USAO - Maryland News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys   You are subscribed to USAO - Maryland news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Baltimore Man Admits Using Female Aliases on Social Media and Messaging Applications to Entice Boys to Send Him Sexually Explicit Images and Videos 07/22/2022 08:00 AM EDT Matthew K. Walsh, age 24, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of a minor in order to produce child pornography. Specifically, Walsh admitted that he created fictitious online profiles purporting to be a minor female to contact and induce minor males between the ages of 12 and 17 to send sexually explicit images and videos the individual they believed to be a minor female, but was, in fact, Walsh. Conspirator in Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy Convicted after Eight-Day Trial 07/21/2022 08:00 AM EDT A federal jury late yesterday convicted Jose David Navarro Cervellon, age 41, of Norcross, Georgia, on federal charges related to a murder-for-hire. Brother of Baltimore Business Owner Admits to Falsely Claiming His Brother's Bank Balance and Activity as His Own in Order to Obtain a Federal Housing Administration Loan 07/21/2022 08:00 AM EDT Calvin Abramowitz, age 48, of Lakewood, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud. As part of his guilty plea, Abramowitz has been ordered to pay $209,036. Four Maryland Residents Facing Federal Indictment for CARES Act COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme with More Than $3 Million in Losses 07/21/2022 08:00 AM EDT A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging four Maryland residents with federal conspiracy and wire fraud charges related to a CARES Act unemployment insurance fraud scheme with more than $3 million in losses. The indictment was returned on July 13, 2022, and unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants. Baltimore Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl and Other Narcotics to Customers Across Four States 07/20/2022 08:00 AM EDT Yesterday U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Devin Cunningham, age 27, of Baltimore, to 87 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. New Jersey Man Sentenced for Sending Threatening Communications to Black Maryland Woman and Her Family 07/19/2022 08:00 AM EDT U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Michael Marotta, age 26, of Sewell, New Jersey to three years of probation with a 30-day term of community confinement, preceded by an intensive in-patient drug treatment program for making threatening interstate communications. Marotta admitted that he used an anonymizing text message service to threaten physical harm to a Black woman and her family in Maryland. U.S. Attorney's Office, Joined by State and Local Agencies, to Host One-Stop Reentry Resource Fair at the War Memorial in Baltimore Tomorrow, July 20, 2022 07/19/2022 08:00 AM EDT Tomorrow, July 20th, 2022, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation, and the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), will sponsor a one-stop reentry resource fair that will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the War Memorial, 101 N. Gay Street, Baltimore, MD. More than 40 organizations, including at least 20 employers, will be on-site offering assistance and resources to returning citizens and justice-involved persons, including in the areas of employment, job training, educational opportunities, health services, transitional housing, and legal assistance, among other areas of support and assistance. Final Cherry Hill Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Participating in Racketeering Conspiracy Including Murdering an Individual Believed to be a Rival Gang Member 07/19/2022 08:00 AM EDT Travis Alewine, a/k/a "Sticks," age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise in connection with his membership in the "Hillside" gang, operating in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. Serial Identity Theft Scammer Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Bank Fraud 07/18/2022 08:00 AM EDT U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Jason Evans, age 48, of Millsboro, Delaware, to six years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release. The Court also ordered Evans to pay a total of $124,837.79 in restitution. Metropolitan Transition Center Detainee Pleads Guilty to Federal Racketeering Conspiracy Charges Relating to a Smuggling Scheme 07/15/2022 08:00 AM EDT Christopher Mann, age 39, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering conspiracy in relation to a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Metropolitan Transition Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Aberdeen, Maryland Man Who Engaged in Sexual Acts with a Minor Victim Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor 07/15/2022 08:00 AM EDT U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced Anthony Gonzalez, age 40, of Aberdeen, Maryland to 13 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for coercion and enticement of a minor. Judge Chasanow also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Gonzalez must continue to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act ("SORNA"). Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Justice Department Launch Investigation of Maryland Department of State Police Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 07/15/2022 08:00 AM EDT United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division announced today that the Justice Department has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The investigation will assess whether MDSP has engaged in racially discriminatory hiring and promotion practices. Hyattsville Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in a Cares-Act and Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Involving Over 600 Victims and Caused a Loss of at Least $2.7 Million 07/14/2022 08:00 AM EDT Sylvester Atekwane, age 32, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in relation to a CARES-Act unemployment insurance fraud scheme. As part of his guilty plea, Atekwane will be required to pay at least $250,000 in restitution. Former Baltimore Police Sergeant Sentenced to Almost Two Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Deprive Civil Rights for Assisting a Member of the Baltimore Police Gun Trace Task Force by Planting a Gun at