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CMPD Officers arrested 58-year old Sallie Saxon Wamsley and charged her with misdemeanor larceny today. - Read post about 'Charlotte's madam' from last November -
John Lynn Lattaker (aka Edward Miller), 31, was sentenced today in Federal Court to serve 30 years in prison. The charges are related to two different armed robberies and possession of a gun by a convicted felon.
Police say Lattaker robbed the InTown Suites Hotel on South Tryon Street on February 17, 2006 and the Pop Shoppe located at 6865 Albermarle Road on February 22, 2006. In addition, he was charged with possession of a a firearm by a felon at the time of his arrest on March 2, 2006.
Read Federal Documents: Indictment - Plea Agreement - DOJ Press Release
Louis Balducci, 36, a Union County Sheriff Deputy, was arrested today on Federal charges involving distribution of Oxycodone and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
According to official court documents, it is alleged that on or about January 12, 2008 & January 24, 2008, Louis Balducci distributed Oxycodone in Union County. On January 12, 2008, Louis Balducci did use and possess a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted on the charges in the complaint, Balducci faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison on the drug distribution charge and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison on the firearms charge.
Francisco 'Frank' Fernandez, 43, was arrested this morning on a federal criminal complaint alleging theft, embezzlement and/or misapplication by a bank officer.
According to a Department of Justice press release, Fernandez was arrested today without incident by agents of the U.S. Secret Service. Fernandez made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl Horn today and was ordered detained in federal custody pending a detention hearing.
According to official court documents, it is alleged that from July 2007 through December 2007, Fernandez while employed as an officer of Bank of America, embezzled the sum of approximately $457,384.79.
Fernandez allegedly gave one of Bank of America’s customers, Key Bank, his own personal Bank of America checking account number for Key Bank to wire payments into instead of the correct Bank of America account number to which these payments should have been wired.
If convicted on the charge in the complaint, Fernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
More Info: DOJ Press Release & Federal Criminal Complaint
On January 3rd, Marques Bynum, 27, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment after being convicted on April 18th for transportation and possession of child pornography. The case against Bynum was tried in the Western District of NC in front of US District Judge Frank Whitney.
At trial, the Government proved that during the period from June 2003 to August 2003, Bynum posted numerous images of child pornography to a Yahoo Group entitled "sumthin4usgirls." The FBI began an undercover investigation into this group in July 2003.
According to the indictment, authorities identified the screen name "markie-zkidluv6" as the screen name responsible for multiple postings of child pornography and the FBI traced the screen name back to Marques Bynum.
FBI Agents in Charlotte continued the investigation and thereafter executed a search warrant in Bynum’s home, recovering a laptop computer belonging to him. Examination of that computer revealed approximately 5,000 images of child pornography, as well as evidence linking Bynum to the Yahoo Group.
Over the course of the three-day trial, the Government called numerous witnesses, including law enforcement officers from Sweden, Georgia and Idaho, as well as a digital imaging expert, to prove that the children depicted in the images were real. The defense did not offer any evidence at trial.
More Info: Federal Indictment & DOJ Press Release
The Department of Justice sent out a press release today with a recap and updates on some of the Federal cases they have prosecuted in the Western District of NC this year. Here are some local cases of interest:
On December 7, 2007, 45-year old Claude Michael Kahn was charged in Federal Court for accepting unlawful gratuities and making false statements to Federal agents.
At the time of his arrest, Kahn was a sworn Federal Air Marshal responsible for providing armed security on domestic and international flights out of Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.
According to the criminal complaint, Kahn learned of an illegal check selling scheme last October and did not report the criminal activity to authorities. Instead, Kahn accepted cash, entertainment, food & drinks, etc. to prevent law enforcement from discovering the illegal activity. * Read Federal Complaint
A prostitution criminal enterprise came to a screeching halt last Friday when Federal authorities and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers raided a home on Coatbridge Lane and arrested three people involved in running an upscale prostitution service geared towards "affluent clientele."
According to the criminal complaint filed in Federal Court, Sallie Wamsley Saxon, 57, was a 'madam' who operated the local web-based escort service from her home in Charlotte. Saxon arranged the sexual encounters between the 'johns' and 'escorts' and collected 30%-50% of the profits. The average hourly rate for one of Saxon's prostitutes was $400. An overnight stay went for $3,500.
In addition to hiring local women, Saxon recruited women from all over the United States and world to come to Charlotte and work for her. She arranged for prostitutes to travel to Charlotte from Canada, Asia, Brazil, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and other places. Saxon would display the prostitutes' photo and profile on her members-only website and set-up the client/escort meetings in exchange for a cut of the profits.
