Month: January 2025

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Five Members of the Hoover Criminal Gang Sentenced for Racketeering and Firearms Crimes

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A leader in the Hoover Criminal Gang was sentenced to 15 years in prison today for ordering fellow gang members to murder a suspected rival gang member.

Markell Young, 33, was the last of five defendants, all from Gibson County, to be sentenced in this case. Young, Octavius Ferguson, 27, and Jordan Powell, 25, were convicted after trial, while Bakari Lenon, 25, and Monterio Ross, 29, pleaded guilty.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, all defendants were members of the Hoover Criminal Gang subset known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. The gang was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and trafficking of marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base.

“These defendants were members of the violent Hoover Criminal Gang who were responsible for murdering a suspected rival gang member to further the aims of the gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence traumatizes communities and makes our streets less safe. The Criminal Division is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who engage in gun violence and other violent criminal activity.”

“This case serves as notice to all that engage in organized criminal activity that we will use every available resource to bring you to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “The citizens of this district deserve a safe and secure community, one not riddled with gun violence, and this is a great example of the diligent and collaborative work of law enforcement to protect those rights to safety.”

“This case is an outstanding example of what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we dismantle gang networks that spread violence and fear,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The sentences imposed demonstrate the commitment of the FBI and our partners to thwarting gang violence and reinforcing the severe consequences awaiting those who threaten the safety of our communities.”

“The individuals who wreak havoc in the communities that we serve are a huge concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, day and night, to swiftly remove individuals who traffic narcotics, participate in organized crime and show total disregard for human life from the streets. The ATF’s primary mission is to combat violent crime in our communities, and we will work tirelessly to keep the communities that we serve, safe.”

The evidence showed that, on Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt. On that date, Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, Lenon, and Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and indiscriminately shooting several firearms through the open front door, killing the victim. Based on their participation on this killing, all of the shooters were promoted to higher ranks within the Hoover Criminal Gang.

In addition to Young’s conviction at trial for aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering, Ferguson and Powell were convicted at trial of murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during and in relation to murder, and causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Both Ferguson and Powell were sentenced to life in prison. Lenon and Ross pleaded guilty to causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering and were both sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The FBI and ATF investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by state and local law enforcement partners.

Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

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Defense News: Department of the Navy Chief Sustainability Officer Releases CSO Serial Six to Address Technical Debt from Outdated Systems and Unsupported Technologies

Source: United States Navy

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Meredith Berger, in collaboration with Jane Overslaugh Rathbun, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Department of the Navy, released a sixth memorandum titled CSO Serial Six: Technical Debt on Dec. 31.

The memorandum outlines concrete actions to mitigate technical debt across DON installations, ensuring mission assurance while advancing sustainability goals.

Technical debt, resulting from outdated systems and unsupported technologies, poses significant risks to operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and resilience. CSO Serial Six directs DON components to take action to address these challenges, emphasizing modernization, resource optimization, and environmental stewardship.

CSO Serial Six directs the Navy and Marine Corps to develop plans that outline readiness measures for inclusion in POM-27 to achieve the following outcomes:

  • Cyber Resilience Readiness Exercises (CRRE): Conducting regular exercises to identify vulnerabilities, test response protocols, and strengthen cybersecurity for facility-related control systems. For example, simulating a cyberattack on building automation systems helps evaluate defenses, improve incident response times, and ensure mission-critical infrastructure remains operational during potential threats.
  • Sustainable Cooling Technologies: Implementing innovative cooling methods to reduce water dependency and enhance energy efficiency. For example, passive design strategies such as green roofs, strategically placed shading devices, and optimized building orientation reduce heat gain, minimizing the need for mechanical cooling systems and significantly lowering energy consumption. 
  • Modernized IT Infrastructure: Outdated systems and unsupported technologies hinder user productivity by causing frequent disruptions, slower performance, compatibility issues, and increased downtime, forcing users to spend more time troubleshooting and detracting from mission-critical tasks. Investing in energy-efficient, sustainable technologies enhances resource efficiency, boosts workforce productivity, and provides faster, more reliable systems with minimal disruptions, while offering expanded functionalities. For example, implementing cloud-based collaboration tools not only reduces downtime but also enables real-time communication and data sharing, streamlining workflows and improving decision-making across teams.
  • Comprehensive E-Waste Management Plan: Implementing responsible recycling and disposal practices for outdated equipment to minimize environmental impact, ensure regulatory compliance, and recover valuable materials for reuse. For example, partnering with certified e-waste recyclers to securely process decommissioned IT hardware ensures that sensitive data is destroyed, valuable metals are recovered, and hazardous materials are safely handled, aligning with sustainability goals and operational security. 

