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26 March 2024
Jumbotron Hacker and Prolific Child Molester Sentenced to 220 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Samuel Arthur Thompson (53, St. Augustine) to 220 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for producing, receiving, and possessing child sex abuse material (CSAM), producing CSAM while required to register as a sex offender, violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), sending unauthorized damaging commands to a protected computer, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Thompson to forfeit computers and a firearm that were used in the offenses. Thompson was convicted by a federal jury on November 17, 2023.
According to court documents and information presented at trial and sentencing, Thompson was convicted of sodomizing of a 14-year-old male child in Alabama in 1998 and was therefore a convicted felon and required to register as a sex offender, including reporting his international travel. Thompson was also prohibited from possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
Thompson was hired as a contractor by the Jacksonville Jaguars around 2013 to consult on the design and installation of the Jaguars’ new video board network, referred to as a Jumbotron, and later to operate the Jumbotron on gamedays. Thompson’s contract with the Jaguars required him to report his conviction, but he did not. In January 2018, the Jaguars determined not to renew Thompson’s contract after learning of his conviction and status as a registered sex offender.
Before the expiration of Thompson’s contract in March 2018, Thompson installed remote access software on a spare server in the Jaguars’ server room. Thompson then remotely accessed computers that controlled the Jumbotron during three 2018 season NFL games, causing the video boards to repeatedly malfunction.
After conducting an investigation, the Jaguars determined that the outages were being caused by a malicious actor sending commands via the spare server. On December 16, 2018, the Jaguars set up a “honeypot” by putting the server on its own network and removing its access to the other computers that controlled the jumbotron. During the next NFL game, the spare server was again remotely accessed and attempted to be used to send commands to computers controlling the Jumbotron. The Jaguars were able to capture the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the intruder – which the Federal Bureau of Investigation traced to Thompson’s residence.
In July 2019, the FBI executed a federal search warrant at Thompson’s home and seized a number of his computers. They also seized a firearm from Thompson’s nightstand, which he was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon.
Log files from Thompson’s iPhone, iPad, and two laptops showed that each of those devices had been used to remotely access the spare server. Additionally, the FBI found thousands of images and hundreds of videos on Thompson’s personal devices depicting CSAM, including images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children, bondage and torture of children, and bestiality. The CSAM also included a video and series of photos that Thompson had produced in June 2019. Thompson’s voice could be heard speaking to the children at the beginning of the video, which was taken in Thompson’s living room. A review of Thompson’s iPad further revealed that he had been searching the dark web for CSAM at the time the FBI knocked on his door with the search warrant.
Subsequent interviews of three male children known to Thompson in 2019 revealed that Thompson had molested two of the children, exposed himself to them, exposed the children to CSAM, spoke to the children about sex and masturbation, and had encouraged the children to play a “game” wherein the children were required to take off their clothes and run around. It was while the children were playing the “game” that Thompson produced CSAM. The children were 7, 8, and 10 years old at the time.
Thompson traveled to The Bahamas on a work trip from July 6 - 14, 2019. On July 15, 2019, Thompson registered as a sex offender and failed to report this travel as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). That same day, Thompson also received CSAM via the dark web.
On July 27, 2019, Thompson fled to the Philippines – once again failing to report his travel. Thompson’s passport was revoked, and he was deported from the Philippines on January 31, 2020, and was arrested by the FBI upon arrival in the United States and later ordered detained pending trial.
Further investigation by the FBI revealed that Thompson had sexually exploited two additional children, including one child that Thompson encountered as he was fleeing from prosecution in July 2019.
“This case exemplifies the unrelenting tenacity of investigators who pursue justice for innocent victims of crime,” said FBI Jacksonville’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Coult Markovsky. “Samuel Thompson repeatedly abused and exploited innocent children, inflicting immeasurable hurt on his victims. He also abused and exploited his employer by installing malicious software to manipulate their systems, which could have caused significantly more damage if not detected. Let this sentence serve as a pledge to all victims of crime that the FBI and our partners will doggedly pursue those who prey on them.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor, Brenna Falzetta, and Adam Duso. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mai Tran and Jennifer Harrington.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Hiding meth in shoes lands smuggler in prisonRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 30-year-old Edinburg resident has been sentenced following his conviction of importing meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Oscar Salazar pleaded guilty Aug. 4, 2022.
U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Salazar to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence of Salazar’s prior criminal history including a felony conviction for trafficking marijuana through a Border Patrol checkpoint.
On Dec. 11, 2020, Salazar drove to the Hidalgo Port of Entry attempting to enter the United States from Mexico. Law enforcement conducted a search of his vehicle and found multiple packages of meth hidden within the center console, glove compartment and a pair of shoes within his vehicle.
The meth weighed approximately three pounds with an estimated street value of $5,000.
Salazar will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.
Georgia Resident Who Traveled to Hillsborough County to Kill His Ex-Girlfriend and Her Dog IndictedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida–United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg the announces the indictment of Timothy Crawford (52, Georgia) for interstate domestic violence, discharge of a firearm during and in the commission of a crime of violence, and interstate stalking. If convicted, Crawford faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the criminal complaint and indictment, in the early morning hours of December 7, 2023, Crawford left Atlanta, Georgia and began driving towards the home of his ex-girlfriend (M.B.) in Odessa, Florida. At approximately 8:00 p.m. that evening, Crawford broke into M.B.’s residence armed with a pistol and stun-gun and waited for her to return home. When M.B. arrived, Crawford punched, kicked and electrically stunned M.B. numerous times, while telling her that he was going to kill her and her children. M.B. defended herself with a dumbbell, and ultimately escaped the residence. Before departing, Crawford shot and killed M.B.’s dog, an eight-pound Maltese.
A neighbor who heard M.B.’s screams called 911, and responding Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies immediately took Crawford into custody. Inside of the house, deputies discovered an H&K USP .40-caliber pistol on the dining room table, and observed blood all over the house, including in the garage, laundry room, bedroom, and front entry area. M.B. sustained severe injuries from the attack, including extensive bruising to her body, neck, and face, stun-gun burns, a fractured left orbital bone, nose, ring finger/hand, and a laceration to her head requiring stiches.
Crawford admitted to breaking into the victim’s house, using a taser on her, punching her in the face, and killing her dog. Search warrants executed on Crawford’s phone revealed that prior to the attack, Crawford searched on his phone, “do you get the death penalty if you kill a woman.”
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
Freeport, Minnesota Woman Apprehended in Mexico Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charges in North DakotaRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that Deanna Marie Gerads, age 33, appeared in Federal court on March 26, 2024, in Fargo and pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances before Chief District Court Judge Peter D. Welte. Gerads is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
Gerads was apprehended in Mexico on August 1, 2023, by Mexican immigration authorities and deported from Mexico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was instrumental in providing information that led to the apprehension of Gerads, who had been a fugitive for over a year.
This case is part of “Operation Unfinished Business II,” an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the international trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.
This case is being investigated by the Central Minnesota Violent Offenders Task Force (CMVOTF), Federal Bureau of Investigation, St. Cloud Police Department, Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Sartell Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service – CID, Fargo Police Department, West Fargo Police Department, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher C. Myers and Alex Stock, District of North Dakota.
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Four Sentenced in Federal Court for their Role in Meth Trafficking Ring and Related Firearms CrimeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two men from the Midlands and a California man and woman were sentenced after pleading guilty in federal court to their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and a related firearms crime.
- Andre Alexander Boulware, 46, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
- Victor Guzman, 30, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Alice Hortencia Velazquez, 30, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
- Jessie James York, 44, of Lexington, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that from 2018 to 2021, Guzman served as a California-based source of supply for extremely pure “ice” methamphetamine, which was shipped to Columbia, South Carolina. Over the course of the conspiracy, Guzman was responsible for trafficking more than eight kilograms of “ice” methamphetamine to the Columbia area. Velazquez was a California-based facilitator/distributor for Guzman. Boulware received methamphetamine from Guzman and Velazquez and distributed drugs to others, including York.
On Oct. 29, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Long Beach, California home of Guzman and Velazquez. Inside the property and cars parked at the home, law enforcement found approximately two and a half kilograms of “ice” methamphetamine, two 9mm firearms and ammunition. Guzman later admitted he had the firearms because of the dangers involved in drug dealing.
In August 2020, law enforcement in Columbia intercepted two boxes sent to Boulware. Each box contained approximately half a kilogram of “ice” methamphetamine. Further investigation revealed that Velazquez, working for and on behalf of Guzman, had helped Boulware obtain that methamphetamine, and that the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy had been ongoing since at least 2018.
“Illegal narcotics pose a serious danger and public health risk,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “As these sentences bring an end to Guzman’s operation, we will continue to prosecute drug traffickers who poison our community.
“Driven by greed, these drug traffickers’ activities posed a significant threat from South Carolina to California,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those destroying our communities with methamphetamine will be brought to justice.”
“These investigations speak volumes of the success we have in apprehending those that put poison in our communities,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. “Multiple agencies working together can defeat the drug trafficking organizations.”
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced all four individuals. Andre Alexander Boulware was sentenced to 135 months imprisonment. Victor Guzman was sentenced to 220 months imprisonment, 160 months on the methamphetamine conspiracy, and 60 months consecutive on the firearm count. Guzman’s 220-month sentence in this case will run concurrent to a 60-month custodial sentence imposed on Guzman by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for his role in an unrelated fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. Alice Hortencia Velazquez was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment. Jessie James York was sentenced to 168 months imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Boulware, Guzman and York’s terms of imprisonment will all be followed by five-year terms of court-ordered supervision. Velazquez’s term of imprisonment will be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn prosecuted the case.
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Former President of Oklahoma Steel Pole Manufacturer Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
An Oklahoma man was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison for evading over $1 million in income taxes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2014 to 2019, Phillip Barry Albert was President of Pelco Structural LLC, a steel pole manufacturing company located in Claremone, Oklahoma. During that period, Albert directed Pelco’s outside payroll service company to pay him over $2.6 million of Pelco’s funds, which should have been treated as income to him. Albert, however, instructed that the payroll company falsely characterize the payments as reimbursements rather than income, so that the payroll company would not withhold federal income taxes or report the payments as wages on Albert’s Forms W-2. Albert then did not report the payments on his income tax returns for those years.
Albert caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,000,232.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Terence Kern for the Northern District of Oklahoma ordered Albert to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $1,000,232 in restitution to the United States and $2,615,750 in restitution to Pelco Industries Inc., which is the former parent company of Pelco.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Meredith Havekost of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Duncombe for the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.
Former New Jersey Corrections Officer Admits Role in Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme That Targeted Law Enforcement, Fire Personnel, and Other First RespondersRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former New Jersey corrections officer admitted orchestrating two different fraud schemes, including a cryptocurrency scheme that resulted in losses of more than $600,000, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
John DeSalvo, 47, of Linwood, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court on March 25, 2023, to a two-count Information charging him with two counts of securities fraud.
“This defendant preyed on unwitting public servants to trick them into investing their hard-earned savings in a sham token he dubbed ‘the crypto pension’, which he then stole for his personal use. My office will relentlessly pursue these kinds of scammers so that we can work with our partners to bring fraudsters to justice.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
“DeSalvo admits his role in two fraud schemes, one of which involved him creating and marketing a crypto token to first responders that could supplement their existing pensions,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders show up each day to serve and protect, hoping their hard-earned pensions will allow for a nice retirement one day. Many of his victims ended up losing their entire investments. He's now facing the justice he deserves."
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The Blazar Token Fraud
DeSalvo was the creator and promoter of a digital token known as “Blazar Token,” (Blazar) which DeSalvo marketed to police, fire personnel, EMTs, and other first responders as a “crypto pension” that could be used to supplement investors’ existing pension plans. DeSalvo promised investors that Blazar would offer “more stability than any other token” and that the value of Blazar would “continue to rise over time similar to any investment fund, only at a much higher rate of success.”
Beginning in late 2021, DeSalvo used social media platforms to fraudulently solicit investments in Blazar through a series of misrepresentations including that Blazar was in the process of becoming, or was already, a securitized token approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and Blazar could be purchased through payroll deductions and/or ACH transactions. DeSalvo also falsely told investors that Blazar had been approved for inclusion on several well-known cryptocurrency exchanges and guaranteed investors rates of return of more than 20 percent with “ZERO risk.”
In total, DeSalvo raised more than $620,000 from more than 200 investors in Blazar. After receiving investor funds, DeSalvo frequently used the funds for various illicit purposes unrelated to Blazar including personal expenses, day-trading in various volatile cryptocurrencies, and payments to prior investors in the manner of a Ponzi scheme.
In May 2022, DeSalvo sold off more than 41 billion of his own Blazar tokens, which caused the price of the token to drop precipitously. The value of Blazar never recovered, causing most investors to lose their entire investments.
The Brokerage-1 Fraud
Between January 2021 and May 2021, DeSalvo managed and solicited investment in an investment group through Brokerage-1, an online trading platform. DeSalvo marketed the investment group largely through social media posts in which DeSalvo falsely touted his success as an investor. For example, DeSalvo claimed to potential investors, “I have been averaging close to 1200% over the last 2 years. I am in the top 1,000th percent in the world. That’s the truth, the return rates I have been averaging are so high that I have people throwing money at me to invest.”
In total, DeSalvo solicited approximately $100,000 in investments from approximately 20 individuals for the investment group. After receiving the funds, DeSalvo engaged in trading activities for a brief period of time before transferring all the funds out of the investment group’s account at Brokerage-1 and into personal accounts held by DeSalvo at Brokerage-1 and Coinbase. DeSalvo then used the funds for various non-investment purposes such as credit card payments, personal trading in volatile cryptocurrencies, and payments to a contractor who performed work on DeSalvo’s personal residence.
