Month: January 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to 92 months in prison for his illegal possession of firearms, including a machine gun conversion device, and ammunition as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on July 14, 2021, Marquis Bonhomme, 23, was arrested by the Richmond Police Department (RPD) during a traffic stop, in which officers discovered that Bonhomme had outstanding arrest warrants. Prior to leaving the arrest scene, RPD officers observed a firearm magazine in plain view inside of Bonhomme’s vehicle and obtained a state search warrant. 

A search of Bonhomme’s vehicle revealed a loaded Glock, Model 26, 9mm semi-automatic pistol; a Glock “switch” conversion device, which renders a pistol fully automatic when inserted to the rear of the firearm; a loaded Century Arms International, VSKA, 7.62 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, with a 35 round magazine; a 50 round drum magazine; and assorted 7.62 caliber and 9mm caliber ammunition. Federal agents later applied for and obtained a federal search warrant for Bonhomme’s Instagram accounts, which revealed numerous photographs of Bonhomme possessing other firearms, photographs and discussions related to Glock “switch” conversion devices, and his active involvement in illegal marijuana trafficking     

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher Amon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Division; and Richmond Police Department Acting Chief of Police Richard Edwards, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Hannah M. Lauck.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-62.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

WHITE is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2023. WHITE 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 the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Clifton Browne, 57, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of voluntary manslaughter for the beating death of 75-year-old Luther Brooks, in September of 2021, on Kalmia Road, Northwest. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2023.

            According to evidence presented at trial, on September 28, 2021, Browne went over to the scene of the attack to do some handiwork for the homeowner, whom he knew through a relative. Mr. Brooks, the decedent, was a tenant in a basement apartment in the home.  The homeowner was planning to sell the home, and the work was being done in preparation for the sale.  During the course of his work, Browne was outside the door to the decedent’s apartment door. He and Mr. Brooks started arguing through the door until Mr. Brooks opened the door with a stick in his hand and struck Browne in the chest with the stick, knocking him down. Browne then charged at the elderly victim and beat him inside the apartment until the victim was babbling incoherently. Browne then dragged Mr. Brooks outside where he dumped him in a concrete stairwell. Unable to sit up on his own, Mr. Brooks fell back and struck his head on the concrete. He was taken to GW Hospital where he was nonresponsive within hours. He had suffered fractures of his skull, ribs, and other injuries. He never regained consciousness. The family of Mr. Brooks took him off life support 10 days later, and he died.

            In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Gilbert and Rachel Leriche, Victim/Witness Advocate Jenn Allen, Victim/Witness Service Coordinator Maenylie Watson, and Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin.

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis Clark and Lisa Lindhorst, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice

The owner of several companies in the construction industry was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay a $1.75 million fine for his role in a long-running scheme to defraud the United States.

Following a six-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in June 2022, a jury convicted Michael Angelo Padron of conspiracy to defraud the United States and wire fraud for his role in obtaining valuable government contracts under programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). The evidence showed that Padron conspired with others to install a service-disabled veteran as the ostensible owner of a general construction company held out as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Padron, along with his business partners, exercised disqualifying financial and operational control over the construction company. According to court documents, the conspirators concealed that control in order to secure over $240 million in government contracts that were set aside for SDVOSBs and other small businesses in order to benefit their larger, nonqualifying businesses.

“The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense and the long-running nature of the scheme,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Enforcement Marvin Price of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force remain committed to holding executives accountable when they choose to defraud federal procurement programs.”

“Conspiring to fraudulently use SBA program funds intended for service-disabled veteran’s is reprehensible,” said Special Agent in Charge Sharon Johnson of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Central Region. “This sentence demonstrates that those that defraud the nations vital economic programs will be held accountable. I want to thank the Antitrust Division and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”

“Today’s sentencing should serve as a stark reminder that our agents, and those of our partner law enforcement agencies, are relentless in our pursuit of those who choose to defraud the government,” said Special Agent in Charge L. Scott Moreland of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (CID) Major Procurement Fraud Field Office. “We have a very robust group of highly-trained special agents and analysts who are masters at combating and uncovering fraud, deception, and other criminal acts associated with government contracting and purchasing.”

“A level playing field is vital to the procurement process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Willemin of the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG) Southwest and Rocky Mountain Division. “Today’s sentencing signifies GSA OIG’s commitment to aggressively investigate fraudulent business practices that cheat legitimate small businesses and the taxpayer.”

“The VA-OIG is committed to identifying and stopping those individuals who misappropriate an opportunity meant solely for our nation’s veterans with disabilities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Patrick Roche of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s (VA-OIG) South Central Field Office. “The VA-OIG thanks the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their joint efforts to achieve justice in this case.” 

The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal II Section prosecuted the case, which was investigated by SBA-OIG, U.S. Army CID Major Procurement Fraud Unit, VA-OIG, DCIS, and GSA-OIG. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas and the Army Audit Agency also assisted with the investigation.

Anyone with information in connection with this investigation is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal II Section at 202-598-4000, or visit https://www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html.

In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant, and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to defense-related spending, go to https://www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Memphis, TN – Gary Osborne, 50, of Buchanan, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 210 months in federal 
prison for drug trafficking and firearms charges.  United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced 
the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, on August 15, 2018, members of the Metro Crime 
Unit, in Henry County, Tennessee, executed a search warrant at Osborne’s residence. Officers 
located methamphetamine, digital scales, and more than $5200 in cash and a .243 rifle. As a result 
of his extensive felony history, Osborne is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms and 
ammunition.

Osborne pled guilty to ownership of the narcotics and the rifle.

On January 17, 2023, United States Chief District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Osborne to 210 
months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in 
the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Paris Police Department, and 
the Puryear Police Department.

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matt Wilson, who 
prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or cherri.green@usdoj.gov. Follow @WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.