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Department of Justice

DOJ Reaches $100M Settlement With Owners, Managers Of Vessel That Destroyed Key Bridge DOJ Reaches $100M Settlement With Owners, Managers Of Vessel That Destroyed Key Bridge
DOJ Reaches $100M Settlement With Owners, Managers Of Vessel That Destroyed Key Bridge The owners and managers of the ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this year in Baltimore have reached a settlement exceeding $100 million to offset the government's costs, federal authorities announced late on Thursday. Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, which owned and operated the DALI vessel that struck the bridge earlier this year, has agreed to pay a $101,980,000 settlement to resolve a civil claim filed earlier this year. The crash dismantled the bridge, and caused chaos for the Port of Baltimore and left several workers dea…
Maryland Suing Ship Owners, Managers Over Key Bridge Collapse In Baltimore: AG Maryland Suing Ship Owners, Managers Over Key Bridge Collapse In Baltimore: AG
Maryland Suing Ship Owners, Managers Over Key Bridge Collapse In Baltimore: AG The Maryland Attorney General's Office has filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the owners and operators of the DALI cargo ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this year in Baltimore. On Tuesday, AG Anthony Brown announced that his agency has filed a lawsuit targeting the owners – Grace Ocean Private Limited –and managers – Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. – of the M/V DALI for causing the March collision that dismantled the bridge and caused chaos for the Port of Baltimore. Brown said that since the fatal collapse - which claimed the lives of six people - has impacted Maryl…
Maryland Man Withheld Drugs From 'Dopesick' Women Forced To Become Sex Workers: Feds Maryland Man Withheld Drugs From 'Dopesick' Women Forced To Become Sex Workers: Feds
Maryland Man Withheld Drugs From 'Dopesick' Women Forced To Become Sex Workers: Feds A 36-year-old Maryland man who used women's' drug dependency to compel them to participate in commercial sex work for him up and down the East Coast is facing prison time, federal authorities announced. William O’Neil Murray III pleaded guilty on Monday, Aug. 12 to sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion over the course of several months in several states. At least three women were involved. According to court documents, between December 2021 and July 2022, Murray was involved in the multi-state sex trafficking operation, using women he would coerce by using their drug dependency…
'Grievous Felon:' Illegal Migrant With Lengthy Rap Sheet Arrested In Maryland: ICE 'Grievous Felon:' Illegal Migrant With Lengthy Rap Sheet Arrested In Maryland: ICE
Hisseine Gombo-Tchouli Arrested On Multiple Charges In MD A 25-year-old national of Chad has been arrested for his role in an alleged murder and weapons offenses throughout Maryland after being released, federal authorities announced. US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says that Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers took Hisseine Gombo-Tchouli into custody near his Silver Spring home after being convicted of accessory after the fact of first-degree murder and was later released. According to investigators, Gombo-Tchouli legally entered the country in September 2005 at Dulles International Airport in Virginia; howev…
Trio Involved In Fatal Shooting Of 17-Year-Old In Northwest DC Get Prison Time Trio Involved In Fatal Shooting Of 17-Year-Old In Northwest DC Get Prison Time
Trio Involved In Fatal Shooting Of 17-Year-Old In Northwest DC Get Prison Time Three men were given prison time for their roles in the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old in Northwest DC in 2020, authorities announced. Two District residents and a man from Maryland are all heading to prison after admitting to their roles in the fatal shooting of Taijhon Wyatt that also left another person injured, according to the Department of Justice. Those charged:  Trey Prillerman, 19, of Washington, DC; Nelfy Hernandez, 20, of Washington, DC; Deandre Levy, 22, of Gaithersburg.  Court documents state that at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, 2020, Wyatt was walking …
Four Charged In Connection To Death Of Navy SEAL From Maryland Trying to Board Ship In Yemen Four Charged In Connection To Death Of Navy SEAL From Maryland Trying to Board Ship In Yemen
Four Charged In Connection To Death Of Navy SEAL From Maryland Trying to Board Ship In Yemen Four foreign nationals reportedly shipping Iranian-made weapons have been charged in connection to the death of two US Navy SEALs - one of whom was from Maryland - who were killed attempting to board their ship during an operation in Yemen last month. The Department of Justice announced on Thursday that a criminal complaint has been unsealed charging four suspects after US naval forces interdicted a vessel in the Arabian Sea that was transporting suspected Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry. Among the SEALs killed was Marylander Special Operator First Class Christopher J. Cham…
Truck Driver Who Preyed On Young Girl For Years To Spend Decades In Maryland Prison: Feds Truck Driver Who Preyed On Young Girl For Years To Spend Decades In Maryland Prison: Feds
