Month: February 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – An Arkansas man pleaded guilty today to the felony charge of assaulting a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officer during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol Breach. 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.

            Peter Francis Stager, 43, of Conway, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a deadly or dangerous weapon. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 24, 2023.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Stager was part of a large, armed mob on the Lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol building. After other members of the crowd pulled MPD Officer B.M. off of the police line and down a set of steps, Stager repeatedly struck Officer B.M. with a flagpole while the officer was prone on the steps. On January 6, 2021, Stager was recorded pointing to the U.S. Capitol building and stating, “Everybody in there is a disgrace. That entire building is filled with treasonous traitors. Death is the only remedy for what’s in that building.”  He also stated, “every single one of those Capitol law enforcement officers, death is the remedy, that is the only remedy they get.”

            Stager was arrested on January 14, 2021.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Little Rock Field Office and Washington Field Office, which listed Stager as #80 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 25 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 985 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including approximately 319 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.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Her Tou Yang, age 42, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced on February 15, 2023, to 60 months and 1 day in prison following his plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. After he is released from prison, Yang will serve two years of supervised release.

On August 15, 2021, Yang possessed approximately five pounds of marijuana and a firearm that was reported stolen and sold them to another individual in Council Bluffs. On September 9, 2021, Yang possessed and sold an AR-style rifle in Council Bluffs.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated 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. In May 2021, the Department of Justice 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.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced JACOB BANKS, age 32, of New Orleans, yesterday to 111 months in the Bureau of Prisons for violating the Federal Gun Control Act and the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. 

According to the court documents, BANKS was convicted in another federal case of being a felon in possession back in 2019 and sentenced accordingly. Only two weeks after completing that sentence, police observed BANKS in possession of a firearm during a repast for a murdered drug dealer.  The police were not able to arrest BANKS then but a few weeks later found BANKS and several other men who were also felons in possession of firearms.  BANKS admitted he possessed a Springfield Arms .45 caliber pistol after he had already been convicted of several felony offenses.  BANKS also admitted to possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute it and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity.

Judge Africk sentenced BANKS to 111 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $300.

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.

This case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crimes Unit.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

BENTON, Ill. – A U.S. District Court judge sentenced a man from Fairfield to 33 months in prison after he admitted to importing more than 800 counterfeit designer phone cases from Hong Kong to resell in the U.S.

Trevor J. Edwards, 21, pled guilty to two counts of trafficking counterfeit goods. In addition to his prison sentence, he will receive three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $1,367.20 in restitution and $500 in fines.

“In two separate instances, the defendant knowingly attempted to obtain counterfeit goods in order to resell and manipulate consumers in downstate Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Reselling counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime, and offenders face serious consequences.”

“Counterfeit goods traffickers like Edwards are looking to gain a profit but in reality, are committing a crime that results in American jobs lost, American business profits stolen and American consumers receiving substandard products,” said Sean Fitzgerald, special agent in charge of HSI Chicago. “HSI enforcement operations into intellectual property theft protect not only the companies who have copyrighted products, but the consumers who believe they are buying legitimate goods.”

In February 2021, Customs and Border Protection seized 500 counterfeit designer cellphone cases when the shipment reached the U.S. border from Hong Kong. According to court documents, Edwards was listed on the box as the recipient. The phone cases were counterfeit Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Gucci and retailed an estimated $212,500. Once intercepted, the government sent a receipt to Edwards to notify him of his illegal activity.

Months later in May 2021, Edwards was pulled over by law enforcement in Washington County and a search of his vehicle found 336 counterfeit designer cell phone cases, $241,000 in cash and 2,909 vape pens and cartridges containing cannabis. The phone cases retailed an estimated $101,340.

Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

BENTON, Ill. – A U.S. District Court judge sentenced a Freeburg woman to 15 months in prison after she admitted to committing bank fraud while employed by St. Teresa and St. Luke Catholic parishes in Belleville.

Michelle N. Miller, 45, pled guilty to one count of falsely obtaining money owned by a financial institution. In addition to her prison sentence, she will receive two years of supervised release and is ordered to pay $153,940.38 in restitution.

“The defendant selfishly chose to put herself and her greed over the needs of the students, parishioners and the religious community at St. Teresa and St. Luke,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “She decided to embezzle more than $150,000 from her employer, friends and neighbors. It’s shameful, and I’m relieved she was brought to justice.”

“The U.S. Secret Service and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying, investigating, and pursuing those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means,” said Stephen Webster, the Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service. “We are proud of our partnerships with the federal, state, and local agencies who work collectively to hold this individual accountable for their actions.”

According to court documents, Miller worked from September 2017 to February 2020 as a business manager for St. Teresa Catholic Church as well as St. Luke Catholic Church. During her time as an employee, she was an authorized signatory on both bank accounts and wrote numerous checks payable to herself. In total, she stole an estimated $153,940.38. To conceal her fraud, Miller forged signatures and made false bookkeeping entries.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Belleville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed.