MOBILE, AL – Three defendants were sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in a deadly murder-for-hire conspiracy, among other crimes. Another defendant was sentenced to 84 months for interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle during a deadly carjacking attempt.According to court documents and evidence presented at a three-week federal jury trial in October 2024, John Fitzgerald McCarroll, Jr., 31, Darrius Dwayne Rowser, 21, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis, 31, each of Mobile, participated in a plot to murder an individual as retribution for a prior killing. As part of the murder plot, McCarroll hired several shooters who attempted but failed to kill the intended target of the plot during multiple nightclub shootings.In September 2022, Reginald Dennis Alan Fluker opened fire in the Bank Nightlife club using a gun provided to him by McCarroll. Fluker shot the wrong person, who later died of his injuries. Hollis directed payments to Fluker before and after the shooting. Fluker pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and received a 30-year prison sentence.In November 2022, Rowser used an illegally modified machinegun provided to him by McCarroll to shoot at the intended target of the plot inside the Paparazzi Lounge. Rowser likewise missed the target and instead hit four victims, one of whom was rendered paralyzed. Rowser later bragged to his coconspirators about perpetrating the shooting in voice messages he sent via Instagram.As part of the conspiracy, McCarroll directed Rowser and others to travel to Mississippi to steal cars for use in surveilling the target of the plot. In September 2022, during an attempted carjacking in D’Iberville, Mississippi, Rowser shot and killed a victim. After that murder, Rowser and a coconspirator, Karmelo Cortez Morris Derks, 21, traveled back to Mobile and burned the stolen car they were using during the attempted carjacking. In connection with that incident, Derks pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.Later, in December 2022, at McCarroll’s direction, Rowser, Derks, and another coconspirator, Jimaurice Pierce, 21, traveled to the Walmart on I-65 Service Road South in Mobile to purchase a GPS tracker for the target’s vehicle. During that trip, Rowser and Pierce fired illegally modified machineguns into the self-checkout area of the store, striking two victims. Pierce pleaded guilty to the murder-for-hire conspiracy.Following the arrests of McCarroll, Fluker, and other members of the conspiracy, the defendants attempted to tamper with evidence and a witness. Specifically, McCarroll directed Hollis to hide a weapon that he had previously purchased for Fluker because of Fluker’s participation in the murder plot. Federal agents seized that gun from Hollis’s house. Additionally, McCarroll attempted to tamper with Fluker’s testimony by having him sign a sham affidavit, which was filed in state court to earn McCarroll a bond from jail.Following her conviction for murder-for-hire conspiracy and evidence tampering in October 2024, Hollis separately pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Specifically, Hollis admitted that she obtained nearly $20,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan proceeds designed to aid small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain the fully forgivable loan proceeds, Hollis lied to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) about operating a nonexistent hair-styling business.At the sentencing hearing on April 2, 2025, several victims of the defendants’ crimes addressed the court to provide impact statements. United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer noted the importance of the victims’ statements and the resilience they demonstrated.Judge Moorer sentenced McCarroll, Rowser, and Hollis each to life in prison, which is the mandatory sentence required by federal law. Pierce, who also faces a mandatory life sentence, will be sentenced at a later date. Judge Moorer sentenced Derks to 84 months in prison. Derks faces pending accessory to murder charges in Harrison County, Mississippi, for which he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.In addition to the lifetime prison terms, Judge Moorer ordered McCarroll, Rowser, and Hollis to pay $1,243,397.72 in restitution to the victims of the murder-for-hire scheme. The court further ordered Hollis to pay $19,985.00 in restitution to the SBA for her fraudulent PPP loan, and ordered Rowser and Derks to pay $5,361.00 in restitution to the owner of the stolen vehicle. The court did not impose fines, but Judge Moorer ordered the defendants to pay a total of $1,300 in special assessments.“These criminals used illegal machineguns to murder, maim, and endanger innocent lives in our community,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Thanks to the relentless work and dedication of the federal agents, police, and prosecutors, these three will never be in a position to terrorize or harm anyone else. Together with our partners in law enforcement, we will continue to aggressively investigate, prosecute, and sentence violent criminals who hurt victims and threaten the safety of our community.”“The ATF recognizes that we are most successful when we work with our state, local, and federal partners. Together, we serve as a force multiplier in the efforts to combat violent crime. Our ability to protect American families, increases by having a comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy in place. We will continue to focus our efforts to decrease violent crime and hold individuals accountable who relentlessly cause harm in the community,” said Jason Stankiewicz, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Nashville Field Division.U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement and praised the extraordinary work of the federal and state law enforcement agents involved in the investigation.The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, and the D’Iberville, Mississippi Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller, Gaillard Ladd, and Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Satsuma woman was sentenced this week to two years in prison for stealing money from her former employer.