Through these actions, DON will reduce vulnerabilities, improve mission readiness, and align with the Department’s broader sustainability objectives.

“Identifying and reducing technical debt is essential to mission assurance,” said Assistant Secretary Berger. “By addressing technical debt, the Department of the Navy can mitigate cyber vulnerabilities, strengthen national security, and modernize its IT infrastructure with cutting-edge, energy-efficient technologies. These actions will provide more reliable and efficient systems, which will enhance mission readiness, operational cost efficiency, and increase user productivity. Through sustainability, we support an agile, resilient, and ready force equipped to meet the demands of today’s missions and stay ahead of future requirements.”

Integrating Governance, Workforce Development, and National Security

CSO Serial Six is the latest directive to establish and guide the department’s sustainability practices and policies. Prior CSO serials are as follows:

  • Serial One: Infrastructure Resilience ensures installations can withstand environmental and operational stressors, and calls for planning resilience upgrades, ensuring energy reliability, and designing infrastructure that lasts. Sustainability is at the core, integrating cross-collaboration for long-term viability.
  • Serial Two: Water Security underscores the need for reliable water resources to meet operational demands. By conserving water, enhancing storage, and improving distribution systems, this serial sets clear policies and metrics for resilience in the face of growing environmental pressures.
  • Serial Three: Nature-Based Resilience Solutions promotes integrating natural defenses such as wetland restoration and dune stabilization to not only protect infrastructure but also enhance ecosystem services and carbon sequestration, aligning mission assurance with environmental stewardship.
  • Serial Four: Sustainable Supply and Acquisition encourages a shift toward sustainable sourcing, embedding lifecycle considerations into procurement processes, and promoting environmentally preferable materials to minimize waste and ensure reliable resources to meet operational needs.
  • Serial Five: Shore Energy and Decarbonization Goals establishes clear targets for reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy efficiency across shore installations. By optimizing energy use, integrating renewables, and pursuing net-zero goals, energy security is strengthened and aligned with decarbonization objectives.

CSO Serial Six builds upon prior CSO Serials by integrating sustainable energy strategies (Serial Five), water security measures (Serial Two), and sustainable procurement practices (Serial Four) into IT modernization. By reinforcing infrastructure resilience (Serial One) and nature-based solutions (Serial Three), it ensures a cohesive sustainability strategy that aligns governance, operational readiness, and workforce needs.

To ensure implementation of all CSO serials, the sustainability directorate works with Navy and Marine Corps teams to develop and refine implementation plans; support measurement and tracking of progress to ensure effective execution; facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions to enhance understanding and adoption; and provide periodic updates on the progress of implementation and key performance indicators to drive accountability and transparency.

For the Department of the Navy, sustainability drives mission readiness, strengthens infrastructure resilience, optimizes resources, and minimizes environmental impact. It supports operational adaptability, safeguards people and missions, and ensures the Navy and Marine Corps remain prepared to meet evolving challenges and future demands.

 

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Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro Names Future John Lewis-class Oilers T-AO 215 and T-AO 216

Source: United States Navy

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced the names of two future John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers, T-AO 205-class, to be the future USNS Joshua L. Goldberg (T-AO 215), the future USNS Thomas D. Parham Jr. (T-AO 216).

Secretary Del Toro detailed the announcement Jan. 16 during video remarks directed to the Department of Navy’s (DoN) chaplain corps.

“Our Navy Chaplains are more than just religious figures—they are beacons of hope, resilience, and unwavering support in the demanding world of naval service,” said Secretary Del Toro. “These ships will carry forward their spirit of selfless service and will forever be a recognition of the invaluable contributions of Navy Chaplains.”

The naming selection of the future T-AO 215 and T-AO 216 follows the tradition of naming John Lewis-class oilers after civil rights leaders and will be the first to bear her name. Secretary Del Toro previously named USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211), USNS Ruth Bader Ginsberg (T-AO 212), USNS Harriet Tubman (T-AO 213), and USNS Dolores Huerta (T-AO 214).

There have been no Navy vessels previously named for Captain Joshua L. Goldberg or for Thomas D. Parham, Jr.