Donald Verdery Saxon, 52, (middle) is Sallie Saxon's husband and partner in crime. Donald was responsible for collecting monies owed to Sallie and other miscellaneous duties. Federal Agents observed Mr. Saxon accept cash filled manila envelopes from prostitutes and watched him transport an out-of-town prostitute to her hotel after a nude photo shoot.
Glenn Alvin Fox, 58, was the contracted photographer who took nude photos of Sallie's prostitutes. Fox's nude photos were posted on Sallie's website as advertisement of available prostitutes for her clients. Sallie Saxon paid Glenn Fox at least $36,000 for his services in 2006.
The Saxon's and Fox are all charged with conspiring to operate a criminal enterprise involving money laundering and illegal prostitution.
COURT DOCUMENTS:
- Federal Criminal Complaint
- Federal Indictment
- Dept. of Justice Press Release
In Federal Court today, Jimmie Vance Grubbs, 67, a former CMS school teacher was sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison, followed by a supervised release term of life.
Grubbs entered a guilty plea to 12 separate federal criminal counts alleging interstate transportation of a minor for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual activity and illicit sexual conduct.
During the sentencing hearing, the government presented testimony and evidence showing that Grubbs had been molesting boys since the 1970's- and continued to molest boys throughout the 1980's, 1990's... up to 2004. In all, the government presented evidence that Grubbs had molested at least six boys over the past three decades in addition to the five boys alleged in the Indictment.
In handing down today’s sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. noted that Grubbs’ abuse of boys took place at Grubbs’ home, at the school where he taught language arts, at various churches, where he was a Sunday School teacher and Youth Group leader and on trips to Myrtle Beach and on trips to the University of South Carolina sporting events. Judge Conrad deemed Grubbs “the worst kind of predator.”
Federal Court Documents:
Indictment #1 - Indictment #2 - Plea Agreement - Sentencing Media Release
The following criminals were recently sentenced in Federal Court. All case information can be found in the indictment & sentencing documents.
JAMELL LASHON ALEXANDER
Charge: Armed Robbery & Interference with commerce by threats or violence. Alexander & three other men robbed two different convenience stores in Feb 2006
Sentence: 126 months or 10.5 years
Docs: Federal Indictment & Sentencing Order
MICHAEL STEWART FREEMAN
Charge: Bank Robbery- Robbed the Wachovia Bank on South Blvd on 4/5/06
Sentence: 82 months or 6.8 years
Docs: Federal Indictment & Sentencing Order
NICHOLAS CURETON
Charge: Possession of firearm by a felon
Priors: Armed Robbery. Pending state charges include: armed robbery & assault with a deadly weapon. Cureton will be tried by the state after he serves his Federal sentence.
Sentence: 36 months or 3 years
Docs: Federal Indictment & Sentencing Order
NAVINH SONNARATHEKSONE
Charge: Possession with intent to distribute & conspiracy to distribute Ecstasy
Sentence: 50 months or 4 years
Docs: Federal Indictment & Sentencing Order
RUSSELL AVERY ALVEREST
Dr. John Henry Walker, 48, Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Charlotte, was sentenced today on nine federal criminal counts in connection with false statements on bank loans, tax evasion and making false statements to federal agents.
US District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Walker to serve five years in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. In addition, Walker was ordered to pay approximately $274,000 in restitution to the IRS plus any interest and penalties.
The church congregation voted to keep Walker as Pastor after he was indicted last year. Several of Walker’s supporters and non-supporters were inside and outside the courthouse during the eight hour sentencing hearing today. After Walker was sentenced this evening, a big commotion erupted outside the courthouse. (See news links below for video/photos)
John Henry Walker came to lead the Macedonia Baptist Church in 1992. In the beginning of his tenure, Walker received compensation considered ‘normal’ for a church leader. According to the 10-page Federal Indictment, things changed in 1998 when Walker started stealing church monies and lied on his tax returns to evade paying taxes. Walker was only charged for the crimes he committed from 1998-2003; however, it was mentioned in today’s sentencing hearing that Walker’s illegal activities continued up until he was indicted last November.
Indictment Highlights:
- From 1998-2003, Walker personally earned $600,000 in taxable income. He reported to the IRS a taxable income of $55,000 during the six year period; therefore, he evaded paying $125,000 in taxes. The court documents show the church paid Walker in excess of $900,000 in salary from 1998-2003. This amount does not include unreported gifts and non-income payments. In addition, Walker made over $100,000 for speaking engagements, performing ceremonies, etc. and the church paid for most of his living expenses.