Truck Driver Who Preyed On Young Girl For Years To Spend Decades In Maryland Prison: Feds A truck driver who spent years preying on a young girl will spend decades behind bars in Maryland. Jose Hilario Aldana-Moreno, 37, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison, followed by 40 years of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a child to produce child pornography, US Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron announced on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Aldana-Moreno was a truck driver who frequently traveled for work, court documents say. On at least five occasions between 2014 and 2020, Aldana-Moreno “engaged in video chats with the victim and convinced the v…
Iranian, Canadian Nationals Accused Of Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Maryland Residents: DOJ Iranian, Canadian Nationals Accused Of Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Maryland Residents: DOJ
Iranian, Canadian Nationals Accused Of Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Maryland Residents: DOJ Three men are facing charges for their alleged roles in a murder conspiracy targeting a pair of residents in Maryland who fled Iran, the Department of Justice announced on Monday afternoon. One Iranian and two Canadian nationals have been indicted and charged with conspiracy to use interstate commerce in the commission of a murder-for-hire plot, officials say, and the target of their "job" was two people in Maryland. Those charged:  Naji Sharifi Zindashti, 49; Damion Patrick John Ryan, 43; Adam Richard Pearson, 29. Officials say that the three would use an encrypted messaging servi…
Dirty Cop: Baltimore County Officer Gets Prison Time For Accepting Bribes For Handgun Licenses Dirty Cop: Baltimore County Officer Gets Prison Time For Accepting Bribes For Handgun Licenses
Dirty Cop: Baltimore County Officer Gets Prison Time For Accepting Bribes For Handgun Licenses Former Baltimore County Police officer William Johnson, Jr. is set to spend time behind bars with some of the people he helped lock up. Federal officials announced that the Baltimore native has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after he admitted to accepting thousands of dollars worth of bribes and kickbacks in exchange for handgun qualifying licenses they never earned. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty in April to a federal charge of honest services wire fraud for falsely certifying applicants for Maryland handgun qualifying licenses and …
Man Who Sexually Abused Infant, Documented It With Girls' Mother In MD Gets 50 Years Man Who Sexually Abused Infant, Documented It With Girls' Mother In MD Gets 50 Years
Man Who Sexually Abused Infant, Documented It With Girls' Mother In MD Gets 50 Years Justice has been served for the infant who was sexually abused repeatedly by her family. A child-abusing man who preyed on a child for more than a year will spend decades behind bars after he admitted to his role in a chilling conspiracy to document the molestation of a girl along with her mother in Cecil County, federal authorities announced. Elkton resident Lawrence Aquilla Colby, IV - also known as “Buddy” - has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to federal charges in connection to his participation in a scheme to sexually abuse a child from the time …
Mother Who Documented Sexual Abuse Of Infant In MD Gets 80 Years: Feds Mother Who Documented Sexual Abuse Of Infant In MD Gets 80 Years: Feds
Mother Who Documented Sexual Abuse Of Infant In MD Gets 80 Years: Feds A Cecil County child abuser will spend decades in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to sexually assault an infant over the course of nearly two years. The creepy case of Summer Nichole McCroskey, 25, has come to a close after she was sentenced to 80 years in prison on Thursday, May 18, for her participation in a chilling conspiracy to document the molestation of her child with another man, authorities announced. Prosecutors say that McCroskey and Elkton resident Lawrence Aquilla Colby IV began abusing the girl when she was 4 months old, and it continued through at least October 2…
Plank-Wielding MD Man Who Assaulted Police During Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Heading To Prison Plank-Wielding MD Man Who Assaulted Police During Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Heading To Prison
Plank-Wielding MD Man Who Assaulted Police During Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Heading To Prison The Maryland man who joined his stepfather during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol two years ago will have plenty of time to think about his actions on that fateful day. Fallston resident Jacob Michael Therres, 25, who assaulted officers during the Washington, DC breach, has been sentenced to 40 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release for assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon during the violent incident. In addition to his prison term, Therres, who stormed the Capitol with his stepfather Douglas Wyatt, 49, also of Fallston, was …
Turtle Trafficker In VA Admits To Role In International Smuggling Scheme: Feds Turtle Trafficker In VA Admits To Role In International Smuggling Scheme: Feds
