Category: Security

Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Steven Gonzalez a/k/a Steven Hernandez, a/k/a Steve, a/k/a Stevie, a/k/a Unc, 48, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to sex trafficking by coercion, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel L. Violanti and Caitlin M. Higgins, who are handling the case, stated that between 2012 and March 2015, Gonzalez coerced a minor, identified as A.N., to engage in commercial sex acts. Gonzalez provided A.N. with cocaine in exchange for sex knowing that A.N. was physically addicted to cocaine. Gonzalez used A.N.’s addiction to cocaine and other drugs to keep A.N. dependent on himself and to coerce A.N. to engage in commercial sex acts with him directly.

In addition, between 2012 and 2013, Gonzalez coerced another minor identified as  B.E. to engage in commercial sex acts. Gonzalez provided B.E. with heroin in exchange for sex, knowing that B.E. was physically addicted to heroin. Gonzalez used B.E.’s addiction to keep B.E. dependent on himself and to coerce B.E. to engage in commercial sex acts with him directly.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 26, 2024, before Judge Sinatra.  

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Source: US FBI

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Deadrick D. Fulwiley a/k/a Deucy, 31, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and possession of a machine gun, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The sentence will be served concurrent to a 30-year sentence Fulwiley received in New York State Court for committing two homicides in July 2022 with Kelvin Vickers and Raheem Robinson. Vickers was also convicted of murdering Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz and wounding Officer Sino Seng.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas E. Gregory, who is handling the case, stated that between April and July 21, 2022, Fulwiley conspired with others to sell marijuana, utilizing drug houses on Sixth and St. Paul Streets in Rochester. In addition, marijuana was stored at Fulwiley’s Laser Street residence. On July 16 and July 21, 2022, search warrants were executed at the Sixth Street residence, during which more than 24 pounds of marijuana, drug ledgers, approximately $13,390 in cash, and several firearms and ammunition were seized, including a machine gun.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division. 

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Source: US FBI

Director Christopher Wray has named Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler Jr. as the assistant director of the Critical Incident Response Group at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. CIRG integrates the FBI’s tactical, negotiations, behavioral analysis, and crisis management resources into one cohesive structure. Mr. Wheeler most recently served as the special agent in charge of the Chicago Field Office.

Mr. Wheeler joined the FBI as a special agent in 1999. He was first assigned to the Sherman Resident Agency in Texas, a satellite of the Dallas Field Office, and worked a wide variety of criminal matters. In 2002, he was assigned counterterrorism duties in the Plano RA of the Dallas Field Office and also served with the North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force.

In 2006, Mr. Wheeler joined the protection detail for the U.S. attorney general in Washington, D.C. In 2007, he began teaching new agents as an instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He also deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, for several months in late 2009, working kidnapping matters as a member of the Major Crimes Task Force.

Mr. Wheeler joined CIRG’s Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Section at Headquarters as a team leader in 2012. He was promoted to chief of the Counter-IED Readiness Unit in CIRG in 2015, and also served as the chief of the National Explosives Task Force.

In 2017, Mr. Wheeler was promoted to supervisory special agent over the National Capital Response Squad in the Washington Field Office. In 2018, he led a WFO international terrorism squad focused on the continental United States and Middle East-based threats. He was promoted in 2020 to assistant special agent in charge of WFO’s Mission Services Division, covering workforce development, applicants, security, and special inquiry background investigations.

In 2021, Mr. Wheeler returned to Headquarters as a section chief in the International Operations Division, focusing on global readiness and legal attaché operations in Europe, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. He became chief of staff in the Cyber, Criminal, Response, and Service Branch in 2022. Mr. Wheeler was named special agent in charge of the Chicago Field Office in 2023.

Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Wheeler was a special agent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Source: US FBI

Director Christopher Wray has named Robert R. Wells as the executive assistant director of the National Security Branch at FBI Headquarters in Washington. Mr. Wells will oversee all national security investigative and intelligence operations, including counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and weapons of mass destruction cases, as well as the Terrorist Screening Center. He most recently served as the assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division.