“The heart of the Navy Chaplain Corps mission is to care for Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and their families, always focused on serving them. Naming these ships after a couple of heroic chaplains is both humbling and reassuring that we have the support of our military leaders in building the Spiritual Readiness of our flock,” said Navy’s Chief of Chaplains Rear Adm. Gregory N. Todd. “Chaplains Goldberg and Parham were model servant leaders and shone with the inner strength that comes from higher purpose, facing numerous challenges of their time strengthened by their connection to the Divine. Their example inspires all of us.”

The naming of the future T-AO 215 honors Captain Joshua L. Goldberg, USN (1896-1994), the first Jewish rabbi to volunteer for naval service in World War II and the first to be promoted to O-6.

Born in the Russian Empire in present-day Belarus, Goldberg was drafted into the Imperial Russian Army during World War I. Deserting in 1916 and emigrating to the U.S., he subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Europe.

After leaving the service in 1920, he became a rabbi in 1926. Commissioning in the U.S. Naval Reserve in December 1941 and called to active duty in 1942, Goldberg actively ministered to Sailors with an inter-faith team, designed and wore the first prescribed Jewish prayer tallith, helped develop the radio program, “The Navy Goes to Church,” and wrote Ministering to Jews in the Navy, which was intended to guide non-Jewish chaplains in ministering to the needs of Jewish Sailors ashore and afloat. He also served, in an unofficial capacity, as the Chief of Chaplain’s consultant on Jewish affairs. He remained in the Navy following the end of the war, serving as District Chaplain to the Third District, and then as special consultant on Jewish matters to Armed Forces Chaplains Board in 1950.

 He retired in 1960, receiving the Legion of Merit in recognition of his myriad contributions. The Goldberg Award, which is given to the O-3 or O-4 chaplain who has shown excellency in facilitating the religious needs of their Sailors, is named in his honor.

Secretary Del Toro named Teresa Todd, spouse of the Rear Adm. Todd and Debbie Anderson, spouse of the Navy’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Ships, Rear Adm. Thomas J. Anderson to serve as sponsors of the future USNS Joshua L. Goldberg.

They, in their role as the ship’s sponsor, will represent a lifelong relationship with the ship and crew. The following individuals were identified as sponsors.

T-AO 216 is named to honor Navy Chaplain, Captain Thomas David Parham Jr., USN (1920-2007), the Navy’s first African American Sailor promoted to O-6. 

A daughter of the late Capt. Parham, Capt Mae Pouget, USN (Ret), expressed the family’s gratitude to the Navy on the naming selection.

“Daddy served sailors and Marines with humility, empathy, and respect, showing love for all from his Heavenly Father. Chaplain Parham’s legacy of military service lasted from 1944 to 2021, through himself, his children and his son-in-law,” said, Capt. Pouget. “The family would like to thank Secretary Del Toro, U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black, Chaplain of the Marine Corps Rear Adm. Carey Cash, and Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff.”

Ordained into the Presbytery of Mahoning (Youngstown, Ohio) in 1944, Parham commissioned as a Lieutenant (junior grade) in the U.S. Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps in September that same year. After a string of shore assignments in which he was mainly assigned to minister to Black units, he sought release from active duty in 1946.

With the onset of the Korean War, he returned to active naval service in 1951. Though he still faced discrimination, Rear Admiral Stanton Salisbury, then Chief of Chaplains, made it clear that the Chaplains Division had no plans to assign Parham to “segregated duty.” After serving overseas in Japan from 1953-1955 and transferring to the U.S. Navy in 1955, he was assigned to the First Marine Division as Chaplain in 1956. Following other assignments with the Marine Corps, he had duty afloat on-board Valley Forge (LPH 8) and subsequently served at Naval Air Station Newport, where he advanced to O-6 in 1966. Assigned to the Bureau of Personnel as Assistant Chief of Chaplain for Plans in 1967, Parham was actively involved in efforts to boost minority recruitment and address the Navy’s recurring drug problems. He continued to undertake shore assignments in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia until his retirement in 1982. 

Secretary Del Toro named Capt. Mae Pouget to serve as the sponsor of T-AO 216. Capt. Pouget served in the Navy as a medical officer.

“Having served on a submarine tender with sailors and civilian mariners, I have the utmost respect for the Military Sealift Command,” said Capt. Pouget. “I will advocate for and attend to the USNS Thomas J. Parham Jr. (T-AO 216) and pray for her divine protection.”

