Category: MIL-OSI

Source: US FBI

ANCHORAGE – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man on two counts of distributing heroin following two controlled operations in June 2020.  

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jason McAnulty, aka “Snoop,” 38, sold approximately 101 grams of heroin for $5,000 cash on June 17, 2020, and nine days later sold approximately 25 grams of heroin for $1,300 cash to a law enforcement source. Following the two controlled buys, law enforcement executed a search warrant at McAnulty’s residence in July 2020 where they found more than $34,000 cash and other drug distribution contraband.

“Opioids are fueling an addiction crisis that is killing Alaskans, destroying lives and causing unfathomable misery,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr., of the District of Alaska. “For the sake of a few dollars, drug dealers like McAnulty willingly become instruments and facilitators of this tragic carnage. With our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will work to stop these dealers and protect the public with consequential prosecutions.”

“Part of keeping Anchorage safe is arresting those who distribute drugs on our streets. Our HIDTA unit is designed for this purpose,” said Anchorage Chief of Police Michael Kerle. “Because of HIDTA’s focus on drug trafficking along with our strong relationships with our law enforcement partners we are able to arrest dangerous drug traffickers like Jason McAnulty.”

McAnulty was indicted on the charges in September 2020. Following his conviction at trial, McAnulty faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison given his State of Alaska conviction for a serious violent felony – Robbery in the First Degree. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD), in support of Alaska’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Tran and Stephan Collins are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Alaska’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). HIDTA was established in 2018 to enhance and coordinate efforts among local state and federal law enforcement agencies, providing equipment, technology and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of Alaska. 

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Source: US FBI

ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 27.5 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release in front of U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred after pleading guilty to two counts of online enticement or coercion in relation involving two victims. He also admitted to relevant conduct involving sex trafficking of a juvenile and the production of child pornography involving three total juvenile victims in Anchorage.

According to court documents, Alex Asino, 34, was indicted in November 2019 on counts involving child sex trafficking, production and distribution of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.

Asino’s conduct came to the attention of the FBI in November 2019. During online communications, Asino told an undercover law enforcement officer he had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female that he met through a social media application. During his communications with the undercover officer, Asino sent images of the 15-year-old victim’s body and face and then directed the officer to a website where Asino had posted sexually explicit images of the victim. Additionally, Asino provided pornographic photos of a third minor victim to the officer along with how much he had paid her to have sex with him.   

Asino preyed on his minor victims through online social media applications, such as but not limited to Snapchat, Tagged and Whisper and would meet minor females through pay dating websites. Asino distributed meth, cash, food, gifts and cab fares to minors in exchange for sexual favors. He also posted images of child pornography and personal videos of sexual acts with minors on pornographic websites.

In September 2018, Asino was charged by the State of Alaska for delivering a controlled substance to a minor, sexual abuse of a minor and possession of child pornography. He was subsequently released on bail and placed under house arrest. While on house arrest, Asino continued to engage in the sexual exploitation of at least two additional minor victims.

“The real tragedy in cases like this one is the incalculable damage experienced by the minor victims,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr., District of Alaska. “While nothing can erase that harm, this lengthy sentence ensures that vulnerable girls in our community will be protected from Asino’s predations for many years.” 

“The defendant’s disturbing pattern of committing sexual exploitation crimes against child victims is abhorrent,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI is committed to working alongside federal, state, and local partners to identify, and hold accountable, those who abuse and exploit children in Alaska.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Anchorage Police Department (APD) investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney 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

ANCHORAGE – Following a three-week trial in U.S. District Court, a federal jury convicted an Anchorage man on charges of murder in furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise, using a firearm to commit murder in a drug trafficking crime, drug conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.  

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Matthew Wilson Moi, aka “Matt Matt,” 36, was involved in a drug trafficking enterprise that operated in Alaska between January 2017 and October 2019. The enterprise arranged for packages of multiple kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine to be sent from California to Alaska via the U.S. Postal Service to various addresses in the Anchorage area. The drugs were then re-packaged for sale and further distribution by other members and associates of the drug ring. In 2018, Moi began directing operations in Alaska, including coordinating distribution of narcotics through the mail, while other co-conspirators arranged for shipments from California. The enterprise also laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds through deposits into financial institutions, wire transfers, and bulk cash smuggling from Alaska to other parts of the country.

