Category: US Department of Justice

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant Attacked Victim When She Stopped for Gas

            WASHINGTON – Andrew Patrick, 38, of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a Superior Court jury of all charges including: armed carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, felon in possession, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The Honorable Judge Lynn Leibovitz scheduled sentencing for December 1, 2023, at 9:30am.

            According to the government’s evidence, on September 22, 2022, the victim took her 2005 blue Chevy Suburban to the Good Hope Road gas station in Washington, DC. The defendant, dressed in a black jacket with white stripes and a hoodie, a red bandana, blue jeans, and grey New Balance sneakers, approached the victim and demanded her car keys while he holding her at gunpoint. The victim begged Patrick not to hurt her. Patrick pushed her up against her own vehicle, took her keys, and drove away in the victim’s car. The victim called 911 and gave officers a description of her assailant and his black and grey firearm. Later that day, a license plate reader detected the tags of the blue Chevy Suburban on North Capitol NE and Benning Road NE. Officers located and apprehended the vehicle, which was being driven by the defendant. The defendant told officers that he received the vehicle from a man with a black hoodie. Upon arresting Patrick, officers discovered a black and grey Glock 37 in a red floral satchel on the front passenger floorboard.

            In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith 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 Specialist Renee Prather, Victim/Witness Advocate Christie Bloodworth, and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce. 

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory J. Evans and Omeed A. Assefi, who investigated, prosecuted, and tried the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Artie Byrd, 31, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was found guilty, today, of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The verdict, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 5, 2024.

            According to evidence presented at trial, on September 2, 2022, Byrd was driving southbound on Connecticut Avenue, while somewhat intoxicated, in a car bearing counterfeit Delaware tags. Two MPD officers observed Byrd’s driving and noticed the fake tags. When the officers attempted a traffic stop, Byrd fled, turning down a dead-end cul-de-sac and crashing his car into a bench in front of a house. Byrd bailed out of the car and ran between two houses into a back yard. After realizing he was trapped in by a series of fences and a retaining wall, Byrd eventually surrendered. Officers canvassed his flight path and found a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun loaded with 14 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. No one observed Byrd with the gun in his hand and no one saw him toss the gun, but DNA analysis tied him to the gun.

            Byrd faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, plus a period of supervised release. The court will determine the appropriate sentence after considering the guideline sentencing range and other relevant factors.       

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

            The case was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Connor Mullin, and Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Josh Gold, Colin Cloherty, and Cameron Tepfer, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – A California man was sentenced in the District of Columbia today on two felony charges and one misdemeanor related to his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. 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 2020 presidential election.

            Edward Badalian, 29, of Panorama City, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to 51 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and fines. Badalian was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, and entering and remaining in a restricted building following a bench trial before Judge Jackson on April 4, 2023. 

            According to the evidence presented at trial, in the fall of 2020, Badalian, co-defendant Daniel Rodriguez, and others created a Telegram group chat titled PATRIOTS45MAGA Gang. The group, initially created to bring together supporters of former President Trump in the lead-up to the 2020 Presidential election, became a forum for Badalian and Rodriguez’s plans for violence against the seat of the federal government. In the group, Badalian and Rodriguez wrote hundreds of messages about war, revolution, traitors, and tyrants.

            As early as the fall of 2020, after the results of the 2020 election came in, Badalian wrote in the Telegram group: “time to arrest biden lol” and the next day, making clear that he was calling for the use of violence, Badalian sent the group a photograph of an individual holding an assault rifle. He wrote, “stay strapped foo. its not a game anymore.” Days later, Badalian escalated from talk of arrests to calls for executions. On Nov. 9, 2020, Badalian wrote, “If theyre guilty of treason they should be executed,” adding, “Biden is definitely guilty of treason.”

            Badalian would later call for members of the group to prepare and train for potential violence. On Dec. 6, 2020, Badalian wrote, “we cant plot anyones demise,” but, he continued, “the way is to train and train and one day when were all together in training, the decision has to be made and executed spontaneously as to whom we arrest.” After the group made arrangements to travel from California to Washington, D.C., for the January 6th proceedings, Badalian called upon other members of the group to prepare for their trip by partaking in paintball training exercises. Badalian wrote in the group, “We need to know how to fight together while under fire.” When another group member asked, “what are you training for exactly?” Badalian didn’t hesitate: “a firefight with armed terrorists.

            On the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, Badalian and his group attended the Stop the Steal rally on the National Mall. After listening to the then-President’s speech, Badalian walked straight to the U.S. Capitol building. After illegally traversing the west front of the Capitol grounds, Badalian made his way to the Lower West Terrace. Here, Badalian cheered on rioters engaged in a heave-ho effort against police and then ascended a scaffolding overlooking the Upper West Terrace on the north side of the building. Once there, Badalian attempted to direct the crowd to the entrances on the Upper West Terrace.

