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Thursday 1 February 2024
2 Columbus police officers arrested on drug charges related to stealing, selling multiple kilograms of cocaineRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two Columbus police officers have been arrested on federal charges alleging they stole multiple kilograms of cocaine and provided it to others to sell.
John Castillo, 31, of Grove City, and Joel M. Mefford, 34, of London, Ohio, were arrested today and appeared in federal court this afternoon, at which point their cases were unsealed.
According to Mefford’s indictment, in February 2020, he was investigating a drug crime and unlawfully gained access to a detached garage belonging to the subject of the investigation. It is alleged Mefford, without a warrant, discovered two kilograms of cocaine in the rafters of the garage. Mefford allegedly unlawfully seized one of the kilograms and left the other to be found during the execution of a search warrant the next morning. The defendant allegedly gave the stolen narcotics to an individual to sell.
Similarly, in February and March 2020, Mefford was investigating drug-trafficking activity at houses on Ambleside Drive and Kilbourne Avenue in Columbus. On March 7, 2020, the officer allegedly took a bag containing multiple kilograms of cocaine from the house on Ambleside Drive and arrested an individual there. He then allegedly traveled to the house on Kilbourne Avenue and removed a kilogram of cocaine. That same day, it is alleged Mefford turned in one kilogram of cocaine to evidence and stole the other kilograms to be sold.
It is further alleged that Mefford stole 20 kilograms of cocaine from the Columbus police property room in April 2020, replacing it with fake cocaine.
Mefford also allegedly deposited more than $72,000 in cash derived from the cocaine sales into his personal bank account.
Castillo’s indictment alleges that in February 2021, Castillo took approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine from a house on North Everett Avenue and did not turn it into evidence. He allegedly planted two additional kilograms of cocaine for law enforcement discovery later that day at the house. The 10 kilograms of cocaine were allegedly stored in another person’s basement before they were given to another individual to sell.
Castillo and Mefford are charged in separate indictments with possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Mefford is also charged with money laundering and two counts of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Zrinka Dilber, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes special agents and officers from the FBI, Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations, the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office and the Columbus Division of Police.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Wednesday 31 January 2024
“King” of Violent Haitian Gang Pleads Guilty to Gun Smuggling and Money Laundering After Government’s CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joly Germine, 31, of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, the self-described “King” of a notoriously violent Haitian gang known as 400 Mawozo, pleaded guilty today to his role in a gunrunning conspiracy that smuggled firearms to Haiti in violation of U.S. export laws, and the laundering of ransoms paid for U.S. hostages to the gang in 2021. The conspiracy resulted in the purchase in the United States of at least twenty-four firearms, including AK-47s, AR-15s, an M4 Carbine rifle, an M1A rifle, and a .50 caliber rifle, described by the ATF as a military weapon, which were smuggled from the United States to the gang in Haiti for their criminal activities. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. Co-defendant Eliande Tunis, 45, of Pompano Beach, Florida, pled guilty on January 17, 2024, to the same offenses.
The plea came at the end of the government’s case during trial, after the twenty-four witnesses and two weeks of evidence. Germine, a Haitian national, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before Judge John D. Bates to the 48-count second superseding indictment. The indictment charged Germine with conspiring to violate U.S. export control laws and to defraud the United States, violating export control laws, smuggling, and laundering the proceeds of ransoms paid to free U.S. hostages taken by the gang and laundering money to promote his crimes. He faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on May 15, 2024.
Germine’s co-defendant and former girlfriend Tunis, who styled herself as his “wife” and was described at trial as the “Queen”, pled guilty on the eve of trial on January 17, 2024, to the same 48-count indictment. She also faces up to life in prison when she is sentenced on May 8, 2024. Another co-defendant, Jocelyn Dor, age 31, who acted as a straw gun purchaser for Germine and Tunis, previously pled guilty on October 30, 2023, and will be sentenced on February 28, 2024.
“Violent gangs have ravaged Haiti, and, all too often, Americans in Haiti have been targets of their violence,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “These two defendants not only helped lead a prominent violent gang in Haiti, but they were also intimately involved in arming the gang and laundering ransom proceeds the gang obtained from kidnapping Americans. Preventing them from illegally shipping anymore firearms or laundering the proceeds of kidnappings strikes a critical blow against the gang they once led.”
“Violent, well-armed gangs pose an ongoing threat to U.S. Citizens who live in or travel to Haiti,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, of the Miami Field Office. “As Joly Germine and Eliande Tunis have just learned, the FBI is dedicated to disrupting and dismantling gangs who undertake hostage-taking of U.S. Citizens anywhere. This includes taking away their ability to wreak violence on the innocent using smuggled firearms.”
According to the evidence the government presented at trial, from at least March through November 2021, Germine, Tunis, and two co-defendants conspired with each other and with other gang members in Haiti to acquire and supply firearms to the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti. Germine directed the gang’s operations from a Haitian prison using unmonitored cell phones, including directing gang members in Haiti to transfer money to Tunis and others in the United States for the purpose of obtaining firearms for the gang. Germine then provided Tunis and the two other U.S.-based co-defendants, all Florida residents, specifications for firearms and ammunition that Germine and other gang leaders wanted sent to Haiti. Tunis and the two co-defendants then purchased at least 24 rifles, handguns, and a shotgun at Florida gun shops while falsely stating that they were the “actual buyers” of the firearms, when they were in fact acting as straw purchasers for Germine. In approximately May 2021, Tunis smuggled firearms and ammunition to Haiti in containers disguised as food and household goods. In October 2021, Tunis shipped additional firearms and ammunition to Haiti, again by smuggling the firearms, but those firearms were seized by the FBI before they left the United States.
