Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Justice Department Observes National Missing Children’s Day

As part of the 38th annual commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day, the Department of Justice today honored nine courageous individuals for their extraordinary efforts to recover missing children and bring sexual predators to justice. This year’s award recipients include four detectives and a sergeant from Fresno, California; two coordinators in the Missing Child Center-Hawaii in Honolulu; a sergeant from Addison, Illinois; and a U.S. Postal Service employee from Columbia, Maryland.

“These brave and resourceful professionals have earned our greatest respect and deserve our deepest gratitude,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Department of Justice is proud to stand with these heroes, and we are grateful to the thousands of law enforcement officers and missing children’s advocates throughout the nation who work so hard to protect our children.”

The Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) lead the nation in observing National Missing Children’s Day. The observance was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 in memory of 6-year-old Etan Patz, who disappeared while walking to his bus stop in lower Manhattan on May 25, 1979. National Missing Children’s Day honors his memory and those children still missing. Etan’s killer was convicted in February 2017, but the case remains active because his body was never found.

“There is no clearer expression of our priorities as a society than the safety and welfare of our young people,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy Solomon. “These outstanding law enforcement professionals, committed advocates and compassionate citizens show us at our collective best – as a nation dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable and determined to secure a bright future for its youngest members.”

In lieu of an in-person ceremony, OJJDP has launched a website today featuring information about the awardees and statements from Attorney General Garland, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Solomon, OJJDP Acting Administrator Chyrl Jones, and President and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children John F. Clark.

“These nine individuals have displayed exceptional bravery and dedication in reuniting missing children with their families,” said OJJDP Acting Administrator Jones. “We are thrilled to honor them on this special day.”

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-observes-national-missing-children-s-day-2

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This year’s recipients are honored with the following awards:

Attorney General’s Special Commendation: This commendation recognizes the extraordinary efforts of an Internet Crimes Against Children task force, an affiliate agency or an individual assigned to either for making a significant investigative or program contribution to the ICAC task force program.

Recipients: Sergeant Chad Stokes, Detective Cassandra Stevens, Detective Scott Schwamb, Detective Randall Heckman and Detective Steven Souphasith from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office’s Central California ICAC Task Force in Fresno, California. They led an investigation that resulted in the arrest of 34 sexual predators who sought to take advantage of children’s increased presence online during the pandemic.

Missing Children’s Citizen Award: This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of private citizens for their unselfish acts to safely recover missing or abducted children.

Recipient: Keith Rollins, from the United States Postal Service in Columbia, Maryland. Mr. Rollins helped locate a 2-year-old boy who had been reported missing after he followed an adult out of the house and wandered away.

Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award: This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement officers who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to the safety of children.

Recipient: Sergeant Stefan Bjes from the Addison, Illinois, Police Department. Sergeant Bjes has developed several programs that have enhanced the safety of children with special needs. He has also trained officers at 15 police departments across the Midwest and frequently presents at police conferences nationwide.

Missing Children’s Child Protection Award: This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of child protective service agency personnel, law enforcement officers or other professionals who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to protecting children from abuse or victimization.

Recipients: Amanda Leonard and Kaleilani Grant from the Department of the Attorney General’s Missing Child Center-Hawaii in Honolulu. Ms. Leonard and Ms. Grant were instrumental in implementing Operation Shine the Light, a cooperative effort between Missing Child Center-Hawaii; federal, state and local law enforcement agencies; and four nonprofit organizations, which recovered 180 missing children in Hawaii between November 2019 and November 2020.

The Department also named Heidy Jimena Perez Veleta from Sunnyside Elementary School in Dodge City, Kansas, winner of the 2021 National Missing Children’s Day poster contest. The contest creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement and child advocates to discuss the issue of child safety with youth and their parents.

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Oklahoma

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Serve More Than 27 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sex Trafficking

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, RODERICK GLENN HOUSTON, JR., 37, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to more than 27 years in federal prison for child sex trafficking, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

On September 1, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a Superseding Indictment against Houston that charged him with child sex trafficking, production of child pornography, and transportation of child pornography.