- From 1998-2003, Walker used church credit cards for personal expenditures in excess of $25,000 per year. He used the credit card to pay for hotel rooms and travel expenses for his extramarital affairs with female church members. He used the card to purchase Viagra and he took several cash advances to hide his use of the card. He would submit receipts to the church with bogus information about what he spent the money on. According to church records, Walker did not account (or provide bogus receipts) for $65,000 of the $150,000 in credit card charges.
- Walker is charged with lying on several loan and credit card applications and he lied to Federal Investigators when they were investigating him. One example of this is when he pledged to investigators he only received a $2,000 yearly bonus from the church when in fact his bonuses ranged from $18,000 to $43,000 each year!
- In addition to the salary Walker was paid by the church, he used church funds to pay for extra-ordinary expenses. Church funds paid Walker: a salary, his family lived in a church owned home (which he purchased for $5,000 and later sold for $123,000.) Walker received a housing allowance of $2,000 per month, an average annual bonus of $30,000, a Christmas bonus, paid vacations and use of luxury church owned vehicles. From 1998-2003, the church paid for his legal services, tax liabilities of $10,500 and his social security contributions of $25,000. Walker and his Minister wife, Rosie Knight Walker, published several books and the church paid for all publication costs and the Walker’s kept all the profits from sales.
If the general church account did not have the monies to compensate Walker, he would transfer money from the building construction account or the summer youth enrichment account to compensate himself. He even loaned himself $6,500 from the summer youth account when he purchased a home in 2001 and he never paid it back. So, church members were donating money for one purpose and Walker used it for another. Read the indictment for more detailed information.
Court Docs: * DOJ Press Release * Walker Sentencing Memo *Federal Indictment
News Reports: WBTV – WSOC – WCNC – News 14 – Charlotte Observer
Alvin Woody, a Mooresville, NC pharmacist, and four additional defendants from Vermont, Wisconsin, New York, and California have been indicted on drug distribution and money laundering charges.
The charges are in connection with an alleged unlawful prescription drug operation which resulted in millions of dosage units of powerful and addictive controlled substances (primarily hydrocodone and alprazolam) being distributed to thousands of customers nationwide, based on unlawful and illegitimate prescriptions, according to the Federal Indictment.
The indictment states, "From in or about August 2002 to in or about May 2006, these five defendants conspired with each other and others to distribute powerful and addictive prescription painkillers and anxiety medications, all of which were Schedule III or Schedule IV controlled substances, to customers located throughout the United States based on purported prescriptions.
In fact, these “purported prescriptions” were nothing more than drug orders for prescription painkillers and anti-anxiety medications which bore a doctor’s photocopied signature but were issued based on a telephone interview with the customer that was sometimes conducted by a doctor but most often conducted by individuals with no authority or training to prescribe controlled substances.
A doctor was hired by the websites merely to lend a legitimate facade to an otherwise illegitimate operation. The drug orders for the controlled substances were then submitted by the websites via facsimile to Woody Pharmacy, a pharmacy which the websites knew would not question the legitimacy of the “purported prescription.”
MORE INFORMATION: Federal Indictment & DOJ Press Release
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On Friday, David Allen Blaisdell, 52, was sentenced by a Federal Judge to six and a half years in prison for possession of child pornography.
In January of 2006, CMPD arrested and charged Blaisdell with second degree sexual exploitation of a child. In September 2006, the state charge turned to a federal charge of possession of child pornography.
According to the federal case documents, Blaisdell was in possession of over 600 pornographic images of children under the age of 12.
Blaisdell admitted guilt and entered into a plea agreement. He will serve 6 1/2 years in prison. After he is released from prison, he will be on supervised release for 10 years. In addition, he will have to register as a sex offender.
Case Documents: Bill of Information - Plea Agreement - DOJ Sentencing Press Release
In January 2006, Tyrone Cherry (Top) and Genaia Moore (Bottom) robbed a stand-alone ATM machine on the corner of WT Harris Blvd & The Plaza. The robbery occurred on January 6, 2006 at 2:23 in the afternoon.
According to the Federal Complaint, Cherry & Moore overpowered an employee working on the ATM machine and got away with $64,000 in cash and the employee's firearm.
The federal indictment states an employee of Express Teller Services was removing daily transaction receipts from a small room located on the side of the ATM. She was approached by the two suspects and Ms. Moore pushed the victim inside the room, causing her to hit her head.
As Ms. Moore continued to push the victim around and steal her firearm, Mr. Cherry stood watch, wearing an Express Teller employee uniform shirt. Ms. Moore ordered the employee to open the vault. Cherry and Moore fled with $64,000 in cash.
A witness saw the attack and called police. In addition, the witness documented the plate number for the minivan the suspects were driving. In short time, police located Cherry- since the van was registered in his name. Four months later, Moore was arrested by federal agents.
