Category: Security

Source: US FBI

            WASHINGTON – An Ohio man was sentenced to prison after he was previously found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His 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.

            William Dunfee, 59, of Frazeysburg, Ohio, was sentenced on Sept. 19, 2024, to 30 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton. Judge Walton sentenced Dunfee on one felony offense of civil disorder and a misdemeanor offense of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

            Dunfee was convicted of two felony offenses of obstruction of an official proceeding or aiding and abetting and civil disorder and the misdemeanor offense of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds following a bench trial before Judge Walton on Jan. 22, 2024.

            According to court documents, Dunfee, a pastor of the New Beginnings Ministry Warsaw, in Warsaw, Ohio, posted a video to social media on Dec. 27, 2020, via the Ministry’s Facebook page, telling his congregation that “The Government, the tyrants, the socialists, the Marxists, the progressives, the RINOs, they fear you. And they should. Our problem is we haven’t given them reason to fear us.” Later he stated, “As I said earlier in another previous sermon is this, they used to tell us, you know what, you settle your differences at the ballot. How did that work out for us? It’s not over.” He added, “January 4th through 6th … Are you ready?”

            On Jan. 6, 2021, Dunfee illegally entered the Capitol grounds and, using a bull horn, he repeatedly exhorted the crowd. In a video filmed at the Capitol, Dunfee tells the mob: “This election has been stolen right out from underneath of our noses and it is time for the American people to rise up. Rise up. Rise up. Today is the day in which it is that these elected officials realize that we are no longer playing games. That we are not sheeple that are just going to be corralled according to their whims and their wills.” Later in the video, Dunfee stated, “We will stand up for our country. We are standing up for our freedoms. We are standing up for our president. And today is the day these elected officials, these senators and these congressmen, understand that we are not going to allow this to continue any longer.”

            At 1:35 p.m., Dunfee announced: “Mister police officers, we want you to understand something. We want you to understand something. We want Donald Trump and if Donald Trump is not coming, we are taking our house. We are taking our house.”

            Minutes later, at 1:44 p.m., Dunfee pushed a metal barricade against officers with the U.S. Capitol Police, who were attempting to hold the line. He pushed against the barricade a second time at approximately 1:58 p.m. He moved to the front of a crowd of rioters at the East Front entrance to the Capitol. Dunfee walked away from the East Front doors as others moved into the building, but he remained in the area. As rioters exited the building, one stated, “We did it. We shut ‘em all down. We did our job.” Dunfee responded, “Hallelujah,” and told the crowd, “Mission accomplished.”

            Surveillance cameras captured Dunfee’s actions that day. Videos and images show Dunfee physically resisting U.S. Capitol Police by pushing against a metal barricade and subsequently entering the restricted areas of the U.S. Capitol grounds. This case was 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 Southern District of Ohio.

            This case was investigated by the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 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.

Source: US FBI

DAYTON, Ohio – Two Dayton men were sentenced in federal court here today to life in prison for their roles in the narcotics case that caused the 2019 death of Dayton Police Detective and DEA Task Force Officer Jorge DelRio.

While attempting to prevent federal agents from seizing approximately half-a-million dollars in fentanyl and other drugs, Nathan Goddard, 44, murdered Det. DelRio. Goddard was sentenced today to life plus 10 years in prison.

Goddard was convicted of murder following a jury trial in March 2024. He and Cahke Cortner, 44, were also convicted of multiple narcotics and firearms charges. Cortner was sentenced today to life plus five years in prison.

“Every day DEA Special Agents and Task Force Officers put their lives on the line to protect their communities against dangerous and violent drug traffickers who threaten the safety of the American people. On November 7, 2019, DEA Task Force Officer Jorge DelRio made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the city of Dayton,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.  “Today’s sentences mean these two defendants will never walk free or hurt an innocent person again. DEA is as committed as ever to continuing this fight against violent drug traffickers.  We do it in honor of TFO DelRio and all the other narcotics officers who have given their lives for the pursuit of justice.” 