After draining the investment group’s account, DeSalvo advised the investment group investors that their funds had been lost due to poor market conditions and provided the investors with false trading records purporting to show the trading activity that DeSalvo engaged in on behalf of the investment group.
The counts of securities fraud carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $5 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 6, 2024.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also previously filed a civil complaint against DeSalvo based on the same conduct.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark and detectives from the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Cyber Crimes Bureau, under the direction of Director Stephen Ferketic, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Torntore, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
desalvo.information.pdfFormer Guinea-Bissau president’s son sent to U.S. prison for international drug traffickingRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The leader of a transnational drug trafficking organization has been imprisoned for his involvement in an international heroin trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Malam Bacai Sanha Jr., 52, pleaded guilty Sept. 6, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance for the purpose of unlawful importation.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now ordered Sanha to serve an 80-month-term of imprisonment. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard Sanha was the son of the former president of Guinea-Bissau and was intending to use drug proceeds to finance his future campaign for president in 2025 and a coup in that country. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Sanha was a leader and organizer in the heroin trafficking conspiracy and was directly involved in its importation from Europe to the United States. The court also found his drug trafficking activities to be extensive.
“The expansive reach of transnational criminal networks, like the one Sanha ran, presents a serious threat to the safety and health of all communities,” said Hamdani. “Sanha and his associates intended to distribute kilograms of heroin to the United States at a time when Americans lose their lives to drug overdose every day. This prosecution represents our office’s unwavering determination, together with our U.S. and international partners, to target and bring to justice violent criminals who lead transnational drug trafficking organizations that continue to flood our country with dangerous drugs.”
“The success of this investigation is the result of careful coordination between our federal, state, local and international partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division. “Our goal is to keep the citizens of the United States safe from the terrors of drug traffickers, whether they reside on our soil or foreign land.”
“Malam Bacai Sanha Jr. wasn’t any ordinary international drug trafficker,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “He is the son of the former president of Guinea-Bissau and was trafficking drugs for a very specific reason - to fund a coup that would eventually lead him to the presidency of his native country where he planned to establish a drug regime. Fortunately, FBI Houston agents and our partners at the DEA thwarted his attempts, with the cooperation of our international partners. Crime has a global reach and impact, and so does the FBI.”
Sanha was the leader of a transnational criminal organization and worked with co-conspirators and international individuals to import heroin from various countries into Portugal.
With the assistance of co-conspirators, Sanha provided 4.7 kilograms of heroin to an undercover member of law enforcement in Lisbon, Portugal, in February and March 2022. He further agreed to deliver the heroin on at least three occasions, believing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States.
On July 23, 2022, Tanzanian law enforcement arrested Sanha pursuant to domestic criminal charges, along with a co-conspirator, upon their arrival in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The United States presented a formal request for Sanha’s extradition to the government of Tanzania, which the Tanzanian courts granted Aug. 5, 2022. The Tanzanian Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs signed the formal surrender order Aug. 16, 2022. Sanha and his co-conspirator arrived in the Southern District of Texas Aug. 26, 2022.
Sanha will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
DEA Houston, FBI Houston and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative with the assistance of DEA Special Operations Division in Washington D.C., DEA Romania, DEA Portugal and DEA Tanzania as well as Portuguese Judicial Police. Thanks are also extended to the government of the United Republic of Tanzania. These OCDETF cooperative matters provide for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Houston Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking organizations that are designated as Consolidated Priority Organization or Regional Priority Organization Targets and that impact Houston and south Texas. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Tanzanian authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Sanha. The Justice Department thanks the government of the United Republic of Tanzania, including the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority, Tanzanian Police Force Airport Interdiction Unit, Director of Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, and the Portuguese Judicial Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz prosecuted the case.
Former Georgia Detention Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violation for Strangling Female DetaineeRead the Press Release
A former detention officer with the Fulton County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office pleaded guilty today to violating a detainee’s civil rights by using excessive force while booking her into a Fulton County detention facility.
Monique Clark, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
“This defendant wrapped his hands around the throat of a handcuffed woman and strangled her into unconsciousness while she was being booked into the Fulton County Jail system,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This conduct was cruel, abusive and violated Fulton County Sheriff’s office policies that clearly restrict use of chokeholds and neck restraints. The Justice Department will prosecute officials who violate the civil rights of people held in our jails and prisons by using excessive or deadly force.”
“Clark’s conduct in abusing a handcuffed inmate by strangling her is reprehensible,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “Thankfully, Clark’s actions do not reflect the diligence and seriousness with which the majority of detention officers fulfill their roles each day in helping to secure our jails and protect the welfare of detainees.”
“By violating his sworn oath as a detention officer to protect people, Clark betrayed every honest, hardworking officer, and crossed the line to criminal behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “Let this plea be a reminder that the abuse of inmates by prison staff will not be tolerated by the FBI and will always be pursued for prosecution.”
According to court documents, the victim was arrested by officers of the Alpharetta, Georgia, Police Department and brought to the Fulton County North Annex Jail, where Clark was working as a detention officer. While the victim was being booked into the jail, Clark placed his hands around her neck and choked her until she lost consciousness. At the time that Clark choked the victim, the victim was handcuffed and posed no threat to officers or anyone else. As Clark was aware, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office policy prohibited officers from using chokeholds and neck restraints except in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Clark faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Atlanta Field Office and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office’s Office of Professional Standards investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bret Hobson for the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Former D.C. Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violation for Assaulting a Handcuffed InmateRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former District of Columbia Department of Corrections Officer, Marcus Bias, 27, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office, and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“Corrections officers, like any other member of law enforcement, are sworn to protect the people in their custody,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Officer Bias violated this oath and the Constitution when he pushed the head of a handcuffed inmate in his care into a metal doorframe, causing substantial injuries to the inmate. Such abuses of power will not be tolerated and this Office, along with our federal partners, will investigate and charge any member of law enforcement who deprives a citizen of their civil rights.”
“When corrections officers carry out acts of violence against those who are entrusted to their care, they will be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “The Justice Department will continue to prosecute those who abuse their authority, while standing up for the civil rights of the victims of these crimes.”
“One of the FBI’s core missions is to protect the civil rights of every person within the United States,” said Assistant Director in Charge Sundberg. “Law enforcement officers are given authority and responsibility, but if they abuse that power, they will be held accountable for those actions. Today’s plea is an example of the FBI and our partners at the D.C. Department of Corrections working together to ensure that no one is above the law and that justice is served.”
According to court documents, Bias pushed a handcuffed detainee’s head into a metal doorframe while escorting him within the Department of Corrections on June 12, 2019, resulting in injury to the detainee, J.W. Specifically, intentionally and without provocation, Bias, who was holding J.W., pushed J.W.’s head into the doorframe while J.W. was handcuffed behind his back, suffering from the effects of O.C. spray, surrounded by five other officers and compliant with transport. J.W. sustained significant injuries, which required outside emergency medical attention.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 28, 2024. Bias faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Anna Gotfryd of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, Rebekah J. Bailey, formerly a Trial Attorney with the Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Truscott for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
Former D.C. Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violation for Assaulting a Handcuffed InmateRead the Press Release
A former District of Columbia Department of Corrections Officer, Marcus Bias, 27, pleaded guilty today to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
“People held inside our jails and prisons should never be subject to the kind of violent and unjustified assault that was carried out by this corrections officer,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant violently rammed an inmate’s head into a metal doorframe while he was handcuffed and posed no threat. When jail officials violate their oath and betray the trust placed in them by abusing people in their custody, the Justice Department will investigate and prosecute these offenses and will stand up for the civil rights of the victims of these crimes.”
“Corrections officers, like any other member of law enforcement, are sworn to protect the people in their custody,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Officer Bias violated this oath and the Constitution when he pushed the head of a handcuffed inmate in his care into a metal doorframe, causing substantial injuries to the inmate. Such abuses of power will not be tolerated and this office, along with our federal partners, will investigate and charge any member of law enforcement who deprives a citizen of their civil rights.”
“The defendant, a former corrections officer, pushed a handcuffed inmate’s head into a metal doorframe, causing significant physical and emotional distress,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s guilty plea is another example of prison officials who have been held accountable for civil rights violations, and the FBI remains committed to protecting the dignity and civil rights of individuals in custody. We will continue to investigate violations under color of law and work with our partners to hold responsible anyone who commits these crimes.”
“One of the FBI’s core missions is to protect the civil rights of every person within the United States,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Law enforcement officers are given authority and responsibility, but if they abuse that power, they will be held accountable for those actions. Today’s plea is an example of the FBI and our partners at the D.C. Department of Corrections working together to ensure that no one is above the law and that justice is served.”
According to court documents, Bias, intentionally and without provocation, pushed a detainee’s head into a metal doorframe while escorting him within the Department of Corrections on June 12, 2019, causing serious injuries. At the time, the detainee, J.W., had his hands handcuffed behind his back, was suffering from the effects of O.C. spray, was surrounded by five other officers and was not resisting. J.W.’s injuries required outside emergency medical attention.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 28. Bias faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Anna Gotfryd of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, Rebekah J. Bailey, formerly a Trial Attorney with the Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Truscott for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
Five Arrested in South Texas for Allegedly Trafficking Military Grade Firearms to Mexican Drug CartelRead the Press Release
Five individuals were arrested in Laredo, Hebbronville, and Falls City, Texas, last week for allegedly trafficking military grade firearms to a drug cartel in Mexico.
According to court documents, Gerardo Rafael Perez Jr., also known as Jerry, 23, of Laredo, allegedly coordinated the acquisition of more than 100 firearms throughout Texas to be smuggled across the international border and delivered to a drug trafficking cartel in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Perez’s organization allegedly used straw purchasers, including co-defendants Francisco Alejandro Benavides, also known as Frankie, 23, and Mark Anthony Trevino Jr., 24, to procure the firearms from a variety of sources in the Western, Southern, and Northern Districts of Texas. Court documents allege that the organization would acquire guns from unlicensed dealers of firearms, or from federal firearm licensees, where straw purchasers would make false representations to secure the firearms.
“Stopping the trafficking of high-caliber and military grade firearms to Mexico is a top priority for the Justice Department — and especially the ATF and HSI agents and Department prosecutors that lead Operation Southbound,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Working with our Mexican partners, we will disrupt and dismantle the drug cartels responsible for so much destruction in both nations, and as demonstrated by these charges, we will bring to justice the alleged firearms traffickers who would arm those cartels.”
“Preventing firearms from getting into the black market is one of ATF’s top priorities,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “When guns are diverted to unlawful markets in Mexico, they are often going to arm dangerous drug cartels. ATF will continue to work with all our partners, like those at HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to bring important cases like this and hold gun traffickers accountable.”
“The successful outcome of these arrests is a direct result of the steadfast efforts of HSI and our federal partner to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of transnational criminal organizations that pose a threat to public safety both here and abroad,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “These arrests send a strong message to weapons traffickers that law enforcement will work aggressively with our federal law enforcement partners to combat this egregious and dangerous criminal activity.”
Luis Matias Leal also known as Wicho, Poncho, and El Tio, 30, allegedly provided cash and instructions to facilitate the conspiracy, while Antonio Osiel Casarez, 26, would smuggle the firearms into Mexico and return to the United States with bulk cash.
The high-powered firearms allegedly acquired by Perez’s organization included FNH SCAR rifles, Barrett .50 caliber rifles, FNH M294S rifles, and M1919 rifles.
Perez, Casarez, Leal, Benavides, and Trevino were all named in a superseding indictment filed March 6. They were arrested March 20.
The five new defendants are all charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
Perez, Casarez, Leal, and Benavides are further charged with one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Perez faces two additional firearms trafficking charges. Leal, Benavides, and Trevino are also charged with falsifying information when buying a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and an additional count of straw purchasing. All of the charges also carry a fine up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Co-defendants Jose Emigdio Q. Mendoza, Gerardo Antonio Ibarra Jr., and Gerardo Corona Jr. were initially named in an earlier indictment. Mendoza was allegedly engaged in the business of dealing firearms without a license, selling military-grade weapons to members of the Perez conspiracy. Ibarra and Corona were allegedly straw purchasers for the organization.
Several of the defendants are alleged to have contacted Mendoza to purchase the firearms, including SCAR rifles, Barrett .50 caliber rifles, and M249 rifles. Mendoza is alleged to have sold at least 22 such firearms to his co-conspirators from December 2022 to March 2023 and received approximately $169,900.00, at a markup from the retail price of the guns so he could derive a profit for himself.
Mendoza was arrested in San Antonio on March 11, 2023. Ibarra and Corona were arrested in September and October 2023, respectively.
Deputy Attorney General Monaco, ATF Director Dettelbach, HSI Executive Director Berger, and U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
ATF and HSI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve for the Western District of Texas is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Final of Four Teens Pleads Guilty to Charge in St. Louis County Cab Driver’s MurderRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The final of four defendants from St. Louis County, Missouri charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a cab driver in Hazelwood in 2022 pleaded guilty Tuesday.
Tywon Harris, 20, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of aiding and abetting in the commission of a murder.
Coron Dees, now 20, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to a robbery charge. Jeremiah Allen, 20, and Trishawn Jones, 19, pleaded guilty in August to the same robbery charge. Jones also pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting in the commission of a murder.
In their plea agreements, all four admitted involvement in the robbery of Dewight Price, 54. Harris instigated the robbery. Dees and Jones robbed Price at gunpoint, while Allen taunted and threatened Price during the robbery. Jones fired the fatal shot when he perceived Price to be a threat to their escape. Jones was 17 and the others were 18 at the time of the murder.
On April 24, 2022, after leaving a party in downtown St. Louis, the four teens stopped at a gas station in the 700 block of North Tucker Boulevard. Harris and Jones were each armed with semiautomatic handguns, but Harris gave his gun to Dees to carry in his cross-body bag on the walk to the gas station.
