Category: US Department of Justice

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Richard Nduba, 39, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for firing multiple shots at a man in August 2022 in Northwest Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Nduba was convicted on March 22, 2023, following a three-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Erik Christian ordered 36 months of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, on August 10, 2022, the defendant argued with with the victim, a friend, outside the Walmart on 99 H Street NW around 7:00pm. After the argument, the victim, who is wheelchair bound, went to the 800 block of 1^st street NW next to the Walmart’s loading dock area to speak on the phone. The defendant circled the block in his rental SUV until he found the victim. Upon finding the victim, the defendant lowered his window, pointed a black handgun at the victim, and shot at the victim twice. The defendant stopped shooting only after the victim acted as if he had been hit and played dead in his wheelchair. Both shots, however, missed the victim. A bullet hole was later discovered in Walmart’s loading dock door, next to where the victim had been sitting at the time of the shooting.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.  It was investigated, prosecuted. and tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Omeed Assefi and Colin Cloherty of the Major Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Nielsen and Kathleen Kern, Paralegal Specialist Debra McPherson, and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Four members of the Oath Keepers were sentenced this week on seditious conspiracy and other charges for crimes related to 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 that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Roberto Minuta, 39, of Prosper, Texas; Joseph Hackett, 53, of Sarasota, Florida; David Moerschel, 45, of Punta Gorda, Florida; and Edward Vallejo, 64, of Phoenix, Arizona, were sentenced in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, by the Honorable Amit P. Mehta.

            Minuta was sentenced June 1, 2023, to 54 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. 

            Vallejo was sentenced on June 1, 2023, to 36 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release (including the first 12 months to be served on home confinement). 

            Moerschel was sentenced on June 2, 2023, to 36 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. 

            Hackett was sentenced on June 2, 2023, to 42 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.

            The four defendants were found guilty on January 23, 2023, of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to prevent Members of Congress from discharging their official duties. Hackett was also found guilty of destruction of evidence. The verdicts followed a seven week trial.

            According to the evidence, in the months leading up to January 6, the defendants and their co-conspirators plotted to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power, including by amassing an armed “quick reaction force” on the outskirts of the District of Columbia. Beginning in late December 2020, via encrypted and private communications applications, the defendants and various co-conspirators coordinated and planned to travel to Washington, D.C., on or around Jan. 6, 2021, the date of the certification of the electoral college vote. The defendants made plans to bring weapons to the area to support the operation. The co-conspirators then traveled across the country to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area in early January 2021, with paramilitary gear and supplies including firearms, tactical vests with plates, helmets, and radio equipment.

            The defendants conspired through a variety of manners and means, including: organizing into teams that were prepared and willing to use force and to transport firearms and ammunition into Washington, D.C.; recruiting members and affiliates to participate in the conspiracy; organizing trainings to teach and learn paramilitary combat tactics; bringing and contributing paramilitary gear, weapons, and supplies – including knives, camouflaged combat uniforms, tactical vests with plates, helmets, eye protection, and radio equipment – to the Capitol grounds; breaching and attempting to take control of the Capitol grounds and building on Jan. 6, 2021, in an effort to prevent, hinder and delay the certification of the electoral college vote; using force against law enforcement officers while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; continuing to plot, after Jan. 6, 2021, to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power; and using websites, social media, text messaging and encrypted messaging applications to communicate with co-conspirators and others.

            The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Criminal Division. Valuable assistance was provided by numerous U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department, with significant assistance provided by the FBI’s New York, Dallas, Tampa, and Phoenix Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the United States Secret Service.

            In the 28 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 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

A Wisconsin man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for sex trafficking multiple minors in the Philippines.

According to court documents, Donald A. Stenson, 67, of West Allis, traveled to the Philippines on multiple occasions starting in 2007 and repeatedly engaged in sexual activity with minors there. Between 2016 and 2019, Stenson lured five minor victims between the ages of approximately 11 and 17 into commercial sex arrangements, engaging in sexual activity with the victims and then providing them with money and gifts.

A search of Stenson’s electronic devices uncovered multiple images and videos of the minor victims, including a video depicting Stenson engaging in sex acts with a minor. The search also uncovered sexually explicit messages with minors and messages in which Stenson discussed engaging in sex acts with the minor victims with John Burgdorff, 66, of West Allis. Burgdorff traveled with Stenson to the Philippines, and Stenson encouraged the victims to meet with Burgdorff, who then also engaged them in commercial sexual activity.

Stenson was identified based on a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Stenson and Burgdorff were both arrested at Burgdorff’s residence in West Allis and charged as co-defendants in connection with their sex trafficking of these minor victims. Burgdorff was sentenced in November 2022 to two and a half years in prison for engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in a foreign place.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago made the announcement.

HSI Milwaukee, HSI’s Manila Transnational Criminal Investigation Unit, HSI Bangkok, and Philippine authorities investigated the case.

Trial Attorney William G. Clayman of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan J. Paulson and Abbey M. Marzick for the Eastern District of Wisconsin prosecuted the case, with assistance from CEOS Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CONCORD – A Franklin man has been charged in connection with threatening to kill a United States Senator, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Brian Landry, 66, was charged with threatening to assault, kidnap or murder a United States official in connection with the official’s performance of official duties.  Landry will make an initial appearance in federal court today in Concord at 2:30pm. 

According to the charging documents, Landry called a district field office of a United States Senator and left a voicemail on May 17, 2023, stating:

“Hey stupid. I’m a veteran sniper.  And unless you change your ways, I got my scope pointed in your direction and I’m coming to get you.  You’re a dead man walking, you piece of f***ing sh**.”

Investigators identified the phone call as coming from a number associated with Landry.  When they interviewed Landry, he admitted to having called the Senator’s office but did not initially recall exactly what he said in the voicemail.

The charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Capitol Police led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police, and the Franklin and the Manchester Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Florida woman pleaded guilty yesterday to charges stemming from her actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Her 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.

            Leslie Gray, 57, of St. Cloud, Florida, pleaded guilty, in the District of Columbia, to obstruction of an official proceeding. U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich scheduled sentencing for September 28, 2023.

            According to court documents, Gray came to Washington with co-defendants, Luis Hallon, 67, and his wife, Traci Isaacs, 52, also of St. Cloud, Florida. Hallon and Isaacs have already pleaded guilty for their conduct related to the Capitol Siege. On Jan. 6, Gray walked to the Capitol from the Ellipse after attending the “Stop the Steal” rally. Gray then illegally made her way onto the Capitol grounds and into the U.S. Capitol Building through the Columbus Doors around 2:41 p.m. Before entering, Gray recorded a video where she can be heard yelling, “Go! Go! Go! Get out of my damn way! Go! Go!” while the crowd goes up the Capitol steps. Gray then turned the camera around on herself and stated, “we are up to the doors now…we are about to breach Congress.” Once inside, Gray traveled to multiple areas in the Capitol, including the Rotunda. She took videos inside the Capitol’s interior. In one, she stated, “I am in Congress. This is our house. This is our house! … [W]e are in here. We’ve taken it.” She repeatedly yelled “traitor” at law enforcement officers and refused to leave, despite directions to vacate. She left the building at 2:57 p.m. only after being forcibly removed by law enforcement.

            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 Middle District of Florida.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Tampa Field Office and its Orlando Resident Agency. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 28 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 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.