Steinauer Woman Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that on July 16, 2013, an indictment was unsealed charging Angie Ray Shera, age 38, of Steinauer, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine between January 2011 and February 2013.
The possible penalty is not less than 10 years and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Following any prison term, there would be a term of supervised release of not less than five years.
Shera appeared in federal court in Lincoln on July 17, 2013, and was ordered held without bond. Trial is scheduled to begin on September 10, 2013.
The matter was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force, which includes officers of the Lincoln Police Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department, and by the Nebraska State Patrol.

Boise Man Sentenced in Aryan Knights Meth Investigation

BOISE—Jose Silva, 31, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today to 52 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Silva appeared today before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise. He pleaded guilty to the charge on March 6, 2013.
According to the plea agreement, Silva admitted that on January 10, 2012, he sold one-quarter ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $450. Forensic analysis of the methamphetamine by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory determined the substance contained more than four grams of actual methamphetamine.
Silva is one of 23 people charged as a result of a long-term investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force. The investigation began when the task force focused on illegal drug distribution by the Aryan Knights, a gang active in prison and on the streets throughout Idaho. Through the investigation, law enforcement agents identified Aryan Knights gang members who were trafficking methamphetamine, as well as associates of the gang who were the source of that methamphetamine. The 23 defendants have all pleaded guilty, 19 have been sentenced, and four are awaiting sentencing.
The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force is comprised of federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and the Idaho Department of Corrections. The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) also contributed to the investigation, including the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Marshals Service.
Silva was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is composed of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.

Investigation Leads to Indictment of 11 People on Federal Gun and Drug Charges

BOISE—U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced the arrests earlier today of Jeramie Ethan Mahler, 26, of Star, Idaho; Michelle Christina Ritch, 35; Nearia “Nick” William Pinnell, 42; Wendy Demirdjian Harrison, 52; and Daniel Eric Vaughan, 51, all of Nampa, Idaho; and Scott Vicente Hernandez, 42, of Oakland, California, on federal charges of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, assisted by FBI SWAT, executed the federal arrest warrants today at four Treasure Valley locations.
On July 9, 2013, a federal grand jury in Boise returned a superseding indictment charging 11 defendants, including the six named above, with conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine; two defendants also face charges for illegally possessing firearms. Hernan Gomez-Gutierrez, 30, a Mexican national, and Carlos Eberardo Tovar, 28, of Nampa, charged in the original indictment filed on May 16, 2013, were arrested previously. Both are set for trial on September 10 before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise. Two defendants, Darrell Ray Zirschry, 32, of Nampa, and Bobbi Eileen Woolsey, 35, of Boise, are currently in custody on state charges. The final defendant, Juan Luis Mojica-Barragan, 24, a Mexican national, has an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine is punishable by a minimum term of 10 years and up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $10 million. Two defendants, Gomez-Gutierrez and Mojica-Barragan, were also indicted for distributing methamphetamine and cocaine, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. Zirschry is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Mahler is charged with brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which is punishable by a minimum term of 10 years up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force is composed of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Boise Police Department; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Caldwell Police Department; Nampa Police Department; Meridian Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Probation and Parole.
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the state of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is composed of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.
An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Former Marion Police Chief Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy Charge

ABINGDON, VA—United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy announced today that the former chief of police in Marion, Virginia pled guilty today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon to a charge involving the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone.
Michael Dean Roberts, a.k.a., “Fireball,” age 54, of Saltville, Virginia, entered a plea of guilty to a one-count nformation charging conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Roberts faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a potential fine of $1,000,000.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Lee, Roberts was involved in the distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone between 2006 and June 2013, all while employed as the chief of police of the Marion, Virginia Police Department. As part of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Virginia State Police; and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, law enforcement officers utilized a confidential informant to obtain hydrocodone pills from Roberts on three separate occasions in May and June 2013.
The investigation determined that Roberts was involved in the distribution of at least 7,331 hydrocodone pills, 365 grams of methamphetamine, and small amounts of cocaine and oxycodone. The investigation further determined that Roberts used his position as chief of police to obtain some of these drugs from the Marion Police Department evidence room.
Sentencing has been set for October 9, 2013, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Virginia State Police; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Lee is prosecuting the case for the United States.