According to court documents, Angela Clifton, 43, was the chief financial officer for a manufacturing company in Satsuma.  In this role, Clifton had authorization to use multiple corporate credit cards for legitimate business expenses, and she was also in charge of the company’s payroll and 401k plan. 

 

In 2018, the company discovered that Clifton, then the company’s Controller, had made over $25,000 worth of Amazon purchases for personal using corporate credit cards.  None of these purchases were legitimate business expenses.  Prior to her resignation, Clifton paid some of this money back to the company.  However, after her resignation, an audit was conducted and the company discovered that Clifton was not only making personal purchases with the corporate credit cards, but also fraudulently receiving 401k matches from the company when she was not contributing to her plan, and was issuing to herself unauthorized paychecks and bonuses.   In total, the company discovered that Clifton abused her role as Controller and fraudulently obtained over $200,000 in money and personal items between 2012 and 2018.

Clifton pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud.  At her sentencing hearing, Clifton testified and contested the restitution amount claimed by the company.   The current Director of Finance for the company also testified as to the restitution amount.   Senior Judge Callie V.S. Granade will determine the final restitution owed.  The company’s CEO explained to the Court that Clifton’s actions not only damaged the company financially, but also severely damaged the culture of trust that once existed in his small business.

   

Clifton will serve 24 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  She will also be ordered to pay full restitution to the victim company.

  

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service Office in Mobile. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Bodnar and Marjorie Vincent-Tripp prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

            WASHINGTON – A U.S. District Court grand jury returned a 27-count superseding indictment today charging Nahvarj Mills, 31, of Brandywine, MD, with stalking, disseminating non-consensual pornography, and numerous firearms charges related to three shootings. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division; and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).            Mills is charged with cyberstalking in violation of a protective order; cyberstalking; interstate stalking in violation of a protection order; interstate stalking in violation of a protection order – emotional distress, use of a dangerous weapon; two counts of interstate stalking in violation of a protection order – bodily injury, emotional distress, use of a dangerous weapon; interstate violation of a protection order; three counts of interstate violation of a protection, use of a dangerous weapon; three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; interstate communications with intent to extort; assault with intent to kill while armed; three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon; three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence; and four counts of first degree unlawful publication.            Mills has been detained since February 2024.            According to court documents, Mills and the alleged victim, his former significant other, began dating in approximately December 2022. Mills physically abused the victim on multiple occasions. In approximately the summer of 2023, the victim ended the relationship with Mills. Angry about the breakup, Mills began contacting the victim by phone. He appeared uninvited at her workplace in Maryland and at her home in the District. Mills threatened to distribute sexually explicit images of the victim and then he made good on his threat.            On November 23, 2023, the victim received text messages stating in part, “Got no job, got no kids, got no family. I have nothing to do. But what I do have, is the money to keep bothering you.”            Around December 31, 2023, the victim received 30 phone calls from “No Caller ID.” The calls followed an attempt by the victim to meet up with Mills in an effort to make amends. Those efforts ended when Mills pulled out a gun and pointed it at the victim’s head.            On January 2, 2024, the victim reported Mills’ conduct to the MPD and filed a petition for a Civil Protection Order (CPO). The victim’s mother subsequently electronically served Mills with a Temporary Protection Order at his known phone number. In the same conversation, Mills sent the mother numerous sexually explicit photos and videos of the victim. Mills also wrote, “I can easily pull this .40 trigger,” followed by photos of a firearm and ammunition that appear consistent with the .40 caliber firearm and ammunition later recovered from Mills’ home pursuant to a residential search warrant.            Also in early January, Mills allegedly created a fake Instagram account in the victim’s name. The victim then received several messages from the account threatening to disseminate sexually explicit images and videos of her. Mills later made good on his threat and sent out the images and videos to several individuals who knew the victim. On January 6, 2024, Ring camera footage captured footage of a man believed to be Mills outside the victim’s home. The man spread typed-out paragraphs containing threatening messages along with explicit images. A few days later, on January 11, 2024, the victim found more sexually explicit photos on her lawn.            On January 19, 2024, a D.C. Superior Court Judge granted a CPO, which ordered Mills to stay away from the victim, her home, her workplace, her vehicle, and her family.            On January 20, 2024, Mills again spread sexually explicit images outside the victim’s home. On this occasion, the victim personally observed Mills in her front yard and saw him return to a vehicle along with another individual.            Also on January 20, 2024, Mills allegedly spread sexually explicit images outside another victim’s home. He also reportedly sent numerous unwanted and threatening text messages and made unwanted calls to this victim. Mills is now charged with one count of cyberstalking in connection with this victim.            The campaign of stalking and violence against the first victim escalated further in late January 2024. Three separate shootings targeted the victim’s bedroom on January 21, 22, and 23. The third shooting occurred after Mills called the victim and threatened to kill her.            On January 26, 2024, Mills returned to the victim’s home where police arrested him and charged him with violating the protection order. Once again, the court ordered Mills to stay away from the victim and not contact her. Nonetheless, Mills made continued efforts to contact the victim.            On February 7, 2024, Mills was arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Mills has been detained since his arrest on February 7, 2024.On July 18, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned an initial seven-count indictment, and Mills was transferred to federal custody.            This case is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Washington D.C., the FBI’s Washington Field Office Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Metropolitan Police Department.            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen Houck, Marco Crocetti and Caroline Burrell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.



