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Source: US FBI

      LITTLE ROCK— A teacher’s assistant has been arrested and charged with production of child pornography. Augustus “Gus” Shenker, 21, was charged in a criminal complaint on May 19, 2021. He was arrested today and will be arraigned this week before United States Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray.

      On May 18, 2021, FBI agents arrested Shenker on a criminal complaint alleging transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Through the course of the investigation, law enforcement learned that Shenker has been employed as a teacher’s assistant at Miss Selma’s School in Little Rock since 2017. On May 18, 2021, Shenker was released on conditions of bond, but the investigation continued, and based on new information, federal prosecutors filed a second criminal complaint charging him with production of child pornography.

      The FBI is seeking to identify potential victims in this case. Anyone with additional information to report about Augustus Shenker can call the FBI at 501-221-9100.

      The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joan Shipley and Kristin Bryant.

      A criminal complaint only contains allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

Twitter:

@EDARNEWS

Source: US FBI

      LITTLE ROCK—Wesley Gullett, the president of a white supremacist organization which sold multiple kilograms of methamphetamine and committed numerous violent acts—including attempted murder—will spend the more than three decades in federal prison.

      On Wednesday, United States District Court Judge Brian S. Miller sentenced Gullett, 31, of Russellville, to 35 years imprisonment, with five years of supervised release to follow, for Gullett’s leadership role in a violent drug conspiracy. There is no parole in the federal system. Gullett was president of New Aryan Empire (NAE), a white supremacist group founded by inmates in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

      Gullett was originally charged in October 2017, and a federal grand jury charged him along with 51 other defendants in a Second Superseding Indictment in September 2019. On February 3, 2021, Gullett pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In his plea agreement, Gullett admitted to solicitation to commit murder and attempted murder, among other violent acts.

      At Wednesday’s hearing, before imposing the sentence, Judge Miller heard details of how Gullett attempted to murder Bruce Wayne Hurley, an individual who had purchased methamphetamine from NAE associates. Gullett attempted to murder Hurley because he believed Hurley was acting as an informant for law enforcement. Gullett also solicited other NAE members to murder Hurley.

      In addition, the NAE, under the direction of Gullett, carried out other retaliatory acts against those who they believed had provided information to law enforcement. Members of NAE retaliated against one alleged witness by kidnapping him, having people take turns beating him, branding his face with a hot knife, and having a dog bite him. Another alleged witness was kidnapped twice, beaten, and stabbed. For violating NAE’s code, the organization physically assaulted and battered, “X’ed” them out (also referred to as taking their patch), or killed violating members. 

      “This defendant used his corrupt white supremacist organization to commit heinous crimes of violence,” said Jonathan D. Ross, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “These despicable acts, which included trying to murder a witness, will now appropriately be punished with 35 years in prison, where this defendant can no longer wreak havoc and poison our community.”

      In addition to the violent acts, law enforcement officials investigated the NAE’s methamphetamine trafficking organization. During the coordinated federal and state investigation, law enforcement agents made 59 controlled purchases of methamphetamine, seizing more than 25 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as 69 firearms and more than $70,000 in drug proceeds.

      Three remaining defendants of the original 51 charged are awaiting trial, which is currently set for September 7, 2021. One defendant is still a fugitive, and all other defendants have pleaded guilty.

      Acting U.S. Attorney Ross, together with Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jarad O. Harper, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Acting Resident Agent in Charge Clayton Merrell, announced today’s sentence.

      The investigation was conducted by FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, in partnership with the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, Fifth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Russellville Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Conway Police Department, and United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in the Eastern District of Arkansas with assistance from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

Twitter:

@EDARNEWS

Source: US FBI

      LITTLE ROCK-Two Malvern residents have been charged with fraudulently selling purebred, registered puppies that did not actually exist. Helda Verla Berinyuy and Thierry Assoueesoh Ekwelle, both 31, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 22 counts of wire fraud in an indictment handed down by a federal grand jury on May 4, 2021, that became public today.

      The indictment alleges that Berinyuy and Ekwelle were Cameroon citizens who came to the United States and attended college in Arkansas, with Ekwelle eventually becoming a naturalized American citizen. According to the indictment, Berinyuy and Ekwelle were neighbors and students at Arkansas State University Three Rivers in Malvern.

      Allegedly, from August 2018 through November 2020, Berinyuy and Ekwelle used websites to advertise the sale of purebred, AKC registered puppies such as French Bulldogs, Boxers, Toy Poodles, English Bulldogs, and others, when in fact, they did not have any puppies for sale.

      In order to collect money from purchasers, the indictment claims, the defendants promised to deliver the puppies via airplanes. After receiving the initial purchase money, the defendants would request added fees to cover costs such as puppy crates, extra handling fees due to COVID-19, and pet insurance, among other things.

      The indictment alleges that each purchaser sent the defendants an amount of money ranging from $500 to $5,000. The defendants would use various aliases to pick up the money, which was sent via Western Union and Walmart transfers at various locations throughout Arkansas. As a result of the scheme, according to the indictment, Berinyuy and Ekwelle “sold” puppies to approximately 153 victims from multiple states and received approximately $110,691.50.

      Berinyuy and Ekwelle will appear for arraignment later this month before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas Ray. The FBI is conducting the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Pat Harris is prosecuting the case.

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

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

Twitter:

@EDARNEWS

Source: US FBI

      LITTLE ROCK—A former Greene County Sheriff’s Lieutenant has been sentenced to two years in prison after stealing over $30,000 used in a ruse undercover drug operation. Allen Scott Pillow, 56, of Paragould, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.

