Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: US FBI

ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred to 285 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for sex trafficking and drug offenses.

Davon Smith, 29, was found guilty by a federal jury in August this year on three counts of sex trafficking and one count of drug distribution. The trial lasted six days and the jury reached its verdicts after one day of deliberation.

According to court documents, Smith, was charged with one count of sex trafficking a minor, one count of benefitting from a sex trafficking enterprise, one count of sex trafficking an adult by force, fraud or coercion and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. According to evidence presented at trial, he trafficked an adult and a runaway juvenile victim in early 2019. Smith had a previous felony drug conviction and was on federal supervised release at the time he committed the offenses. His total sentence represented 22 years for substantive offenses plus 21 months for committing those offenses while on supervised release.

“It is impossible to overstate the trauma done by trafficking minors and other vulnerable persons,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. “And trafficking deadly opioids unleashes other terrible harms. By working so hard to see that justice was done in this case, the FBI, Anchorage Police Department, and the prosecutors of the U.S. Attorney’s Office have made Alaska safer.” 

“Through manipulation and abuse, the defendant coerced adults and minors to perform commercial sex acts for his own financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.  “With a victim-centered approach, the FBI and our partners on the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, will continue investigating and holding accountable those who commit such reprehensible crimes.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Anchorage Police Department investigated the case. The task force marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children through sex trafficking, as well as to identify and recover victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.

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. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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.

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Source: US FBI

FAIRBANKS – A Kotzebue man was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for charges relating to the repeated sexual abuse of a minor.   

According to court documents, Wally Carter, 62, was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2021 and pleaded guilty in July to one count of human trafficking. Carter became the subject of a federal investigation in December 2020 when the FBI received a tip alleging a minor had been sexually abused by Carter approximately 15 times between 2015 and 2017. The first instance of sexual abuse occurred when the victim was only 10 years old. As part of his plea, Carter admitted to sexually abusing the minor victim multiple times, giving her money after each instance and often giving her alcohol and marijuana before or after the sexual abuse. The sexual abuse happened in Carter’s home, his vehicle and on one occasion, Carter took her by boat to a cabin, where the victim tried to escape from him at least five times.

“The defendant’s actions are unconscionable and robbed his victim of her trust and innocence at a young age,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “This sentence sends a strong message that crimes against children in rural Alaska will not be tolerated and those who perpetrate such crimes will be held accountable.”

“Treating children as sexual commodities is appalling. The FBI will vigorously investigate these matters to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This case exemplifies the ongoing efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to combat human trafficking in both urban and rural Alaska, while using a victim-centered approach to vindicate the survivors impacted by these crimes.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) Task Force Officers investigated this case collectively as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers (AST) and Kotzebue Police Department (KPD).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Doty prosecuted the case.

The investigation is 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. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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

Under the Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN), the U.S. Attorney’s Office is increasing engagement, coordination, and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities.

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Source: US FBI

ANCHORAGE, AK—The FBI Anchorage field office is seeking information regarding a bank robbery that took place on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at approximately 5:00 p.m. at the Northern Skies Federal Credit Union branch located at 1000 O’Malley Road, Suite 109, in Anchorage.

An unknown suspect entered the bank, presented a demand note to a bank employee, and threatened use of a firearm. The suspect was last observed walking out of the bank with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is described as a caucasian male with blonde hair, brown eyebrows, green/gray eyes, and approximately 6’2” with a slim build, about 140 pounds. He was described as wearing a dark blue or black sweatshirt, a blue beanie hat, and a blue surgical mask.

If the public has any information concerning the bank robbery, please contact the FBI Anchorage field office at 907-276-4441 or online at tips.fbi.gov.

Source: US FBI

A federal jury convicted a Tennessee physician and his wife yesterday in the Northern District of Alabama for unlawfully distributing opioids, providing unnecessary services and defrauding insurers from their now-shuttered Alabama clinics.   

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mark Murphy, 65, and his wife, Jennifer Murphy, 65, both of Lewisburg, owned and operated North Alabama Pain Services (NAPS), which closed its Decatur and Madison offices in early 2017. Over the approximately five-year period leading up to the clinic closing its Alabama locations, Murphy and his wife, who was the office manager, caused over $50 million in fraudulent or unnecessary medical services to be charged to Medicare, TRICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and others. Evidence at trial showed that NAPS provided pre-signed prescriptions to thousands of patients a month, including prescriptions written outside the usual course of professional practice without a legitimate medical purpose. The Murphys also solicited and received unlawful payments for referring fraudulent or unnecessary services to patients. Jennifer Murphy was also convicted of tax-related charges for underreporting clinic income.

