Category: US Department of Justice

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – An 18-count indictment, filed today in U.S. District Court, charges Cedae Hardy, 18, of Washington, D.C., with involvement in six separate carjackings throughout Washington D.C. and Maryland and an attempted carjacking in which a victim was shot multiple times. The indictment was announced today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to the indictment, Hardy carjacked victims of their vehicles at gunpoint around the District of Columbia and in Maryland. In four of the carjackings committed in furtherance of a conspiracy with unnamed co-conspirators, Hardy drove the carjacked vehicles to a garage adjoining an apartment complex located at 1326 Florida Avenue, Northeast, Washington, D.C. (the “Florida Avenue Garage”).

            A co-conspirator would contact potential buyers, who in these instances were undercover officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The co-conspirator would arrange a time to meet the undercover officers at predetermined location – usually the Florida Avenue Garage – and complete the sale of the carjacked vehicles. The conspirators and Hardy would then split the proceeds.

            Hardy would communicate with the conspirators via text message. For example, on April 8, 2023, Hardy sent Co-Conspirator 1 a text message stating, “I’m outside now you can be on your way. Let’s get money my boy” and “[]I’m boutta get sum & bring it straight to you.” A few hours later, just 22 minutes after an armed carjacking of a Mercedes Benz SL550 in Hyattsville, Maryland, Hardy arrived at the Florida Avenue Garage in the victim’s vehicle. Co-Conspirator 1 and Co-Conspirator 2 opened the door to the Florida Avenue Garage for Hardy. The victim’s Mercedes was then sold on April 10, 2023 by Co-Conspirator 1 to MPD undercover officers for $1,200.  

            On April 18, 2023, a victim was seated inside his Honda Civic when Hardy opened the passenger door and sat in the victim’s vehicle. Hardy pointed a gun at the victim and began to shout. The victim could not understand Hardy and tried to push him out of his vehicle, at which point Hardy fired multiple shots, striking the victim in the forearm and abdomen. Hardy exited the victim’s vehicle and fled back to Washington, D.C.

            Carjacking carries a statutory maximum sentenced of 15 years in prison. Transportation of stolen goods and sale or receipt of stolen vehicles each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The gun charges carry no statutory maximum and a mandatory minimum of 7 years. The charges also carry potential financial penalties. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Gold, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

            An indictment 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

            WASHINGTON – Demarcus Barnett, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed stemming from the shooting of 62-year-old Lasanta Qumar McGill, on June 8, 2023, in the city’s Westminster neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

            As part of his guilty plea, Barnett admitted that after being robbed by two individuals, he chased after them and fired wildly down the sidewalk. In doing so, he struck and killed McGill, an innocent bystander. Barnett will be sentenced on October 27, 2023, by Judge Maribeth Raffinan.  

            In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the MPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Anthony Braxton, 47, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 22.5 years in prison for stabbing a prior romantic partner multiple times in front of their child in November 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Braxton was found guilty by a jury of assault with intent to kill while armed and other charges, following a trial in April 2023 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  

            According to the government’s evidence, on Nov. 4, 2017, Braxton went to the home of his former romantic partner in violation of a court ordered stay away. He then approached the woman in broad daylight and stabbed her nearly 30 times with a pair of needle nose pliers in front of their child. 

            Braxton had been ordered by a District of Columbia Superior Court Judge, on October 16, 2017, to stay away and have no contact with the victim. Evidence showed that he violated that order over 500 times between Oct. 16, 2017, and Nov. 4, 2017. 

            The victim received medical treatment for her stab wounds at Howard University Hospital. She ultimately required surgery to save her right hand. 

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the MPD. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Wolf, Appellate Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nick Coleman and Daniel Lenerz, Pretrial Mental Health Coordinator Jennifer Mika, Paralegal Specialist Tiffany Fogle, Victim/Witness Advocates Shawn Slade and Tracy Owusu, and interns Jessica Wasserman, Julianne Saunders, Molly Patrick, and Kate Dougherty.  

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dana Joseph and Brian Yang, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

WASHINGTON – Germaine L. Graham, 41, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of wire fraud related to a fraud scheme against his former employer located in Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.

As part of the fraud scheme, Graham made false payroll entries into the company’s payroll processing system, which directed unauthorized payments to himself. As a result of the fraudulent scheme, Graham caused approximately $250,000 in losses to his former employer. U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras accepted the guilty plea. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 2, 2024.

According to the Statement of the Offense, between February 2019 and January 2022, Graham was employed as an office manager with a private architecture firm in the District of Columbia. As part of his duties, he was responsible for the firm’s book-keeping functions, including invoicing and bill paying. He was also responsible for preparing and electronically submitting the firm’s bi-monthly payroll register to an out-of-state payroll processing company. Graham also had access to the firm’s electronic checks and on-line book-keeping program. Graham used his access to the payroll processing system, company checks, and the book-keeping program to steal his employer’s money and to hide the theft.  

In announcing the verdict, Graves and Geist commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office. They also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lisa Abbe, Victim-Witness Service Coordinator Tonya Jones, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – A Virginia man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, related to his actions 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 2020 presidential election.

            Jared Miller, 37, of Chesapeake, Virginia, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. In addition to the felonies, Miller is charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; obstruct, or impede passage through or within, the grounds or any of the Capitol buildings; and violent entry and disorderly conduct.

            Miller was arrested on Aug. 23, 2023, in Chesapeake, Virginia and made his initial appearance in the Eastern District of Virginia.

            According to court documents, Miller attended a rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, and afterward walked to the United States Capitol building, where he entered the restricted grounds on the west side. Miller then joined a mob that had broken through multiple barriers and police lines. Soon, the mob, including Miller, became increasingly hostile towards United States Capital Police (USCP) officers, pushing officers back to the base of the Inaugural stage.

            At approximately 1:12 p.m., several units of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived at the West Plaza to assist USCP officers in crowd control. Miller and other rioters were held back behind bike rack barriers as MPD and USCP set up a line to prevent rioters from advancing. At about 1:16 p.m., the north side of the police line was breached by rioters. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) captured Miller joining this breach, first as he pushed an unidentified MDP officer and then he shoved an officer as the officer attempted to rejoin the police line.

            At 1:21 p.m., Miller is seen on body-worn cameras dragging a bike rack away from the northern side of the police lines. Miller then re-engaged with police, striking both USCP and MPD officers and driving barricades back into the police lines. Miller then grabbed an adjacent barricade and ripped it from unidentified MPD and USCP officers, who were pulled away with the barrier before regaining control. Miller is also captured on BWC as he reached over the barriers to hit officers before walking away from that portion of the police line.

            Miller eventually walked to the center of the West Plaza police line and is captured on body-worn camera footage tossing a water bottle at MPD officers. Miller remained on the restricted grounds, eventually making his way to the Lower West Terrace after the West Plaza police line was overrun at about 1:36 p.m.  

            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 Virginia.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Norfolk and Washington Field Offices, which identified Miller as BOLO (Be On the Lookout) #151 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

            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.