“We stand with the DelRio family and our law enforcement partners, and we recognize that DEA Task Force Officer Jorge DelRio sacrificed his life to protect this community. As was stated by Deputy Criminal Chief Tabacchi at today’s sentencing, Task Force Officer DelRio ‘was a son of the Dayton community – serving with dignity and selflessness.’ We will never forget his ultimate sacrifice,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “This case is a reminder that, as public servants, law enforcement officers do a dangerous job every day. Today’s sentences should also serve as a reminder to perpetrators of violent crime that we see these matters through to the end and we will hold you accountable.”

“The Dayton Police Department is pleased to see the sentences imposed against Nathan Goddard and Cahke Cortner in the tragic shooting of Detective Jorge DelRio,” said Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal. “They mark a significant step of closure for Detective DelRio’s loved ones, our department, and our community. We extend our gratitude to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligent efforts throughout this case. It is imperative that those who inflict harm in our community are held accountable.”

“Every day, members of law enforcement put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public. Mr. Goddard’s actions resulted in the tragic loss of Task Force Officer Jorge DelRio. While this verdict does not bring him back, we hope his family and our community as a whole can find comfort in knowing that Mr. Goddard will spend the rest of his life in a federal prison,” said DEA Detroit Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene.

“While the FBI is pleased that Goddard and his accomplice will be held accountable for this murder, nothing can make up for the loss of Detective DelRio,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners continue to mourn his death and honor his legacy of service and sacrifice.”

“These individuals are responsible for the death of Detective Jorge DelRio, who was working to keep our community safe from dangerous drug traffickers,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “As a Dayton Police Detective and DEA Task Force Officer, Det. DelRio was a selfless hero who gave his all, and ultimately his life, to protect the citizens of this nation. ATF is honored to have played a role in holding to account those responsible for Det. DelRio’s sacrifice. I hope these sentences bring some measure of closure to the family of Det. DelRio and send a message to criminals that law enforcement will be relentless in our pursuit of justice.”

According to court documents and trial testimony, on Nov. 4, 2019, Goddard murdered Det. DelRio while Det. DelRio and others were executing a federal search warrant at 1454 Ruskin Road in Dayton.

During the execution of the search warrant, Det. DelRio and other officials announced themselves and entered the home at approximately 6:50pm. Det. DelRio descended the stairway to the basement of the residence, immediately came under gunfire from the basement, and was struck and killed.

As the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial, from 2018 until November 2019, Goddard and Cortner participated in a narcotics conspiracy involving kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana.

The defendants kept firearms – including handguns fitted with laser sights – to protect the illegal drugs and their illicit proceeds. Goddard and Cortner acquired handguns on the black market referred to as “cop killers” because the firearms discharge bullets that can penetrate body armor. The defendants fitted these guns with high-capacity magazines.

In the residence they used, officials discovered 10 kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine, 50 to 60 pounds of marijuana, and more than $55,000 in cash. As the government’s sentencing memorandum notes, the amount of fentanyl recovered from the basement represented millions of potential street sales of fentanyl – enough poison to cause the overdose of almost every person in the Miami Valley.

Goddard and Cortner were originally charged in this case on Nov. 6, 2019, and were charged by superseding indictment in July 2022.

Their co-defendant Lionel Combs III, 45, pleaded guilty just before the start of trial to maintaining a drug premises, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck, Jr. announced the sentences imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman. U.S. Attorney Parker recognized the critical assistance of the Criminal Interdiction Team of Central Oklahoma (CITCO).

Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith and Christina E. Mahy, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claypoole from the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office are representing the United States in this case.

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Source: US FBI

          WASHINGTON – An Ohio woman was sentenced to prison on Sept. 4, 2024, on felony and misdemeanor charges related to her conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. 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 2020 presidential election.

          Therese Borgerding, 61, of Piqua, Ohio, was sentenced to 50 days in prison, 130 days of home confinement, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly.

          A federal jury previously convicted Borgerding of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, a felony, and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

          According to court documents, Borgerding and her codefendant and husband, Walter Messer, traveled from their home in Ohio to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, and arrived on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol building by approximately 7:00 a.m. while the crowd was sparse. Borgerding carried with her a large homemade ‘Q” sign.

