Latest news with #ErikSiebert
New York Times
20-06-2025
- New York Times
Virginia Man Convicted in Attempted Church Shooting Gets 25 Years
A man who the authorities said had planned a mass shooting at a Virginia church was sentenced to 25 years in prison this week, federal prosecutors said. The man, Rui Jiang, 36, was convicted at his trial in March of making threats online, bringing firearms to a religious service and obstructing congregants' free exercise of religious beliefs. In a news release after the sentencing on Wednesday, Erik S. Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said that Mr. Jiang entered 'a church during a religious service armed with the intent to murder innocent parishioners.' 'The freedom to worship without fear is one of the bedrock principles of our nation,' he said. According to prosecutors, Mr. Jiang was carrying a semiautomatic handgun, two magazines of ammunition and two knives when he went to the Park Valley Church in Haymarket, Va., on Sept. 24, 2023. He was also found to have more ammunition and a canister of bear spray in his car, they said. There were about 1,000 people in the church when Mr. Jiang went there, according to Barry White, a senior pastor with the church. The authorities, who said they found Mr. Jiang inside the entrance to the church, were led there by a tip they received about his troubling social media posts. Mr. Jiang had posted on Instagram threatening messages that included a photograph of a burning Bible and a picture from the inside of a vehicle parked in what appeared to be the church's parking lot at night, according to court records. One of the messages he posted said, 'Welcome to Park Valley church' and 'Blood will be on your hands,' according to court records. Todd Richman and Nate Wenstrup, lawyers for Mr. Jiang, said in a statement on Friday that their client suffered from mental illness and that this incident happened when he was 'delusional and undergoing a severe mental health crisis.' 'Unfortunately, this is yet another case where the government has used the criminal legal system to respond to a mental health crisis,' they said. Mr. Richman and Mr. Wenstrup said they commended church security and the police officers for 'ably diffusing the situation and treating Mr. Jiang with compassion.' Since the incident, their client has been receiving treatment and taking medication, they added. The Park Valley Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Norfolk man sentenced to 8 years in prison for drug and firearms conviction
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk man was sentenced Friday to eight years and one month in prison for federal drug and firearms conviction. According to a release from U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, the Chesapeake Police Department conducted four controlled purchases of narcotics and firearms from 37-year-old Donte Rodrick Mondy between July 25, 2023, to Aug. 7, 2023. He sold a combined total of 6.1 grams of fentanyl, 2.9 grams of fentanyl with xylazine, 4.49 grams of fentanyl with xylazine, and 8.07 grams of parafluorofentanyl, cocaine and xylazine. On Aug. 29, 2023, investigators with Chesapeake Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Norfolk Police Department searched locations associated with Mondy, including his residence in Norfolk. Mondy was detained by law enforcement as he was leaving his home. Investigators searched him and a satchel he was carrying and recovered a loaded handgun, a cellphone, 81 capsules containing parafluorofentanyl, cocaine, fentanyl and xylazine. 104 counterfeit oxycodone tablets Additionally, investigators recovered indicia consistent with drug distribution, 1.3 grams of methamphetamine, a sifter, a digital scale, a handgun, a loaded magazine and six bags of marijuana in Mondy's residence. Among other crimes, Mondy was previously convicted of felony possession of cocaine and assault and battery of a family member. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Norfolk man sentenced for stealing COVID-19 relief funds using stolen identities
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk man was sentenced Wednesday to five years and ten months in prison for using other people's identities to steal COVID-19 pandemic relief funds. According to a release from U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, Dwaynald Darion Gibbs filed dozens of claims at the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The VEC was responsible for administering unemployment insurance to workers impacted by the pandemic in Virginia. Gibbs was approved for approximately $658,966 in unemployment insurance benefits. The fraudulent claims were identified after a review discovered multiple applications had similarities, such as the name 'Legends' or 'Legends Barbershop' as the former employer, mailing addresses associated with Gibbs and the same telephone number. Many of the claims were additionally submitted from the same internet protocol address. Gibbs pled guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft on December 5, 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