Both defendants were convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, along with various substantive counts related to the same. They were also convicted of conspiring to defraud the United States and receiving kickbacks. The Murphys face a maximum of 20 years in prison for the drug charges and a maximum of 10 years in prison for the health care fraud charges. Both defendants face a maximum of five years in prison for charges stemming from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and Jennifer Murphy faces up to three years in prison for the tax charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for June 30. 

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama; Special Agent in Charge Bradford L. Byerly of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Orleans Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. of the FBI Birmingham Division; Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Service Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Atlanta Region made the announcement.

FBI, HHS-OIG, IRS-CI and DEA investigated the case.

Assistant Chief Jillian Willis and Trial Attorney Emily Gurskis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney J.B. Ward of the Northern District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 districts, has charged more than 90 defendants who are collectively responsible for distributing more than 105 million pills. The ARPO Strike Force is part of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which since March 2007 has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Source: US FBI

NASHVILLE, TN—The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying an unknown male believed to be responsible for at least eight bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery in Tennessee and Alabama. The most recent robbery happened on February 9, 2022, at Citizens Bank located at 25530 AL-127 in Elkmont, Alabama.

The suspect is described as a Caucasian male, approximately 26 to 40 years old, standing 5’6” to 5’10” tall, 160—190 pounds, bald with possibly brown or green eyes, and a short brown trimmed beard. He walks with a straight-backed posture, arms swinging slightly away from his body. In each robbery, the suspect is disguised with a mask. He has worn different clothing at each robbery, to include a 2018 Chattanooga Turkey Trot shirt, a Nashville Predators cap, a University of Alabama face covering, a Champions sweatshirt, and a gray “STP” beanie cap.

The FBI believes these robberies were committed by the same suspect:

• December 6, 2021, First Horizon Bank, 324 N. Cedar Bluff Road, Knoxville, Tennessee—The unknown male was wearing a black or dark-colored mask, light gray or cream-colored polo shirt with a long sleeve black shirt underneath, blue jeans, and black and white athletic shoes.
• December 13, 2021, First Horizon Bank, 154 Cason Lane, Murfreesboro, Tennessee (formerly First Tennessee Bank)—The unknown male was wearing a black t-shirt with a gray or dark green Under Armor shirt underneath the t-shirt, a black hat, black face mask, and blue jeans.
• December 17, 2021, First Citizens Bank, 100 S. Campbell Station Road, Knoxville, Tennessee—The unknown male was wearing a black mask, black baseball cap, black long sleeve shirt with “Rocawear” logo on left chest, dark-colored pants, and black “New Balance” athletic shoes with white trim.
• January 7, 2022, Fifth Third Bank, 2437 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro, Tennessee—The unknown male was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black shoes, gray gloves, a tan hat, and a mask.
• January 10, 2022, First Horizon Bank, 11865 Parkside Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee—The unknown male was wearing a gray beanie with “STP” logo on front, white mask, light gray hoodie with a large “Champion” logo on the chest, blue jeans, and white athletic shoes.
• January 21, 2022, Fifth Third Bank, 525 Donelson Pike, Nashville, Tennessee—The unknown male was wearing a black mask, black beanie cap, white/gray arctic camo hoodie with a red design on arm, blue jeans, and black shoes with white soles.
• February 2, 2022, Renasant Bank, 4422 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, Tennessee—The unknown male was wearing a gray mask, black baseball cap with red/orange logo, light gray hoodie, blue jeans, and dark shoes with white soles.
• February 7, 2022, Citizens Bank, 25530 AL-127, Elkmont, Alabama—The unknown male was wearing a gray Chattanooga turkey trot shirt, Nashville Predators baseball cap, and a N-95 mask with yellow straps.
• (Attempted bank robbery) February 7, 2022, Regions Bank, 1101 East U.S. Highway 72, Athens, Alabama—The unknown male was wearing a long-sleeve gray t-shirt with an orange turkey on the front, a gray face mask with circular Alabama logo, and a gray hat with black bill and Nashville Predators symbol on the front.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI Nashville Resident Agency at 615-232-7500, the FBI Knoxville Field Office at 865-544-0751, or the FBI Birmingham Field Office at 205-326-6166. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man charged last month for carjacking and possessing a firearm was arraigned today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Staci G. Cornelius arraigned Clearance Speed, Jr., aka Bo Peep, 24, on charges of carjacking and carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime in March 2021. Speed was ordered detained pending trial. 

The maximum penalty for carjacking is 15 years in prison.  The minimum penalty for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime is a mandatory seven years in prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 

The FBI investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Birmingham Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty is  prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.