In April 2019, the enterprise mailed a package of heroin to the Anchorage residence of Navarrow Andrews. After Moi and other co-conspirators spent several days attempting to recover the package without success, Moi concluded that Andrews had stolen it. On April 8, 2019, Moi shot and killed Andrews in an Anchorage alley for stealing the drugs. Moi then fled Alaska, first to Louisiana and then to Los Angeles, where he continued to assist the drug ring with the direction and shipment of narcotic packages to Alaska. In September 2019, federal agents intercepted a shipment of five kilograms of heroin destined for Wasilla. Through a coordinated series of operations, law enforcement arrested co-conspirators in Alaska, California and Florida.

“Drug trafficking is truly one of the great scourges of the modern world,” said U.S. Attorney John Kuhn of the District of Alaska. “Not only do drug traffickers destroy the lives of their customers with their addictive and deadly products, but those like Mr. Moi engage in violent acts and murder as part of their trade. This conviction finally puts an end to a prolific and highly dangerous drug trafficking operation.  I commend the federal agencies and the Anchorage Police Department for their investigative work and our prosecutors for securing these convictions.” 

“Matthew Wilson Moi and his criminal enterprise of dangerous drug traffickers were pushing potentially lethal drugs and brought violence to the communities in Anchorage,” said Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent-in- Charge DEA Seattle Field Division. “This conviction sends a strong message that the DEA and law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to drive down drug-related violence through coordinated enforcement operations and hold those predatory drug traffickers responsible for causing the most harm in our communities.”

“The shipment of illegal narcotics has no place in the US Postal Service and the State of Alaska.  The conviction of Moi removes a dangerous criminal from the streets and provides closure to the family of his victim,” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti. “The US Postal Inspection Service will continue to aggressively investigate those who use the US Mail in support of their criminal activities. We thank our state, local and federal partners for their support and efforts in this investigation.”

“Unfortunately, no community is immune to the dangers of drug trafficking. This trial has shed additional light on the utter greed and brutality of those engaged in selling heroin and laundering its proceeds,” said Special Agent in Charge Bret Kressin, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Seattle Field Office. “IRS:CI will not stand idly by while drug trafficking continues to irreparably harm our communities. We continue to stand with our law enforcement partners in our efforts to eradicate and dismantle violent drug trafficking organizations by exercising our expertise in tracing the ill-gotten gains of drug traffickers like Mr. Moi.”

“Ultimately this case came to fruition with the help of our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Alaska State Troopers,” said Anchorage Police Chief Michael Kerle. “Due to the many hours of work put in by all involved, the person responsible has been brought to justice.”

Co-conspirators in the drug enterprise included:

• Jordan Jerome Shanholtzer aka “Two-3 or 23,” 34, pleaded guilty to managing a continuing criminal enterprise and is awaiting sentencing.
• Kenneth Antonio Kiare Ford, aka “Keyes,” 31, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
• Myrick Anthoni Elliott, 36, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison.
• Isaiah Michael Roderick, aka “Izzy”, 22, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.  
• Marvin Nelson, aka “Unc or Old School,” 57, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and IRS Criminal Investigation, investigated the case, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Anchorage Police Department and the Alaska Department of Public Safety.   

Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Klugman and Kelly Cavanaugh prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 

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Source: US FBI

ANCHORAGE – A Lebanese national was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason to 13 years in prison for sex trafficking minors.

According to court documents, Nicola William Mongo, 23, of Anchorage sex trafficked at least two minors ages 14 and 17 who did not have housing or support in Anchorage. 

