Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Demani Jawara Bosket, 51, of Saluda, South Carolina and his niece, Tanya Lashawn Bosket, 53, of Charlotte, North Carolina have been convicted by a federal jury following seven days of trial. Both Boskets were found guilty of one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Demani Bosket was found guilty of six separate counts of wire fraud, and Tanya Bosket was found guilty of four counts of wire fraud.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the New Mexico Supreme Court and the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners, alleging that they violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by refusing to recognize the out-of-state law licenses of qualifying servicemembers and their spouses.

“The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act gives servicemembers and their spouses the right to have their covered out-of-state law licenses recognized in a state where they have relocated due to military orders,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “State supreme courts and bar associations in other states should take note of this lawsuit and come into full compliance with the SCRA immediately, or risk a lawsuit by the Department of Justice.”

“New Mexico is the proud home of four major military installations and more than 14,000 active-duty servicemembers. Our military servicemembers and their families bear great burdens to protect our Nation, including frequent moves and interruptions or barriers to employment,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “In fact, spousal unemployment is a leading cause of servicemembers leaving military service and is a significant readiness and retention issue. This lawsuit highlights the fact that license portability is a critical tool for our military spouses to be able to earn a living in the manner of their choosing.”

The complaint alleges that the New Mexico Supreme Court and Board of Bar Examiners refused to allow a military spouse to practice as an attorney in New Mexico after his wife was transferred to Holloman Air Force Base. As a result, the military spouse, who is licensed to practice law in the states of Texas, Washington and Maryland, was unable to accept a higher-paying position at the Las Cruces District Attorney’s Office. The complaint also alleges that New Mexico imposes requirements on military applicants that exceed what is allowed by the SCRA, by requiring them to provide transcripts, test scores, and references and to submit to a full character and fitness evaluation.

The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $489 million in monetary relief for over 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.

Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Tallahassee, Florida – Willard Lawrence Gibson, Jr., 48, of Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children, one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and one count of distribution of child pornography. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Tacoma – A Bremerton, Washington woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for her role in a scheme to steal nearly $229,000 from banks and bank customers, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. 

Source: United States Department of Justice

Tallahassee, Florida – Willard Lawrence Gibson, Jr., 48, of Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children, one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and one count of distribution of child pornography. 

Source: United States Department of Justice

Tacoma – A Bremerton, Washington woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for her role in a scheme to steal nearly $229,000 from banks and bank customers, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

The United States disputes the District Court’s legal analysis of North Dakota’s claims and of the United States’ defenses under the Federal Tort Claims Act, but acknowledges in hindsight that, under the Obama Administration, the federal government could have done more to reduce the impacts to the people of North Dakota from the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests, which at times rose to the level of unlawfulness and confrontational violence. 

Therefore, the United States today settled this litigation with North Dakota in the hope that all parties affected by the chaos of the DAPL protests will be able to move forward with some degree of closure. This settlement allows the United States and the State of North Dakota to resolve this matter and continue working together cooperatively in the future. 

While freedom of speech and the right to peaceably assemble are bedrock principles in our constitutional order, some of the conduct that took place during the height of the DAPL protests in the summer and fall of 2016 was unlawful and not protected free speech or peaceful assembly. Throughout the DAPL protests, the people of North Dakota endured repeated acts of violence and intimidation by protestors who established encampments on federal property without permission. Vehicles were burned, private property was destroyed, public roadways were shut down, and there were clashes with local law enforcement.

To avoid further escalation of unlawful behaviors, the federal government at the time chose not to forcibly remove the protestors from the encampment on federal property. The United States recognizes that this difficult choice had painful consequences for North Dakota and many of its residents. Under President Trump, the United States is committed to protecting its citizens from lawlessness and violence masquerading as “peaceful” or “mostly peaceful” protests.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A federal grand jury has indicted Katie Marie Kloth and Tyler John Norman for allegedly using fire and explosives to damage and attempt to damage the property of Brasfield & Gorrie, a general contractor for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and to intimidate the company’s employees.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BOSTON – As part of Freedom 250 – the nationwide celebration commemorating America’s 250th birthday – the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts will host a Hometown Hero ceremony recognizing Marshfield native, Corporal Alfred Lopes, Jr., who was declared missing in action in the Korean War in February 1951.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Murielle Misczak pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud her former employer, a Brooklyn daycare (the Daycare), of more than $2.75 million.  The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis.  When sentenced, Misczak faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment as well as restitution of $2,805,871.