Month: January 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PROVIDENCE –  Fola Alabi, aka Folayemi Alabi, 52, of Richmond, Texas, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence to charges of conspiracy and money laundering, admitting to a federal judge that he created companies and opened bank accounts that were used to launder more than $1.6 million in proceeds bilked from seniors in at least eleven states, including Rhode Island, in online romance scams, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

To carry out these schemes, a member of the conspiracy befriended unsuspecting seniors online, often posing as a General in the U.S. military serving overseas. The conspirator feigned a personal, and sometimes romantic, interest in his victims, and convinced them to send substantial sums of money, usually in the form of bank checks or cash, to addresses and companies in Texas that were controlled by Alabi. Alabi received the money and either deposited or directed that it be deposited into one of several bank accounts that he controlled.  He then quickly withdrew or transferred the funds to other accounts.

Among Alabi’s victims is a Rhode Island widow who was contacted by a member of the conspiracy claiming to be a “General Miller,” purportedly a four-star General, who convinced the victim to provide $60,000 to finance shipment of his personal belongings to the United States. At the purported “General Miller’s” direction, a check was made payable to Full Circle Import Exports, a company created by Alabi, and mailed to Alabi’s residence in Texas. The victim was prepared to send an additional significant sum of money to the purported “General Miller,” when it was determined by her bank and the Westerly Police Department that she was likely the victim of fraud.

According to court documents, in a cellphone seized from Alabi at the time of his arrest in May 2022, federal agents discovered photographs and videos of packages containing cash and checks received by Alabi from victims of the scam.

According to a plea agreement filed in this matter, for purposes of sentencing, the loss attributed to the romance scams perpetrated by Alabi and members of the conspiracy is $1,640,421. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Alabi will forfeit assets derived from his criminal conduct, to include his Texas residence and $31,773.22 contained in a bank account.

Alabi is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2023. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ly T. Chin and Sara Bloom.

The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, FBI, United States Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.

United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Westerly, RI, and Prescott Valley, AZ, Police Departments; Texas Department of Public Safety; West Virginia State Police; the Santa Clara, CA, County District Attorney’s Office; and Defense Criminal Investigative Service for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

          LOS ANGELES – The former owner of a wastewater treatment facility in Orange County and his company each pleaded guilty today to a federal environmental criminal charge for discharging untreated industrial wastewater into the county’s sewer system.

          Tim Miller, 65, of Kewaskum, Wisconsin, and his company, Klean Waters Inc., pleaded guilty to one felony count of knowingly violating a requirement of an approved pretreatment program.

          According to their plea agreements, from 2013 to April 2015, Miller was the owner and president of Klean Waters, a wastewater treatment facility in Orange. Klean Waters was permitted to receive non-hazardous industrial wastewater, treat it for pollutants if needed, and then discharge the water into the Orange County Sanitation District’s (OCSD) sewer.

          OCSD runs a pretreatment program that was approved under federal law and that implements and enforces the national pretreatment standards established under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Pursuant to the CWA, any violation of any requirement imposed in OCSD’s local pretreatment program is a violation of federal law.

          In 2013, Miller applied for and received a permit from OCSD for Klean Waters to discharge wastewater into the sewer. Klean Waters’ permit from OCSD required defendant to, among other things, test and, if necessary, treat wastewater so that the level of pollutants in it remained below permitted levels when it was discharged to the sewer.

          In April 2015, without testing the wastewater, Miller knowingly caused Klean Waters to discharge wastewater into the sewer, so that the type and concentration of pollutants in the wastewater remained unknown.

          United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton scheduled an April 14 sentencing hearing, at which time Miller will face a statutory maximum sentence of three years in federal prison and Klean Waters will face a statutory maximum sentence of three years’ probation and $50,000 in fines.

          The FBI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated this matter.

          Assistant United States Attorneys Rosalind Wang of the Santa Ana Branch Office and James A. Santiago of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on January 13, 2023, United States District Judge Daniel L. Hovland sentenced 34-year-old Baquan Sledge, a/k/a Rell, a/k/a TJ, a/k/a Matthew Pierce, to serve 30 years in prison followed by three years supervised release.

In June of 2022, following a 12-day trial, a jury returned guilty verdicts on multiple counts against Sledge and another man from Detroit, Michigan, for their leadership in a drug trafficking organization targeting three of North Dakota’s Native American Reservations.

