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Evergreen Reporter

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

News from August 2024

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Multi-convicted felon sentenced to eight years for illegal firearm possession

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 27, 2024

United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jerome Junior Swopshire, 40, of Silver Springs, to eight years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Swopshire to forfeit the firearm involved in the offense. Swopshire entered a guilty plea on July 29, 2024.

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VA’s Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans in the state of Washington average $475,571 for Q2

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 26, 2024

The VA’s Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans in Washington for the second quarter of the fiscal year 2024 averaged $475,571, according to the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

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Hungarian national charged with conspiracy over illegal exports of military-grade radios

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 26, 2024

The Justice Department has unsealed a criminal complaint charging Hungarian national Bence Horvath with violations of U.S. export controls targeting Russia. Horvath is accused of conspiring to illegally export U.S.-origin radio communications technology to Russian government end users without a license. He faces one count of conspiring to violate the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA). Horvath was arrested upon arrival at San Francisco International Airport on August 23.

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Parkersburg man admits to unlawful possession of firearm

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 26, 2024

Michael McHenry, age 22, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, has admitted to the unlawful possession of a firearm.

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Hungarian national arrested over alleged illegal export of US military radios

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 26, 2024

Bence Horvath, 46, of Spain, was arrested in San Francisco, California on charges that he conspired with others to illegally export U.S.-origin radio communications technology to Russian government end users without a license. The arrest and charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen, Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field...

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Wilmington man sentenced for firing rifle near school

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 26, 2024

A Wilmington man has been sentenced to 180 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after firing a sawed-off rifle at another person near a school and leading officers on a high-speed chase. On May 22, 2024, Jahmez Tavaughn Jackson pled guilty to the charge.

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Lake Forest man sentenced for defrauding buyers during COVID-19 pandemic

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 23, 2024

An Orange County man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for defrauding companies of over $3 million during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christopher John Badsey, 63, of Lake Forest, received the sentence from United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton, who also ordered him to pay $1,938,990 in restitution.

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Harnett County man convicted on multiple drug trafficking charges

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 23, 2024

A federal jury has convicted Demarkee Rayheem Midgette, a 28-year-old man from Harnett County, on drug trafficking and firearm charges. The conviction follows an incident where Midgette led police on a high-speed chase before abandoning his vehicle. He was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Midgette could face up to life in prison upon sentencing.

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Clewiston felon sentenced to nearly nine years for firearm and drug offenses

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 23, 2024

U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Javier Velasquez, Jr., 38, of Clewiston, to 8 years and 10 months in federal prison for distribution of cocaine, being a felon in possession of firearms, illegal possession of a machine gun, and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The court also ordered Velasquez to forfeit the firearms used in committing the offenses.

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Man sentenced to 20 years for enticing minors into sexual activity

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 23, 2024

U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Steven Andrew Gunn, 31, of Winter Haven, to 20 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of child sexual abuse material. The court also mandated a lifetime of supervised release and registration as a sex offender. Gunn pled guilty on March 28, 2024.

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5 million in Tether seized in crackdown on crypto investment scams

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 22, 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the seizure of nearly $5 million worth of Tether, a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar. These seized funds were traced to cryptocurrency addresses allegedly associated with the laundering of criminally derived proceeds stolen from victims of cryptocurrency investment scams, commonly known as “pig butchering.”

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Sevierville man sentenced to over 12 years for receipt of child pornography

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 22, 2024

On August 21, 2024, Ronnie Joe Maples, 47, of Sevierville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 151 months in prison by United States District Judge Thomas A. Varlan in the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his incarceration, Maples will be on lifetime supervised release and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.

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Federal jury convicts prior felon for distributing methamphetamines

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 22, 2024

After a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Lee Holt, 60, of Collinsville. The jury found Holt guilty of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute after previously being convicted of a serious drug felony; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes.

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Three federal workers indicted on charges related to PPP loan fraud

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 21, 2024

A federal grand jury has indicted three Metro East residents for allegedly obtaining over $20,000 each in pandemic relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under false pretenses.

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Two men arrested for actions during Jan. 6 Capitol breach

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 21, 2024

Two men from Texas and Virginia have been arrested for assaulting law enforcement and other charges during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their actions and those of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

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Charleston man pleads guilty to federal gun crime

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 21, 2024

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thomas McNeil Hedrick II, 36, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

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Joseph Marion sentenced to life for drug distribution and sex trafficking

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 20, 2024

U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Joseph Marion, 41, of St. Petersburg, to life in federal prison for multiple drug-related offenses and sex trafficking. The charges include conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine; distributing fentanyl; distributing a mixture of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in serious bodily injury; and possessing these substances with the intent to distribute them. As part of his sentence, Marion was ordered to forfeit $13,190 recovered from his pocket at the time of his arrest.

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Cape Girardeau postal worker sentenced for stealing customer’s mail

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 20, 2024

A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was sentenced to 14 months in prison for stealing and failing to deliver customers' mail. U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp also ordered Robert Gafford, 34, to pay a $5,000 fine.

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District man sentenced for multiple sexual assaults

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 19, 2024

WASHINGTON – Christopher Sharp, 31, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on August 16, 2024, to over five years in prison for one third-degree sexual abuse conviction and five misdemeanor sexual abuse convictions against six different victims. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

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Third individual sentenced following armed robbery at convenience store

By Evergreen Reporter | Aug 19, 2024

Montgomery, Alabama – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama announced today the sentencing of the third and final defendant involved in an armed robbery of a convenience store.