Month: February 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant Accused of Assaulting Officers

            WASHINGTON — A Vermont man has been arrested on felony charges, including assaulting several law enforcement officers 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.

            William Arthur Nichols, Jr., 41, of Manchester, Vermont, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers; civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon; impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or building; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building.

            He was arrested today in Vermont and is expected to make his initial appearance later today in the District of Vermont.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Nichols was among a mob illegally massed on the west front of the Capitol grounds. Nichols can be seen on several occasions engaging in violent interactions with police officers.  After approaching a line of police officers who were protecting the Capitol building, Nichols worked his way to the front of the rioters while wielding a large circular shield. He used the shield to push and hit officers over the course of several hours. 

            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 District of Vermont.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Richmond Field Office-Fredericksburg Resident Agency and the FBI’s Washington Field Office which identified Nichols as #243 on it seeking information poster. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Albany Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 24 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 950 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 284 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.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

MIAMI – Benito Montes de Oca Cruz, 60, of Miami-Dade County, has pled guilty to abusive sexual contact with a woman serving part of her 51-month prison sentence in home confinement under his authority.

Cruz, a site supervisor employed by Riverside House, conducted home visits to monitor compliance of federal inmates on home confinement. Riverside House, pursuant to a contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is responsible for providing custodial, supervisory, and disciplinary oversight to federal inmates on home confinement.

As admitted at the change of plea, on December 28, 2020, Cruz conducted a home confinement supervision visit to the victim’s residence. While there, he engaged in sexual contact with and by the victim, including sexually explicit touching of the victim while they both were naked.

Law enforcement received information regarding this illicit activity and promptly interviewed the victim. Facts also showed that this illegal activity was captured on video and there was DNA evidence left behind by Cruz that conclusively established his involvement.

Cruz is scheduled for sentencing on April 14, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola. He faces a possible maximum sentence of two years in prison.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe and Special Agent in Charge James Boyersmith of the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), made the announcement.

DOJ-OIG investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm is prosecuting it.

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-20459.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

MIAMI – Collice Reid, 23, has been convicted for aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a robbery that resulted in the death of a Lauderhill, Fla., resident.

According to trial evidence, in October 2015 Reid partnered with criminal associates that committed armed home invasions, armed robberies, assaults, attempted murders, and murders. On November 4, 2015, Reid and his criminal associates robbed Donald “Eddie” Johnston in Lauderhill with Reid serving as lookout and getaway driver.

During the robbery one of Reid’s criminal associates shot and killed Johnston, whose parents worked for Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) and Fort Lauderdale Police Department, respectively.

One of Reid’s criminal associates, Derrick Slade, was previously found guilty of his involvement with this criminal group and was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 30 years.

Reid is scheduled to be sentenced April 7, 2023, at 2 p.m. in Miami before the Honorable Paul Huck.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe and acting Special Agent in Charge Maged Behnam, FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.  

FBI investigated this case with assistance from BSO, Hollywood Police Department, Lauderhill Police Department, Hallandale Beach Police Department, Davie Police Department, and Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Schwartz and Jeffrey N. Kaplan prosecuted it.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 20-CR-60107.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant Followed Victim Out of a Metro Station and Into an Apartment Building

            WASHINGTON –Akiem Angelo Williams, 38, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for kidnapping and first-degree burglary, and 72 months for assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, for the September 6, 2020 assault on a stranger he pursued from the Georgia Avenue Metro station. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Robert Conte III, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The Honorable Judge Robert D. Okun ordered the sentences to run concurrently and also ordered 10 years of supervised release and a stay away from all WMATA Metrorail trains and stations. Williams will be required to register as a sex offender for life upon release..

            Williams was found guilty on October 17, 2022 by a judge sitting in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

             According to the government’s evidence, on Sept. 6, 2020, at approximately 1:57 p.m., Williams followed a woman out of the Georgia Avenue Metro station and chased her down the block into the lobby of an apartment building while she screamed for help. Inside, Williams cornered the victim, physically assaulted and attempted to rape her in front of three eyewitnesses before a witness yelled that he had called the police. Williams left the victim curled in a corner bleeding from the head, exited the building and headed back to the Metro where he sexually assaulted a Metro rider and then exposed himself. Another victim encountered Williams hours later when he, again, exposed himself on a Metro train. The defendant was identified through video surveillance at the Metro station and on the train.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Sexual Assault Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Metro Transit Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the critical assistance provided by the Metro Transit Digital Video Evidence Unit.

            Finally, they acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney Lee and Dana Joseph, who investigated and prosecuted the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmin Emrani, who reviewed evidence before trial, Appellate Chief Nicholas Coleman, Lead Paralegal Specialist ReShawn Johnson, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Michelle Wicker, former SODV intern Lexi Nitishin, and Victim/Witness Advocate Tracey Hawkins.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendants Accused of Interfering with Law Enforcement During a Riot

            WASHINGTON — Two Michigan men have been arrested on felony charges, including interference with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, for their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their 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.

            Kyle Mlynarek, 27, of Redford, Michigan, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.  Ronald Balhorn, 53, of Garden City, Michigan, is charged with interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon, and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon. Mlynarek and Balhorn were both arrested today in Redford and Garden City, respectfully, and are expected to make their initial appearances later today in the Eastern District of Michigan.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Mlynarek and Balhorn were among a mob illegally massed on the Northwest lawn of the Capitol grounds at approximately 2:00 p.m. when they attempted to prevent a group of officers from responding to the Lower West Terrace.  Mlynarek and Balhorn were observed in the group of rioters and appeared to be pushing against the group of officers. 

            Following this encounter, they proceeded to the Upper North Terrace, where they appeared to have an altercation with a U.S. Capitol Police officer.  Mlynarek and Balhorn then proceeded to the West side of the terrace and entered the Capitol shortly after it was first breached by the mob.  They remained in the building for nearly half an hour while Balhorn carried with him a wooden club or stick.  Mlynarek later posted images of himself and Balhorn inside the building on social media.

            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 Eastern District of Michigan.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office.  Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 24 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 950 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 284 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.