          After reaching the barricades, Borgerding and her husband remained immediately outside the restricted perimeter for several hours. At about 1:59 p.m., a large crowd had gathered and overrun the barricades at the East Front. Borgerding then approached the nearest barricades, unhooking, and pushing them apart, parting the way for herself and other rioters to run towards the Capitol. Borgerding then stood on the east steps near the Rotunda Doors for several minutes, joining chants and waving her sign.

          At approximately 2:41 p.m., police officers inside the Rotunda Doors attempted to shut the doors to the Capitol building, which rioters inside and outside had previously opened; however, the officers were confronted by rioters outside who forced the doors back open and pushed their way into the building. Court documents say that Borgerding was near this confrontation.

          Still holding her “Q” sign, Borgerding pushed her way through the Rotunda Doors and walked straight into the Rotunda, where she remained for approximately two minutes. She then joined the large crowd near the Senate Wing Doors and later exited through one of the smashed windows onto the Northwest Courtyard around 2:49 p.m. Borgerding remained in the Northwest Courtyard at length, chanting and waving her large sign.

          The FBI arrested Borgerding on Aug. 6, 2021, in Dayton, Ohio.

          Walter Messer was previously sentenced on Sept. 11, 2023, to 24 months of probation for his role in the events of January 6th.

          The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio provided valuable assistance.

          The FBI’s Cincinnati and Washington Field Office investigated this case. The United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.

          In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 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.

Source: US FBI

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Terrael A. Alls, 29, of Columbus, was sentenced in federal court here today to 300 months in prison for sex trafficking and use of a facility of interstate commerce in aid of racketeering.

According to court documents, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force first received a tip about Alls in February of 2022. Alls provided a business card advertising a modeling agency to a woman when she was staying at the Red Roof Inn on Renner Road in Columbus. The woman found the interaction suspicious and called law enforcement. The business card was for a company called Elite Diamond Studios and the advertised phone numbers were ultimately linked to Alls and various online sex escort advertisements.

Alls, who is also known as “Rell” and “Ace,” recruited women under the guise of modeling for him as a photographer. He lured them in with promises of being “star players” who, as part of his team, would work with his marketing and advertising agency. In reality, Alls served as a manager for his victims, advertising them for sexual escort services on various websites and often filming their sexual exploitation.

Alls controlled some of his victims with drugs, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, then later used their drug dependency against them to continue profiting from their sexual exploitation. For other victims, Alls controlled them with physical violence and threats. He fired a gun near one victim’s head and threatened to pistol-whip her, punched the victims and slammed them onto tables.

The defendant’s laptop had more than 42,000 sexually explicit images, videos and advertisements, including images and videos of the victims identified in this case. Alls used many of those videos to continue to earn money from the exploitation of his victims and revictimize them in the process.

Alls was arrested in March 2023 and pleaded guilty in February 2024.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.

The case was investigated by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which was formed under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and includes resources from the Columbus Division of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Powell Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, The Ohio State University Police Department, Marysville Division of Police, Salvation Army, Southeast Healthcare, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office.

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Source: US FBI

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus woman was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 280 months in prison for two counts of kidnapping a minor.

Nalah T. Jackson, 26, kidnapped two infants in December 2022 and traveled interstate with one of them.

“Jackson left one five-month-old twin baby alone and strapped in a car seat in an airport parking lot in subzero temperatures. Then, she left the other twin baby strapped in his car seat in an abandoned vehicle in another state. Even if her crime had started as a crime of opportunity to steal a running vehicle, Jackson’s blatant disregard for the lives of two helpless infants is heinous,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Today’s sentence represents the serious and significant nature of harm Jackson caused to these children and our community.”

According to court documents, close to 10pm on the night of Dec. 19, Jackson walked out of Donatos Pizza on North High Street in Columbus and drove away in a black Honda Accord that had been left running in the parking lot. Two twin five-month-old infants were buckled in the back seat. The infants’ mother was inside Donatos to pick up a delivery order at the time.

Over the next several hours, Jackson drove from Columbus to Dayton and to various other locations in central and western Ohio.