Beginning in 2019, Mongo and several other individuals required the victims to go on “dates” where they would perform sex acts for money. They made the victims advertise on websites for online escort services and Mongo provided protection and transportation to and from the “dates” collecting some of the money they received. The 17-year-old victim, who had development disabilities, was so manipulated that she believed Mongo was her boyfriend and would do anything for him. If the victims did not want to go on “dates,” Mongo became angry and at times would hit them in the face. He was often armed with a firearm when transporting the victims and would provide them with condoms and lubricant when taking them to the “dates.”

Mongo pleaded guilty to the charge of sex trafficking minors in February 2021 after being indicted on the charge in June 2020. Tristan Grant and Davon Smith were also involved in sex trafficking these minors and were previously sentenced.

“Using minors in a sex trafficking operation requires a horrifying degree of selfishness and indifference toward vulnerable victims,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. of the District of Alaska. “It is among the most depraved crimes on the books, and we and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to bring offenders like Mr. Mongo to justice.”

“The defendant preyed upon vulnerable youth in Alaska, and cruelly trafficked them for his own profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.  “With a victim-centered approach, the FBI will continue working with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to identify and hold human traffickers accountable.”

The FBI and the Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Ebell 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

ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced to 69 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred for possession and distribution of child pornography.  

According to court documents, Shannon Robert Bell, 56, knowingly possessed, accessed and distributed child pornography involving prepubescent minors (minors who have not attained 12 years of age). In his plea agreement, Bell admitted to posting images and videos depicting child sexual exploitation involving children as young as age six approximately 100 times during the past few years as well as being a moderator of a Kik group focused on incest.

The case originated during an investigation by the Kansas City Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into a private, invitation-only, Kik chat group created by a pedophile. During the course of the investigation, Bell engaged in chats with an undercover FBI agent detailing his long-standing involvement with child pornography. The case was handed over to the FBI’s Anchorage division when the IP address confirmed that Bell lived in Anchorage. Following the execution of a search warrant of Bell’s home, Bell admitted that he had been chatting online for a number of years including using the Kik application on a cellular phone.  

Bell was involved with child pornography while working as an onsite clinical therapist treating emotionally troubled youth primarily between the ages of 13 and 17 who were struggling with pornography and sex addiction issues. As part of his sentencing Bell was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release and pay $5,000 in restitution and a $3,000 fine under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act (AVAA).

“The distribution of child pornography re-victimizes the innocent children who were initially exploited to create the images and videos,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr of the District of Alaska. “Mr. Bell’s substantial sentence reflects the serious harm of this crime. I commend the FBI, Anchorage Police Department and our federal prosecutor for their work on this case.” 

“At the same time the defendant was acting as a counselor for vulnerable youth, he was also perpetuating the online sexual abuse of children, making his conduct particularly disgraceful,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to root out predators and protect Alaska’s youth from harm.”

The FBI and Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney 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.

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today, an Illinois man pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his participation in fraudulent business email compromise and account takeover schemes that targeted victims around the United States, including businesses in the Northern District of Alabama, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

Adetona Lala, 38, of Country Club Hills, Illinois, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. As part of his plea agreement, the defendant also agreed to forfeit approximately $2,310,330.33. Lala’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants who have pleaded guilty in the case to six.

According to court documents, from December 2017 through February 2020, Lala participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy that targeted dozens of victims with business email compromise, account takeover, and other fraud schemes. During the course of the conspiracy, Lala employed “field officers” who traveled across the country opening up fraudulent bank accounts designed to receive transfers from fraud victims. Many of these accounts were opened using fake names, false identification documents, and shell companies to avoid detection and hide the true identities of the members of the conspiracy controlling the accounts. This account-opening activity was planned and organized by Lala. He identified financial institutions for his co-conspirators to target, created shell companies used in the scheme, forged tax forms and utility bills that were used to open the fraudulent bank accounts, helped procure false identification documents from co-conspirators in Illinois and Nigeria, and facilitated his co-conspirators’ travel to financial institutions across the United States. Collectively, Lala and his co-conspirators attempted to defraud victims out of more than $9.5 million.