At 5:23 a.m., Harris called for a taxi ride home. The four planned to take the taxi to a fake address near Allen’s home, then run away without paying the fare. After learning that they would have to prepay for the ride, the teens began discussing plans to rob Price.
They redirected Price to Hazelwood Central High School, where they thought there would be no witnesses. Allen denied being part of the planning but admitted he knew that a robbery was going to take place. All four teens knew Jones and Dees were armed.
When they arrived, Dees and Jones pulled out their firearms and demanded cash from Price. Price begged the teens not to shoot him. A laughing Allen, who was in the front seat, told Price not to move and said, “You got two 40s to your head,” referencing a popular firearm caliber. Price held up his hands and handed cash to Jones. Price then grabbed a firearm he kept in his door. Allen warned the three others that Price had a gun. Price began to get out of the cab, but Harris opened his door, knocking Price to the ground.
Jones saw Price’s firearm and fired once, hitting Price in the torso. None of the teens stopped to help Price. As they ran away, Price fired his own gun multiple times, but did not strike any of them.
Although Harris claims Price fired the first shot, neither the inside or outside of the taxi nor any of the defendants was struck by gunfire. Any shot fired by Price would likely have struck his attackers or the vehicle. Investigators believe Price did not begin firing until after he was mortally wounded, the plea agreements say.
The teens then ran along a wooded path to Allen’s neighborhood, tossing their jackets into a creek and putting on face masks.
Police arrived to find Price dead. That afternoon, the investigation led them to Allen’s house. Allen, Jones, and Harris hid Harris’s .22-caliber Glock 44 handgun and clothing they wore during the shooting above the drop ceiling in Allen’s basement. Police surrounded the house and members of Allen’s family voluntarily left. Police then entered the residence and called for Allen, Harris and Jones to surrender. Allen and Jones left the basement and surrendered. Harris attempted to hide. Police found Harris during a sweep of the basement and then found the gun and clothing. They later found Jones’ .40-caliber Ruger handgun, which he had hidden in a neighbor’s back yard wrapped in a pair of Dee’s jeans.
Dees and Allen are scheduled to be sentenced in April, Jones is set to be sentenced in May and Harris’ sentencing is scheduled for July. The robbery charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,00 fine or both. The aiding and abetting murder charge carries a potential penalty of up to life in prison and the same fine.
The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Dunkel is prosecuting the case.
Final Defendant in St. Louis Area Methamphetamine Ring Sentenced to 235 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS– U.S. District Judge District Court Judge Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced the final defendant in a methamphetamine distribution ring to 235 months in prison.
Dedrick Deshon Jordan, who was sentenced Tuesday, is one of 15 defendants who pleaded guilty in the case.
Jordan, 35, and his co-defendants Terry James Williams, 37, Clifford Dwight Davis Jr., 43, and Maria D. Flores-Cervantes, 36, were connected to the source of supply in the Los Angeles area, plea agreements say. Jordan and Joseph Robert Holliman, 49, were primarily responsible for arranging the supply of meth, which was sent through the mail or brought to the St. Louis area by couriers. Brendon Darnell Thomas, 47, at times supplied the drug to street-level dealers, plea agreements say. Thomas, Holliman and Jordan each had a residence that they used to receive and store drugs and cash proceeds from drug sales.
The investigation was primarily conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Jefferson County Municipal Enforcement Group. More than 15 kilograms of meth were seized during an investigation that began in January 2019. A total of about 1.3 kilograms of nearly pure meth and 8.9 kilograms of marijuana was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on two occasions in 2020. On April 18, 2020, Davis and Flores-Cervantes were stopped in Phelps County, Missouri in an SUV equipped with a hidden compartment containing a loaded handgun, nearly 12 kilograms of meth and 47.8 grams of heroin.
On June 18, 2020, investigators conducted court-approved searches of the homes of Thomas, Jordan and Holliman. They found $129,776 in cash, 190 grams of meth and a digital scale at Jordan’s residence. At Holliman's residence, they found vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana, electronic scales, ammunition, three firearms and 4.3 grams of meth. At Thomas' residence, they found three firearms, clear plastic bags containing marijuana, a money counter and $17,520 cash.
Thomas was sentenced to 210 months in prison. Holliman received 84 months. Williams was sentenced to 120 months and Davis received 45 months.
The DEA, HSI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Charles City and County Police, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, the Arnold Police Department and the Normandy Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa prosecuted the case.
Federal Grand Jury in Louisville Returns 3 Indictments Charging 14 DefendantsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – On March 5, 2024, a federal grand jury in Louisville charged 14 Louisville and California residents in three indictments involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin trafficking and firearms and money laundering offenses.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek Davadowich of the Drug Enforcement Administration Louisville Division Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, Acting Special Agent in Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the first indictment, Carl Delph, 53, of California, and Anyelle Curtley, Sr., 47, Anyelle Curtley, Jr., 26, Adrian Richie, 35, Joseph Cousins, 39, Alandro O’Neal, 50, Jeroy Boyd, 44, Ameer Ellis, 45, Paul Butler, Jr., 35, and Susan Jenkins, 41, all of Louisville, are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Beginning as early as May 9, 2023, and continuing through February 21, 2024, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and over 500 grams of cocaine.
Delph and Curtley, Sr. are also charged with a money laundering conspiracy.
Delph is also charged with distributing over 500 grams of cocaine and distributing over 400 grams of fentanyl.
Curtley, Sr. is also charged with distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On December 28, 2023, Curtley, Sr., possessed a Glock, model 27, .40 caliber handgun. Curtley, Sr. was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted the following felony offense.
On May 19, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Curtley, Sr. was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Curtley, Jr. is also charged with distributing fentanyl and cocaine.
Richie and Cousins are also charged with distributing fentanyl.
O’Neal, Ellis, and Jenkins are also charged with distributing methamphetamine.
Boyd is also charged with distributing cocaine.
Butler, Jr. is also charged with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to the second indictment, Phillip King, Sr., 49, of California, and Norton Hazard, 55, of Louisville, are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Beginning as early as March 24, 2022, and continuing through February 21, 2024, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and distributed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.
According to the third indictment, Christopher Curtley, 50, and Antoyne Penick, 47, both of Louisville, are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Beginning as early as January 9, 2024, and continuing through February 29, 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin.
Christopher Curtley is also charged with distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Penick is also charged with distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Penick is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On January 24, 2024, Penick possessed a Heritage Manufacturing Inc., Model Rough Rider, .22 caliber revolver. Penick was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On September 27, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Penick was convicted of flagrant non-support.
On October 19, 2015, in Clark Circuit Court, Clark County, Indiana, Penick was convicted of theft.
On November 1, 2010, in Clark Superior Court, Clark County, Indiana, Penick was convicted of theft, robbery (two counts), and dealing in marijuana.
All defendants except King, Sr. have been arrested and made their initial court appearances over the last two weeks before U.S. Magistrate Judges of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and the Southern District of California. King, Sr. has not yet been arrested and is a wanted fugitive. If convicted, the defendants each face mandatory minimum sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years, and all face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The cases are being investigated by the DEA, HSI, ATF, IRS-CI, and the Louisville Metro Police Department, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Josh Porter are prosecuting the cases.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Current and Former Minor League Baseball Players Indicted for Insider Trading in Del Taco StocksRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 26, 2024
SAN DIEGO – An indictment was unsealed today charging current and former minor league baseball players Jordan Qsar, Grant Witherspoon and Austin Bernard with insider trading in Del Taco, Inc. stocks after they received advanced notice of the acquisition of Del Taco by Jack in the Box, Inc. on December 6, 2021.
According to the indictment, Qsar learned from a close friend who worked at Jack in the Box that the company was acquiring Del Taco. The friend was a senior associate in Jack in the Box’s strategic finance department who personally worked on the acquisition project. The disclosure was a violation of duties to Jack in the Box and its shareholders.
The indictment states that Qsar fraudulently shared the inside information with Witherspoon and Bernard, who were connected to Qsar through collegiate and minor league baseball teams at Pepperdine University and the Tampa Bay Rays.
In the following months, after learning the inside information, Qsar, Witherspoon, and Bernard purchased Del Taco stocks, discussed when and how many shares they were purchasing, and tipped others with the inside information.
According to the indictment, after Jack in the Box and Del Taco went public with the acquisition on December 6, 2021, Del Taco stocks jumped in price from $7.53 to $12.51 per share—representing a 66 percent increase from the prior trading day’s closing price. In the days following, Qsar, Witherspoon, and Bernard sold all their Del Taco stocks, earning them illegal profits of approximately $56,000, $41,800, and $64,600, respectively.
“The system has to be fair for everyone, or the market fails,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Those who seek to undermine this system for personal gain will face consequences.”
“Insider trading directly affects the integrity of our economy,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “We will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure people who intentionally undermine and threaten our economy will be brought to justice.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Sou.
DEFENDANTS Case Number: 24-CR-0385-DMS
Jordan Joseph Qsar Age: 28
Grant Lee Witherspoon Age: 27
Austin Lane Bernard Age: 28
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18 U.S.C. 371 – Conspiracy
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine
Title 15 U.S.C. 78j(b), 78ff & Title 17 C.F.R. 240.10b-5 and 240.10b5-1 – Securities Fraud
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison; $5 million fine
Title 18 USC 1343 – Wire Fraud & Title 18 USC 2 – Aiding and Abetting
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine
Title 18 USC 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28 USC 2461(c) – Criminal Forfeiture
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau Investigation
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jasper Orlando Sumpter, 36, of Gadsden, was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on the evening of Sept. 16, 2020, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) were dispatched to a residential neighborhood off Shop Road in Columbia, in reference to a shooting. While enroute, a deputy observed a Dodge Challenger, driven by Sumpter, parked in the roadway. The deputy attempted to approach the vehicle to conduct a welfare check when Sumpter sped off and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase down Shop Road. During the pursuit, the driver drove at speeds more than 90 MPH before crashing in a ditch and attempting to run from the vehicle.
Sumpter was subsequently arrested, and deputies determined the vehicle was stolen out of Virginia. During the search of the vehicle law enforcement located a .40 caliber pistol on the passenger floorboard and a 9mm pistol on the ground near the driver’s side door. Sumpter was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
While Sumpter was in custody, other RCSD deputies responded to the scene of the shooting and collected a mixture of 9mm and .40 caliber shell casings found directly in front of the residence and submitted them for NIBIN testing. The testing revealed the shell casings recovered from the scene of the shooting were linked to both firearms in Sumpter’s possession. Surveillance footage from the neighborhood, showed Sumpter leaving the scene of the shooting at a high rate of speed around the time the initial calls were made in reference to the shooting.
Sumpter is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior felony convictions. Sumpter has prior convictions for unlawful carrying of a pistol, criminal domestic violence, simple assault and battery, driving under suspension, two convictions for being a habitual traffic offender, and obtaining prescription drugs by fraud.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Sumpter to 50 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
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. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana N. Gore is prosecuting the case.
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Ciudadano de las Bahamas imputado y aprehendido por su papel en una asociación delictiva mortal de contrabandeo de personasRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Hoy se dio a conocer una acusación formal en el Distrito Sur de Florida en la que se imputa a un ciudadano de las Bahamas por su presunto papel en una asociación delictiva de contrabandeo de personas que resultó en la muerte de numerosos migrantes.
Gracias a una labor de amplia coordinación y cooperación entre las autoridades estadounidenses y bahameñas, Vandrick Nelson Smith, también conocido como Muggy y Vans, de 33 años, fue aprehendido en las Bahamas el 6 de marzo último en virtud de una solicitud de los Estados Unidos que involucraba cargos presentados bajo sello en el Distrito Sur de Florida en noviembre de 2023.
Según documentos judiciales, Smith presuntamente estaba involucrado en una organización de contrabandeo de personas que hacía la tentativa de traer migrantes ilegalmente de las Bahamas a los Estados Unidos en barco. Los migrantes eran ciudadanos de Colombia, Jamaica, República Dominicana y Haití, entre otros países. Presuntamente, los migrantes (o sus familiares y amigos) pagaron dinero a la organización para que los ingresase de contrabando a los Estados Unidos. Como se describe a continuación, la acusación formal alega que Smith estuvo involucrado personalmente en tres incidentes de contrabandeo de personas por vía marítima, incluido uno que resultó en cinco muertes.
“Las operaciones de contrabandeo de personas ponen en riesgo la vida de las personas por obtener ganancias económicas”, indicó el fiscal federal Markenzy Lapointe del Distrito Sur de Florida. “Los contrabandistas de personas toman ventaja de las esperanzas de tener una vida mejor de los migrantes. Trágicamente, las hazañas de los contrabandistas representan un grave peligro para los migrantes. La Fiscalía de los Estados Unidos continuará trabajando con nuestros socios para enjuiciar a quienes llevan a cabo operaciones ilícitas de contrabandeo de personas para proteger a los migrantes vulnerables y salvar vidas”.
“Vandrick Smith ha sido imputado de organizar peligrosas operaciones de contrabandeo de personas, enviando migrantes por barco de las Bahamas a Florida. Como se alega en la acusación formal, las operaciones de la organización de contrabandeo de personas se volvieron mortales cuando un bote que transportaba migrantes zozobró en enero de 2022”, señaló la fiscal auxiliar principal Nicole M. Argentieri, jefa de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia. “Los contrabandistas de personas explotan por dinero a la gente desesperada, y las consecuencias pueden ser trágicas. La División Penal está comprometida a combatir a las organizaciones de contrabandeo de personas que se aprovechan y ponen en peligro a los migrantes vulnerables, dondequiera que operen”.