Jackson arrived at the Dayton International Airport close to 3am. She parked in an economy lot and left the infants in the car while she entered the airport. Jackson attempted to hire an Uber to find the stolen car in the economy lot, but could not pay, and ultimately found the stolen car on foot. After finding the vehicle, Jackson left one of the infants in the parking lot at approximately 4am. A passerby parking their vehicle saw the baby in his car seat wrapped in a quilt between two vehicles and alerted security.

After Jackson left the Dayton International Airport parking lot at high speeds, she traveled to Indianapolis with the second baby still in the vehicle.

She arrived at a Papa Johns Pizza on Indiana Avenue near the university district at approximately 8am on Dec. 20, and exited the stolen car on foot. She never returned to the vehicle, leaving the second baby strapped in his car seat in the back seat of the car.

The baby remained strapped in the car seat for the next two-and-a-half-days while family members, concerned citizens and law enforcement officers continued to search for him.

By happenstance, an Indianapolis woman encountered Jackson after she abandoned the stolen vehicle on Dec. 20. Jackson was selling stolen merchandise outside of a local gas station. The woman gave Jackson a ride to a nearby shopping plaza and gave Jackson her cell phone number in case Jackson came across any more holiday gifts for resale.

That night, the woman noticed several social media posts regarding the kidnapping and recognized Jackson as the alleged kidnapper. The woman called her cousin, and together they formulated a plan to meet up with Jackson to confirm her identity, recover the infant if possible and lead Jackson to law enforcement.

On Dec. 22, the women met up with Jackson, whom they traced to a local residence through a phone number Jackson had previously used to call one of them. The women confirmed that Jackson was the same person identified as the kidnapping suspect and drove her to several shopping centers in Indianapolis, all-the-while surreptitiously attempting to contact law enforcement in Columbus and Indianapolis.

Eventually, one of the women was able to route local law enforcement to their vehicle over the phone by pretending that she was speaking with her boyfriend and providing updates on her location. The women tried to signal to Indianapolis police that Jackson was the kidnapping suspect, and eventually told officers when they were removed from Jackson’s immediate presence.  Jackson provided a false name and another individual’s identification card to the officers. After some time, the officers confirmed Jackson’s identity and arrested her for kidnapping. After the arrest, they let the two women go without interviewing them about their time spent with Jackson.

The two women decided to continue searching for the missing infant. They discovered a bus schedule that Jackson left behind in the backseat of their vehicle and decided to focus their search on a bus route near the university district.

While driving around searching that area to no avail, and with driving conditions worsening quickly due to an impending snowstorm, the women decided to get something to eat before heading home. As they were pulling into a Blaze Pizza, they noticed a black Honda Accord at the nearby Papa Johns and noticed snow had already accumulated on the car.

They drove up to the stolen car and attempted to open the back door, which was locked. The driver’s door did open. Due to an overwhelming foul smell coming from the car, and the silence of the baby, one of the women screamed, assuming the baby was deceased. Upon hearing the scream, the baby alerted and began crying. One of the women removed the baby from his car seat and began comforting him.

The women then noticed an empty Indianapolis police cruiser parked nearby and began looking for officers, who they found on their lunch break inside the Blaze Pizza. Indianapolis police then relocated to Papa Johns Pizza and took custody of the baby, taking him to a local hospital. The infant was treated for dehydration, heart abnormalities due to the dehydration, extreme diaper rash and skin deterioration due to him being buckled in a car seat for three days while sitting in his own excrement.

Jackson was charged federally in January 2023.

U.S. Attorney Parker acknowledged the numerous law enforcement agencies who have assisted in this case, including FBI offices in Columbus, Dayton and Indianapolis; the Columbus, Dayton, Huber Heights, Riverside, Vandalia, Dayton International Airport and Indianapolis police departments; the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office; Ohio State Highway Patrol and U.S. Marshals Service’s Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST).

Assistant United States Attorneys Emily K. Czerniejewski and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.

