PHOENIX – LawFuel.com – A recently unsealed 13-count federal indictment charges 10 individuals with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Conspiracy to Money Launder and Money Laundering. Charged in the indictment are Waine Vassel, 44, of Goodyear, Ariz.; Antwann Davon Holt, 25, of Phoenix; John Fitzgerald Spence, 45, of Phoenix; Tyree Yates, 21, of Phoenix; Kreola Johnson, 23, of Phoenix; Vivian Andersen, 23, of Phoenix; Leshay Relf, 19, of Phoenix; Darwin Ramirez, 27, of Los Angeles, Calif. and Cristina Godinez, 32, of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Lakeisha Powell, 28, of Phoenix.
All defendants, except Vassel who remains a fugitive, have been arrested and have appeared in U.S. District Court. Holt, Spence and Ramirez remain in custody pending trial. The remaining defendants have been released.
Upon conviction of the charges alleged in the indictment, the defendants face forfeiture of property gained from the offenses in excess of $2 million.
Name Age Counts U.S. v. Vassel, et al
CR-09-317-PHX-FJM Maximum Penalties
Charges
Waine Edward Vassel 44 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
2 Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana 5 to 40 yrs/ $2,000,000 fine
1 Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$1,355,332 fine
9 Laundering of Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$500,000 fine
12 Aid & Abet
Antwann D. Holt 25 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
2 Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana 5 to 40 yrs/$2,000,000 fine
1 Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$1,355,332 fine
9 Laundering of Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$500,000 fine
11 Aid & Abet
John Fitzgerald Spence 45 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
2 Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana 5 to 40 yrs/$2,000,000 fine
1 Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$1,355,332 fine
2 Aid & Abet
Tyree Yates 21 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
1 Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$1,355,332 fine
1 Laundering of Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$500,000 fine
1 Aid & Abet
Kreola Johnson 23 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
1 Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$1,355,332 fine
1 Laundering of Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$500,000 fine
1 Aid & Abet
Vivian Andersen 23 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
1 Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$1,355,332 fine
1 Laundering of Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$500,000 fine
1 Aid & Abet
Relf Leshay 19 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
2 Laundering of Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$500,000 fine
2 Aid & Abet
Darwin Ramirez 27 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
1 Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$1,355,332 fine
2 Laundering of Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$500,000 fine
2 Aid & Abet
Cristina Godinez 32 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
1 Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$1,355,332 fine
1 Laundering of Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$500,000 fine
1 Aid & Abet
Lakeisha Powell 28 1 Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Marijuana 10 yrs to life/$4,000,000 fine
1 Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments up to 20 yrs/$1,355,332 fine
An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Ann Birmingham Scheel, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-09-317-PHX-FJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-175(Vassel et al)
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