According to the plea agreement, after receiving proceeds from these fraud schemes, Lala and his co-conspirators moved the funds between accounts to disguise their origin and conceal their fraudulent nature and then either transferred the proceeds to accounts in Nigeria or used them to purchase cryptocurrency or automobiles that were shipped overseas.

The maximum punishment for conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud is 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000.00 fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit money laundering is 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the funds involved, whichever is greater. 

The FBI investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and Catherine L. Crosby are prosecuting the case. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Indiana, the Middle District of Georgia, and the Eastern District of Wisconsin provided assistance in the investigation.

Source: US FBI

A former Alabama resident was sentenced today to 90 months, the equivalent of seven and a half years, in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for concealing the transmission of funds to be provided as material support to al-Qaida, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Alaa Mohd Abusaad, 26, pleaded guilty to concealment of terrorism financing in September 2019. According to the plea agreement, between February and April 2018, Abusaad instructed an FBI undercover employee (UCE) about how to send money to the mujahideen – fighters engaged in jihad. Abusaad told the UCE that money “…is always needed. You can’t have a war without weapons. You can’t prepare a soldier without equipment.” Abusaad also advised the UCE on how to send money in a manner that would avoid detection by law enforcement, including by using fake names and addresses when conducting electronic money transfers. Subsequently, Abusaad introduced the UCE to a financial facilitator who could route the UCE’s money to “brothers that work with aq” (meaning al-Qaida).

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama, and Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. of the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI’s Birmingham, Memphis and Cleveland Field Offices investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Cornelius and Manu Balachandran for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case. 

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An Athens-based businessman has been charged with health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and TVA-OIG Special Agent in Charge Meagan Sands.

An information filed today in U.S. District Court charges Joshua D. Creasy, 44, of Athens, Alabama, with fifteen counts of health care fraud.  Creasy operated One Love Hearing Concepts, a practice with multiple storefront locations that provided hearing aids and other hearing solutions.  According to the information, Creasy schemed to defraud insurers into paying for medically unnecessary hearing aids.  For example, Creasy provided free products to induce beneficiaries to allow One Love to bill their insurance for hearing aids.  He also billed insurance for hearing aids that beneficiaries never received.  In some cases insurance was billed for hearing aids for individuals who never visited a One Love location, or for individuals who came in but said they did not want or need the hearing aids. 

Creasy has agreed to plead guilty to the charges.  A change-of-plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.  In a plea agreement also filed today, Creasy stipulated that he will pay forfeiture of $1,000,000 and pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $1,500,000.

The maximum penalty for each count of health care fraud  is ten years in prison.

The FBI and TVA-OIG investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney J.B. Ward is prosecuting it. 

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

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM – A federal jury on Monday convicted a Bessemer man charged under the “Kingpin” statute, and three other defendants, on charges of operating a continuing criminal enterprise involved in the large-scale distribution of illegal drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey.

After a week-long trial before United States District Court Judge Annmarie C. Axon a jury convicted Rolando Antuain Williamson, also known as “Baldhead” and “Ball Head,” 37, of Bessemer, Alabama, of leading a multi-million dollar continuing criminal enterprise.  Williamson, Adrien Hiram Taylor, also known as “Slim,” 34, of Bessemer, Alabama, Ishmywel Calid Gregory, also known as “C,” 38, of Mulga, Alabama, and Hendarius Lamar Archie,  also known as “Hen,” 33, of Bessemer, Alabama, were convicted of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Williamson, Taylor, Gregory, and Archie were all convicted of distributing or possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Williamson and Archie were convicted of using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during or in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Williamson and Taylor were convicted of several counts of using a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime. 

With today’s verdict, all 18 people charged in the indictment returned on October 29, 2019, have now been convicted. The convictions were the result of  a three-year investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”)  of this West Jefferson County-based drug-trafficking enterprise. The investigation identified acts committed in furtherance of the conspiracy over a period of six years.  Prior to the trial, 14 of the charged defendants pleaded guilty. Seven members of the criminal enterprise have been sentenced and the remaining defendants await sentencing.