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CHICAGO — A former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services social worker and 14 others have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly participating in a scheme to fraudulently obtain $3.2 million in state funds intended for childcare services.

A 41-count indictment unsealed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago alleges that SHAUNTELE Y. PRIDGEON orchestrated the fraud scheme from 2016 to 2022 while serving as a Community Social Service Planner for DCFS in Chicago.  Pridgeon fraudulently entered the information of several of her co-defendants into the DCFS computer system and approved them to be paid as providers caring for foster children, the indictment states.  Pridgeon directed at least $3.2 million in State of Illinois funds to the co-defendants and others, each of whom agreed to receive the money even though they knew that no foster children were actually in their care, the indictment states.  The co-defendants and others then paid bribes and kickbacks to Pridgeon totaling approximately $1.6 million, the indictment states.  Pridgeon allegedly used the bribe money to pay personal expenses, including gambling losses at a casino in Hammond, Ind.

The indictment accuses each of Pridgeon’s co-defendants of accepting various amounts of state money for the nonexistent childcare services.  For example, LATASHA THOMAS received more than $1.6 million and TRACEY JERVIER received more than $695,000, the indictment states.  RONNIE WEBB received more than $228,000, which was paid via checks made payable to “Webb Feet Child Care Inc.,” a bogus company that listed its address as Webb’s residence, the indictment states.

Charged with honest services wire fraud are Pridgeon, 54, of Chicago; Thomas, 48, of Chicago; Jervier, 60, of Chicago; Webb, 57, of South Holland, Ill.; TAHNDREA N. HARPER, 50, of Chicago; JOI SANDERSON, 49, of Frankfort, Ill.; KELLI PAYNE, 49, of Hammond, Ind.; NIKKI GIOVANNI HOUSTON, 53, of Chicago; SHENITA MCGARY, 37, of Chicago; SHERRI BAINES, 45, of Chicago; KEICHA L. LACEY, 50, of Country Club Hills, Ill.; CHRISTINA A. DAVIS, 54, of Chicago; MARISSA TERRY, 36, of Frankfort, Ill.; ARAMIS COLLIER, 39, of Chicago; and AUNSHEREE NELSON, 44, of Chicago.

Most of the defendants were arrested Wednesday and have begun making initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.   