Turtle Trafficker In VA Admits To Role In International Smuggling Scheme: Feds An elaborate turtle smuggling and trafficking ring orchestrated by a Virginia man has been broken up, federal officials announced this week. Louisa resident Stanlee Fazi, 41, pleaded guilty in federal court in Alexandria to trafficking turtles out of Fredericksburg in violation of the Lacey Act, according to the Department of Justice. As part of his guilty plea, Fazi admitted that between July 2017 and June 2020, he illegally collected eastern box turtles from the wild and sold them on at least 27 occasions to buyers across the country. The scheme involved Fazi collecting payments using Fa…
Man Admits To Sexually Abusing Infant, Documenting It With Girls Mother In MD Man Admits To Sexually Abusing Infant, Documenting It With Girls Mother In MD
Man Admits To Sexually Abusing Infant, Documenting It With Girls Mother In MD The case is nearly closed on a creepy case of child sexual abuse. An infant-abusing man who preyed on a child for more than a year admitted to his role in a chilling conspiracy to document the molestation of a girl along with her mother in Cecil County, federal authorities announced. Elkton resident Lawrence Aquilla Colby, IV - also known as “Buddy” - pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection to his participation in a scheme to sexually abuse a child from the time she was approximately 4 months to 2 years old. Prosecutors say that Colby admitted that he and Summer McCrosky, 25, also …
Gun-Toting MD Insurrectionist Convicted Of Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Riot In DC Gun-Toting MD Insurrectionist Convicted Of Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Riot In DC
Gun-Toting MD Insurrectionist Convicted Of Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Riot In DC Federal officials say that a handgun-wielding Maryland man will face years in prison for bringing a loaded weapon to the US Capitol and loitering for seven hours during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot in Washington, DC. Christopher Alberts, 35, was convicted this week on a host of felony and misdemeanor charges for his role during the breach of the US Capitol that left several people dead or injured, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday, April 20. Alberts came to the Capitol ready for a fight, donning a body armor vest with metal plates, a two-way radio complete with a throat mic, and a m…
MD Sheriff Pleads Not Guilty To Machine Gun Scheme, Replacement Named MD Sheriff Pleads Not Guilty To Machine Gun Scheme, Replacement Named
MD Sheriff Pleads Not Guilty To Machine Gun Scheme, Replacement Named Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins has pleaded not guilty to all counts after being embroiled in a machine gun purchasing scheme, though he ha agreed to step down and a replacement has been named. Jenkins, 66, a Thurmont resident, was arraigned this week and pleaded not guilty after being accused last week by a federal grand jury indictment for an alleged years-long scheme to import machine guns into the county with Machine Gun Nest owner Justin Krop. Initially, Jenkins had planned to remain active in office as the legal proceedings played out, but on Wednesday, April 12, after his arr…
MD Sheriff Surprised After Being Hit With DOJ Indictment; Will Stay In Office MD Sheriff Surprised After Being Hit With DOJ Indictment; Will Stay In Office
MD Sheriff Surprised After Being Hit With DOJ Indictment; Will Stay In Office Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins was reportedly blindsided by his unexpected indictment on Wednesday afternoon, though he plans to remain active and in office as the legal proceedings play out. Jenkins, 66, a Thurmont resident who has been in office since his election in 2006, was accused on Wednesday, April 5, alongside Machine Gun Nest owner Justin Krop, 36, in a grand jury indictment for an alleged years-long scheme to import machine guns into Frederick County. According to Frederick County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer and spokesperson Todd Wivell on Wednesday after…
Dirty Cop: Baltimore County Officer Admits To Accepting Bribes For Handgun Licenses: Feds Dirty Cop: Baltimore County Officer Admits To Accepting Bribes For Handgun Licenses: Feds
Dirty Cop: Baltimore County Officer Admits To Accepting Bribes For Handgun Licenses: Feds Federal officials announced that a former Baltimore County Police officer admitted to accepting thousands of dollars worth of bribes and kickbacks in exchange for handgun qualifying licenses they never earned. Baltimore resident William Johnson, Jr., 33, pleaded guilty on Monday, April 3 to a federal charge of honest services wire fraud for falsely certifying applicants for Maryland handgun qualifying licenses and wear and carry permits without proper training. In Maryland, in order to purchase, rent, or receive a handgun, one must have a handgun qualifying license, which required at least…
Maryland Man Called Ex-GF 800 Times In Cyberstalking Rampage: Feds Maryland Man Called Ex-GF 800 Times In Cyberstalking Rampage: Feds