On October 8, 2020, Houston pleaded guilty to child sex trafficking. According to public records and admissions made as part of his guilty plea, between April 2015 and March 9, 2016, Houston served as the pimp of a minor girl. Houston advertised her as an escort on the internet, provided her to men for commercial sex, and kept the cash proceeds. Despite knowing that she was a child, he sold her to men for sex in Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Houston to serve 335 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Judge Friot also ordered Houston to pay $25,100 in restitution and assessments. In arriving at his sentence, Judge Friot took into consideration the facts that Houston gave his victim drugs, gave her false identification documents, physically assaulted her, produced child pornography depicting her, and engaged in prohibited sexual conduct with her.

Upon his release from prison, Houston will be required to register as a sex offender.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Oklahoma City Field Office, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Los Angeles (California) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Hale and McKenzie Anderson prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Reference is made to court filings for further information.

\https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/oklahoma-city-man-sentenced-serve-more-27-years-federal-prison-child-sex-trafficking

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of Oklahoma

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12

A man who sexually abused a young child starting in 2003 pleaded guilty Monday in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Travis Dray Stewart, 41, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact in Indian Country. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell set sentencing for Sept. 15, 2021.

In his plea agreement, Stewart admitted to making sexual contact with a child under 12 years of age between June 2003 and September 2005. The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Stewart after his May 2015 conviction in Tulsa County District Court was overturned due to jurisdiction following the Supreme Court’s McGirt v Oklahoma decision.

The resulting trauma associated with child sexual abuse can be long lasting. There are agencies to assist in recovery or that can share resources. You can start your search for assistance by contacting:

-Oklahoma’s SafeLine at 1-800-522-SAFE (7233).

-National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Information on reporting and recovery can be found on NCMEC’s site https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources.

Suspected child neglect and abuse can be reported to the Oklahoma Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-522-3511 and/or to local law enforcement.

The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Reininger is prosecuting the case.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndok/pr/man-pleads-guilty-abusive-sexual-contact-child-under-12-0

QAnon Crowd Convinced UFOs Are a Diversion From Voter Fraud

The Daily Beast|7 hours ago

They want you talking about aliens because they don't want you talking about Maricopa," Newsmax White House correspondent Emerald Robinson tweeted.

Alleged QAnon Supporter Amy Facchinello Refuses To Resign From School Board Amid Protests

Newsweek on MSN.com|4 hours ago

Amy Facchinello, of the Grand Blanc Board of Education, was featured in a "Time" magazine article in April which highlighted her apparent QAnon support.

Hillary Clinton directly appeals to QAnon to stop claiming she drinks children's blood: 'It's painful to me and my family'

YAHOO!News|3 hours ago

QAnon believers have a particularly grotesque view of Ms Clinton, painting her to be a psychotic, child torturing, baby eating, demon worshipping paedophile. Most of the claims are ripped straight out of 80s horror movies;

What Hillary Clinton Said to the QAnon Conspiracy Theorists from 'Borat'

Newsweek on MSN.com|9 hours ago

Hillary Clinton has addressed the QAnon conspiracy that she takes part in Satanic rituals that involve drinking the blood of tortured children. She made the comments during a spin-off show centered around Sacha Baron Cohen's 2020 Borat movie.

Grand Blanc students, community members protest school board member who posted QAnon conspiracies

MLive|15 hours ago

More than 100 protesters joined with signs and chants in the heart of Grand Blanc on May 24 to raise awareness about the upcoming recall attempt of Facchinello.

Controversial Grand Blanc school board member 'saddened' by protest, will not resign

MLive|55 minutes ago

Facchinello, a recently-elected Grand Blanc school board member, is accused of believing in the QAnon conspiracy.

Your View: Why it's so hard to stop disinformation such as QAnon conspiracies

Morning Call PA|6 hours ago

Op-ed: There is no effective means of resisting online disinformation through technology, no super algorithm that will weed out lies.

>Search Engines clickbaiting "qanon"

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/state-senator-and-his-campaign-treasurer-charged-scheme-obtain-public-election-funds

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Connecticut

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

State Senator and His Campaign Treasurer Charged in Scheme to Obtain Public Election Funds

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging Connecticut State Senator DENNIS A. BRADLEY, JR., and his former campaign Treasurer, JESSICA MARTINEZ, with multiple offenses related to defrauding Connecticut’s program for publicly funding political campaigns during Bradley’s 2018 run for State Senate.