The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Brendan F. Kelly, Director of the Illinois State Police; and Ann McIntyre, Inspector General of DCFS.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D. Mitchell, Bradley A. Tucker, and Christine M. O’Neill.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.





Pridgeon et al indictment

MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to a total of 85 months in prison for committing wire fraud in connection with a false PPP loan application and conspiring to distribute fentanyl while on federal pretrial release conditions.

According to court documents, in April 2021, Kentarius Williams, 31, submitted a fraudulent application to the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) requesting a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan in the amount of $20,833. In his PPP loan application, Williams falsely claimed that he was the sole proprietor of a nonexistent “cleaning service” business in need of relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Williams submitted a fake tax schedule purporting to show more than $100,000 in business income and monthly payroll expenses in excess of $8,000. In submitting the fraudulent application to the SBA, Williams caused a wire communication to travel from the SBA’s computer servers in Virginia to a bank’s computer servers in Oregon, in violation of the federal wire fraud statute.

Additionally, Williams admitted that from at least September 2022 through February 2023, he conspired with other people to distribute fentanyl. On several occasions, narcotics agents used confidential informants to conduct controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Williams. Those transactions—including sales of fentanyl that Williams made while he was on pretrial release conditions in his federal wire fraud case—were videotaped. Agents executed a search warrant at Williams’s apartment in Mobile in February 2023, seizing fentanyl and oxycodone pills, among other things. Agents also searched Williams’s cell phone, which contained numerous text and Instagram messages in which he discussed his sales of fentanyl and other drugs. For example, in January 2023, Williams wrote that he “got rich off” sales of fentanyl pills, which he said he could obtain for “dirt cheap.”

United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Williams to serve 14 months in prison for the wire fraud, and 71 months in prison for the fentanyl distribution conspiracy, ordering the prison terms to run consecutively to one another. In addition to the 85-month total prison term, Judge Moorer ordered Williams to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Williams to pay $200 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, SBA Office of Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Mobile Police Department investigated the wire fraud case. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the drug case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasee Heisterhagen and Lydia Lucius prosecuted the wire fraud case on behalf of the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the drug case on behalf of the United States.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that January 22, 2020, Alex Barbu was sentenced in federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Barbu received a thirty-nine month custody sentence for his part in an ATM skimming operation. The sentence consisted of 15 months on the bank fraud charge, and 24 months for aggravated identity theft. Senior United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade also ordered that Barbu serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison, and pay $4,848.35 in restitution. Upon his release from prison, Barbu, a Romanian national, will be turned over to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings.

In a guilty plea hearing, the court found that on January 12th and 19th, 2019, a young female accompanied by Barbu was observed via surveillance footage placing an unauthorized camera device on an ATM owned and operated by United Bank in Bay Minette, AL. The camera was used to illegally capture a customer's PIN as it was being entered on the ATM keypad. The young female then placed an ATM-skimmer on the same ATM. ATM skimmers are illegal devices designed to fit over the ATM card insert, known as a bezel, in order to read and siphon ATM customer bank account information when the bank customer uses their bank card at the ATM. Later the same day the young female was observed via surveillance footage returning to the ATM and retrieving both the camera and skimming devices.

During the timeframe on January 12, 2019, when the unauthorized ATM skimmer and camera devices were in place and active on the ATM, 30 customers’ account numbers and PINs were exposed. The majority of those customers had their account numbers and PINs compromised through a series of fraudulent transactions that occurred January 26-27, 2019 by Barbu.

The operations officer at United Bank stated after the fraudulent transactions were discovered, all of their customers had their ATM cards and PINs deactivated and reissued. The operations officer has also advised that none of their customers had authorized any of the attempted and/or completed transactions and, all of their ATM cards had been in each customers’ possession before and during the time of the fraudulent activity.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mobile Division, Mobile, AL. There was joint cooperation and direct assistance by the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection; Bay Minette Alabama (AL) Police Department (PD); Mobile AL PD; Daphne AL PD; Foley AL PD; Prattville AL PD; Pascagoula Mississippi PD; Padukah Kentucky PD; FBI Jackson Division; FBI Memphis Division, and credit for Barbu's capture and extradition by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, US Attorney's Office, and FBI Minneapolis Division, all in Minnesota.