MAN WITH 67 POUNDS OF METH SENT TO PRISON FOR 19 YEARS

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Kentucky Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Possession and Distribution of Methamphetamine and Carrying a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime

Defendant Obtained 67 Pounds of Crystal Meth in California and Shipped the Drug to His Todd County Home

Scott Windell Harris, 45, of Allensville, Kentucky,  was sentenced today in U.S. District Court  in the Western District of Kentucky to 19 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for multiple charges associated with firearms, possession and distribution of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. for the Western District of Kentucky.

Harris purchased 67 pounds of crystal meth during approximately nine trips to California, then shipped the schedule II controlled substance to a residence off Russellville Road in Todd County.  Harris, an unlawful user of methamphetamine, also carried a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense.

“Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug with devastating consequences to users, their families and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Kuhn.  “This prosecution closes a significant pipeline for dangerous drugs running from California to the streets of Western Kentucky.  We are grateful to the many law enforcement agencies whose coordinated efforts assisted my office in achieving this sentence.”

Law enforcement officials became aware of Harris’ criminal conduct in February 2015, when a package was intercepted at the Louisville, Kentucky, hub of UPS.  A search warrant executed on the package revealed 19.6 pounds of suspected methamphetamine being shipped from California to Todd County.   Later forensic testing of the methamphetamine at the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois, revealed a purity level exceeding 100 percent.  State and federal law enforcement officials conducted a controlled delivery of the package and observed Harris taking possession of the package and placing it inside a black van.  Later, a search of the van revealed a loaded Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Model P3AT, .380 caliber pistol with seven rounds of .380 ammunition in the van’s glove box.  At the time, Harris was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and, therefore, prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Harris made multiple trips to Los Angeles, California, where he obtained a total of 67 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of approximately $3 million.  Once he had the methamphetamine, Harris packaged the drugs and shipped them to his residence in Allensville.   When law enforcement officials arrested Harris, they searched the residence and found an additional one and one-half pounds of crystal methamphetamine, scales, baggies and just over $14,000 in cash.

Harris previously pleaded guilty to the charges on Oct. 13, 2015, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, before U.S. District Judge Stivers.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement/Special Investigations West, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory.

ARMED DRUG TRAFFICKER RECEIVES 57 YEAR PRISON TERM FOR FIREARMS, NARCOTICS CRIMES

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Monday, December 8, 2014

Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 57 Years in Prison for Firearms and Narcotics Offenses

An armed drug trafficker was sentenced today to serve 57 years in prison for his involvement in a decade-long cocaine-trafficking conspiracy in Newport News, Virginia.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia, Special Agent in Charge Royce E. Curtin of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office and Chief Richard W. Myers of the Newport News Police Department made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar of the Eastern District of Virginia imposed the sentence.

Kelvin L. Brown, aka, “Doom,” 34, of Newport News, was convicted by a jury on July 30, 2014, of participating in a drug conspiracy, distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Evidence presented at trial detailed various drug sales by Brown and his coconspirators, the use of firearms by Brown and others to protect the drug-trafficking enterprise and its proceeds, and threats made by Brown against a cooperating witness to dissuade him from cooperating with police.  In one incident, on Sept. 13, 2013, Newport News Police Department officers entered Brown’s apartment after he barricaded himself inside, and seized a firearm, scale and cocaine.

This investigation was led by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Newport News Police Department and Virginia State Police, and was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joseph K. Wheatley of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard J. Zlotnick of the Eastern District of Virginia.

BLACK P-STONES GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR 30 YEARS FOR RACKETEERING AND FIREARMS CHARGES

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Friday, August 1, 2014

Black P-Stones Gang Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison on Racketeering Conspiracy and Firearms Charges

Marcellus Williams, aka “Math,” “P-Shooter” and “Manny,” 27, of Newport News, Virginia, was sentenced today to serve 30 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for engaging in numerous gang-related crimes as a ranking member of the Black P-Stones, including shootings of rival gang members, robberies and drug dealing.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge Royce E. Curtin of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office made the announcement after sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.

According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Williams was a “First Superior” in the Black P-Stones, a violent street gang also referred to as the P-Stone Bloods and Cobra Stones.   The Black P-Stones operated primarily in the Beechmont, Courthouse Green and Woodview neighborhoods in the Denbigh area of Newport News, Virginia, and its members engaged in various criminal activities including murders, robberies, drug trafficking and obstruction of justice.   As a First Superior, Williams directed and participated in the gang’s criminal activities, including robberies, attempted murder and marijuana sales.

According to the statement of facts, on April 27, 2008, Williams and other Black P-Stones members participated in a broad-daylight shooting on Warwick Boulevard in Newport News targeting a rival gang member.   The rival was shot twice and injured in his mouth, neck and shoulder.

Additionally, on Dec. 10, 2008, Williams and other Black P-Stones members retaliated against a rival gang member who exhibited disrespect toward Williams’s girlfriend.   Approximately seven to eight bullets were fired at the rival gang member’s home in Williamsburg, Virginia, with bullets ripping through the living room and front door while two people were inside.

Further, on March 9, 2009, Williams and other Black P-Stones members shot at the home of a rival gang member in retaliation for a previous altercation.   The rival gang member and another individual were inside of the home during the shooting, and one bullet nearly struck one of the people inside.