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Source: US FBI

RALEIGH, N.C. – Charles Page, age 52, and his son Treyvon Ladonte Page, age 29, were sentenced to 48 months and 120 months in prison, respectively, for their drug trafficking crimes in 2021 and 2022. At the time of Charles Page’s crimes, he was a law enforcement officer with the Ayden Police Department.

“This police lieutenant, a 13-year veteran of the force, used his official position to access confidential databases and share intelligence to advance his son’s drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr.  “We won’t tolerate public officials breaching the public’s trust to help criminals, whether they are family or not.  When law enforcement officers breach the public’s trust it undermines the rule of law and puts the entire community at risk.  Many thanks to the FBI and the countless other honest officers who worked tirelessly to bring this scheme to light.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, in July of 2021, law enforcement received information that Treyvon Page was distributing cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana in Pitt County. Law enforcement launched an investigation that included conducting 15 controlled purchases from Treyvon Page between November 2021 and August of 2022. The purchases consisted of varying amounts of heroin and fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

In 2022, surveillance showed that Treyvon Page was visiting a residence in Grifton, close in time to the controlled purchases occurring. The residence belonged to his father, Charles Page, who was serving as a lieutenant with the Ayden Police Department at the time.

On September 20, 2022, law enforcement executed several search warrants across Pitt County in conjunction with the ongoing investigation. A search warrant was executed at Charles Page’s house and the following items were seized: 167 grams of pure methamphetamine; 72 grams of cocaine; 15 grams of cocaine base (crack); and three shotguns.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement conducted interviews with several cooperating sources and defendants. These interviews revealed that Charles Page was aware of Treyvon’s drug trafficking and that Treyvon would often contact his dad for confidential law enforcement information related to drug trafficking investigations.  A search of Charles Page’s phone corroborated this information. In several instances, Charles Page advised Treyvon Page whether Treyvon had active warrants and told Treyvon confidential information from investigations, such as the identity of victims.

Charles Page resigned from his law enforcement position shortly after the search warrant was executed. Additionally, continued investigation revealed that Charles Page repeatedly queried Treyvon’s name and Treyvon’s drug dealing associates across confidential law enforcement databases in violation of North Carolina law.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the N.C. State Highway Patrol, the Pitt, Jones and Onslow County Sheriff’s Offices, the Jacksonville and Greenville Police Departments, and the Greenville Regional Drug Taskforce.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number: 4:22-CR-00050-FL.

Source: US FBI

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte jury returned a guilty verdict today against Kendall Charles Alexander, Sr., 60, of Baltimore, Maryland, for the armed robbery of a Bank of America branch, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

According to filed court documents and evidence presented at trial, on October 15, 2021, at approximately 10 a.m., Alexander and his co-defendant, Derrius Fleming, robbed at gunpoint the Bank of America branch located at 212 Iverson Way in the Southend area of Charlotte. Trial evidence established that Alexander entered the bank holding a loaded semi-automatic rifle.  Fleming went directly to an unarmed security guard at the corner of the building and forced her inside at gunpoint with his loaded semi-automatic rifle. Once inside, Alexander and Fleming threatened to kill the employees and customers if they did not comply with their demands. The victims were ordered to the ground and Alexander ordered the manager to open the vault room and the vault. Alexander loaded a bag with the money from the vault while Fleming kept watch over the victims.

According to trial evidence, using GPS tracking, law enforcement tracked Alexander and Fleming who had met up with a third individual. Alexander and Fleming attempted to burn their getaway car and got into the car with the third man. Ultimately, the robbers crashed that vehicle, at which point Alexander and Fleming fled on foot across I-77. All of the stolen money was recovered from a bag dropped by Alexander.

The jury convicted Alexander of armed bank robbery with forced accompaniment, brandishing a rifle, including a short-barreled rifle, in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Alexander has prior convictions for attempted murder of a federal officer, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, possession and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and armed bank robbery. He was also on federal supervised release for committing a bank robbery in Maryland. Because of his violent criminal history, Alexander faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Alexander will remain in federal custody pending sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

Fleming has pleaded guilty to brandishing a short-barreled rifle in furtherance of a crime of violence and been sentenced to ten years in prison.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik Lindahl and David Kelly are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Source: US FBI

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Whiteville man was sentenced to 71 months in prison for possessing a firearm by a felon.  On October 17, 2024, Robert Jamar Avant pled guilty to the charges.