FBI Seeks Fugitive Gerardo Garcia in Connection with Drug Trafficking Investigation

The FBI issued a wanted poster (at the conclusion of this release) on Friday, July 12, 2013, for Gerardo Garcia, age 64 or 63, of Vado, New Mexico, on a federal arrest warrant charging him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Garcia avoided arrest on May 8, 2013, when a multi-agency investigation in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, arrested 22 people on federal drug trafficking charges.
A total of 29 residents of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, and El Paso County, Texas, face charges in connection with this investigation.
Garcia, a white Hispanic male, is described as 5’6” to 6’0” tall, weighing approximately 120 to 155 pounds, and having brown hair and brown or hazel eyes.
Garcia is a Mexican national.
He is known to drive a red Ford pickup truck.
Garcia should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information on Garcia’s whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI in Albuquerque (505-889-1300) or send a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov.
The charges in this operation were the result of an intensive four-month multi-agency investigation led by the FBI’s Las Cruces Cross-Border Drug Violence Hybrid Squad and Southern New Mexico Gang Task Force that targeted known drug dealers in southern Doña Ana County.
The U.S. Border Patrol and the Las Cruces-Doña Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, which is composed of officers from the New Mexico State Police, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and the Las Cruces Police Department, participated in the investigation, which was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations.
Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations. All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Resources:
- Gerardo Garcia FBI wanted poster
- Press release concerning multi-agency investigation

Seven Arrested, Charged with Selling Illegal Drugs to Veterans Treated at VA Medical Centers in New Jersey

NEWARK, NJ—Seven men with access to two VA medical centers in New Jersey were arrested this morning by special agents of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General and the FBI on federal charges alleging they sold illegal drugs to veterans being treated at the centers, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
The seven defendants were each charged in separate criminal complaints with various counts of distributing controlled substances—including heroin, crack, and hydromorphone—at the VA medical centers in East Orange and Lyons, New Jersey. Five of the men were arrested this morning at the Lyons facility, one was arrested at the East Orange facility, and one was arrested at his home. All are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court.
“According to our charges, these seven men abused their access to VA medical facilities to peddle dangerous drugs to other veterans undergoing treatment,” said U.S. Attorney Fishman. “It is tragic that those who have served their country would exploit their fellow veterans.”
“This investigation was initiated by VA OIG two years ago in response to the fatal heroin overdose of a veteran at the VA medical center in Lyons, New Jersey,” said Jeffrey G. Hughes, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Veterans Affairs, Officer of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office. “Subsequently, the FBI and VA OIG jointly launched an operation, which focused on combating the sale of heroin and crack cocaine to patients at Lyons. VA management at Lyons, including VA Police, provided invaluable support during the course of this investigation. We hope anyone selling drugs at VA treatment facilities will realize that we will vigorously pursue them to protect veterans seeking treatment.”
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation-Newark Division and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General conducted a joint investigation targeting the distribution of narcotics on the grounds of VA Hospitals in New Jersey,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford. “As a result of this joint investigation, the FBI and VA OIG have been successful in disrupting the criminal activity occurring on the VA grounds. The Newark Division will continue to work in conjunction with our federal, state, and local partners to combat the drug problem.”
The VA medical centers provide a wide range of medical and rehabilitation treatment services to veterans, including drug abuse and additional rehabilitation services, along with vocational training and other social services. According to the complaints, the defendants, each of whom is a veteran with privileged access to the buildings and grounds of the medical centers, sold controlled substances to other veterans receiving services from the centers.
Each count with which the defendants are charged carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The defendants and counts with which they are charged are as follows:

Defendant	Charges
Phillip Johnson, 52, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey	count one—heroin distribution; count two—cocaine base distribution
Robin Merritt, 55, of Hackensack, New Jersey	count one—heroin distribution count two—cocaine base distribution count three—hydromorphone distribution
Abdul Kareem Muhammad, 50, of Boundbrook, New Jersey	count one—heroin distribution count two—cocaine base distribution
Yusef Muhammad, 59, of North Plainfield, New Jersey	count one—heroin distribution
Thomas Pearson, 66, of Dover, New Jersey	count one—heroin distribution
Christopher Shalaby, 31, of Somerville, New Jersey	count one—heroin distribution
John Stuckey, 49, of Newark	count one—heroin distribution

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the Veterans Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Hughes in Newark; and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ford in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the VA Police for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Eskew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.