      Pillow pleaded guilty on December 21, 2020, to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of 24 months’ imprisonment, Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Pillow to two years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment as well as a $15,200 fine.

      After receiving information that former Lieutenant Pillow might be abusing his role with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers conducted a ruse narcotics investigation and sought Pillow’s help with the investigation. Pillow had previously retired from Arkansas State Police, where he was suspected to be involved with multiple instances of theft. On November 4, 2019, FBI task force officers parked a rental vehicle in a commercial parking lot in Paragould and staged a glass drug pipe in the vehicle along with a red backpack containing $76,000. The cash was divided into ten bundles of $7,600 each, and investigators recorded the serial numbers.

      After staging the vehicle, two FBI Task Force Officers contacted Pillow on his cell phone and asked him to respond to the scene. The officers relayed to Pillow that they began a narcotics investigation in Tennessee and now needed Pillow’s help as the target had traveled into Arkansas. Pillow traveled to the scene in his Sheriff’s Department vehicle, searched the staged rental vehicle, and recovered the glass pipe, backpack, and currency.

      Later that day, Pillow called the officers and informed them that the backpack had contained $45,600, leading agents to believe Pillow had taken four bundles of $7,600 each, totaling $30,400 of stolen FBI funds. Agents obtained a search warrant for Pillow’s residence and found $2,300 in his possession and $27,820 in a safe in his attic. The serial numbers on the discovered currency matched the original FBI serial numbers. The remaining $280 in stolen funds was not located.

      Pillow was indicted in November 2019, and the case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

Twitter:

@EDARNEWS

Source: US FBI

     LITTLE ROCK—After a three-day trial, a federal jury has found two Pulaski County men guilty of their involvement in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. James “Richie Rich” Richards, 52, of Wrightsville, and Isaac May, 42, of Sweet Home, were found guilty on all counts when the jury returned their verdict late Wednesday evening. United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr., presided over the trial, and Judge Moody will sentence Richards and May at a later date. 

      Both Richards and May were charged with and convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and several counts of using a phone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime. Richards was also convicted of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and one count of distribution of cocaine.

      Richards and May were originally charged in August 2018 with nine other defendants, all of whom have already pleaded guilty. The investigation revealed that in December 2017, Richards began supplying May with cocaine that Richards obtained from supplier and codefendant John Garner. In January 2018, Garner began dealing with May directly. Garner supplied May with cocaine two to three times per week until April of 2018.

      Garner had a longer relationship with Richards and began using Richards’ home in Little Rock as a base of distribution in 2010. Garner supplied Richards with cocaine on a daily basis, in significant amounts large enough for Richards to distribute to other sellers, including kilogram and ounce quantities. A confidential informant recorded transactions in which he bought cocaine from Richards, and Richards discussing his cocaine distribution activities, and those recordings were played at trial.

      At trial, Garner testified against his former customers. He stated that the approximately seven kilograms of cocaine found in his home and at his storage unit during the execution of a search warrants in June 2018 was part of the supply he was using to distribute to Richards and May, among other customers. Had Garner not been arrested, he would have continued distributing to Richards and May from this supply.

      In July 2020, Garner was sentenced to 180 months in prison. Other codefendants who have been sentenced in the case include Larry Clark, Jr. – 262 months, Antwan Hardaway – 12 months and 1 day, and Bridgette Williams – 36 months. All remaining defendants, including Richards and May, are awaiting sentencing.

      The statutory penalty for conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine is not less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $10 million, and not less than five years of supervised release. The statutory penalty for distribution of less than 500 grams of cocaine is not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $1 million, and not less than three years of supervised release. The statutory penalty for using a phone in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is not more than four years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000, and not more than one year of supervised release. The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Arkansas State Police and Arkansas National Guard Counter Drug. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie Peters and Chris Givens.

     This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar
 

Twitter:

@EDARNEWS

Source: US FBI

On Saturday, March 27, 2021, Paige Autumn White’s body was found in the Hot Springs National Park near Whittington/Blacksnake Road. The National Park Service is leading the investigation, with assistance from the FBI, the Garland County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, and the Hot Springs Police Department.

We are looking for the community’s help to find out what happened to her. While we cannot share everything we know at this time, we do know that Paige is the victim of a homicide. We are hoping to learn about the days leading up to Paige’s death and are eager to hear from family, friends, acquaintances, and anyone else who may have seen her recently.

There is a strong possibility the person who did this continues to work and/or live in our community. This individual likely has familiarity with the areas in which Paige was last seen and recovered. Individual(s) responsible for, or who have knowledge of, the death of Paige may have exhibited changes of behavior to include:

• Altering of physical appearance (growth or removal of facial hair, change in hair color or cut, etc.)
• Cleaning of vehicles
• Change in normal routine, which might include missing work, classes, or previously scheduled appointments
• Displays of anxiety, nervousness, or irritability
• Intense interest in the investigation, a noticeable disinterest, or an unexplained knowledge of the situation
• Unexplained injuries (cuts on hands, bruises, etc.) during the period Paige was last seen alive and then recovered

Every day we are gathering more information from the community to move this case forward, and the continued assistance is appreciated.

Sometimes people who may have knowledge do not initially come forward because of their relationships to people involved, concerns for their safety, or they may not realize information they have is important. If you feel you have information regarding Paige and her death, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, please share it with the National Park Service by calling their tip line at 888-653-0009, reporting online at nps.gov/ISB, or emailing nps_isb@nps.gov. You may remain anonymous when reporting to the National Park Service.

For more information about this case, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1563/isb-hosp-rfi.htm.