Presuntamente, Smith estuvo involucrado en tres operaciones de contrabandeo de personas por vía marítima que ocurrieron alrededor del 6 de marzo de 2021, el 22 de enero de 2022 y el 8 de agosto de 2022. La acusación formal imputa que la noche del 22 de enero de 2022, numerosos migrantes abordaron una embarcación en las Bahamas con destino a Florida. Poco después del zarpe de la embarcación, supuestamente, los motores dejaron de funcionar y la embarcación zozobró. El 25 de enero de 2022, los Guardacostas de EE. UU. rescataron al único migrante sobreviviente, que se encontraba aferrado a la parte superior de la embarcación volcada.
“La Oficina de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI, por sus siglas en inglés) sigue dedicada a colaborar con nuestros socios nacionales e internacionales para llevar ante la justicia a delincuentes temerarios que priorizan las ganancias económicas sobre la vida y la seguridad de las personas”, dijo el agente especial a cargo Anthony Salisbury de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI) Miami. “Los riesgos asociados con las operaciones de contrabandeo marítimo de personas son extremos. Instamos al público a evitar aventurarse en estos viajes con organizaciones criminales peligrosas, que a menudo resultan en tragedias”.
A Smith se le imputan cinco cargos de tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos causando su muerte como resultado de la operación de enero de 2022. También se le imputa de asociación delictiva para traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos con fines de lucro, poniendo en peligro la vida de los extranjeros y causando su muerte; tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos con fines de lucro; y de ayudar e instigar a ciertos extranjeros a ingresar a los Estados Unidos. Si se le declara culpable de tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos causando su muerte, Smith se enfrenta a una pena máxima de cadena perpetua.
HSI Fort Pierce y el Agregado Auxiliar de HSI en Nassau, Bahamas, investigaron el caso, con la asistencia de HSI Miami, los Guardacostas de EE. UU., la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Brevard y la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Brevard. La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia ofreció apoyo significativo con las solicitudes de asistencia jurídica extranjera y el logro de la aprehensión. El Departamento de Justicia agradece a la Real Fuerza de Policía de Bahamas, la Fiscalía de Bahamas, el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Bahamas, el Departamento de Inmigración de Bahamas y el Departamento de Procesamientos Judiciales Públicos de Bahamas por su asistencia en el caso.
La investigación se está llevando a cabo conforme al programa de Fuerza de Ataque de Viajes Delictivos Extraterritoriales (ECT, por sus siglas en inglés), una asociación conjunta entre la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia y HSI. El programa ECT se centra en las redes de contrabandeo de personas que pueden presentar riesgos especiales para la seguridad nacional o la seguridad pública, o que representan serias preocupaciones humanitarias. El ECT tiene recursos dedicados a la investigación, inteligencia y procesamiento judiciales. El ECT coordina y recibe asistencia de otras agencias del gobierno de los EE. UU. y de autoridades del orden público extranjeras.
La abogada litigante Marie Zisa de la Sección de Derechos Humanos y Procesamientos Judiciales Especiales de la División Penal y el fiscal auxiliar Justin Hoover del Distrito Sur de Florida están procesando el caso.
Una acusación formal es meramente una alegación. Se presume que todos los acusados son inocentes hasta que ante un tribunal de justicia se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable.
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Ciudadano de las Bahamas imputado y aprehendido por su papel en una asociación delictiva mortal de contrabandeo de personasRead the Press Release
Hoy se dio a conocer una acusación formal en el Distrito Sur de Florida en la que se imputa a un ciudadano de las Bahamas por su presunto papel en una asociación delictiva de contrabandeo de personas que resultó en la muerte de numerosos migrantes.
Gracias a una labor de amplia coordinación y cooperación entre las autoridades estadounidenses y bahameñas, Vandrick Nelson Smith, también conocido como Muggy y Vans, de 33 años, fue aprehendido en las Bahamas el 6 de marzo último en virtud de una solicitud de los Estados Unidos que involucraba cargos presentados bajo sello en el Distrito Sur de Florida en noviembre de 2023.
Según documentos judiciales, Smith presuntamente estaba involucrado en una organización de contrabandeo de personas que hacía la tentativa de traer migrantes ilegalmente de las Bahamas a los Estados Unidos en barco. Los migrantes eran ciudadanos de Colombia, Jamaica, República Dominicana y Haití, entre otros países. Presuntamente, los migrantes (o sus familiares y amigos) pagaron dinero a la organización para que los ingresase de contrabando a los Estados Unidos. Como se describe a continuación, la acusación formal alega que Smith estuvo involucrado personalmente en tres incidentes de contrabandeo de personas por vía marítima, incluido uno que resultó en cinco muertes.
“Vandrick Smith ha sido imputado de organizar peligrosas operaciones de contrabandeo de personas, enviando migrantes por barco de las Bahamas a Florida. Como se alega en la acusación formal, las operaciones de la organización de contrabandeo de personas se volvieron mortales cuando un bote que transportaba migrantes zozobró en enero de 2022”, señaló la fiscal auxiliar principal Nicole M. Argentieri, jefa de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia. “Los contrabandistas de personas explotan por dinero a la gente desesperada, y las consecuencias pueden ser trágicas. La División Penal está comprometida a combatir a las organizaciones de contrabandeo de personas que se aprovechan y ponen en peligro a los migrantes vulnerables, dondequiera que operen”.
Presuntamente, Smith estuvo involucrado en tres operaciones de contrabandeo de personas por vía marítima que ocurrieron alrededor del 6 de marzo de 2021, el 22 de enero de 2022 y el 8 de agosto de 2022. La acusación formal imputa que la noche del 22 de enero de 2022, numerosos migrantes abordaron una embarcación en las Bahamas con destino a Florida. Poco después del zarpe de la embarcación, supuestamente, los motores dejaron de funcionar y la embarcación zozobró. El 25 de enero de 2022, los Guardacostas de EE. UU. rescataron al único migrante sobreviviente, que se encontraba aferrado a la parte superior de la embarcación volcada.
“Las operaciones de contrabandeo de personas ponen en riesgo la vida de las personas por obtener ganancias económicas”, indicó el fiscal federal Markenzy Lapointe del Distrito Sur de Florida. “Los contrabandistas de personas toman ventaja de las esperanzas de tener una vida mejor de los migrantes. Trágicamente, las hazañas de los contrabandistas representan un grave peligro para los migrantes. La Fiscalía de los Estados Unidos continuará trabajando con nuestros socios para enjuiciar a quienes llevan a cabo operaciones ilícitas de contrabandeo de personas para proteger a los migrantes vulnerables y salvar vidas”.
“La Oficina de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI, por sus siglas en inglés) sigue dedicada a colaborar con nuestros socios nacionales e internacionales para llevar ante la justicia a delincuentes temerarios que priorizan las ganancias económicas sobre la vida y la seguridad de las personas”, dijo el agente especial a cargo Anthony Salisbury de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI) Miami. “Los riesgos asociados con las operaciones de contrabandeo marítimo de personas son extremos. Instamos al público a evitar aventurarse en estos viajes con organizaciones criminales peligrosas, que a menudo resultan en tragedias”.
A Smith se le imputan cinco cargos de tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos causando su muerte como resultado de la operación de enero de 2022. También se le imputa de asociación delictiva para traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos con fines de lucro, poniendo en peligro la vida de los extranjeros y causando su muerte; tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos con fines de lucro; y de ayudar e instigar a ciertos extranjeros a ingresar a los Estados Unidos. Si se le declara culpable de tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos causando su muerte, Smith se enfrenta a una pena máxima de cadena perpetua.
HSI Fort Pierce y el Agregado Auxiliar de HSI en Nassau, Bahamas, investigaron el caso, con la asistencia de HSI Miami, los Guardacostas de EE. UU., la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Brevard y la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Brevard. La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia ofreció apoyo significativo con las solicitudes de asistencia jurídica extranjera y el logro de la aprehensión. El Departamento de Justicia agradece a la Real Fuerza de Policía de Bahamas, la Fiscalía de Bahamas, el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Bahamas, el Departamento de Inmigración de Bahamas y el Departamento de Procesamientos Judiciales Públicos de Bahamas por su asistencia en el caso.
La investigación se está llevando a cabo conforme al programa de Fuerza de Ataque de Viajes Delictivos Extraterritoriales (ECT, por sus siglas en inglés), una asociación conjunta entre la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia y HSI. El programa ECT se centra en las redes de contrabandeo de personas que pueden presentar riesgos especiales para la seguridad nacional o la seguridad pública, o que representan serias preocupaciones humanitarias. El ECT tiene recursos dedicados a la investigación, inteligencia y procesamiento judiciales. El ECT coordina y recibe asistencia de otras agencias del gobierno de los EE. UU. y de autoridades del orden público extranjeras.
La abogada litigante Marie Zisa de la Sección de Derechos Humanos y Procesamientos Judiciales Especiales de la División Penal y el fiscal auxiliar Justin Hoover del Distrito Sur de Florida están procesando el caso.
Una acusación formal es meramente una alegación. Se presume que todos los acusados son inocentes hasta que ante un tribunal de justicia se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable.
City Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Back-to-Back Armed Robberies of Northeast Philadelphia StoresRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Michael Malcolm, 26, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to 185 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and $300 restitution by United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert for robbing two Northeast Philadelphia stores at gunpoint.
On February 7, 2023, Malcolm pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The charges stem from two armed robberies he committed within a matter of minutes on October 5, 2021.
At approximately 8:06 p.m. that evening, Malcolm entered Illadelph by All in One Smoke Shop at 14230 Bustleton Avenue in the Northeast. He asked the clerk for cigarillo wraps and handed over money to pay for them. When the clerk opened the register, Malcolm produced a gun, racked the slide, pointed the weapon at the clerk, and demanded money. After the clerk gave him approximately $300 from the register, Malcolm fled the store.
About 10 minutes later, Malcolm went to Somerton Beverage, located at 13510 Bustleton Avenue, approximately two-tenths of a mile from the smoke shop he’d just robbed. Malcolm entered the store, selected a beer for purchase, and gave money to the clerk. When the clerk didn’t open the register, Malcolm produced his firearm. The clerk yelled “he got a gun” and Malcolm fled the store with the beer.
Shortly after the Somerton Beverage robbery, two officers with the Philadelphia Police Department observed Malcolm standing on the corner at 13501 Bustleton Avenue. When the officers attempted to stop him, he fled on foot. After a short foot chase, Malcolm was arrested. When police officers searched Malcolm, they recovered a loaded 9mm handgun. Officers also seized Malcolm’s jacket, which matched the jacket described by the robbery victims that night.
“Anyone willing to rob a total stranger at gunpoint, let alone try it twice in a matter of minutes, is an obvious threat to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “The victim clerks in this case were on the job, just trying to make a living, when someone who’d rather steal money than earn it made them fear for their lives. We and our law enforcement partners are working to identify, prosecute, and lock up violent offenders like Michael Malcolm, to make the streets — and the stores — of Philadelphia safer for all.”
“The citizens who live and work in our community deserve to feel safe,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Through the diligent work and continued collaboration with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to take violent criminals off our streets.”
“I would like to commend the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners for swiftly bringing Michael Malcolm to justice,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. “These back-to-back armed robberies serve as a stark reminder of the importance of collaborative efforts in ensuring the safety and security of our communities. Through initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods, we remain steadfast in our commitment to reducing violent crime and fostering a safer environment for all. The significance of this sentencing cannot be overstated — it underscores the gravity of the defendant’s actions, and sends a clear message that such criminal behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”
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. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.
Chicago Man Caught with Stolen Firearm and Marijuana Sent to Prison for Possessing Firearm as a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a prohibited person was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison.
Johnny Martell Brown, age 31, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an October 20, 2023 guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a felon and drug user.
In a plea agreement, Brown admitted that, on December 16, 2022, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, law enforcement officers stopped a car that he was driving. Two minor children were also in the car. Officers searched the car and found a loaded stolen firearm and marijuana. In Brown’s underwear, officers discovered a Cheetos bag that contained marijuana. Brown admitted that he regularly smoked marijuana. He also has felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute heroin and possessing a controlled substance.
Brown was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Brown was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Brown is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-34.
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Charlotte Man Convicted of Robbing Two Businesses Is Sentenced to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced John Henry Moore, 60, of Charlotte, to life in prison for the armed robbery of two businesses, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
In October 2022, a federal jury convicted Moore of two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Today, Moore received an enhanced sentence under the provision of the “Three Strikes” statute, which mandates a sentence of life in prison for defendants previously convicted, on separate occasions, of two or more serious violent felonies.
According to filed court documents, evidence presented at trial, and today’s court proceedings, on December 1, 2018, Moore robbed a Spectrum store located at 2222 South Boulevard, in Charlotte. Trial evidence established that Moore entered the store at approximately 8:00 p.m. and brandished a firearm to employees who were working at the time. Moore then ordered the employees to hand over cash from the registers and Moore fled the scene. Trial evidence established that Moore left behind an umbrella which he had used to prop the door open during the robbery. That umbrella was later tested by the FBI and found to contain DNA which matched the defendant.
According to trial evidence and witness testimony, on December 10, 2018, Moore returned to the same area and robbed the Publix Super Market also located at 2222 South Boulevard, in Charlotte. Trial evidence showed that Moore walked into the store, approached a store employee and demanded cash. During the robbery, Moore kept his hand in his pocket and threatened the employee, warning the victim to not “get shot.” The employee handed Moore cash and Moore fled the scene.
According to trial evidence, law enforcement identified Moore as the person who committed the two robberies. On December 12, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Moore’s residence, seizing a loaded firearm with an obliterated serial number and clothing that matched the description of the items Moore wore during the robberies.
Moore was subject to the mandatory life sentence based on his extensive history involving multiple federal bank robbery convictions. Specifically, Moore previously robbed a bank in Georgia (2004) and three banks in South Carolina (1995) and was on federal supervised release for the latter of those convictions when he carried out the robberies in Charlotte for which he was sentenced today. Moreover, at the time Moore executed the bank robberies in Georgia and South Carolina, he was on federal supervised release for robbing two banks in Charlotte and a bank in Rock Hill, S.C. (1989).