“This reckless shootout, adjacent to t-ball fields where hundreds of kids and parents were playing, left a pregnant woman shot and enduring an emergency c-section to save her baby.  It is a miracle the baby survived, and the Whiteville Police Department deserves credit for their swift action on this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr.  “We’ve cemented firm partnerships with local law enforcement throughout Eastern North Carolina to shut down senseless violence that degrades communities and puts innocent lives at risk.  Those partnerships led to a statutory maximum sentence against one of the shooters.  We won’t stop fighting for our communities until every kid lives free from gun violence.”

According to court records and evidence presented to the court, Robert Avant, 33, and his co-defendant, Dashaud Maultsby, opened fire on a group of men at the Sandy Ridge Apartment Complex in Whiteville on May 13, 2021. The incident began when Maultsby got into an argument with his girlfriend while at the apartment complex. After leaving the area, he returned with Avant and they began firing AR-15 rifles at an unidentified group of men, who then returned fire. Avant retreated to his vehicle while Maultsby continued shooting as he also moved towards the vehicle. In the process, Maultsby attempted to shoot with one hand as he got into the vehicle, but his rifle fell and discharged accidentally, hitting Avant in the head.

The Whiteville Police Department (WPD) responded swiftly to the scene and found Avant injured from the gunshot wound while sitting in his vehicle. As officers tended to Avant, they noticed and secured his AR-15 rifle and a pistol that were located near his leg. Avant was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.  Avant was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Additionally, a pregnant woman was shot in the torso during the incident, which necessitated an emergency cesarean section to save her child’s life. Following the events, WPD officers apprehended Maultsby and Avant.

On June 6, 2024, Maultsby was sentenced to 10 years, the maximum sentence allowed by statute. His criminal history includes a prior conviction for attempted trafficking of opium.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Whiteville Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaren E. Kelly is prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for the case number 7:23-cr-00087.

Source: US FBI

RALEIGH, N.C. – A New York man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for robbing Lowest Price Tobacco and Vape in Knightdale.  On September 19, 2024, Mekhi Marquise Hooi pled guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Mekhi Hooi, 20, entered the Lowest Price Tobacco and Vape in Knightdale. Hooi then charged the clerk while brandishing a 9mm firearm, and demanding the clerk put money and tobacco products in a bag.  During the robbery, Hooi threatened to shoot the clerk if he did not move faster. Hooi fled the scene and was ultimately apprehended in New York City and extradited to North Carolina to face his charges here.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Knightdale Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Loeser prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-62-D-RN.

Source: US FBI

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wendell man was arrested on a criminal complaint for the interstate communication of threats toward executives at Advanced Auto Parts.

“Whether targeting a kid in a classroom or a boss in a boardroom, we won’t normalize violent threats meant to intimidate workers or strike fear in families.  Threats to kill are not how we resolve differences in America, and it’s a federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr.  “We’ll take swift action against anyone threatening an American anywhere in the world for what they believe, how they pray, or where they work.  Period.”  

According to court documents, on December 6, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was contacted by Advance Auto Parts about threatening messages sent through the company’s website demanding the company change the “moron who administrates your app and webpage” and provided a deadline of December 25. If the company did not comply, the customer stated threats such as: 

“I live in Raleigh and am an expert sniper…I vow that I will hunt down your entire executive board and put bullets in their FAMILIES…there will be no stopping me from punishing your executives by murdering their families for refusing to improve the accuracy of your website search function.”

The complaint alleges that, through investigative means, law enforcement determined that Edward Scott Huffman, 46 of Wendell, sent the messages.  The complaint alleges that Huffman was interviewed and admitted to sending the messages. The complaint further alleges that, during a search of Huffman’s cellphone, law enforcement found a picture of a rifle mounted with a scope and a text message conversation in which Huffman stated he would have murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, if he was given $50,000 and a rifle that couldn’t be traced back to him.

Huffman is charged with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The FBI and Wendell Police Department are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.