Maryland Man Called Ex-GF 800 Times In Cyberstalking Rampage: Feds A Maryland man has been charged with cyberstalking after sending his ex-girlfriend over 800 messages in two days over the winter, authorities announced. Derik Wayne Bowers, 44, of Hagerstown, was indicted after stalking his girlfriend to intimidate her over text messages, phone calls, and Facebook, according to the Department of Justice. Officials say that Bowers sent his ex-girlfriend 815 messages in December 2022 on top of publishing social media posts to embarrass her and interfere with her livelihood. He reportedly sent her a total of thousands of messages over a several-month period. …
DC Man Admits To Bribing Corrections Officer From MD To Smuggle Drugs Into Jail DC Man Admits To Bribing Corrections Officer From MD To Smuggle Drugs Into Jail
DC Man Admits To Bribing Corrections Officer From MD To Smuggle Drugs Into Jail A man conspiring with a convict inside a DC jail has admitted to bribing a public official to smuggle drugs inside the facility. Keywaune McLeod, 28, of Washington, DC, pleaded guilty this week to one count of bribery following a scheme he ran with a corrections officer and drug supplier to get contraband inside the District’s Central Detention Facility (CDF). Original story - Corrections Officer From Upper Marlboro Accused Of Scheme To Smuggle Drugs To Inmates: DOJ According to court documents, McLeod admitted that in June 2022, he was contacted by an inmate being housed at the DC jail, a…
Baltimore Man Gets 25 Years For String Of Armed Robberies, Fatal Carjacking, Feds Say Baltimore Man Gets 25 Years For String Of Armed Robberies, Fatal Carjacking, Feds Say
Baltimore Man Gets 25 Years For String Of Armed Robberies, Fatal Carjacking, Feds Say Federal authorities say that a Baltimore man will spend decades in federal prison for a violent string of armed robberies that left three people shot and two killed. David Banks, 29, has been sentenced to 25 years behind bars, followed by five years of supervised release for a carjacking and armed robbery conspiracy, according to the Department of Justice. According to his guilty plea, Banks personally participated in a conspiracy to commit a series of violent robberies, during which, members of the scheme used guns to threaten and intimidate their victims During the crime spree, two vict…
Maryland Woman, Neo-Nazi From Florida Plotted To 'Completely Destroy' Baltimore: DOJ Maryland Woman, Neo-Nazi From Florida Plotted To 'Completely Destroy' Baltimore: DOJ
Maryland Woman, Neo-Nazi From Florida Plotted To 'Completely Destroy' Baltimore: DOJ Federal officials say that a Catonsville woman and a Neo-Nazi man in Florida conspired to disrupt an energy facility in Maryland in furtherance of their violent extremist beliefs. Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 34, and Orlando resident Brandon Clint Russell, 27, are facing federal charges for coming up with an elaborate plan to “completely destroy the city,” in a move that threatened thousands in Maryland, according to the Department of Justice. “This alleged planned attack threatened lives and would have left thousands of Marylanders in the cold and dark,” Maryland US Attorney Erek L. Barron said…
Maryland Woman Admits To Documenting Sexual Abuse Of Infant: Feds Maryland Woman Admits To Documenting Sexual Abuse Of Infant: Feds
Maryland Woman Admits To Documenting Sexual Abuse Of Infant: Feds A Maryland mother will spend years behind bars after sexually abusing her infant until she became a toddler and sharing imagery of the molestation in Cecil County, the Department of Justice announced. Summer Nichole McCroskey, 25, of Elkton, pleaded guilty on Thursday, Feb. 2 to federal charges related to her participation in a conspiracy to sexually abuse a child from the time she was approximately 4-months-old until she was 2-year-old, which was documented, produced, and distributed on the Internet. McCroskey admitted that she and a co-conspirator sexually abuse the child through at least…
Trump-Appointed Former US Attorney For Maryland Named Special Counsel Investigating Biden Docs Trump-Appointed Former US Attorney For Maryland Named Special Counsel Investigating Biden Docs
Trump-Appointed Former US Attorney For Maryland Named Special Counsel Investigating Biden Docs Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a familiar face for Marylanders as a special counsel to investigate the handling of classified documents that were found at President Joe Biden’s Delaware home and a Washington office. Robert Hur, the former US Attorney for Maryland who left office in 2021, will be tasked with conducting the inquiry into the handling of the materials after the White House confirmed that his private attorneys found a "small number" of classified documents. “I will conduct the assigned investigation with fair, impartial, and dispassionate judgment. I intend to f…
Body Burning MS-13 Gang Members In Maryland Convicted Of Murdering Suspected Snitch Body Burning MS-13 Gang Members In Maryland Convicted Of Murdering Suspected Snitch