Baquan Sledge was convicted of Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Money Laundering Conspiracy, Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone, and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise. Sledge also forfeited his rights to more than $20,000 in seized United States currency.

Baquan Sledge and his trial co-defendant, Darius Sledge, a/k/a Ace, a/k/a Man Man, a/k/a Frank Love, a/k/a Gary, a/k/a Bill, were the leaders of a criminal enterprise
involving obtaining and transporting oxycodone from Detroit, Michigan to sell in the District of North Dakota in tribal communities.

This case is part of “Operation Blue Prairie,” an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the multi-state trafficking of oxycodone. The multi-agency investigation led by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement revealed that from 2015 to 2019 the Sledge defendants and their co-conspirators targeted areas with fewer law enforcement resources where they could distribute controlled substances at a premium price. The Sledge defendants and others used local residences and people for distribution and stash houses to further their criminal activities for monetary gain. In total, twenty-six defendants were charged in the case.

Baquan Sledge and others involved in the enterprise came to the attention of law enforcement in 2015. While there were points of contact between the primary defendants and law enforcement throughout the intervening years, it was difficult to track their activities because of their intentional relocation of their distribution efforts and their use of different aliases in different locations. An additional challenge was the complicated myriad of jurisdictions involved, including state, tribal and federal agencies.

Following trial, Darius Sledge was convicted of Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Money Laundering Conspiracy, and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise. Darius Sledge was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison followed by three years supervised release.

“This sentence is a final step in an extensive, successful effort to dismantle a drug trafficking ring that deliberately targeted North Dakota’s tribal communities,” said US Attorney Mac Schneider. “It is also a warning: Those who distribute dangerous drugs on reservations will be caught, prosecuted, and sentenced to federal prison.”

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rolette County Sheriff’s Department, Bottineau County Sheriff’s Department, Ward County Narcotics Task Force, Lake Region Narcotics Task Force, Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Division of Drug Enforcement, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, North Dakota Crime Laboratory, Michigan State Police, Minot Police Department, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorneys Dawn Deitz and Lori Conroy assigned with the assistance of lead investigator Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement Special Agent Isaiah Soldier.

In total, 26 defendants were charged and convicted in the case. The additional 24 defendants were convicted and sentenced as follows:

Dondiago Jones, a/k/a “Ago”, “Dondi”, “Frank”, 34, Detroit Michigan (deceased) 129 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering Conspiracy;

Derrick Walker II, a/k/a Country, a/k/a Kunt, 29, Louisville, Kentucky 94 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering Conspiracy; Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon; Distribution of Oxycodone; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise; Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone;

Terrence Press Johnson Jr, a/k/a “T”, a/k/a Terrance Press Johnson Jr. 30, Detroit Michigan – 96 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering Conspiracy; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise; Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon;

Deante Edwards, a/k/a “Tay”, 31, Detroit Michigan – 29 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone;

Anthony Wade, a/k/a “Blue”, 33, Detroit Michigan – 30 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Lillian Lee a/k/a “Chasitiy Smith”, a/k/a “Let Let”, a/k/a “Lele”, 28, Detroit Michigan – 43 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering Conspiracy;

Twon Stepfone Boyd, a/k/a Yo Boy, a/k/a D, 29, Detroit Michigan – 37 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Ira Mae Snell, 33, Fort Totten, North Dakota – 25 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering Conspiracy; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premise; Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone;

Grayson Dye, 38, Fort Totten and New Town, North Dakota – 121 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Martina Whitetail a/k/a Tina Whitetail, 39, Fort Totten and New Town, North Dakota – 93 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Robert Touche, 45, Sheyenne, North Dakota – time served sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Calvin Dubois, 39, Belcourt, North Dakota – 100 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Maintaining a Drug Premise;

Edward Dubois, a/k/a Baby D, 28, Dunseith, North Dakota – time served sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering Conspiracy; Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone;

Chantel Longie, 25, Belcourt, North Dakota – 24 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Kerry Morin, 29, Belcourt, North Dakota – 24 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Kasondra Kaye Grant, a/k/a Kassie, 28, Rolla, North Dakota – 28 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Constance Aiken, 39, Dunseith, North Dakota – 22 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Shanae Dubois, 25, Fargo, North Dakota – time served sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering Conspiracy;