Bradley and Martinez appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, entered pleas of not guilty to the charges, and were released on bonds in the amount of $300,000 and $250,000, respectively.

As alleged in the indictment, Bradley, 38, of Bridgeport, has been a member of the Connecticut State Senate since 2018, representing the 23rd State Senate District. Martinez, 39, of Bridgeport, was the Treasurer for Bradley’s 2018 State Senate campaign. In Bradley’s 2018 campaign for State Senate, Bradley, Martinez, and others conspired to defraud the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission (“SEEC”), the Citizens’ Election Fund, and the State of Connecticut by making misrepresentations concerning Bradley’s compliance with state election law and the requirements and restrictions of the Citizens’ Election Program (“CEP”), a voluntary public election-financing program under which candidates can apply to SEEC for grants to fund their primary and general election campaigns.

“Candidates for public office must be held to a high standard of conduct, especially when they apply for public funds for their campaigns,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle. “It is alleged that these defendants not only broke the rules at the outset of Mr. Bradley’s first campaign for the State Senate, but then engaged in an extensive cover up to conceal their illegal behavior and to receive additional public funds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our FBI partners are committed to holding public officials to account.”

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation is committed to protecting the citizens of Connecticut against all forms of illegal fraud and deception,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sundberg. “Maintaining the integrity of our state and federal election processes is crucial to ensuring the will of the voting public is carried out based on truth and fairness.”

The indictment alleges that Bradley, Martinez, and their co-conspirators violated CEP rules by holding a March 15, 2018, campaign event at Dolphin’s Cove restaurant in Bridgeport, then engaged in a scheme to trick SEEC into awarding his campaign undeserved CEP grants by making misrepresentations and omissions to disguise the nature of that event.

It is alleged that, although CEP rules imposed a $2,000 limit on Bradley’s expenditure of personal funds, Bradley used personal funds to pay Dolphin’s Cove $5,597.31 for the campaign event, and used personal funds for other campaign expenditures related to the event, including printed invitations and a band.

It is further alleged that, in an attempt to hide the March 15 campaign event from SEEC, Bradley, Martinez and their co-conspirators claimed it was a “Thank You Party” for friends and clients of Bradley’s law firm, Bradley, Denkovich & Karayiannis, P.C., also known as BDK Law Group.

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It is alleged that, although at least eight donors gave to Bradley’s campaign at the Dolphin’s Cove event, Bradley’s and Martinez’s co-conspirators altered and falsified the contribution cards so that none were dated March 15, 2018.

It is further alleged that, although CEP rules required complete and truthful disclosures of Bradley’s campaign contributions and expenditures, in April, May and June 2018, Bradley’s campaign filed Itemized Campaign Finance Disclosure Statements with SEEC that omitted that Bradley had held a campaign event on March 15, 2018 at Dolphin’s Cove restaurant, omitted that Bradley had incurred approximately $6,307 in expenses for the event, omitted that Bradley had accepted multiple campaign contributions at the event, and misrepresented the dates of those March 15, 2018 contributions.

It is further alleged that on May 24, 2018, Bradley and Martinez applied for a CEP grant to fund Bradley’s Democratic primary campaign. On July 10, 2018, relying on the false and misleading information contained in Bradley’s filings, SEEC issued the campaign $84,140 in public funds. On August 14, 2018, Bradley won the Democratic primary with approximately 55 percent of the vote.

It is further alleged that, after issuing a CEP primary grant to Bradley, SEEC began investigating a citizen complaint regarding Bradley’s campaign, including the campaign event at Dolphin’s Cove. On August 21, 2018, Bradley emailed a letter to SEEC in which he denied all the allegations in the citizen complaint as “frivolous and manipulative.” In that letter, Bradley falsely stated, “On March 15, 2018, BDK hosted a Client Appreciation event at Dolphin’s Cove restaurant[.] … This was in no shape or form a political event. … In fact, we did not collect any donations at this event and have no donations dated 03/15/2018.”