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Cameron of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
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. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Serve 8 Years in Federal Prison for Selling FentanylRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming announced Tuesday that a man from Charleston, Missouri was sentenced to eight years in prison for the offense of distribution of fentanyl.
Kyrron Haynes, 29, appeared Monday before U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau.
At his guilty plea hearing last year, Haynes admitted that he sold a quantity of fentanyl to an individual in Charleston on two separate occasions in March 2023. Unbeknownst to Haynes, the buyer was working as an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). At the time of the offenses, Haynes was on parole supervision through the State of Missouri for a prior drug-trafficking conviction. After serving the 8-year sentence, Haynes will be placed on supervised release for three years.
The DEA, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester prosecuted the case.
California man convicted in cryptocurrency money laundering conspiracy and for importing controlled substancesRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A San Francisco, California man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
John Khuu, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, and importation of MDMA before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love on March 26, 2024.
According to information presented in court, Khuu conspired with others to launder the proceeds of his drug trafficking organization through cryptocurrency. Khuu imported and distributed counterfeit pharmaceutical pills and other controlled substances on dark web markets (DWMs) and elsewhere to customers across the United States. Customers paid for their purchases by transferring cryptocurrency, usually Bitcoin (BTC), from their DWM customer accounts to one of Khuu’s vendor accounts. Khuu and his co-conspirators traded the BTC for U.S. currency and laundered and transmitted the proceeds through hundreds of transactions and dozens of financial accounts.
Khuu was indicted on May 18, 2022, in the Eastern District of Texas and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. On August 17, 2022, Khuu was indicted in the Northern District of California and charged with unlawful importation of a Schedule I controlled substance. On August 19, 2022, agents arrested Khuu pursuant to both warrants at a residence in Garden Grove, CA.
Khuu faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The cases were investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, San Francisco, and were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys D. Ryan Locker and Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld for the Eastern District of Texas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Bisesto for the Northern District of California.
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California Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material Using Stolen Online Identity, Ordered to Pay $81,500 in Restitution to Child VictimsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Jason Charles Nicholas (54, Ramona, California) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material over the internet using a stolen online identity. Nicholas was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and pay $81,500 in restitution to child victims. Nicholas was arrested in San Diego County, California on September 21, 2023, and detained. He was subsequently transported to Jacksonville for prosecution.
According to court documents, on August 3, 2023, an undercover FBI agent (UC) in the Jacksonville area, posing as the parent of a minor “child,” was investigating individuals on a particular social media application (app) who were attempting to sexually exploit children. The UC began a private conversation on the app with user “cldad,” who was later identified as Nicholas. Nicholas was using an online identity stolen from a resident of northeast Florida, and Nicholas indicated his desire to meet the UC at a residence in Florida to have sex with the “child.” However, Nicholas abruptly changed this plan and began threatening to expose the UC’s purported criminal conduct unless the UC streamed live video of the “child” to Nicholas. The UC refused. Nicholas later apologized for making these threats, and online conversations between him and the UC continued for several weeks. Nicholas told the UC about his longtime practice of brushing up against and taking surreptitious photos of young girls and women in public places (Nicholas referred to these as “creep shots”), and that he had purportedly sexually abused a young child after overdosing the child with medication. Nicholas also sent the UC several photos of young women that he had digitally altered and sexualized to make them appear pornographic.
During an online conversation on August 17, 2023, Nicholas sent the UC six videos and two photos that depicted young children being sexually abused. Further investigation by the FBI led to the identification of Nicholas. On September 21, 2023, FBI agents, with assistance from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Nicholas as he was driving to his workplace.
When interviewed, Nicholas admitted that he had sent the videos and photos depicting the sexual abuse of minors to the UC using the app and by email, that his sexual attraction to children was “complicated,” and that he had been downloading child sexual abuse materials “for a long time.” A search of Nicholas’s cellphone revealed that it contained at least 2,500 explicit videos, many of which depicted the sexual abuse of young children, infants, and toddlers.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and San Diego. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Big Stone Gap Man to Serve Almost 9 Years in Prison for Meth PossessionRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Big Stone Gap, Virginia man, who fled from police during a traffic stop before ultimately being found with more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in his car, was sentenced last week to 107 months in federal prison.
Joshua Derrick Ellis Vanover, 35, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced on March 15, 2024.
According to court documents, on February 26, 2023, officers with the Big Stone Gap Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Vanover, but he failed to stop and a high-speed pursuit ensued. When his vehicle finally came to a stop, Vanover was arrested, and a search of his person revealed a large bag of methamphetamine hidden inside his boxer shorts. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed two large bags of methamphetamine, digital scales, several empty baggies, and syringes. Vanover admitted he fled from police because he knew he was wanted, had drugs on him, and did not want to go back to jail. Vanover’s serious and significant criminal history, including prior drug-related convictions, were aggravating factors considered at his sentencing hearing.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Craig B. Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement.
The ATF, the Big Stone Gap Police Department, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration all assisted throughout the course of the investigation.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Virginia Senior Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, prosecuted the case for the United States.
Bahamian National Charged and Arrested for Role in Fatal Human Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – An indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of Florida today charging a Bahamian national for his alleged role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in multiple migrant deaths.
As a result of extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Bahamian authorities, Vandrick Nelson Smith, also known as Muggy and Vans, 33, was arrested on March 6 in the Bahamas pursuant to a request by the United States involving charges filed under seal in the Southern District of Florida in November 2023.
According to court documents, Smith was allegedly involved in a human smuggling organization that attempted to bring migrants illegally from The Bahamas to the United States by boat. The migrants were nationals of Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, among other countries. The migrants (or their families and friends) allegedly paid the organization money to be smuggled to the United States. As described below, the indictment alleges that Smith was personally involved in three maritime human smuggling incidents — including one that resulted in five deaths.
“Human smuggling ventures put people’s lives at risk for the sake of profit,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Human smugglers prey on the migrants’ hopes for a better life. Tragically, the smugglers’ exploits pose a grave danger to migrants. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who carry out illicit human smuggling operations to protect vulnerable migrants and save lives.”
“Vandrick Smith has been charged with organizing dangerous human smuggling operations, sending migrants from The Bahamas to Florida by boat. As alleged in the indictment, the human smuggling organization’s efforts turned deadly, when a boat carrying migrants capsized in January 2022,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human smugglers exploit desperate people for money, and the consequences can be tragic. The Criminal Division is committed to combating human smuggling organizations that prey on and endanger vulnerable migrants, wherever they operate.”
Smith allegedly was involved in three maritime human smuggling events that occurred on or about March 6, 2021; Jan. 22, 2022; and Aug. 8, 2022. On the evening of Jan. 22, 2022, the indictment alleges that numerous migrants boarded a vessel in The Bahamas destined for Florida. Shortly after the vessel’s departure, the engines allegedly stopped functioning and the vessel capsized. On Jan. 25, 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the sole surviving migrant, who was found clinging to the top of the overturned vessel.
“Homeland Security Investigations remains dedicated to working with our domestic and international partners to bring to justice reckless criminals who prioritize financial gain over people’s lives and safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “The risks associated with maritime human smuggling ventures are extreme. We urge the public to avoid embarking on these journeys with dangerous criminal organizations, which often result in tragedy.”
Smith is charged with five counts of attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States resulting in death stemming from the January 2022 venture. He is also charged with conspiring to bring noncitizens to the United States for profit, placing in jeopardy the life of noncitizens and resulting in death; attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States for profit; and attempting to aid and assist certain noncitizens to enter the United States. If convicted of attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States resulting in death, Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
HSI Fort Pierce and the HSI Assistant Attaché in Nassau, The Bahamas, investigated the case, with assistance from HSI Miami, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests and securing the arrest. The Justice Department thanks the Royal Bahamas Police Force, The Bahamas’ Office of the Attorney General, The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Bahamas Immigration Department, and The Bahamas Department of Public Prosecutions for their assistance in the case.
The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Bahamian National Charged and Arrested for Role in Fatal Human Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
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An indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of Florida today charging a Bahamian national for his alleged role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in multiple migrant deaths.As a result of extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Bahamian authorities, Vandrick Nelson Smith, also known as Muggy and Vans, 33, was arrested on March 6 in The Bahamas pursuant to a request by the United States involving charges filed under seal in the Southern District of Florida in November 2023.
According to court documents, Smith was allegedly involved in a human smuggling organization that attempted to bring migrants illegally from The Bahamas to the United States by boat. The migrants were nationals of Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, among other countries. The migrants (or their families and friends) allegedly paid the organization money to be smuggled to the United States. As described below, the indictment alleges that Smith was personally involved in three maritime human smuggling incidents — including one that resulted in five deaths.
“Vandrick Smith has been charged with organizing dangerous human smuggling operations, sending migrants from The Bahamas to Florida by boat,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As alleged in the indictment, the human smuggling organization’s efforts turned deadly, when a boat carrying migrants capsized in January 2022. Human smugglers exploit desperate people for money, and the consequences can be tragic. The Criminal Division is committed to combating human smuggling organizations that prey on and endanger vulnerable migrants, wherever they operate.”
Smith allegedly was involved in three maritime human smuggling events that occurred on or about March 6, 2021; Jan. 22, 2022; and Aug. 8, 2022. On the evening of Jan. 22, 2022, the indictment alleges that numerous migrants boarded a vessel in The Bahamas destined for Florida. Shortly after the vessel’s departure, the engines allegedly stopped functioning and the vessel capsized. On Jan. 25, 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the sole surviving migrant, who was found clinging to the top of the overturned vessel.
“Human smuggling ventures put people’s lives at risk for the sake of profit,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Human smugglers prey on the migrants’ hopes for a better life. Tragically, the smugglers’ exploits pose a grave danger to migrants. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who carry out illicit human smuggling operations to protect vulnerable migrants and save lives.”
“Homeland Security Investigations remains dedicated to working with our domestic and international partners to bring to justice reckless criminals who prioritize financial gain over people’s lives and safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “The risks associated with maritime human smuggling ventures are extreme. We urge the public to avoid embarking on these journeys with dangerous criminal organizations, which often result in tragedy.”
Smith is charged with five counts of attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States resulting in death stemming from the January 2022 venture. He is also charged with conspiring to bring noncitizens to the United States for profit, placing in jeopardy the life of noncitizens and resulting in death; attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States for profit; and attempting to aid and assist certain noncitizens to enter the United States. If convicted of attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States resulting in death, Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
HSI Fort Pierce and the HSI Assistant Attaché in Nassau, The Bahamas, investigated the case, with assistance from HSI Miami, U.S. Coast Guard, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests and securing the arrest. The Justice Department thanks the Royal Bahamas Police Force, The Bahamas’ Office of the Attorney General, The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Bahamas Immigration Department, and The Bahamas Department of Public Prosecutions for their assistance in the case.
The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.
Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
IndictmentArkansas Residents Indicted for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Eastern OklahomaRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rito Alvarado-Gomez, age 36, of Hope, Arkansas; Jose Alberto Alvarado-Gomez, age 33, of Hope, Arkansas; Ricardo Villeda, age 25, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Iris Yoselin Luna-Herrera, age 26, of Hope, Arkansas; and Ana Isabel Frayre Barboza, age 37, of Hope, Arkansas; were each indicted for Drug Conspiracy, In addition to the Drug Conspiracy charges, Rito Alvarado-Gomez, Jose Alberto Alvarado-Gomez, Ricardo Villeda, and Iris Yoselin Luna-Herrera are charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine. If convicted, defendants each face mandatory minimum sentences of not less than 10 years imprisonment, and up to a $10,000,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Indictment alleges that beginning in 2018, and continuing until March 2024, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States, namely the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the 8th North Drug Task Force out of Hope, Arkansas, and the 9th West Drug Task Force out of Nashville, Arkansas. Additionally, several law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation, including the Arkansas State Police, the Hope Police Department, and the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Cornell and Jordan Howanitz are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
Ardmore Resident Sentenced to 12 Years for Multiple Counts of Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Earl Wilson, age 38, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for five counts of distributing methamphetamine. The sentences are set to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On July 6, 2023, Wilson pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine. According to investigators, in late 2021 and early 2022, Wilson distributed methamphetamine on five separate occasions from two houses located in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wilson was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.
$700,000 Casino Heist Indictment Filed in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Jesus Gaytan-Garcia with one count of interstate transportation of stolen money and one count of theft from the Hartford location of the Four Winds Casino, which is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Gaytan-Garcia made his initial appearance on the two-count Indictment today.
“This case demonstrates the need for all businesses, organizations, and citizens in the Western District and beyond to be diligent and cautious about phone and internet scams,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Thanks to the persistent and dedicated investigators at the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and FBI, we were able to identify Mr. Gaytan-Garcia as one of the perpetrators of this theft-scam and he will be held to account for this brazen crime.”
As previously outlined in a criminal complaint, the allegations are that on July 30, 2023, a call came into the Hartford Four Winds Casino. The caller falsely claimed that he was the tribal chairperson and needed funds to make an urgent payment. A casino supervisory employee, apparently misled by the caller’s fraudulent claims, gathered up $700,000 in cash and walked out of the casino. At the direction of the caller, the employee transported the cash to a gas station in Gary, Indiana, where the employee then handed the money over two unknown individuals.
After a months-long investigation, the FBI and Pokagon Tribal Police were able to identify Jesus Gaytan-Garcia as one of the individuals who allegedly met the casino employee at the gas station and received the $700,000. Investigators conducted a search of Mr. Gaytan-Garcia’s home, where they located a bundle of cash still wrapped in a paper band which was stamped with the word “Hartford,” the location of the victimized Four Winds Casino, and the exact date of the theft, July 30, 2023.