Mr. Wells began his career as an FBI special agent in 2003 and was first assigned to the Washington Field Office. Mr. Wells worked counterterrorism and counterintelligence matters and served as a crisis negotiator. He was promoted to supervisory special agent and was assigned to the Counterterrorism Division at Headquarters in 2010.

In 2011, Mr. Wells transferred to the Louisville Field Office in Kentucky and served as supervisory special agent of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. He was responsible for all international and domestic terrorism investigations handled by the field office, as well as the Weapons of Mass Destruction Program and special events.

Mr. Wells was promoted in 2015 to assistant section chief of the International Terrorism Operations Section of the Counterterrorism Division. In 2017, he was named assistant special agent in charge in the Washington Field Office, where he was responsible for all international terrorism investigations in Washington and Northern Virginia.

In 2018, Mr. Wells was promoted to chief of staff for the FBI deputy director. He led the deputy’s staff and helped with oversight of the criminal, national security, and intelligence programs in the FBI. In 2019, Mr. Wells was promoted to deputy assistant director over the China Branch of the Counterintelligence Division at Headquarters.

Director Wray appointed Mr. Wells as the special agent in charge of the Charlotte Field Office in North Carolina in 2020. Wray named him the assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division in 2022.

Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Wells served as a U.S. probation officer in the Western District of Kentucky. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Kentucky University.

Source: US FBI

Benjamin Carpenter, also known as Abu Hamza, 34, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in connection with providing translation services to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

“For years, this defendant led a global digital media operation to distribute pro-ISIS propaganda, promoting the group’s radical message of terror and pushing it to every corner of the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this defendant’s conduct and the Justice Department’s commitment to identifying and holding accountable those who would provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations.”

“Combating terrorism and keeping our communities safe are the highest priorities of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “This case deals a serious blow to the expansion of ISIS and its broken message of hatred and senseless violence.” 

“With today’s sentencing, Carpenter is being held accountable for betraying his country and helping ISIS terrorists,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “He led a propaganda machine which called for war against U.S. and allied forces through suicide bombings and other means. The FBI and our partners will relentlessly pursue and bring to justice terrorists who devote their lives to hurting American citizens.”

According to court documents, on Oct. 19, 2023, following an eight-day trial in U.S. District Court, a jury convicted Carpenter of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Carpenter served as the leader of Ahlut-Tawhid Publications, an international organization of pro-ISIS “munasirin” (i.e., supporters), dedicated to translating, producing and distributing ISIS propaganda throughout the world. For years, Carpenter, using his alias Abu Hamza, published a large body of ISIS media, including his weekly newsletter entitled From Dabiq to Rome, a periodical that celebrated the deaths of American soldiers, glorified suicide bombers and called for open war against the United States and its Western allies, among other pro-ISIS propaganda themes. In 2020 and 2021, Carpenter contacted an individual he believed to be affiliated with ISIS’ central media bureau and provided translation services for a project intended to relaunch Al-Hayat Media Center, ISIS’ official foreign-language media arm. Unbeknownst to him, that individual was an FBI undercover employee who had infiltrated Carpenter’s group. 

The FBI Knoxville Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from FBI Field Offices from across the country.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle J. Wilson and Casey T. Arrowood for the Eastern District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Charles J. Kovats Jr. of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.

Source: US FBI

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Lesley Lucchese, age 54, and Danielle Cappetti, age 45, both of New York City, have pled guilty in connection with their roles in a bank fraud conspiracy that targeted credit unions all over the country since at least December 2021. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

As part of their pleas, Lucchese and Cappetti each admitted that between at least December 2021 and April 2023, they fraudulently withdrew funds from credit unions while acting as runners for a nationwide bank fraud conspiracy that targeted credit unions insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund.  Many of the credit unions were members of a shared branching network, which allowed customers of member credit unions to withdraw funds from their accounts at other member credit unions by presenting an identification with their photograph, their account number, and the last four digits of their Social Security number.  The network allowed customers of localized credit unions easier access to their accounts when traveling throughout the country.  The conspirators exploited this network by creating fake identifications in the names of real credit union customers, but with photographs of other individuals, including Lucchese and Cappetti, who conducted fraudulent transactions at shared branch member credit unions all over the country in exchange for drugs or a small portion of the stolen funds.  In total, Lucchese and Cappetti fraudulently obtained nearly $500,000 from credit unions, the vast majority of which went to supervisors in the conspiracy. 