It is further alleged that on October 12, 2018, after Bradley and Martinez attempted to obtain an additional $95,710 CEP grant to fund Bradley’s general election campaign, Martinez made similar false statements under oath to SEEC. SEEC eventually denied Bradley a general election grant. On November 6, 2018, Bradley won the general election with approximately 87 percent of the vote.

It is further alleged that Martinez made similar false statements to investigating FBI special agents in March 2020, and under oath before the grand jury in September 2020.

Bradley is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud, and Martinez is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, one count of making a false statement to the FBI, and one count of making a false declaration before the grand jury. The conspiracy and fraud offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, and the false statement and declaration offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick.

>>13751946

>Bradley is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud, and Martinez is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, one count of making a false statement to the FBI, and one count of making a false declaration before the grand jury. The conspiracy and fraud offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, and the false statement and declaration offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count.

Where’s Durham?!

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Tennessee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Former Washington County Assistant District Attorney Pleads Guilty To Trading Sex For Dismissal Of Charges

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On May 25, 2021, William E. McManus, Jr., age 50, pleaded guilty before the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, Senior United States District Judge, to soliciting a bribe in December 2018 in exchange for dismissal and expungement of criminal charges. Sentencing is set for November 15, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., before the Honorable Ronnie J. Greer in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.

As part of the filed plea agreement, McManus admitted that, while acting in his capacity as an Assistant District Attorney for the First Judicial District, he dismissed and expunged shoplifting and possession of methamphetamine charges pending in the Sessions Court of Washington County, Tennessee, in exchange for a commercial sex act with someone with whom he had previously engaged in commercial sex acts. The maximum punishment for the offense is a term of imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Acting U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.

The case was jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, investigators of the First Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, and the Johnson City Police Department. The prosecution was coordinated with the Sixth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, which was appointed to be a special state prosecutor for this investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Morris represented the United States in Court.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/former-washington-county-assistant-district-attorney-pleads-guilty-trading-sex

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Middle District of Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Lee County Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced To 10 Years In Federal Prison For Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Images And Videos

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Steven Thomas Baryla (39, Lehigh Acres) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Baryla was also sentenced to a lifetime term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Baryla had pleaded guilty on January 14, 2021.

According to court documents, Baryla knowingly possessed child sexual abuse images and videos that he had obtained from the internet; he also accessed similar images depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct via social media applications such as Kik and Snapchat. On June 20, 2019, a search warrant was executed at Baryla’s residence where agents from Homeland Security Investigations recovered Baryla’s cellphone. Subsequent forensic analysis of Baryla’s cellphone revealed that it contained 106 images and 10 videos depicting children being sexually abused. The internet history of the cellphone showed certain internet search terms, including “best state for sex offenders to live 2017” and “registered sex offender name change.”

In 2011, Baryla was convicted on federal charges of transporting child pornography in New Jersey.

“Thanks to HSI special agents, this child predator will have a decade to think about his crimes,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/lee-county-convicted-sex-offender-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-possessing-child

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Purlear, N.C. Man Is Sentenced To 25 Years For Production And Possession of Child Pornography

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – William Jon Patric Ebert, 60, of Purlear, N.C. was sentenced today to 25 years prison for production and possession of child pornography, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney presided over today’s sentencing hearing and ordered Ebert to serve a lifetime of supervised release and to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison. A federal jury convicted Ebert on July 17, 2020, following a two-day trial.

Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) joins Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.

According to filed court documents, evidence presented at trial, and today’s sentencing hearing, Ebert sexually abused a minor for more than six years. The sexual abuse took place in Ohio and in North Carolina. Evidence presented at trial established that Ebert also used the minor to produce child pornography photographs of the minor, and that he stored those photographs on his computer and other devices he owned. On September 22, 2016, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Ebert’s residence in Boone, N.C. and seized several devices and computers. A forensic analysis of Ebert’s hard drive revealed that it contained sexually explicit images of the minor victim.

In making today’s announcement Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Avon Police Department in Ohio for their investigation of this case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kimlani Ford and Erik Lindahl prosecuted the case for the United States.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/purlear-nc-man-sentenced-25-years-production-and-possession-child-pornography