The OCDETF agencies involved in this investigation are the FBI, IRS, member agencies of the FBI North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force, Bessemer Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. 

The North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force arrested Williamson the morning of August 22, 2019, in the parking lot of a grocery store located in Homewood, Alabama. Williamson was driving a 2016 Dodge Hellcat worth $80,000. At the time of arrest, Williamson was found to be in possession of two loaded pistols (with additional loaded magazines) and almost $14,000 in cash.  All other members of the conspiracy were arrested on or about November 13, 2019.

At the time of Williamson’s arrest law enforcement officers also seized from Williamson and three of his stash houses, 366 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 109 grams of suspected cocaine, 573 grams of pure methamphetamine, 52 kilos of marijuana, over $97,000 in cash, multiple firearms, and over 1700 rounds of ammunition.

“This verdict should send a message to those engaged in violent crime and distribution of deadly drugs  in our communities,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said.  “The investigation and prosecution of violent crime continues to be our highest priority.  I commend our  law enforcement partners for their tireless  efforts to ensure these defendants were brought to justice.”

“Removing this “kingpin” and the dangerous drugs he and his criminal enterprise peddled will no doubt save lives and families from the pain of addiction,” SAC Sharp said. “This sentence reflects the severity of Williamsons actions, and he will have decades in prison to consider the impact of his decisions. This case highlights the joint commitment, dedication, and partnership between our law enforcement partners in combatting drug trafficking in our community.”

“Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies assigned to the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, worked in conjunction with the FBI and other participating agencies during this 3-year investigation,” Sheriff Pettway said. “The illegal drug trade ruins hundreds of lives in Jefferson County every year.  We are proud to have been a part of disrupting the trade and distribution of these illegal narcotics in western Jefferson County.  Working in unison with our fellow local and federal agencies, we are able to share and act on critical intelligence that is imperative to shutting down these type operations.  This case is an example of how these agencies working together successfully disrupted a large-scale drug operation.  We look forward to continuing these invaluable partnerships against crime.”

As, a convicted “Kingpin,” Williamson faces  a mandatory sentence of life in prison.  Taylor faces a  mandatory minimum sentence of twenty-five years to life in prison. Gregory faces a maximum of  thirty years in prison. Archie faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years to forty years in prison.

Forfeiture was obtained for two high-end vehicles of Williamson: a $46,000 Ford F-250 “King’s Ranch” and a $37,000 Cadillac Escalade; over $100,000 dollars in cash; $45, 000 in jewelry; and all firearms and ammunition used to facilitate the drug trafficking enterprise.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service,  investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Bessemer Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan S. Cross and Gregory R. Dimler are prosecuting the case. 

This  investigation is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF is an independent component of the U.S. Department of Justice.  Established in 1982, OCDETF is the centerpiece of the Attorney General’s strategy to combat transnational-organized-crime and to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to enforcement.  OCDETF leverages the resources and expertise of its partners in concentrated, coordinated, long-term enterprise investigations of transnational organized crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking networks.

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An Alabama man has been charged with devising a scheme to defraud Jefferson County’s retirement plan, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

An information filed today in United States District Court charges GARY DEAN GIBBS, JR., 52, with one count of wire fraud. According to the information, Gibbs’ father was a former employee of Jefferson County, Alabama, who was receiving benefits from The General Retirement System for Employees of Jefferson County (“GRS”). GRS is a retirement plan that provides benefits to retired and disabled employees of Jefferson County, Alabama. The information alleges that, beginning in September 2017 and continuing until February 2022, Gibbs concealed his father’s death from GRS and collected money from GRS to which he was not entitled. According to the information Gibbs used his father’s personal identifiers and forged his father’s signature on documents submitted to GRS to further his scheme. Additionally, the information alleges that Gibbs assumed his father’s identity during telephone calls with a GRS employee.

According to a plea agreement, also filed today, Gibbs agreed to plead guilty to the information. The plea agreement states that Gibbs collected approximately $132,646.12 to which he was not entitled.

The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney George Martin is prosecuting the case.

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