In September 2006, both suspects agreed to a plea deal with the Federal Government. Days later, Cherry withdrew his guilty plea and requested a new attorney represent him. As of today, Cherry is still awaiting trial.
Moore continued with her guilty plea. On June 15, 2007, a Judge sentenced Moore to serve eight years in prison for her part in the bank robbery. After she is released from prison, she will be on supervised release for three years. In addition, she is required to pay restitution to Bank of America (the owner of the ATM) and the victim in this case.
In March of last year, William Markham (R) was indicted on numerous counts of embezzlement, money laundering, financial transaction fraud and tax evasion charges.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Federal Court, William “Bill” Markham was retained in 1993 to provide accounting and consulting services for the owners of Failure Free Reading, an organization that teaches reading skills to at-risk and special education students.
From 1999 to 2004, Markham embezzled over $3.2 million dollars from Failure Free Reading, Failure Free Properties and the owners of the two companies. The court documents state Markham illicitly ordered checks for the companies and owners’ bank accounts and wrote numerous unauthorized checks to himself and his accounting firm. The check amounts ranged from $1,000 to $90,000.
Markham used the stolen monies to live a lavish lifestyle. The Markham family lived in a beautiful $3.5 million dollar home (Left). He and his wife Brenda drove ‘his and hers’ BMW SUV’s, wore expensive clothing and spent $19,000 on an attack dog.
The Markham family enjoyed extended vacations in Charleston, SC and Kiawah Island- racking up hotel bills in amounts over $700,000.
Three months after William Markham was indicted, he entered into a plea agreement with the US Attorney’s Office. Markham pled guilty to the tax fraud and money laundering charges and all other charges were dismissed.
On March 28, 2007, William Markham was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. He was ordered to pay $3,164,011 in restitution and after he is released from prison, he will be on supervised release for three years. The Judge ordered him to report to Edgefield Federal Prison in South Carolina by August 1st.
Markham's criminal record extends back to 1988, when he was charged with embezzlement from General Tire Co. in Mecklenburg County. The following year he was convicted of larceny and he was ordered to pay restitution and one year probation.
Links: Business Today NC article, Federal Indictment, Plea Bargain, Sentencing Doc
If you have read this blog for any length of time, you are familiar with the name Kendrick Omar Hammond. Hammond is one of the many career criminals in Charlotte who passed through the Mecklenburg County Court system’s revolving door for a long time!
Last October, Kendrick Hammond finally did himself in. According to the case documents, Hammond was pulled over by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers on October 4, 2006. Hammond’s original infraction was for not wearing his seat belt but the traffic stop turned out to be much more than a seat belt violation.
Two CMPD officers were inside the patrol car when they signaled for the vehicle Hammond was driving to pull over. As the two officers approached the vehicle, they smelled alcohol and observed an open beer container in the cup holder. One of the officers asked Hammond for his license and registration and he told the officer he did not have a license.
Hammond was then ordered by the police officers to get out of his car in order to arrest him for the open container and to determine whether he was impaired. Hammond exited the vehicle and as the police officer was conducting a frisk for weapons, a bag of crack cocaine fell out of Hammond’s shorts or underwear. When officers searched the vehicle, they found a small bag of marijuana and two Ecstasy pills in the cup holder.
CMPD police cars are equipped with video cameras that automatically turn on when an officer activates the blue lights. The video camera recorded the entire traffic stop, including the drugs falling from Hammond’s shorts. This video tape will haunt Kendrick Hammond for the rest of his life!
Last December, the federal court got involved in the case and indicted Kendrick Hammond on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The evidence against Hammond was overwhelming, including the video tape and his past criminal record, including previous drug offenses.
In spite of the mound of evidence against him, Hammond entered a plea of ‘not guilty.’ Hammond and his attorney filed several motions for the court to dismiss the evidence against him but their requests were denied.
The trial of USA -vs- Kendrick Omar Hammond was set to commence this week. On Wednesday morning, a jury pool was agreed upon and the trial was set to begin after the lunch break. Apparently, Hammond saw the light while eating his lunch because he returned to the courtroom and changed his plea to GUILTY!
The charges against Hammond carry a prison term of ten years to life, however, based on Hammond’s prior convictions, the prosecution requested Hammond serve at least 24 years in federal prison. Over the next few months, the pre-sentencing process will occur and the courts will compile information about Hammond’s prior convictions, family history, background, probability of re-offending, etc. This information will be used by the Judge to determine a proper sentence. Finally, Kendrick Omar Hammond is getting what he deserves… a nice long stay in prison.
Federal Court Documents:
Federal Indictment, Prior Drug Convictions Info, Defense Motion to Suppress Evidence & Government Response, Government’s Motion In Limine