“Today’s indictment is the result of the persistent and collaborative efforts of our federal partners and the Pokagon Tribal Police,” said Pokagon Tribal Police Chief Mario RedLegs. “Not only does this move us closer to holding those accountable for the theft from Four Winds Hartford, but it also sends a clear message that the Pokagon Band will not tolerate criminal activity of any kind at our casinos.”
“Today’s indictment is a major step in bringing healing to the Pokagon Tribal community,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Anyone who conspires to commit these large-scale thefts will answer to the law and our office, along with our partners, will be there to hold them accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Pokagon Band Tribal Police and the FBI.
The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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25 March 2024
Woman Indicted for Trafficking in Counterfeit GoodsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BIANCA DAVIS, age 33, a resident of New Orleans, was indicted on March 22, 2024 for Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2320(a)(1).
According to the indictment, between on or about July 26, 2022, and November 10, 2023, DAVIS intentionally trafficked in handbags and wallets, knowing that they bore counterfeit marks falsely indicating that these goods were manufactured by Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Coach, and Yves Saint Laurent. If convicted, DAVIS faces up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $2,000,000.00 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Woman Facing Federal Charges for Murdering Her Two Young SonsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A woman is facing federal charges for murdering her two young children on the Isleta Pueblo. Mariah Zuni, 32, of Isleta Village, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance today and will remain in temporary custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for March 27, 2024.
The criminal complaint alleges that on March 21, 2024, Zuni used a bread knife to slit the throats of her 5-year-old son and 9-month-old son in their residence located on the Isleta Pueblo.
If convicted of the current charges, Zuni faces life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Isleta Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Westbank Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Gun ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TYRIQUE RICHARDS, age 27, of Violet, La., was indicted on March 8, 2024, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
The indictment alleges that on February 27, 2024, RICHARDS, possessed cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute, a handgun in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense, and a weight scale.
If convicted of possession with intent to distribute, RICHARDS faces a maximum of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and at least three (3) years of supervised release. If convicted of possession a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, he faces a minimum of five (5) years and a maximum of life imprisonment, which must be served consecutively with any other count, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five (5) years of supervised release. RICHARDS also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.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. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Rayburn of the Violent Crime Unit.
Utah County Businessman Accused of Scamming $1.8M in COVID-19 Relief Funds is Arrested and Charged FederallyRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Utah County businessman was arrested today after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City on March 20, 2024, for wire fraud. Robert Blake Molling, 41, of Lehi, Utah, is accused of fraudulently obtaining over $1.8 million in federal government disaster relief funds.
According to court documents, from March 2020 to April 2022, Molling fraudulently applied for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds for two of his companies. These were funds Congress allocated for the Small Business Administration to provide low-interest loans to eligible small businesses going through financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Molling lied about his criminal history – falsely claiming that he had no criminal convictions other than minor vehicle violations. In furtherance of the crime, Molling caused multiple wire transfers via interstate commerce, and fraudulently obtained some $1,868,100 in EIDL loan funds and advances he was not eligible to receive.
Molling is charged with seven counts of wire fraud. His initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for March 26, 2024, at 2:15 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachi Jepson and Assistant United States Attorney Michael Thorpe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.
The Utah Federal COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force is investigating the case, which includes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Office of Inspector General’s U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The public is encouraged to share information about the abuse of the Paycheck Protection Program or other SBA programs by submitting a complaint here.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Charlotte Men Face Federal Charges for Scheme That Involved Buying and Selling Stolen High-End VehiclesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A newly unsealed federal indictment charges two individuals for their roles in a conspiracy to buy and sell stolen high-end vehicles worth millions of dollars, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The defendants are also charged with gun offenses.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
Andre Lamar Sumner, 41, and Erren Woodson, 39, both of Charlotte, are charged in a conspiracy to transport, possess, and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce, and to possess with intent to sell vehicles with altered Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs). Both defendants are also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activities. Sumner is also charged with trafficking in motor vehicles with an altered VIN.
The indictment alleges that, between 2022 and 2024, Sumner, Woodson and others conspired to buy and sell high-end motor vehicles that were stolen from car dealerships, rental car companies, and private parties across the United States, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Missouri. As alleged in the indictment, Sumner operated as a “fence” in the conspiracy, buying and selling the stolen motor vehicles. A fence is someone who assists in finding or dealing with buyers for stolen properties. To maximize profits, Sumner sought to fence high-end stolen vehicles such as luxury models made by BMW, Land Rover, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce, as well as trucks and other expensive modes from Chevrolet, Dodges, Ford and RAM. According to allegations in the indictment the conspiracy involved stolen vehicles worth millions of dollars.
The indictment further alleges that Sumner sold the stolen cars to buyers at prices significantly below the vehicles’ fair market values. To avoid detection and to maximize the stolen vehicles’ resale values, Sumner and others regularly altered the stolen vehicles’ original VINs and fraudulently registered the stolen vehicles with various state motor vehicle agencies. According to allegations in the indictment, Woodson purchased stolen vehicles from Sumner and sought potential buyers for Sumner’s stolen vehicles.
The indictment alleges that, during the scheme, Sumner and Woodson were also engaged in the distribution of narcotics and unlawfully possessed a variety of firearms, including handguns, shotguns and rifles, in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years. Each charge of possession of a stolen vehicle and trafficking in motor vehicles with an altered VIN carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
This is the third indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte related to trafficking in stolen vehicles. Five individuals were indicted in August 2023, for stealing luxury vehicles from dealerships throughout the United States. Two additional individuals were indicted in November 2023, for orchestrating high-end auto thefts from businesses in South Carolina.
U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
Tulsa Man Sentenced After Attempting to Light Victim on FireRead the Press Release
Today, U.S. District Judge J. Phillip Calabrese sentenced Martin Andrew Breshears, 56, Tulsa to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release for Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country.
In June 2022, Breshears assaulted the wheelchair-confined victim on two separate occasions. The first assault was with a brick. During the second assault, Breshears kicked in the victim’s door and repeatedly hit him with a lead pipe. Then Breshears doused the house and victim with lighter fluid and lit the porch on fire. Officers detained Brehsears near the fire and he admitted to assaulting the victim. A witness saw the assault, called 911, and put out the fire saving the victim.
Breshears is a citizen of Muscogee (Creek) Nation. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara prosecuted the case.
Tucker Man Pleads Guilty to Enticement of a Minor on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Tucker man pleaded guilty in federal court today to enticement of a minor.
According to court documents, Antonio Deron Wallace, 35, used Facebook Messenger to entice a minor to meet him for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Court records show that the offense occurred in the Tucker Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation in 2019.
In 2021, Wallace was indicted by a federal grand jury for enticement of a minor.
Wallace is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2024, and faces not less than ten years and up to life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Three Individuals Admit Tax Evasion and Other Charges after Defrauding More Than 100 Victims of over $4.5 Million Dollars in Romance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A husband and wife, formerly of Burlington County, New Jersey, and a third codefendant have pleaded guilty to tax evasion and other charges related to their roles in accepting millions of dollars in a romance fraud, after their conspirators met and wooed the victims on online dating sites, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Martins Friday Inalegwu, 35, formerly of Maple Shade, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to an information charging him with one count of conducting an unlawful money transmitting business and four counts of tax evasion. Inalegwu’s wife, Steincy Mathieu, 27, also formerly of Maple Shade, pleaded guilty on Nov. 28, 2023, to two counts of an indictment charging her with tax evasion. Oluwaseyi Fatolu, 56, of Springfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Jan. 8, 2024, to a count of the indictment charging her with operating an unlawful money transmitting business. All three defendants pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“These defendants took advantage of more than 100 vulnerable victims, preying on their loneliness to convince them to send money to scammers the victims believed were romantic partners. In this way, they stole millions of dollars. This conspiracy involved swindling, illegal money transfers and tax evasion. Our office will always be ready to work with our law enforcement partners to root out these schemes and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“All fraud schemes hurt victims who end up losing part or all of their hard-earned fortunes, savings or retirements,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “However, romance scams take on an insidious level of harm. Few of us would want to admit we fell for this type of scam, but we’re all human and scammers prey on that fact. The subjects are owning up to their crimes, but it may not provide much solace for the victims left broke and heartbroken.”
“Martins Inalegwu and his co-conspirators face serious justice for stealing hard-earned money from more than 100 victims who were unaware their relationship was part of a financial fraud or romance scam,” HSI Newark acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso said. “As always, we urge the public to remain cautious when communicating online, know the tips to recognize a scam and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. HSI Newark, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to dismantling criminal networks attempting to operate financial fraud schemes.”
“Romance scams can prove costly in terms of money, but they also cause great emotional harm to victims and their families,” Tammy Tomlins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, said. “The defendants cheated honest taxpayers out of millions and cheated the United States government by evading their tax liability. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates how IRS – Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners continue to use our financial expertise to identify and investigate these types of schemes.”
“Romance scams frequently target elderly or vulnerable citizens and are particularly egregious crimes,” Postal Inspector in Charge, Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, said. “Let this investigation put fraudsters on notice that with our law enforcement partners, the Postal Inspection Service will investigate and pursue those individuals who scam, harass, and steal from the American people.”
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From October 2016 to May 13, 2020, Inalegwu, Mathieu and their conspirators, several of whom reside in Nigeria, participated in an online romance scheme, defrauding more than 100 victims throughout the country. The conspirators made initial contact with victims through on-line dating and social media websites, corresponded with victims via email and phone, pretended to strike up a romantic relationship with victims, wooed them with words of love, and then requested the victims send money to them, or their associates, for fictitious emergency needs. In all instances, the individuals whom the victims believed they were speaking to did not exist, and instead they were speaking to the conspirators of this scheme.
At the conspirators’ directions, victims wired money to bank accounts held by Inalegwu and Mathieu in the United States, and also mailed checks directly to Inalegwu and Mathieu. Some victims transferred money to Inalegwu and Mathieu via money transfer services, such as Western Union or MoneyGram, and others wired money to bank accounts held by conspirators overseas.
Federal law enforcement agents have identified more than 100 victims, who sent over $4.5 million directly to Inalegwu and Mathieu, and several million more to conspirators. In turn, Inalegwu and Mathieu spent the victims’ money on personal expenses, withdrew money in cash, transferred money to other bank accounts they personally controlled, and transferred money to bank accounts in Nigeria and Turkey. Inalegwu used the unlawful money transmitting service provided by Fatolu to unlawfully transfer a portion of the victim money to these foreign accounts. Inalegwu and Mathieu failed to pay any taxes on the millions of dollars they accepted from victims.
Each count of tax evasion is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of conducting an unlawful money transmitting business is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Philip R Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; and special agents of the United States Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha K. Nye of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton.
inalegwu.sinformation.pdfThibodaux Man Indicted for Aggravated Identity Theft, Providing False Statement to a Firearms Dealer, and Providing False Statement to a Federal AgencyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on March 22, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted BRETT GABRIEL (“GABRIEL”), age 31, of Thibodaux, La., for aggravated identity theft, providing a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm, and providing a false statement to an agency of the United States.
According to court documents, GABRIEL used stolen identity information to purchase a firearm and to obtain fraudulent paycheck protection program loan proceeds administered by the federal government.
The maximum penalty for the firearm offense is ten years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to the victim, and up to three years of supervised release. The maximum penalty for the false statement offense is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to the victim, and up to three years of supervised release. As to these two offenses, GABRIEL also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of one hundred dollars. For the aggravated identity offense, the penalty is a mandatory minimum sentence of two years of imprisonment, to run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Secret Service, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
The U.S. Justice Department Seeks Court Order to Stop CDCR from Requiring Correctional Officers to Violate Religious BeliefsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The U.S. Justice Department today challenged the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on its denial of religious accommodations for correctional officers of various faiths, including Sikhs and Muslims, who wear facial hair as an expression of their faith. CDCR generally prohibits correctional officers from wearing beards, and the action seeks a temporary court order allowing these officers to wear beards while CDCR fully assesses options for providing them with religious accommodations while complying with California safety regulations.
“Our district is one of the most diverse in the country, with communities of many different faiths practicing customs that are central to their beliefs. The action brought today is an important use of the federal civil rights laws to protect this religious expression,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “My office will continue to work hand in hand with the Civil Rights Division to ensure that individuals of all faiths can receive due consideration for appropriate religious accommodations at workplaces in this District.”
“Sikhs, Muslims and employees of other minority faiths should not be forced to choose between the practice of their faith and their jobs,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Religious freedom and religious accommodation are bedrock principles of our democracy. We are taking action to ensure that the rights of employees of minority faiths are respected and accommodated in the workplace. As faith communities celebrate Ramadan and other important holidays across religions in the coming weeks, the Justice Department will continue to combat religious discrimination in the workplace.”
The department’s action, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleges that although many officers had performed their jobs successfully for years while wearing facial hair, CDCR implemented a revised facial hair policy last year and, since then, has repeatedly denied religious accommodation requests, forcing officers to shave their beards or lose their jobs. The affected officers have been forced to violate core tenets of their faiths and have suffered shame and humiliation among their religious communities, including being shunned from houses of worship and denied participation in religious ceremonies, such as family weddings.
Since CDCR implemented its revised facial hair policy, numerous officers have filed charges of religious discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). Because the EEOC’s investigation remains ongoing, the department is seeking relief in its requested court order only until the EEOC finishes its full investigation or until CDCR can otherwise show the court it has met its religious accommodation obligations under Title VII. The department’s complaint alleges that CDCR has failed to meaningfully consider the range of options proposed by the charging parties or those used by other correctional institutions to accommodate officers’ religious beliefs while meeting safety requirements. The department asks the Court to order CDCR to stop enforcing its facial hair policy against officers who request to wear a beard because of their religious beliefs and engage in good faith discussions with officers about possible reasonable accommodations that would allow officers to safely do their jobs and adhere to their religious beliefs.
