U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Maryland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Federal and State Law Enforcement in Maryland and DC Announce New Regional Carjacking Prosecution Task Force to Address Spikes in Carjackings Over the Past Year

Also Announced Two Initial Federal Indictments Resulting from Enhanced Cross-Border Collaboration

Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner announced the formation of a regional carjacking task force designed to promote cross-border coordination in the prosecution of carjacking cases. Mr. Lenzner was joined in making the announcement by the other members of the prosecution task force: Acting United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Channing D. Phillips; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. They were also joined by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials from agencies in Maryland and D.C. that are involved in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes.

The carjacking prosecution task force was created to ensure the prosecution of individuals who engage in carjacking and robberies in multiple jurisdictions, which can create challenges to holding the perpetrators accountable for the full extent of their criminal conduct. The task force of federal and state prosecutors are working together to ensure that law enforcement agencies in the region work together to build thorough investigations that encompass all of a perpetrator’s crimes, even if they are committed in multiple jurisdictions. Through real-time collaboration, the members of the task force are able to gather evidence from multiple jurisdictions and share information about specific individuals responsible for these crimes. The federal and state prosecutors in the task force collaborate to decide the jurisdiction in which a particular defendant should be charged, in order to ensure they are adequately held accountable for their crimes. This cross-border partnership between federal and state prosecutors’ offices mirrors similar collaboration among the police departments in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, Washington, D.C., and among the FBI and ATF.

Acting U.S. Attorney Lenzner also announced that a federal grand jury has returned the first federal indictments filed in Maryland resulting from the collaborative work of the new carjacking task force. The two separate indictments charge three men with committing carjacking and related firearms offenses that occurred in February 2021. The indictments were both returned on May 12, 2021, and are discussed in greater detail below.

“The regional carjacking prosecution task force will ensure that the perpetrators of these violent crimes will not escape justice when they cross jurisdictional borders,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “By working with our federal and local law enforcement partners here in Maryland and in Washington, D.C., we can coordinate our response, remove violent criminals from our communities, and obtain justice for the victims of these violent crimes. The spike in carjackings in the area is simply unacceptable, and we are all committed to working together to counter with a robust law enforcement response.”

Two Carjacking Indictments Announced Today

The first indictment charges Elijah Greene-Parker, age 19, and Rashaun Onley, age 21, both of Washington, D.C., with armed robbery and with carjacking two victims on February 5, 2021, and with three counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted, Greene-Parker and Onley each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the robbery; a maximum of 15 years in federal prison for each of the two carjacking counts; and a mandatory minimum of seven years and up to life in federal prison for each of the three counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm. The defendants have had an initial appearance in U.S. District Court and were ordered to be detained pending trial. This case is being investigated by the FBI – Baltimore Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the City of Alexandria Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lenzner thanked the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, who is prosecuting the case.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/priorities and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

>>13703316

The second indictment charges Mikye Dione Speaks, age 22, of Glenarden, Maryland, with a carjacking that occurred on February 15, 2021, during which he allegedly stole a 2020 Ford Edge from a victim at gunpoint. If convicted, Speaks faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison for carjacking and a mandatory minimum of seven years and up to life in federal prison for using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Speaks is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on May 21, 2021. He is currently detained on related state charges. The case was investigated by the Prince George’s County Police Department and FBI – Baltimore Field Office. Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lenzner thanked the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for its assistance and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajeev R. Raghavan, who is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

“The crimes resulting from these carjackings pose a serious public safety danger. Our office is committed to ensuring that the residents of the District of Columbia and surrounding jurisdictions will see justice from the prosecution of the individuals who commit these alarming acts,” said Acting United States Attorney Channing D. Phillips. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to uphold the law and provide a viable solution in order to make our communities safer.”

“The rise in carjackings in and around Prince George’s County and the region has become a very serious issue. This task force will enable us to address these crimes in a regional fashion and we stand ready to work with our state and federal partners to get these very serious and dangerous crimes under control,” said Prince George's County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy.

“Crime doesn’t stop at the border of one jurisdiction to another neither should justice. Violent criminals who commit carjackings wreak havoc all around the DMV and this joint task force will hold them accountable for their horrible acts against unsuspecting residents no matter where it happens or where they’re from,” said Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

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U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman Announces HIDTA Designation for Erie County

Erie joins 4 other western PA counties in heightened effort to combat drug trafficking and reduce the supply of illegal drugs

PITTSBURGH – Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today that Erie County has been officially designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. Erie joins four other western Pennsylvania counties - Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, and Westmoreland - in receiving dedicated federal resources to coordinate federal, state and local governments to fight drug trafficking and abuse.