Faith Liddell, 27, Bottineau, North Dakota – time served sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Cheryl Lilley, 24, Belcourt, North Dakota – time served sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Farron Michelle Delong, 25, Belcourt, North Dakota – 15 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Johnna Goodiron, 36, St. Michael, North Dakota – time served sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance;

Shanel Mudgett, 26, Belcourt, North Dakota – 24 months custody for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance; and,

Carleen Counts, a/k/a Big Car, 41, Mandan, North Dakota – time served sentence (in a related case) for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance; Maintaining a Drug Premise; and three counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance – Oxycodone.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

          SANTA ANA, California – The former mayor of Adelanto has agreed to plead guilty to a federal criminal charge for accepting more than $57,000 in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for approving ordinances authorizing commercial marijuana activity within the city, and ensuring his co-schemers obtained city licenses or permits for their commercial marijuana activities, the Justice Department announced today.

          Richard Allen Kerr, 65, of Adelanto, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

          United States District Judge John W. Holcomb scheduled a February 17 change of plea hearing for Kerr.

          According to his plea agreement filed on Thursday afternoon in United States District Court, Kerr served as Adelanto mayor from 2015 to 2018. Based on his employment and duties, Kerr owed a duty of honest services to the city and its residents. Among other things, Kerr voted on ordinances governing zoning regulations in the city, and served on the city’s Cannabis Dispensary Permit Committee, which determined the number of dispensary permits that would be issued, and determined which applicants would receive a dispensary permit.

          From at least November 2015 to June 2018, Kerr executed a scheme to deprive the city of the honest performance of his duties as mayor. Kerr secretly used his official position to enrich himself and his co-schemers by passing ordinances authorizing various types of commercial marijuana activities, including marijuana cultivation, marijuana distribution and transportation, and retail sales of marijuana via a dispensary.

          Kerr also drafted zones for commercial marijuana activities to include locations used by his supporters, ensured his supporters obtained the licenses or permits they sought; all in violation of conflict-of-interest prohibitions applying to Kerr, in exchange for bribes, kickbacks, gifts, payments, and other things of value.

          Kerr’s co-schemers were a lawyer who specialized in plaintiffs’ tort litigation – identified in court documents as “Person A” – and an individual labeled “Person C” who had business interests in the city, including those involving marijuana cultivation.

          The bribes and kickbacks were disguised by Kerr and his co-schemers as gifts, donations to a charitable fund, donations to Kerr’s election campaign, or advance payments for the proceeds of planned litigation associated with a motorcycle accident.

          In exchange for the bribes and kickbacks, Kerr provided favorable official action on behalf of the city to Person A, Person C, and other co-schemers with business interests in the city by authorizing various types of commercial marijuana activities, ensuring his supporters obtained the licenses or permits they sought, and interfering with enforcement activities by city officials.

          From December 2016 to April 2018, Kerr – who did not publicly disclose his financial relationship with his co-schemers while he was mayor – accepted multiple payments totaling at least $57,500, in bribes and kickbacks from Person A, Person C, and other co-schemers.

          The FBI investigated this matter.

          Assistant United States Attorneys Sean D. Peterson, Chief of the Riverside Branch Office, and Julius J. Nam of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, are prosecuting this case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

GREENSBORO, N.C. – On Friday, January 13, 2022, a judge in federal district court sentenced a Greensboro resident, JAMES DENNARD SQUIRE, to seven concurrent 186-month prison terms, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.

SQUIRE, age 36, pleaded guilty on July 12, 2022, to all seven Hobbs robberies charged in the Indictment.

Evidence showed that SQUIRE robbed the following Greensboro businesses between October 18, 2020, and November 13, 2020: Circle K, 3700 Groometown Road; Walgreens, 300 E. Cornwallis Drive; CVS, 309 E. Cornwallis Drive; Crossroads Exxon, 5800 W. Market Street; Handy Kwik Shop, 2103 E. Cone Boulevard; Walgreens, 3001 E. Market Street; and Great Stops, 5412 W. Market Street. Amounts taken from store clerks during the robberies ranged from $3,177 to $138. In six of the seven robberies a firearm was brandished.

At sentencing, United States District Judge Catherine C. Eagles imposed a 186-month term of imprisonment for each of the seven robberies, the sentences being ordered to run concurrently. SQUIRE was also ordered to pay $10,674.44 in restitution and to serve concurrent 3-year terms of federal supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Greensboro Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clifton T. Barrett and former Assistant United States Attorney Veronica L. Edmisten.

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