VA Employee Indicted for Theft

Grimy Times has learned that a federal grand jury in Greenville, South Carolina, has returned an indictment against a North Carolina resident accused of stealing government funds. Nikki M. Williamson, 44, of Gastonia, North Carolina, faces a one-count indictment with theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. The maximum penalty Williamson could receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.

The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution. According to sources, Williamson is accused of stealing government funds through unauthorized means.

In a separate case, a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against Mario Josue Hernandez-Padilla, 24, of Honduras, on a federal gun charge. Hernandez-Padilla is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5). The maximum penalty Hernandez-Padilla could receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.

The case was investigated by agents of ICE-Homeland Security Investigations and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution. According to sources, Hernandez-Padilla is accused of possessing a firearm and ammunition despite being prohibited from doing so.

In another case, a federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment against Jamarr Shavarya Brown, 26, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, on federal gun and drug charges. Brown is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1); possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base (crack), a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). The maximum penalty Brown could face is a fine of $1,500,000 and/or imprisonment of 35 years.

The case was investigated by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells of the Greenville office. According to sources, Brown is accused of possessing a firearm and ammunition despite being prohibited from doing so, and also possessing cocaine base with the intent to distribute it.

In addition to these cases, a federal grand jury has also returned indictments against Shantrese Demarkeds Young, 25, of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, on a federal gun charge; Adam Noel Cobb, 37, of Cowpens, South Carolina, on a federal gun charge; and Tyrone Chadrick Grady, 32, of Greer, South Carolina, on federal gun and drug charges. The cases are all being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in the Greenville office.

Grimy Times will continue to monitor these cases and provide updates as more information becomes available.