the Scene of an Arrest 07/13/2022 08:00 AM EDT U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake today sentenced former Baltimore Police Sergeant Keith Allen Gladstone, age 53, of New Park, Pennsylvania, to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to deprive civil rights, in connection with planting evidence at a crime scene. As part of his plea, Gladstone also admitted that he told a witness to lie about the event if questioned by law enforcement. Nigerian National Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for an Elder Fraud Scheme and Unrelated Cares Act Covid-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme 07/13/2022 08:00 AM EDT U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Oluwaseyi Akinyemi, a/k/a "Paddy Linkin", a/k/a "Joseph Kadin", age 35, of Hyattsville, Maryland, yesterday to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for two counts of mail fraud relating to a social media advanced fee fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims. Judge Chuang also ordered Akinyemi to pay $486,119.07 in restitution to his victims. Baltimore Police Officer Facing Federal Charges for Drug Conspiracy and Distribution Charges and for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 07/13/2022 08:00 AM EDT A criminal complaint has been filed against Steven Umberto Angelini, age 41, of Middle River, Maryland, on charges related to a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and oxycodone in the Baltimore area. Angelini has been a member of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) since May 2006. He was assigned to the Administrative Duties Division in 2022 and was suspended without pay today. Fraudster Resentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Stealing the Identities of Hundreds of Victims to Fraudulently Obtain More Than $2.2 Million in Tax Refunds 07/13/2022 08:00 AM EDT Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Toyosi Alatishe, a/k/a Felix Victor Johnson, age 51, of Columbia, Maryland, to 126 months in federal prison, for conspiracy to commit credit/debit card fraud, wire fraud, and for aggravated identity theft, in connection with two separate schemes from 2012-2015 to obtain fraudulent tax refunds. Judge Blake also required Alatishe to serve a period of supervised release following his release from prison and pay restitution in the amount of $2,287,959.67. A federal jury convicted Alatishe on all 16 counts charged in the indictment on January 24, 2019. Eight Defendants Facing Federal Charges Relating to Over $1.6 Million Dollars in Cares Act Covid-19 Fraud, including Identity Theft and Unemployment Insurance Fraud 07/12/2022 08:00 AM EDT A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging nine defendants in relation to a Maryland and California CARES Act COVID-19 unemployment insurance scheme. The indictment charges the defendants with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of United States Postal Office arrow keys. The indictment was returned on June 21, 2022, and unsealed upon the defendants' self-surrenders and arrests. Baltimore Serial Robber Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Committing at Least 10 Armed Commercial Robberies in the Baltimore Area 07/11/2022 08:00 AM EDT U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Marquis Moore, age 35, of Baltimore, to 12 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for committing a series of armed commercial robberies and for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Heroin and Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Distribution Charges 07/11/2022 08:00 AM EDT U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Darick Knighton, age 44, of Alexandria, Virginia, to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance. The sentence was imposed on July 7, 2022. Previously Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge for Possession of Child Pornography 07/08/2022 08:00 AM EDT August Candeloro III, a/k/a "Nick," age 34, of Catonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal charge of possession of child pornography. Hanover, Maryland Man Who Used a Ghost Gun to Shoot at United States Secret Service Security Guards is Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison 07/07/2022 08:00 AM EDT On Tuesday, July 5, 2022, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Jeremiah Peter Watson, age 24, of Hanover, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in relation to a violent crime. Final Defendant in Hotel and Casino Kidnapping Pleads Guilty to His Role in the Kidnapping and Robbery Scheme 07/06/2022 08:00 AM EDT Tray David Sherman, age 27, of Washington, D.C. pleaded guilty on Friday, July 1, 2022, to kidnapping. Husband and Wife Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy Related to Fraudulent Tax Filings of Maryland Auto Body Repair Shop 07/06/2022 08:00 AM EDT Yesterday U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Ercin Kalender, age 61, of Alexandria, Virginia and Lizette Kalender, age 44, of Alexandria, Virginia to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy related to tax fraud within their corporate filings and business taxes. Judge Xinis also ordered the Kalenders to pay restitution of $2,219,602. Foreign National Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Restitution for Fraud 07/06/2022 08:00 AM EDT U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Olatunde Vincent, age 35, of Pikesville, Maryland, to 50 months in federal prison yesterday, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Judge Gallagher ordered Vincent to pay more than $240,000 in restitution. The charges stemmed from a fraud scheme in which Vincent and other conspirators used false identification documents containing the personal identifying information real persons to open bank accounts, which were used to receive money obtained from victim companies and individuals. You have received this e-mail because you have asked to be notified of changes to the Offices of the United States Attorneys website. GovDelivery is providing this service on behalf of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW · Washington, DC 20530 · 202-514-2000 and may not use your subscription information for any other purposes. Manage your Subscriptions | Department of Justice Privacy Policy  | GovDelivery Privacy Policy Follow the Offices of the United States Attorneys on Twitter: @USAttorneys