the indictment: that Mr. Hadjiev trafficked counterfeit goods, laundered the proceeds, and structured deposits in an effort to avoid currency reporting requirements,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “The Special Agents of IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and bring to justice criminals like Mr. Hadjiev who partake in schemes like this out of greed.”  

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney KT Newton.

Posted on

KS Man Indicted for Child Porn Production

Source: United States Department of Justice News

WICHTIA.KAN – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with one count of sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and two counts of transportation of child pornography.

Joel Cypert, 35, of Columbus is accused of creating sexually explicit images of a prepubescent, minor victim and accused of sending child pornography.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.

 Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, 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 the 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 Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###
 

Posted on

Georgia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threats Against the President

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant has a Criminal History of Making Death Threats Against Organizations, People

MACON, Ga. – A Georgia man was sentenced to prison for threatening to kill the President of the United States and blow up the White House, following an investigation that included multiple death threats issued against local judges, law enforcement and a threat letter containing a white powdery substance sent to the U.S. Courthouse in Macon.

Travis Ball, 56, of Barnesville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $7,500 fine by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Nov. 30 after he previously pleaded guilty to threats against the President. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Sending death threats and purported anthrax is not protected speech — it is a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I applaud the investigative work by our federal and local law enforcement partners to secure justice in this case.”

“The sentencing in federal court of Mr. Ball is commensurate with the wasted resources and concern generated by his hate-filled hoax anthrax letter campaign,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “While Mr. Ball’s criminal conduct clearly illustrates his lack of concern and compassion for others, it also illustrates an unwillingness to be rehabilitated.”

“The U.S. Secret Service works closely with law enforcement and criminal justice partners at every level to investigate threats against our protectees,” said U.S. Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Clint Bush with the Albany, Georgia, Resident Office. “Our zero-fail mission requires a tireless dedication from thousands of agents and investigators across the country to ensure the nation’s highest elected officials are protected from criminals like Travis Ball. Those who perpetrate these crimes must be held accountable for their actions, and we are thankful for the strong partnership we enjoy with the Department of Justice.”

According to court documents and other evidence, Ball sent a series of letters using another individual’s name as an alias to a variety of local and county government offices and officials, including judges with the Superior Court of Jones County, Georgia, and the Jones County Sheriff’s Office in March 2021. On March 23, 2021, a threat letter signed with the same name and the same return address was received at the U.S. District Courthouse for the Middle District of Georgia, which contained a white powdery substance. At that point, federal law enforcement agencies, including FBI, began investigating the source of the letters and identified Ball as the suspected author.

On March 23, 2021, a warrant was executed at Ball’s residence and agents noted that Ball was residing in the front living room where he slept on a cot and spent most of his time on a laptop computer and writing letters. One of the items seized was a stack of white leaflet notebook paper that matched the threat letters found on the mantle above his cot. The top page had the impression of a letter. Investigators lightly shaded the page with a pencil and discovered that it contained an explicit threat against the President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, dated on March 8, 2021, which stated, “HATE YOU JOE BIDEN AND AM GOING TO KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND EVERYONE IN THE WHITEHOUSE! I’M A PSYCHO KILLER AND AM GOING TO BLOWUP THE WHITEHOUSE AND KILL EVERYONE IN IT! IM SERIOUS AND NOT KIDDING! LOCK ME UP OR ALL OF YOU WILL DIE! HAVE SOME ANTHRAX YOU BASTARDS!” The White House Mail Sorting Facility received the letter on March 30, 2021, which was turned over to U.S. Secret Service.

Ball was convicted of felony hoax threats in the Northern District of Georgia in June 2017 after he sent letters to the State Bar of Georgia and to Atlanta Newspapers in 2016 that contained a white powdery substance with threats to “kill all of you” and “have some anthrax.” Ball was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 23, 2017.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service and the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim prosecuted the case for the Government.

Posted on

Ohio Man Arrested on Felony Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant Accused of Spraying Chemical Irritant at Officers; Two Others Charged With Misdemeanor Offenses

            WASHINGTON — An Ohio man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon, a chemical irritant, 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 presidential election.

            Ryan Swoope, 28, of Perry, Ohio is charged in a criminal complaint in the District of Columbia with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, both felonies, and related misdemeanor offenses. A man and woman who were with him at the Capitol also were charged with misdemeanor offenses: Saul Llamas 29, and Jordan Siemers, 25, also of Perry. All three defendants were arrested yesterday and are to make their initial appearances today in the Northern District of Ohio.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Swoope, Llamas, and Siemers illegally entered the Capitol grounds.  They went into the Capitol at approximately 3:08 p.m. through the Senate Wing Door. Swoope went inside the Senate Spouses’ Lounge, where he joined others in a mob in chanting, “Who’s House? Our House.”  The three left the Capitol after nine minutes inside.

            Swoope subsequently joined rioters outside the North Door of the Capitol, where a crowd overcame a police line attempting to secure the building and area. Law enforcement officers were forced to fall back into the Capitol Building. Swoope then sprayed a chemical irritant into an open door and in the direction of officers. The irritant wafted in the direction of a Capitol Police sergeant, leading to coughing and watering of eyes.

            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 Ohio.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Swoope as #486 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            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.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.