Lucchese pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and Cappetti pled guilty to the same offense on August 5, 2024.  Cappetti, who is from the Bronx, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 5, 2024. Lucchese, of Manhattan, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2024.  

Both defendants face up to 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a fine of up to $1 million.  Both defendants will be ordered to pay restitution to victims of their offenses, and Lucchese agreed to forfeit $9,512.67 in U.S. currency seized by the Escambia County and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Offices in Florida in October 2022 when Lucchese was arrested with co-defendants David Daniyan and Akeem Balogun after traveling there to conduct fraudulent withdrawals. 

The pleas of Lucchese and Cappetti resolve the charges against them in a federal indictment returned last December, allegedly involves more than $1 million in total losses. Five defendants have now pled guilty in connection with the indictment.

The following defendants are also charged in the indictment:

• Oluwaseun Adekoya, age 38, of New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;

• David Daniyan, age 59, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;

• Akeem Balogun, age 53, of Brooklyn, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud;

• Gaysha Kennedy, age 45, of Brooklyn, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud;

• Victor Barriera, age 63, of the Bronx, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud; and

• Jerjuan Joyner, age 49, of Brooklyn, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

As to the defendants who have not pled guilty, the charges in the indictment are merely accusations. These defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

FBI Albany is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in New York and Newark, and Resident Agencies in Westchester, New York; Garrett Mountain, New Jersey; and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  Additional assistance was provided by other law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement & Removal Operations (New York Field Office & Albany sub-office); U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (Buffalo Field Office & St. Albans Resident Office); U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the New York State Police; Cohoes Police Department; Colonie Police Department; Elmira Police Department; Corning Police Department; Plattsburgh Police Department; Florida law enforcement agencies including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire, including the Rochester Police Department, Manchester Police Department, Amherst Police Department; the Norwich, CT Police Department; law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts, including the Springfield, MA Police Department; the Pennsylvania State Police; the Delaware State Police; and law enforcement agencies in Maryland, including the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Baltimore County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting this case.

Source: US FBI

Defendant Participated in Overseas Illicit Procurement Network That, After Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, Illegally Procured Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) Micro-Displays for Russian End Users

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Stephen Loewe, 42, of Bellows Falls, Vermont, was charged by complaint with robbing the Claremont Savings Bank in Springfield, Vermont, on August 13, 2024. Mr. Loewe had his initial appearance in federal court yesterday afternoon and is currently detained in federal custody. A hearing will be held next Thursday to determine whether he will remain detained pending trial.

According to court records, Mr. Loewe committed a burglary of a Springfield, Vermont store in the early hours of August 13, 2024. Later that morning, he entered an M&T Bank branch in Springfield and demanded cash. Later that afternoon, he entered the Claremont Savings Bank in Springfield and demanded $500, stating in a note that it was a robbery. Mr. Loewe then stole a car from a gas station in Springfield. The next morning, on August 14, 2024, he entered an M&T Bank branch in Putney, Vermont, and again demanded cash, this time, $1500. Mr. Loewe was apprehended later that day and admitted to robbing the banks and using the money he stole to purchase cocaine base.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Mr. Loewe faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Any actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigative collaboration among the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Vermont State Police, Springfield Police Department, Brattleboro Police Department, Windham County Sheriff’s Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Assistant U.S. Attorney handling the prosecution is Corinne Smith. The Office of the Federal Public Defender has been appointed to represent Mr. Loewe.

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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.