Category: MIL-OSI

Source: US FBI

        WASHINGTON — Two men from New Jersey have been arrested on various felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from their alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their alleged 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.

        Richard Andrews, 72, of Brick, New Jersey, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Richard Andrews is charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly conduct in a capitol building.

        Also charged is Keith Andrews, 49, of Howell, New Jersey. Keith Andrews is charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in any of the Capitol buildings.

        The FBI arrested the two men on Oct. 29, 2024, in New Jersey, and they will make their initial appearance in the District of New Jersey.

        According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Richard and Keith Andrews attended the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., before proceeding to the restricted Capitol grounds. Richard Andrews wore a black zip-up jacket, blue tee, and gray knit skull cap, while Keith Andrews was dressed in a dark gray hoodie, black tee with white lettering, jeans, dark sneakers, and a camouflage “Trump 2020” hat. Keith also carried a camouflage backpack.

        Upon arriving at the Capitol, the two men ascended the north scaffolding to reach the Upper West Terrace. At approximately 2:49 p.m., it is alleged that Keith Andrews entered the Capitol through a window near the Senate Wing Door as Capitol Police struggled to hold back the crowd. Keith then momentarily exited, encouraging others to enter, and reentered minutes later. While inside, Keith stayed in the Senate Wing hallway for ten minutes, encouraging additional rioters to come in before leaving the building himself temporarily.

        Keith Andrews then reentered the Capitol at about 3:01 p.m., making his way to the Crypt while using his phone. He allegedly remained inside for approximately twelve minutes before exiting at 3:13 p.m. Shortly after, police efforts to secure the Senate Wing intensified, including by closing the shutters on the window Keith had used to enter the building.

        Later, at about 3:16 p.m., it is alleged that Richard Andrews threw a chair through the closed shutters, reopening them and striking an officer in the process.

        Minutes later, Keith allegedly reentered the Capitol a third time, engaging in a brief dispute with officers trying to clear the building before exiting by 3:20 p.m. Later that afternoon, as officers tried to remove rioters from the Upper West Terrace, Richard Andrews shoved a police officer on the head. In response, officers deployed a chemical agent, causing Richard to retreat into the crowd.

        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 District of New Jersey.

        This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Newark and Washington Field Offices. Richard Andrews was identified as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) # 446 on the FBI’s seeking information images. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

        In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

        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.

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was arraigned today on charges related to his role in a December 2023 gunpoint robbery of a pharmacy in Livingston, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Nariq Petes, 26, of Newark, was charged on Oct. 11, 2024, in a three-count indictment with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He was arraigned today before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court, entered a plea of not guilty and was detained,

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Dec. 30, 2023, Petes and a conspirator drove together to a pharmacy and entered the pharmacy wearing black masks. Once inside the pharmacy, Petes brandished a handgun and demanded prescription drugs. Petes and his conspirator took at least six bottles of prescription medication.

The conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery counts each carry a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. The count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison. The sentence on this charge must be consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado, and members of the Livingston Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Gary Marshuetz, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Thypin-Bermeo of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for illegally laundering the proceeds of a wire fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. 

Eli Schamovic, 43, of Lakewood, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging him with money laundering. U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:

Schamovic made or caused others to make numerous fraudulent financial transactions through at least two entities that Schamovic formed and established as merchants that used multiple credit card processing companies. These transactions resulted in more than $1 million in losses to a multinational financial services corporation that specialized in payment cards. Schamovic laundered portions of the proceeds of this scheme, including through an approximately $500,000 wire transfer from a bank account under his control.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Schamovic to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $1.68 million.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark. 

Source: US FBI

RENO, Nev. – A Reno man was sentenced yesterday by United States District Chief Judge Miranda M. Du to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for distributing a large amount of methamphetamine.

James Raymond Ellis, 53, also known as “Jimbo,” pleaded guilty in December 2022 to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and June 2021, Ellis sold over 4 pounds of methamphetamine and 5 firearms, including an AR-15, to confidential informants. On August 20, 2021, law enforcement seized approximately 12 pounds of methamphetamine from Ellis’ residence. The Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force arrested him that day in Reno. When Ellis was taken into custody, he had a 9mm pistol in his vehicle. Ellis has a prior felony conviction in Nevada for possession of a chemical with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, and he is prohibited by law from possessing firearms.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of members from the FBI, Reno Police Department, Nevada State Police, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.

This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 135 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for committing a spree of bank robberies on the same day.

Jasmine Bernard Austion (35) pleaded guilty in January 2023 to three counts of bank robbery.

According to court documents, on October 26, 2021, Austion entered a bank in North Las Vegas and passed a note to the teller. The note read “$20,000 all money robbery got gun now.” Bank employees told Austion they were calling 911 and he fled the bank. He then ran across the street and entered a second bank. He pushed an elderly customer away from a teller window and demanded money from the teller. The teller refused and Austion fled from the bank. A short time later, Austion entered a third bank and passed a note to a teller. The note read “I will harm people all money all drawers.” After the teller refused to give Austion money, he banged a fire extinguisher against the barrier in an attempt to break into the teller area. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SWAT responded and arrested Austion.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

The FBI, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Bianca Pucci prosecuted the case.

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