Williams was charged in a superseding indictment on Dec. 9, 2013, and pleaded guilty on April 15, 2014, to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The investigation was led by the FBI’s Safe Streets Peninsula Task Force, with the assistance of the Newport News Police Department, James City County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police.   The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Louis A. Crisostomo and Marianne Shelvey of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt of the Eastern District of Virginia.

MEMBERS OF ALLEGED LOAN SHARKING-ILLEGAL GAMBLING ORGANIZATION CHARGED

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

Friday, August 23, 2013
Alleged Members of Violent Loan Sharking and Illegal Gambling Organization Charged in Philadelphia

An indictment was unsealed charging nine people in a loan sharking and illegal gambling ring allegedly run out of several Philadelphia businesses.

The charges were announced today by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division.

Ylli Gjeli, 48, Fatimir Mustafaraj, 41, George Markakis, 43, Gezim Asllani, 34, Rezart Rahmi Telushi, 40, Eneo Jahaj, 26, and Ardit Pone, 35, all of Philadelphia; Erion Murataj, 35, of Huntingdon Valley, Penn.; and Brian Jackson, 35, of Harleysville, Penn., were arrested this morning.  The defendants are named in an indictment charging racketeering conspiracy, racketeering collection of unlawful debt, making extortionate extensions of credit, collections of extensions of credit by extortionate means, operating an illegal gambling business and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

“The indictment unsealed today charges nine defendants with operating a criminal enterprise built on illegal gambling and a violent extortion racket,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Raman.  “The Justice Department will not stand by as criminal organizations victimize our communities.  Today’s charges demonstrate our ongoing commitment to working alongside our federal, state and local counterparts to root out organized crime.”

“The indictment charges the defendants with running a violent loan sharking and gambling enterprise, using intimidation, threats and actual violence as part of their illegal business,” said U.S. Attorney Memeger.  “We will not tolerate this type of criminal activity that preys upon financial weakness and threatens the physical safety of the individuals in debt and their innocent family members.”
           
“The defendants allegedly victimized people twice over,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Hanko.  “They provided loans at outrageous interest rates to those unable to obtain loans from traditional sources and then used threats and violence to collect on those illegal loans.  Today's arrests demonstrate the FBI’s continued commitment to ridding Philadelphia of organized crime, wherever we find it.”

“Individuals who engage in this type of financial fraud should know they will not go undetected and will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Akeia Conner.  “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to ‘following the money trail’ to ensure that those who engage in these illegal activities are vigorously investigated and brought to justice.”

According to the indictment, the defendants and their associates used businesses located in Philadelphia – including the Lion Bar, Blackbird Café, “Ylli’s 2 Brothers,” First England Pizza and various coffee shops, among others – to conduct the enterprise’s loan sharking activities and illegal gambling business.  The defendants allegedly generated money by making and collecting on loans with usurious rates of interest; using intimidation, threats and violence to make and collect on loans; and making loans to betting customers whose debts were incurred through the enterprise’s illegal gambling business.

Members and associates of the enterprise allegedly cultivated their reputation for violence by threatening customers with dangerous weapons such as a firearm or hatchet; using implied threats and intimidation; telling customers that if they did not pay their debts someone would kill them, break their legs or physically harm them or their family members in some other way; and physically assaulting subordinate members and associates.  For example, the indictment alleges that Gjeli asked a customer why he had come to the basement of the Lion Bar.  He then grabbed a hatchet with one hand, grabbed the customer’s arm with the other hand and slammed the hatchet onto the table right after the customer pulled his hand away.  It is further alleged that defendant Gjeli placed a gun to the same customer’s head and threatened him.

 It is further alleged that the defendants attempted to conceal the existence and operations of the enterprise from law enforcement by: limiting their discussions of criminal activities when on the phone, using cryptic and coded language to describe criminal activities, such as “pizza” to describe a loan; conducting pat-downs and body searches of customers to check for weapons and recording devices; and conducting the enterprise’s transactions primarily in cash.

According to the indictment, Gjeli was a leader and “boss” of the organization; Mustafaraj, aka “Tony,” was a leader and “muscle.”  Both allegedly directed other members in the loan sharking activities and illegal gambling business, approved loans, used intimidation and threats of violence against customers, collected weekly loan payments, physically assaulted subordinate members and their associates, supervised the illegal gambling business, provided cash to pay customer’s gambling wins and otherwise financed the gambling business, collected gambling debts and made loans to customers whose debts were incurred through the illegal gambling business.  Markakis, aka “George the Greek” and “Fat George,” was allegedly a leader of the enterprise who directed other members in the illegal gambling business.  Murataj, aka “Ben” and “Paul,” and Asllani, aka “Sam,” were allegedly “collectors” who assisted Gjeli and Mustafaraj in making loans and regularly collected weekly loan payments from customers.  Telushi, aka “Luigi,” was allegedly a “collector” who regularly collected weekly loan payments from customers.  Jahaj, aka “Nimo,” Jackson, aka “Mark,” and Pone were allegedly “bookies” who operated parts of the illegal gambling business and regularly collected gambling debts.  Jahaj and Jackson also allegedly set up and administered online accounts to facilitate customer betting and used the enterprise’s loan sharking activities to convert the gambling debts to loans.

If convicted of all charges, Gjeli and Mustafaraj face a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The remaining defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

An indictment is an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS-CI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Pennsylvania State Police, Montgomery County, Penn., Detectives and the New Jersey State Police.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Salvatore L. Astolfi and Trial Attorney Jerome Maiatico of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.