Employees with complaints of religious discrimination can report them to their local EEOC office or their state or local fair employment practices agencies. The contact information for each local EEOC office can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/field-office">www.eeoc.gov/field-office.
Trial Attorneys Alicia Johnson and Sharion Scott of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Fuentes for the Eastern District of California are handling the case.
The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the Employment Litigation Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/ and www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.
usa_v_cdcr_complaint_3-25-24.pdfTangipahoa Parish Man Charged with Violating Federal Controlled Substance and Federal Gun Control ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MICHAEL LACAVA, age 42, a resident of Tangipahoa Parish, was indicted on March 22, 2024, for possessing with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), and possessing firearms as a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
If convicted of the drug count, LACAVA faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years, up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least 4 years of supervised release. If convicted of the gun count, he faces a up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release. As to each count, he also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court documents, on March 12, 2024, Drug Enforcement Administration agents executed a search pursuant to a federal search warrant on LACAVA’s residence. While there, they found approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and two firearms.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit.
Stratford Man Who Sexually Exploited Girls Online Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER DILELLA, 24, of Stratford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 132 months of imprisonment, followed by seven years of supervised release, for child exploitation offenses related to his sexual exploitation of girls across the country through Snapchat and other online applications. Judge Underhill also ordered Dilella to pay $24,000 in restitution.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020 and 2021, Dilella used various online applications, including Snapchat, FaceTime, and Omegle to communicate with at least nine minor girls across the country, some as young as 12 and 13 years old, and manipulate them to engage in sexual activity while livestreaming, and to send him explicit images and videos of themselves. Dilella also sent sexually explicit images of himself to several of minor victims.
During one Snapchat exchange with a 14-year-old victim in Colorado, Dilella referred to the girl as a “child porn slave” and demanded that she send him a sexually explicit image of herself, which she did. Dilella also attempted to meet a 16-year-old victim in Stratford to engage in sex acts with him, but they could not agree on a location. When the victim suggested they meet in her basement, Dilella declined because he felt was a “trap.”
On May 24, 2021, investigators seized Dilella’s iPhone. Analysis of the phone revealed videos of prepubescent children being sexually abused.
Dilella was arrested on May 4, 2022. On November 8, 2023, he pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Dilella, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on May 15.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the Stratford and Milford Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
St. Tammany Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RICARDO JORDAN, age 21, of St. Tammany Parish, was indicted on March 14, 2024, for distribution of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B); possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code 924(c)(1)(A).
According to the indictment, on August 3, 2023, August 10, 2023, and September 19, 2023, JORDAN allegedly distributed more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Additionally, on September 28, 2023 JORDAN allegedly possessed 40 grams or more of fentanyl, with the intent to distribute, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.
If convicted of the drug counts, JORDAN faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and up to a maximum term of imprisonment of forty years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. If convicted of the firearm count, JORDAN faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. As to each count, JORDAN also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit.
Seven-Time Convicted Felon Indicted for Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Darryl James London (46, Orlando) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, London faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies London that the United States intends to forfeit the seized firearm, ammunition, and any assets which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, between 2001 and 2022, London was convicted of seven felony offenses. Despite knowing this fact, London possessed a Charter Arms revolver and ammunition on November 14, 2023. As a convicted felon, London is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with valuable assistance from the Orlando Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan.
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. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Seven Hackers Associated with Chinese Government Charged with Computer Intrusions Targeting Perceived Critics of China and U.S. Businesses and PoliticiansRead the Press Release
Note: Concurrent with this announcement, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions against two of the defendants, and the U.S. Department of State announced a Reward for Justice up to $10 million for information on these individuals, their organization, and associated entities.
See also the UK Government attribution statement; the National Cyber Security Centre statement; and the U.S. State Department's diplomatic statement from the Office of the Spokesperson.
View the indictment here.An indictment was unsealed today charging seven nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in a PRC-based hacking group that spent approximately 14 years targeting U.S. and foreign critics, businesses, and political officials in furtherance of the PRC’s economic espionage and foreign intelligence objectives.
The defendants are Ni Gaobin (倪高彬), 38; Weng Ming (翁明), 37; Cheng Feng (程锋), 34; Peng Yaowen (彭耀文), 38; Sun Xiaohui (孙小辉), 38; Xiong Wang (熊旺), 35; and Zhao Guangzong (赵光宗), 38. All are believed to reside in the PRC.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts by the Chinese government to intimidate Americans who serve the public, silence the dissidents who are protected by American laws, or steal from American businesses,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This case serves as a reminder of the ends to which the Chinese government is willing to go to target and intimidate its critics, including launching malicious cyber operations aimed at threatening the national security of the United States and our allies.”
“Over 10,000 malicious emails, impacting thousands of victims, across multiple continents. As alleged in today’s indictment, this prolific global hacking operation – backed by the PRC government – targeted journalists, political officials, and companies to repress critics of the Chinese regime, compromise government institutions, and steal trade secrets,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue, expose, and hold accountable cyber criminals who would undermine democracies and threaten our national security.”
"Today's announcement exposes China's continuous and brash efforts to undermine our nation's cybersecurity and target Americans and our innovation,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "As long as China continues to target the US and our partners, the FBI will continue to send a clear message that cyber espionage will not be tolerated, and we will tirelessly pursue those who threaten our nation’s security and prosperity. This indictment underscores our unwavering commitment to disrupt and deter malicious cyber activity, and safeguard our citizens, businesses, and critical infrastructure from threats in cyberspace."
“The indictment unsealed today, together with statements from our foreign partners regarding related activity, shed further light on the PRC Ministry of State Security’s aggressive cyber espionage and transnational repression activities worldwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s announcements underscore the need to remain vigilant to cybersecurity threats and the potential for cyber-enabled foreign malign influence efforts, especially as we approach the 2024 election cycle. The Department of Justice will continue to leverage all tools to disrupt malicious cyber actors who threaten our national security and aim to repress fundamental freedoms worldwide.”
“These allegations pull back the curtain on China’s vast illegal hacking operation that targeted sensitive data from U.S. elected and government officials, journalists, and academics; valuable information from American companies; and political dissidents in America and abroad. Their sinister scheme victimized thousands of people and entities across the world, and lasted for well over a decade,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “America’s sovereignty extends to its cyberspace. Today’s charges demonstrate my office’s commitment to upholding and protecting that jurisdiction, and to putting an end to malicious nation state cyber activity.”
“The recent indictments against the Chinese actors reaffirm the FBI’s relentless dedication to combating cyber threats,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI Cyber Division. “They serve as a reminder that cyber adversaries who seek to compromise our nation’s systems and target US officials cannot rely on the cloak of anonymity and will face consequences for their actions.”
“APT31 Group’s practices further demonstrate the size and scope of the PRC’s state-sponsored hacking apparatus,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler Jr. of the FBI Chicago Field Office. “FBI Chicago worked tirelessly to uncover this complex web of alleged foreign intelligence and economic espionage crimes. Thanks to these efforts, as well as our partnerships with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and fellow Field Offices, the FBI continues to be successful in holding groups accountable and protecting national security.”
Overview
As alleged in the indictment and court filings, the defendants, along with dozens of identified PRC Ministry of State Security (MSS) intelligence officers, contractor hackers, and support personnel, were members of a hacking group operating in the PRC and known within the cybersecurity community as Advanced Persistent Threat 31 (the APT31 Group). The APT31 Group was part of a cyberespionage program run by the MSS’s Hubei State Security Department, located in the city of Wuhan. Through their involvement with the APT31 Group, since at least 2010, the defendants conducted global campaigns of computer hacking targeting political dissidents and perceived supporters located inside and outside of China, government and political officials, candidates, and campaign personnel in the United States and elsewhere and American companies.
The defendants and others in the APT31 Group targeted thousands of U.S. and foreign individuals and companies. Some of this activity resulted in successful compromises of the targets’ networks, email accounts, cloud storage accounts, and telephone call records, with some surveillance of compromised email accounts lasting many years.
Hacking Scheme
The more than 10,000 malicious emails that the defendants and others in the APT31 Group sent to these targets often appeared to be from prominent news outlets or journalists and appeared to contain legitimate news articles. The malicious emails contained hidden tracking links, such that if the recipient simply opened the email, information about the recipient, including the recipient’s location, internet protocol (IP) addresses, network schematics, and specific devices used to access the pertinent email accounts, was transmitted to a server controlled by the defendants and those working with them. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group then used this information to enable more direct and sophisticated targeted hacking, such as compromising the recipients’ home routers and other electronic devices.
The defendants and others in the APT31 Group also sent malicious tracking-link emails to government officials across the world who expressed criticism of the PRC government. For example, in or about 2021, the conspirators targeted the email accounts of various foreign government individuals who were part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group founded in 2020 on the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests whose stated purpose was to counter the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party to the international order and democratic principles. The targets included every European Union member of IPAC, and 43 United Kingdom parliamentary accounts, most of whom were members of IPAC or had been outspoken on topics relating to the PRC government.
To gain and maintain access to the victim computer networks, the defendants and others in the APT31 Group employed sophisticated hacking techniques including zero-day exploits, which are exploits that the hackers became aware of before the manufacturer, or the victim were able to patch or fix the vulnerability. These activities resulted in the confirmed and potential compromise of economic plans, intellectual property, and trade secrets belonging to American businesses, and contributed to the estimated billions of dollars lost every year as a result of the PRC’s state-sponsored apparatus to transfer U.S. technology to the PRC.
Targeting of U.S. Government Officials and U.S. and Foreign Politicians and Campaigns
The targeted U.S. government officials included individuals working in the White House, at the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Treasury, and State, and U.S. Senators and Representatives of both political parties. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group targeted these individuals at both professional and personal email addresses. Additionally in some cases, the defendants also targeted victims’ spouses, including the spouses of a high-ranking Department of Justice official, high-ranking White House officials, and multiple U.S. Senators. Targets also included election campaign staff from both major U.S. political parties in advance of the 2020 election.
The allegations in the indictment regarding the malicious cyber activity targeting political officials, candidates, and campaign personnel are consistent with the March 2021 Joint Report of the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security on Foreign Interference Targeting Election Infrastructure or Political Organization, Campaign, or Candidate Infrastructure Related to the 2020 US Federal Elections. That report cited incidents when Chinese government-affiliated actors “materially impacted the security of networks associated with or pertaining to U.S. political organizations, candidates, and campaigns during the 2020 federal elections.” That report also concluded that “such actors gathered at least some information they could have released in influence operations,” but which the Chinese actors did not ultimately deploy in such a manner. Consistent with that conclusion, the indictment does not allege that the hacking furthered any Chinese government influence operations against the United States. The indictment’s allegations nonetheless serve to underscore the need for U.S. (and allied) political organizations, candidates, and campaigns to remain vigilant in their cybersecurity posture and in otherwise protecting their sensitive information from foreign intelligence services, particularly in light of the U.S. Intelligence Community’s recent assessment that “[t]he PRC may attempt to influence the U.S. elections in 2024 at some level because of its desire to sideline critics of China and magnify U.S. societal divisions.”
Targeting of U.S. Companies
The defendants and others in the APT31 Group also targeted individuals and dozens of companies operating in areas of national economic importance, including the defense, information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing and trade, finance, consulting, legal, and research industries. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group hacked and attempted to hack dozens of companies or entities operating in these industries, including multiple cleared defense contractors who provide products and services to the U.S. military, multiple managed service providers who managed the computer networks and security for other companies, a leading provider of 5G network equipment, and a leading global provider of wireless technology, among many others.
Targeting for Transnational Repression of Dissidents
The defendants and the APT31 Group also targeted individual dissidents around the world and other individuals who were perceived as supporting such dissidents. For example, in 2018, after several activists who spearheaded Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the defendants and the APT31 Group targeted Norwegian government officials and a Norwegian managed service provider. The conspirators also successfully compromised Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and their associates located in Hong Kong, the United States, and other foreign locations with identical malware.
The charged defendants’ roles in the conspiracy consisted of testing and exploiting the malware used to conduct these intrusions, managing infrastructure associated with these intrusions, and conducting surveillance and intrusions against specific U.S. entities. For example:
- Cheng Feng, Sun Xiaohui, Weng Ming, Xiong Wang, and Zhao Guangzong were involved in testing and exploiting malware, including malware used in some of these intrusions.
- Cheng and Ni Gaobin managed infrastructure associated with some of these intrusions, including the domain name for a command-and-control server that accessed at least 59 unique victim computers, including a telecommunications company that was a leading provider of 5G network equipment in the United States, an Alabama-based research corporation in the aerospace and defense industries, and a Maryland-based professional support services company.
- Sun and Weng operated the infrastructure used in an intrusion into a U.S. company known for its public opinion polls. Sun and Peng Yaowen conducted research and reconnaissance on several additional U.S. entities that were later the victims of the APT31 Group’s intrusion campaigns.
- Ni and Zhao sent emails with links to files containing malware to PRC dissidents, specifically Hong Kong legislators and democracy advocates, as well as targeting U.S. entities focusing on PRC-related issues.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas M. Pravda, Saritha Komatireddy, and Jessica Weigel for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Matthew Anzaldi and Matthew Chang of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Seven Hackers Associated with Chinese Government Charged with Computer Intrusions Targeting Perceived Critics of China and U.S. Businesses and PoliticiansRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – An indictment was unsealed today charging seven nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in a PRC-based hacking group that spent approximately 14 years targeting U.S. and foreign critics, businesses and political officials in furtherance of the PRC’s economic espionage and foreign intelligence objectives.
The defendants are Ni Gaobin (倪高彬), Weng Ming (翁明), Cheng Feng (程锋), Peng Yaowen (彭耀文), Sun Xiaohui (孙小辉), Xiong Wang (熊旺), and Zhao Guangzong (赵光宗).
Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General; Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Lisa O. Monaco, United States Deputy Attorney General; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge, FBI, Chicago Field Office (FBI), announced the indictment.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts by the Chinese government to intimidate Americans who serve the public, silence the dissidents who are protected by American laws, or steal from American businesses,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This case serves as a reminder of the ends to which the Chinese government is willing to go to target and intimidate its critics, including launching malicious cyber operations aimed at threatening the national security of the United States and our allies.”
“These allegations pull back the curtain on China’s vast illegal hacking operation that targeted sensitive data from U.S. elected and government officials, journalists and academics; valuable information from American companies; and political dissidents in America and abroad. Their sinister scheme victimized thousands of people and entities across the world, and lasted for well over a decade,” stated U.S. Attorney Peace. “America’s sovereignty extends to its cyberspace. Today’s charges demonstrate my Office’s commitment to upholding and protecting that jurisdiction, and to putting an end to malicious nation state cyber activity.”
“Over 10,000 malicious emails, impacting thousands of victims, across multiple continents. As alleged in today’s indictment, this prolific global hacking operation – backed by the PRC government – targeted journalists, political officials, and companies to repress critics of the Chinese regime, compromise government institutions, and steal trade secrets,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue, expose, and hold accountable cyber criminals who would undermine democracies and threaten our national security.”
“The indictment unsealed today, together with statements from our foreign partners regarding related activity, shed further light on the PRC Ministry of State Security’s aggressive cyber espionage and transnational repression activities worldwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s announcements underscore the need to remain vigilant to cybersecurity threats and the potential for cyber-enabled foreign malign influence efforts, especially as we approach the 2024 election cycle. The Department of Justice will continue to leverage all tools to disrupt malicious cyber actors who threaten our national security and aim to repress fundamental freedoms worldwide.”
“These defendants were part of a Chinese government sponsored hacking group, targeting U.S. businesses and U.S. political officials for intrusion for over a decade as part of a larger, malicious global campaign. These charges are yet another example of hostile actions taken by the PRC to attack not only American businesses and infrastructure, but the security of our nation. FBI New York is united with our partners - internationally, federally, and the private sector – to protect our common goals and ideals from antagonistic nation state actors,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith.
“APT31 Group’s practices further demonstrate the size and scope of the PRC’s state-sponsored hacking apparatus,” said Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. “FBI Chicago worked tirelessly to uncover this complex web of alleged foreign intelligence and economic espionage crimes. Thanks to these efforts, as well as our partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and fellow Field Offices, the FBI continues to be successful in holding groups accountable and protecting national security.”
Overview
As alleged in the indictment and court filings, the defendants, along with dozens of identified PRC Ministry of State Security (MSS) intelligence officers, contractor hackers, and support personnel, were members of a hacking group operating in the PRC and known within the cyber security community as Advanced Persistent Threat 31 (the APT31 Group). The APT31 Group was part of a cyberespionage program run by the MSS’s Hubei State Security Department, located in the city of Wuhan. Through their involvement with the APT31 Group, since at least 2010, the defendants conducted global campaigns of computer hacking targeting political dissidents and perceived supporters located inside and outside of China, government and political officials, candidates and campaign personnel in the United States and elsewhere, and American companies.
The defendants and others in the APT31 Group targeted thousands of U.S. and foreign individuals and companies. Some of this activity resulted in successful compromises of the targets’ networks, email accounts, cloud storage accounts, and telephone call records, with some surveillance of compromised email accounts lasting many years.
Hacking Scheme
The more than 10,000 malicious emails that the defendants and others in the APT31 Group sent to these targets often appeared to be from prominent news outlets or journalists and appeared to contain legitimate news articles. The malicious emails contained hidden tracking links, such that if the recipient simply opened the email, information about the recipient, including the recipient’s location, internet protocol (IP) addresses, network schematics, and specific devices used to access the pertinent email accounts, was transmitted to a server controlled by the defendants and those working with them. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group then used this information to enable more direct and sophisticated targeted hacking, such as compromising the recipients’ home routers and other electronic devices.
The defendants and others in the APT31 Group also sent malicious tracking-link emails to government officials across the world who expressed criticism of the PRC government. For example, in or about 2021, the Conspirators targeted the email accounts of various foreign government individuals world who were part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group founded in 2020 on the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests whose stated purpose was to counter the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party to the international order and democratic principles. The targets included every European Union member of IPAC, and 43 United Kingdom parliamentary accounts, most of whom were members of IPAC or had been outspoken on topics relating to the PRC government.
To gain and maintain access to the victim computer networks, the defendants and others in the APT31 Group employed sophisticated hacking techniques including zero-day exploits, which are exploits that the hackers became aware of before the manufacturer or the victim were able to patch or fix the vulnerability. These activities resulted in the confirmed and potential compromise of economic plans, intellectual property, and trade secrets belonging to American businesses, and contributed to the estimated billions of dollars lost every year as a result of the PRC’s state-sponsored apparatus to transfer U.S. technology to the PRC.
Targeting of U.S. Government Officials and U.S. and Foreign Politicians and Campaigns
The targeted U.S. government officials included individuals working in the White House, at the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Treasury, and State, and U.S. Senators and Representatives of both political parties. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group targeted these individuals at both professional and personal email addresses. Additionally in some cases, the defendants also targeted victims’ spouses, including the spouses of a high-ranking Department of Justice official, high-ranking White House officials, and multiple United States Senators. Targets also included election campaign staff from both major U.S. political parties in advance of the 2020 election.
The allegations in the indictment regarding the malicious cyber activity targeting political officials, candidates, and campaign personnel are consistent with the March 2021 Joint Report of the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security on Foreign Interference Targeting Election Infrastructure or Political Organization, Campaign, or Candidate Infrastructure Related to the 2020 US Federal Elections. That report cited incidents when Chinese government-affiliated actors “materially impacted the security of networks associated with or pertaining to US political organizations, candidates, and campaigns during the 2020 federal elections.” That report also concluded that “such actors gathered at least some information they could have released in influence operations,” but which the Chinese actors did not ultimately deploy in such a manner. Consistent with that conclusion, the indictment does not allege that the hacking furthered any Chinese government influence operations against the U.S. The indictment’s allegations nonetheless serve to underscore the need for U.S. and allied political organizations, candidates, and campaigns to remain vigilant in their cybersecurity posture and in otherwise protecting their sensitive information from foreign intelligence services, particularly in light of the U.S. Intelligence Community’s recent assessment that “[t]he PRC may attempt to influence the U.S. elections in 2024 at some level because of its desire to sideline critics of China and magnify U.S. societal divisions.”
Targeting of U.S. Companies
The defendants and others in the APT31 Group also targeted individuals and dozens of companies operating in areas of national economic importance, including the defense, information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing and trade, finance, consulting, legal, and research industries. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group hacked and attempted to hack dozens of companies or entities operating in these industries, including multiple cleared defense contractors who provide products and services to the U.S. military, multiple managed service providers who managed the computer networks and security for other companies, a leading provider of 5G network equipment, and a leading global provider of wireless technology, among many others.
Targeting for Transnational Repression of Dissidents
The defendants and the APT31 Group also targeted individual dissidents around the world and other individuals who were perceived as supporting such dissidents. For example, in 2018, after several activists who spearheaded Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the defendants and the APT31 Group targeted Norwegian government officials and a Norwegian managed service provider. The conspirators also successfully compromised Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and their associates located in Hong Kong, the United States, and other foreign locations with identical malware.
The charged defendants’ roles in the conspiracy consisted of testing and exploiting the malware used to conduct these intrusions, managing infrastructure associated with these intrusions, and conducting surveillance and intrusions against specific U.S. entities. For example, defendants Cheng Feng, Sun Xiaohui, Weng Ming, Xiong Wang, and Zhao Guangzong were involved in testing and exploiting malware, including malware used in some of these intrusions. Cheng and Ni Gaobin managed infrastructure associated with some of these intrusions, including the domain name for a command-and-control server that accessed at least 59 unique victim computers, including a telecommunications company that was a leading provider of 5G network equipment in the United States, an Alabama-based research corporation in the aerospace and defense industries, and a Maryland-based professional support services company. Sun and Weng operated the infrastructure used in an intrusion into a U.S. company known for its public opinion polls. Sun and Peng Yaowen conducted research and reconnaissance on several additional U.S. entities that were later the victims of the APT31 Group’s intrusion campaigns. Ni and Zhao sent emails with links to files containing malware to PRC dissidents, specifically Hong Kong legislators and democracy advocates, as well as targeting U.S. entities focusing on PRC-related issues.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas M. Pravda, Saritha Komatireddy, and Jessica Weigel are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Matthew Anzaldi and Matthew Chang of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section and from the Office’s Litigation Analyst Mary Clare McMahon.
The Defendants:
Ni Gaobin (倪高彬)
Age: 38
People’s Republic of ChinaWeng Ming (翁明)
Age: 37
People’s Republic of ChinaCheng Feng (程锋)
Age: 34
People’s Republic of ChinaPeng Yaowen (彭耀文)
Age: 38
People’s Republic of ChinaSun Xiaohui (孙小辉)
Age: 38
People’s Republic of ChinaXiong Wang (熊旺)
Age: 35
People’s Republic of ChinaZhao Guangzong (赵光宗)
Age: 38
People’s Republic of ChinaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-42 (RER)
Sacramento Resident Charged with Abusive Sexual Contact of Airplane Passenger During International FlightRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury indicted Rajesh Kumar Kapoor, charging him with sexual abuse of another passenger during an international flight, announced U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. Kapoor was arrested this morning, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler for his initial court appearance, and was released pending trial.
The indictment filed March 13, 2024, and unsealed earlier today, alleges that on January 16, 2024, Kapoor, 56, of Sacramento, Calif., was aboard a flight from the Republic of Korea to San Francisco when he engaged in abusive sexual contact with another passenger. Specifically, the indictment alleges Kapoor touched the victim’s breasts and inner thigh without the passenger’s permission.
Kapoor is charged with one count of abusive sexual contact, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2244(b) and 49 U.S.C. § 46506(1). Kapoor’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 9, 2024, before Senior United States District Judge Edward M. Chen, for a status conference.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Kapoor faces a statutory maximum of two years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. In addition, as part of any sentence a court may order an additional period of supervised release and restitution, if appropriate; however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, as applicable, and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Chou is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum and Marina Ponomarchuk. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Rochester woman pleads guilty to defrauding the IRS and NYS Tax Department during COVIDRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Melanie Armstrong, 55, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson to wire fraud involving national emergency benefits, filing false claims against a government agency, and transfer of a means of identification. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that between July 2020, and August 2021, Armstrong falsely applied for New York State Department of Labor unemployment benefits under the identities of others and fraudulently collected benefits in their names. Armstrong also collected unemployment benefits in her own name by falsely representing that she had no source of income. Armstrong received $131,400.10 in benefits that she was not lawfully entitled to receive. Armstrong also applied for, but did not receive, additional benefits, resulting in a total intended loss of $250,916.
In addition, between January 2019, and April 2023, Armstrong filed 19 false income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for herself, and family members and associates, claiming false and inflated wages and false and inflated federal income tax withholdings. As a result, the IRS issued tax refunds to Armstrong and the others totaling $101,255. Between January 2020, and April 2023, Armstrong also filed 17 false tax returns for herself, and family members and associates, with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, claiming false and inflated wages and false and inflated state income tax withholdings. Armstrong attempted to obtain $45,363 in fraudulent refunds, but actually received $18,758 in fraudulent refunds.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso, and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller.
Sentencing will be scheduled a later date.
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Pine City Man Sentenced to 29 Years in Prison for Multi-Victim Child Exploitation and Child Pornography SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Pine City man has been sentenced to 350 months in prison followed by 12 years of supervised release for producing, receiving, and distributing images of child pornography, and coercing and enticing minors to engage in illegal sexual activity, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.“For years, Caleb McLaughlin used social media to groom, sexually exploit, and abuse hundreds of minor victims. He preyed upon the most vulnerable, with some victims as young as 11 or 12 years old,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “Protecting Minnesota children from the trauma of sexual exploitation is a critical part of our mission, and I thank all of our partners in law enforcement for their diligence on this investigation.”
“When our children are victimized, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to hold the perpetrators accountable," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "Today’s sentence demonstrates our commitment to seek justice for our most innocent victims.”
According to his plea agreement and court documents, beginning in or about January 2019, Caleb Vincent McLaughlin, 26, used multiple social media accounts to solicit and direct over 200 minor victims to produce and send sexually explicit images, of whom 26 minors have been identified between the ages of 11 and 16 years old in Minnesota and Wisconsin. McLaughlin used a variety of aliases and Snapchat IDs including “Jake Benson,” “Lift11” or “Tech4cm,” in his scheme, and sometimes purported to be 17 years old to prey on minor girls he met online in order to entice and coerce them to create sexually explicit images and videos. McLaughlin targeted minor victims not only to obtain child pornography, but also to coerce minor victims to meet him in person so he could commit hands-on sexual abuse. McLaughlin offered minors drugs, alcohol, vape pens, cash, and gift cards in exchange for sex acts. Then McLaughlin documented that abuse by producing child pornography videos. McLaughlin also distributed numerous videos and images of child pornography, some of which was self-produced and depicted him sexually assaulting minor victims.
On October 11, 2023, McLaughlin pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. He was sentenced today by Chief Judge Patrick J. Schlitz, who remarked that the sentence was one of the longest he had ever imposed and called McLaughlin’s behavior, “shocking, even to someone like me, a federal judge who has been sentencing [child sex offenders] for over two decades.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, with substantial assistance from the St. Paul Police Department, Pine County Sheriff's Office, and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hillary A. Taylor and Rachel L. Kraker prosecuted the case.