Body Burning MS-13 Gang Members In Maryland Convicted Of Murdering Suspected Snitch Three members of the MS-13 street gang in Maryland could spend the rest of their lives behind bars for allegedly killing someone they incorrectly thought was a snitch and then going to extreme lengths in an effort to cover it up, federal officials announced. Maryland residents Jose Domingo Ordonez-Zometa a/k/a “Felon,” 33, of Landover Hills, Jose Rafael Ortega-Ayala, a/k/a Impaciente,” 30, of Greenbelt, and Jose Henry Hernandez-Garcia, a/k/a “Paciente,” 29, of Annandale, Virginia, were convicted for their roles in racketeering and murder conspiracy to further their gang activities. Specific…
Four Baltimore MS-13 Gang Members Indicted For Violent Racketeering Conspiracy: DOJ Four Baltimore MS-13 Gang Members Indicted For Violent Racketeering Conspiracy: DOJ
Four Baltimore MS-13 Gang Members Indicted For Violent Racketeering Conspiracy: DOJ Four more members of the MS-13 street gang in Baltimore have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland for their roles in a violent racketeering conspiracy that included multiple murders and attempted murders, according to the Department of Juste. Federal prosecutors announced that four members of MS-13 from Baltimore with curious nicknames are facing life in prison for the racketeering conspiracy that involved murders and drug trafficking to further their enterprise in Maryland. Those indicted: Wilson Arturo Constanza-Galdomez, also known as “Humilde,” and “Marco Saravia,” 23; E…
Maryland Sex Trafficker Who Had Victims Branded Sentenced To Prison Maryland Sex Trafficker Who Had Victims Branded Sentenced To Prison
Maryland Sex Trafficker Who Had Victims Branded Sentenced To Prison A Baltimore man who admitted to sex trafficking multiple women after his victims came forward seeking help has been sentenced, authorities say. Ryan Odell Oliver, 40, also known as "Dre", Fame", and "Foreign" was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on Monday, Nov. 28 after he pleaded guilty on back in August to sex trafficking at least three victims, according to the Department of Justice. In December 2018, one of Oliver's victims texted a non-profit sex trafficking prevention agency that she had been forced into prostitution and held against her will by Oliver, prosecutors said. Upon …
Maryland Father, Stepson Accused Of Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Maryland Father, Stepson Accused Of Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
Maryland Father, Stepson Accused Of Assaulting Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach A father-stepson duo from Maryland are facing felony charges for allegedly assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol, federal authorities announced. Harford County residents Douglas Wyatt, 49, and stepson Jacob Michael Therres, 25, both of Fallston, have been charged in the District of Columbia for their actions during the breach at the Capitol last year. Specifically, the two men were charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, both felonies, and five related misdemeanor o…
Minor Responsible For Majority Of Bomb Threats Targeting HBCUs, FBI Says Minor Responsible For Majority Of Bomb Threats Targeting HBCUs, FBI Says
Minor Responsible For Majority Of Bomb Threats Targeting HBCUs, FBI Says The FBI announced that one minor is “believed to be responsible for the “majority of the threats" that have been targeting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country and throughout the region. According to a press release issued by the FBI, since January, more than 50 HBCUs, houses of worship, and other faith-based and academic institutions across the country have received racially motivated threats of violence. Of those threats, there have been some reported in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. The investigation into the threats led to the id…
Armed Convenience Store Robber Gets Prison Time For Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy In Maryland Armed Convenience Store Robber Gets Prison Time For Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy In Maryland
Armed Convenience Store Robber Gets Prison Time For Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy In Maryland Federal officials say that a serial convenience store robber in Maryland will spend more than a decade in prison for illegally possessing a firearm to further his drug trade. Baltimore resident Billy Wesson, 20, has been sentenced to 125 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, the Department of Justice announced.. According to his guilty plea, between Aug. 4, and Aug. 7, 2020, Wesson and a co-conspirator committed three armed robberies of c…
Fraudster Admits To Posing As Bail Bondsman As Part Of $840K Elder Fraud Scam In Maryland Fraudster Admits To Posing As Bail Bondsman As Part Of $840K Elder Fraud Scam In Maryland
Fraudster Admits To Posing As Bail Bondsman As Part Of $840K Elder Fraud Scam In Maryland Authorities announced that a 64-year-old man has admitted to his role in an $800,000 elder fraud scam where he targeted victims in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and the surrounding regions. Michael Odell Anderson, 64, of Crystal Beach, Florida, and Dun Lorring, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in relation to his participation in an elder fraud scam, the Department of Justice announced this week. Between April 2020 and December 2020, officials said that Anderson conspired with others to persuade elderly victims to give them thousands of dollars u…