            Badalian then entered the Capitol building via a broken window on the Lower West Terrace. Once inside the building, Badalian stood side-by-side with other rioters, including Rodriguez, as they ransacked offices, broke down doors, and broke windows. Badalian later left the building after being forced out by law enforcement.

            After the events of January 6th, Badalian took steps to hide the evidence of his actions that day. While driving back to California from Washington, D.C., Badalian and others in the group attempted to convince another individual to delete video and photographic evidence linking Badalian and others in the group to the events at the Capitol that day. Badalian and Rodriguez continued efforts to cover up their crimes in their Telegram group. Rodriguez directed members to abstain from posting “incriminating stuff.”  As part of his efforts to cover up his crimes, Badalian replaced his cell phone and cell phone number after returning from Washington, D.C

            The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s National Security Division prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

The FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices investigated this case, with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 32 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 396 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. 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

            WASHINGTON – A Montana man and a Pennsylvania man were sentenced in the District of Columbia on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2021, on several felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, related to their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. 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 2020 presidential election. 

            Craig Michael Bingert, 32, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 96 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.

            Isaac Steve Sturgeon, 34, of Dillon, Montana, was sentenced to 72 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.

            U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth sentenced both Bingert and Sturgeon. Judge Lamberth convicted the pair following a bench trial on May 24, 2023, of seven charges, including obstruction of an official proceeding; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; civil disorder, all felonies; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; and engaging in an act of physical violence in the grounds or any of the Capitol buildings.

            According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, Bingert and Sturgeon traveled separately from their respective hometowns to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, and later marched toward the U.S. Capitol building. Acting independently, the two made their way onto restricted grounds of the Capitol and joined the mob on the West Front, at the base of the inaugural stage. Soon, the mob reached its full strength, violently breaking down the police line and forcing the officers to retreat. After the officers were forced up the southwest stairs under the scaffolding, Bingert and Sturgeon followed only minutes later.

            The duo then climbed through the inaugural stage scaffolding, up the southwest stairs, and made their way to the front of the mob at the top of the stairs, where police had formed a line behind a row of bike racks being used as a barricade to defend the Capitol. At approximately 2:45 p.m., Bingert and Sturgeon stood side-by-side directly in front of the bike racks and police at the top of the southwest stairs.  The pair along with others, grabbed the metal bike rack in front of them and pushed it hard against the police, resulting in injury to at least one officer. Both men remained on the Upper West Terrace for at least two hours after this assault, watching the brutal attacks on the police occurring on the Lower West Terrace below them. They both remained on restricted grounds until they were forcibly removed by police.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Eastern District of New York.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Bingert as AFO #105 and Sturgeon as AFO #104 on their seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Philadelphia and New York Field Offices, the Joint Terrorism Task Force Kenya, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 32 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 396 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. 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

Defendant Shot Victim as Victim was Leaving the Scene

            WASHINGTON – Dominic Copeland, 33, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty on September 21, 2023, of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges are in connection with a shooting that occurred on April 26, 2019, in the Truxton Circle area of Washington, D.C.

            The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 29, 2023.  

            According to evidence presented at trial, the victim drove to a local fast-food restaurant after work to meet Copeland. He was then directed to follow Copeland’s car to the area of N Street and First Street NW. Once parked, the victim entered the back seat of the car Copeland was in and handed Copeland money. Copeland took the victim’s money and, after a dispute, told the victim to “take the loss like a champ.” The victim exited and returned to his own car and got in the driver’s seat. Copeland then exited the car he was in, pulled out a handgun, and shot at the victim multiple times. The victim began to drive away but was hit twice in the upper back and crashed into multiple parked cars before finally coming to a rest on the side of the street. MPD officers promptly responded to the scene and found that the victim was unable to physically move because one of the gunshot wounds temporarily paralyzed him. The victim promptly identified his shooter to police as “Dominic,” whom he knew from work and, up to that point, had considered a friend.   

            Police recovered six fired cartridge casings from the scene. Evidence showed that two bullets entered the victim’s upper back, one of which punctured his lung causing a severe medical emergency that the treating physician declared would have resulted in the victim’s death had he not received medical care. Doctors left the bullets inside the victim’s body after determining that it would cause even more injury to attempt to remove them. 

            U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the MPD. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and acknowledged the efforts of all of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Forman, Seth Gilmore, Gregory Kimak, and Paul Courtney, Paralegal Specialist Debra McPherson, and Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Renee Prather.

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Danai and Richard Carlton, who investigated and prosecuted the case.