"Through this designation, Erie County will receive critical resources and support to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations operating in the county," said Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman, Erie County has been used by drug traffickers as a waypoint for the large-scale distribution of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine into Erie and the surrounding counties in Pennsylvania and New York. Drug dealers exploit Erie’s easy access by train, bus and interstate highway to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Detroit, and Chicago by utilizing the county as a repackaging hub for further distribution of their product and to funnel drug proceeds back through the supply line.

"The HIDTA designation and award of funds is most welcome here," said Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri. "While local law enforcement has unitized its resources efficiently fighting drug trafficking in our region, it seems like there’s always more to be done. Federal funding gives us the opportunity to increase the fight against the harm we’ve all seen done by drugs in our community."

"The Pennsylvania State Police has participated in other HIDTA designated counties in Western Pennsylvania with great success," added the Pennsylvania State Police. "Our agency looks forward to working with other local, state, and federal partners through the HIDTA program to disrupt drug trafficking organizations affecting Erie County and all of Pennsylvania."

"The Erie Police Department is pleased to learn of the Erie-area’s HIDTA designation," said City of Erie Police Chief Dan Spizarny. "We have supported the application for HIDTA and look forward to the continued close cooperation of all law enforcement in our area. The extra resources that HIDTA brings to the table will help greatly."

"The designation of Erie as a HIDTA county will bring federal funding, increased sharing of intelligence, analytical support, enhanced training opportunities, and a cooperative effort between the local, state and federal partners," said Derek M. Siegle, Executive Director of the Ohio HIDTA.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kaufman thanked Pennsylvania’s United States Senators Robert Casey and Pat Toomey, Governor Tom Wolf, Rep. Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as local law enforcement who supported and worked in concert to receive this designation.

Erie County is the most northwestern county in the Western District of Pennsylvania, with an estimated population of 280,566. The County borders Lake Erie and consists of the City of Erie, surrounding suburbs, and outlying municipalities. Erie County joins the program’s Ohio HIDTA region.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/acting-us-attorney-kaufman-announces-hidta-designation-erie-county

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Former Senior City of Philadelphia Official Sentenced to Over One Year in Prison for Fraud and Embezzlement

PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Leo Dignam, 61, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to 15 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $7,500 fine by United States District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno for a scheme to defraud the City of Philadelphia of approximately $150,000 over the course of several years.

In November 2020, Leo Dignam pleaded guilty to wire fraud and embezzlement from a program receiving federal funds. At the time of the charged offenses, the defendant was an Assistant Managing Director in the City of Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office and, prior to serving in that position, was a long-time employee of the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (“PPR”) Department, having risen through the ranks to serve as the Deputy Commissioner for Programs. In these positions, he oversaw the administration of major events in the city, such as the Philadelphia Marathon, the Broad Street Run and the Mummers Parade. Mr. Dignam worked for the City of Philadelphia for approximately 38 years.

Over the course of several years, from 2012 through 2019, Leo Dignam misused two bank accounts he controlled on behalf of the City that existed to support the work of PPR, namely, recreational activities for citizens. In particular, he opened a bank account purportedly to support the activities of PPR in connection with a non-profit organization, the Junior Baseball Federation (“JBF”). The JBF partnered with the Philadelphia Phillies to raise most of its funds through the sale of tickets for Phillies games. The defendant converted funds from this account to pay for personal expenses he incurred on a credit card associated with the JBF account for purchases from retail stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, online retailers, and service providers. Dignam also admitted to misusing another account that was created for the benefit of PPR and the citizens of Philadelphia, the Program Advisory Fund Account. The defendant used this account to pay personal expenses by transferring funds directly to a personal bank account, and by using it to pay personal expenses on a Verizon wireless account.

Leo’s brother, Paul Dignam, 58, also of Philadelphia and formerly the Regional Manager for the South Region of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, also pleaded guilty in November 2020 to charges of mail fraud and embezzlement from a program receiving federal funds in connection with similar misuse of public money, and will be sentenced next week.

“This defendant abused the considerable level of trust placed in him by his superiors and the citizens of Philadelphia,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “His inexcusable behavior, stealing money from public programs designed to serve city youth and Parks and Recreation supporters, has now been met with swift and serious consequences in federal court. Our Office will continue to hold public employees, especially those in leadership positions, responsible for this type of fraud.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Deputy United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/former-senior-city-philadelphia-official-sentenced-over-one-year-prison-fraud-and