A former paralegal from the U.S. Department of Justice has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for engaging in witness retaliation and obstructing justice-related crimes.
Tawanna Hilliard reportedly uploaded post-arrest statements of witnesses suspected of cooperating against the 5-9 Brim gang, knowing violent consequences were likely to occur, according to a March 14 news release. Hilliard, who worked at the time as a paralegal in a U.S. attorney's office civil division, was the mother of a gang member and had ties with other gang members.
“The defendant, whose job it was to serve justice, instead threatened the integrity of our justice system and the safety of government witnesses,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in the release. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of her crimes and serves as a warning that obstructive and retaliatory conduct by anyone will not be tolerated and will be punished.”
Hilliard had been previously convicted of witness retaliation, conspiracy to commit witness retaliation, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, the release reported.
The defendant's son, Tyquan Hilliard, was involved in a May 2018 robbery case that targeted a cell phone business located in Monticello, N.Y., the release reported. Along with an accomplice and his girlfriend, known as John and Jane Doe, they brandished firearms and threatened the staff.
The local police apprehended them, and the FBI task force took over the investigation, linking them to a series of commercial robberies perpetrated by the 5-9 Brims, according to the release. John and Jane Doe later provided statements to law enforcement which were videotaped.
In August 2018, Tawanna Hilliard received the discovery, which contained the video evidence, the release reported. After discussing the videos with her son, she uploaded John Doe's statement to Youtube with a title of "NYC Brim Gang Member SNITCHING! Pt. 1." Part two followed shortly after with Jane Doe's statement.
Both John and Jane Doe received numerous death threats, according to the release.