Fleet replenishment oilers are designed to supply fuel to the Navy’s operating carrier strike groups. The oilers have the ability to carry a load of 162,000 barrels of oil and maintain significant dry cargo capacity

Find more information about Fleet Replenishment Oilers here:

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Attorney General Garland Delivers Remarks at the 72nd Annual Attorney General’s Awards

Source: United States Department of Justice

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

Thank you, Deputy Attorney General Monaco. And hello, everyone.

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 72nd Annual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony.

Over the past four years, and in the face of unprecedented challenges, the more than 115,000 public servants who make up the Department of Justice have worked tirelessly to fulfill our mission: to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights.

They have worked with law enforcement and community partners across the country to drive down violent crime, seize deadly drugs, capture dangerous fugitives, and deter and disrupt threats to our national security.

They have worked to protect the civil rights of everyone in our country, to combat discrimination, and to aggressively prosecute hate crimes.

And in everything they have done, they have continued to fulfill the Justice Department’s responsibility to uphold the rule of law and to ensure the equal protection of law that is the foundation of our democracy.

I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate some of that exceptional work today.

Today we recognize both Justice Department employees and law enforcement partners from across the country for their extraordinary contributions to the Department’s work on behalf of the American people.

Today, we honor their leadership, heroism, and dedication that has benefited people and communities across the nation.

We honor public servants whose tireless work made their communities safer; and whose dedication made the Justice Department more effective on behalf of the public we serve.

We honor public servants who advocated for victims; protected consumers; defended civil rights; disrupted threats and prevented tragedies; and who saved lives and changed lives.

And we honor heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.

Today, we remember Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks, Task Force Officer Alden Elliot, Task Force Officer Samuel Poloche, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Joshua Eyer — who were killed in the devastating attack that took place during a U.S. Marshals task force operation in North Carolina last year.

We are grateful to their families for allowing us to recognize their loved ones.

And we are grateful to their colleagues who have continued to honor their legacies.

To all of today’s awardees, who have gone above and beyond to advance the Department’s mission, I know that no award could adequately honor the courage and commitment you demonstrate every day.

So, I will just say to each of you: thank you.

Thank you for your leadership.

Thank you for your courage.

Thank you for exemplifying what it means to choose a path of public service.

And to all of the family members who have supported your loved ones through their careers, thank you for your sacrifice. We know they could not do their work without you.

It has been an honor to work with the over 115,000 public servants who make up the Department of Justice these past four years.

I am more grateful to you than I can express.

I am so proud of you.

And I will always be cheering you on.

I am now pleased to turn the program back over to the Deputy Attorney General.

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Miami-Based Real Estate Broker Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate Russia-Ukraine Sanctions and to Commit Money Laundering

Source: United States Department of Justice

Miami real estate broker Roman Sinyavsky pleaded guilty today to engaging in a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions and commit money laundering by conducting transactions involving blocked properties owned by sanctioned Russian oligarchs Viktor Perevalov and Valeri Abramov.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Perevalov and Abramov for conduct including owning and operating VAD, AO, a Russia-based construction company responsible for constructing the Tavrida Highway in the Russian-occupied Crimea Region of Ukraine. Perevalov was designated again by OFAC in December 2024 for operating in the construction sector of the Russian economy.

As described in court documents, from in or around January 2018 through in or around March 2023, Sinyavsky conspired with others to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and commit money laundering by maintaining, transferring, selling, and leasing several luxury condominiums in the Miami area that Perevalov and Abramov owned and by collecting, sharing, and using the proceeds to maintain the properties.

Sinyavsky faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As part of the plea agreement, Sinyavsky agreed to forfeit the proceeds he received from the scheme totaling $182,442.45.

On Feb. 22, 2024, the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleging that two luxury condominiums owned by Perevalov are subject to forfeiture based on the unlawful transactions. On Jan. 6, the court ordered forfeiture of $1.8 million representing the proceeds from the sales of those properties. Abramov’s property was sold in June 2018.

Concurrent with today’s guilty plea, OFAC announced a separate settlement with Sinyavsky and his real estate company Family International Realty LLC in connection with a related, parallel proceeding. Under the terms of that resolution, Sinyavsky and his company have agreed to pay a civil penalty of approximately $1,076,923. In recognition of the amount Sinyavsky has agreed to forfeit in connection with today’s guilty plea, OFAC will credit the forfeiture against its civil penalty.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Miami Field Office is investigating the case with assistance from the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided valuable assistance.

Trial Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu and Lindsay Gorman of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Joshua E. Kurland of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Rubin for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that, beginning in 2014, the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.