News from April 2023
Durbin Questions Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Accountability for Russian War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Ukraine
By DOJ Newswire Report | Apr 25, 2023
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Holding Russian Kleptocrats and Human Rights Violators Accountable for their Crimes Against Ukraine.”
Durbin Meets with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Jaddou
By DOJ Newswire Report | Apr 25, 2023
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). During the meeting, Durbin discussed a broad range of issues and initiatives aimed at processing increasing asylum caseloads, reducing immigration backlogs, and supporting communities that receive migrants.
Durbin Unveils New Efforts to Protect Children’s Online Safety on the Senate Floor
By DOJ Newswire Report | Apr 25, 2023
Durbin: “Congress must impose stronger, enforceable online protections for kids. Our children are not commodities, and we can’t continue to expect parents and victims alone to stand up to Big Tech with few ways to hold tech companies accountable.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nine Nominees for Confirmation by Full Senate
By DOJ Newswire Report | Apr 25, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee advanced nine nominations on a bipartisan basis for consideration by the full Senate.
Cherry Hill Gang Member Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Participating in Racketeering Conspiracy Including Murdering an Individual Believed To Be a Rival Gang Member
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, today sentenced Travis Alewine, a/k/a “Sticks," age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 253 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise in connection with his membership in the “Hillside" gang, operating in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. Alewine admitted that as part of his gang activities, he participated in a murder.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man for Illegally Possessing Two Machine Guns
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - XAVIER DUHON, age 20, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on April 14, 2023 in a one-count indictment for possession of machine guns, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
Five Individuals Charged in $2M Virtual Asset and Securities Manipulation Scheme
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: An indictment was unsealed today in Miami charging two U.S. citizens and a South African national with conspiring to manipulate the market for HYDRO, a virtual asset created by the Hydrogen Technology Corporation. Two other individuals were also charged in separate charging documents for their roles in the scheme filed in the Southern District of Florida.
Mehtab D. Syed Named Special Agent in Charge of the Counterintelligence and Cyber Division at the Los Angeles Field Office
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: Mehtab D. Syed Named Special Agent in Charge of the Counterintelligence and Cyber Division at the Los Angeles Field Office.
New Orleans Man Sentenced on Federal Carjacking and Weapons Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that defendant KEON ESTEEN, age 18, was sentenced on April 13, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe to a total term of 130 months. As to Count 1 the court sentenced ESTEEN to 46 months of imprisonment. As to Count 2, the court ...
Crawfordville Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Justin Deangelo Randolph, 38, of Crawfordville, Florida was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison for Firearms Offense
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: LAS VEGAS - A Las Vegas resident with prior felony convictions was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 78 months in prison for unlawful possession of multiple firearms and ammunition.
Justice Department Secures $2 Million Agreement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Alabama Sheriff
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Sheriff of Mobile County, Alabama, to resolve the department’s lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII).
Providence Man Sentenced on Federal Drug and Firearm Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A Providence man found to be in possession of more than 500 grams of cocaine and 100 fentanyl pills, and who, as a previously convicted felon, was illegally in possession of several magazines of ammunition that he was legally prohibited from possessing, was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Activity in the United States Attorney’s Office
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: Firearm Offenses. James Paul Stokes, age 49, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The government requested 46 months’ imprisonment. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced Stokes to 33 months in prison with three ...
Two Men Sentenced for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Plot to Attack Power Grids in the United States
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: Two men were sentenced in federal court today to crimes related to a scheme to attack power grids in the United States in furtherance white supremacy.
Natchitoches Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Drug and Firearms Charges
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: ALEXANDRIA, La. - Louis Vernon Jackson, 38, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, was convicted by a federal jury late yesterday, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the four-day trial in Alexandria. Jackson was convicted of conspiracy ...
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of the Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances Acts
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - On April 11, 2023, BURNEAL ELLIOTT, age 21, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty to a four-count indictment for possession of a machinegun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
North Korean Foreign Trade Bank Representative Charged in Crypto Laundering Conspiracies
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: Two federal indictments were unsealed today in the District of Columbia charging a North Korean Foreign Trade Bank (FTB) representative for his role in separate money laundering conspiracies designed to generate revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea through the use of cryptocurrency.
Brooksville Man Found Guilty of Possessing Firearm as an Armed Career Criminal
By DOJ Newswire | Apr 25, 2023
News Release: Ocala, Florida - Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has found Wayne Allen Phillips, Jr. (45, Brooksville) guilty of one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon. Phillips qualifies for an increased penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2023. Phillips had been indicted on March 29, 2022.