400 Mawozo is a violent Haitian gang that operated in the Croix-des-Bouquets area to the east of the capital, Port-au-Prince. From at least January 12, 2020, 400 Mawozo was engaged in armed hostage takings of U.S. citizens in Haiti for ransom. The victims have generally been forced from their vehicles at gunpoint and kept in various locations by armed gang members while their relatives and colleagues negotiate payment for their release. At trial, the government presented evidence that the gang received ransom payments from the hostage taking of three U.S. citizens in the summer of 2021, who testified at trial, and the cash ransom proceeds were commingled with the gangs’ funds and transferred via MoneyGram and Western Union from the United States to Haiti to buy more firearms. In the fall of 2021, the 400 Mawozo gang claimed responsibility for taking 16 U.S. citizens hostage, including five children, and one Canadian citizen who were part of a missionary organization visiting an orphanage in Port-au-Prince. The gang demanded a ransom of $l million for each hostage. The hostages escaped on or about December 16, 2021. This case does not address those hostage taking charges, for which Germine has been separately indicted in Case No. 22-cr-161 (DDC).
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Miami Field Office, with assistance the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Haitian National Police, the government of Haiti, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida’s Special Prosecutions Section.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Kimberly Paschall and Paralegal Specialist Jorge Casillas of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division.
eBay to Pay $59 Million to Settle Controlled Substances Act Allegations Related to Pill Presses Sold Through its WebsiteRead the Press Release
eBay Inc., an e-commerce company headquartered in San Jose, California, has agreed to pay $59 million and to enhance its compliance program to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in connection with thousands of pill presses and encapsulating machines that were sold through its website.
Pill presses and encapsulating machines can be used by criminals to manufacture illegal drugs. When used with a mold, stamp, or die mimicking commonly prescribed controlled substances, pill presses are capable of producing counterfeit pills that appear indistinguishable from legitimate pharmaceutical drugs, including pills that are sometimes laced with fentanyl.
The CSA regulates certain pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, including pill presses and encapsulating machines, by requiring identity verification of purchasers, record-keeping, and reporting to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). These requirements are designed to prevent individuals who intend to use these machines illegally from obtaining them and to ensure that the machines are traceable to the end user.
The United States alleged that eBay did not comply with these CSA requirements for thousands of pill presses and encapsulating machines that were sold through its website, including high-capacity pill presses capable of producing thousands of pills per hour. The United States’ investigation further found that hundreds of eBay’s pill press buyers also purchased counterfeit molds, stamps, or dies, allowing them to produce pills that mimicked the products of legitimate pharmaceutical companies, and that many of eBay’s pill press buyers have been successfully prosecuted in connection with trafficking illegal counterfeit pills.
“Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl are a significant contributor to the deadly overdose epidemic,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Chair of the Justice Department's Opioid Epidemic Civil Litigation Task Force. “The Department is committed to using all available enforcement measures to ensure that companies involved in selling the equipment that makes it possible to create these dangerous pills comply with the Controlled Substances Act.”
“Americans deserve to be protected from the dangers of counterfeit prescription pills,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Civil Division will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that all those involved in the sale of counterfeit pills and the equipment used to manufacture counterfeit pills are held accountable.”
“Through its website, eBay made it easy for individuals across the country to obtain the type of dangerous machines that are often used to make counterfeit pills. Our investigation revealed that some of these machines were even sold to individuals who were later convicted of drug related crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest for the District of Vermont. “Our office is committed to holding accountable those who have contributed to the devastating fentanyl crisis we are facing in our communities. Today’s settlement is an important step to ensuring that e-commerce companies do their part by complying with regulations that are designed to protect the public.”
“eBay’s failure to comply with the Controlled Substances Act’s basic reporting and record keeping requirements for the sales of pill presses contributed to the proliferation of counterfeit pills in this country by allowing private citizens to set up pill factories in their homes and to do so without detection,” said U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. “This settlement holds eBay accountable for its compliance lapses, serves as a reminder to other e-commerce companies that the Justice Department will enforce these requirements, and will help keep these items out of the hands of criminals moving forward.”
“Fentanyl — pressed into fake pills that look like real prescription medications — is killing Americans. Drug traffickers buy the tools to make fake pills, like pill presses, online,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “eBay and other e-commerce platforms must do their part to protect the public. And when they do not, DEA will hold them accountable.”
In addition to the monetary settlement, eBay also has agreed to maintain and enhance its compliance program with respect to its prohibited and restricted items policy as it pertains to sales of pill presses, counterfeit molds, stamps, and dies, and encapsulating machines.
The matter was handled by Trial Attorneys Scott B. Dahlquist and Deborah Sohn, Senior Trial Attorney Sarah Williams, Senior Counsel for Policy and Compliance Shannon Pedersen, Senior Deputy Director of Criminal Litigation A.J. Nardozzi, Director Amanda Liskamm, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun G. Rao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin E. Hazard and Lauren Almquist Lively and Civil Chief Jules Torti for the District of Vermont, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Wynn Shuford, Deputy Civil Chief Ellen Bowden McIntyre, and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
SettlementeBay to Pay $59 Million to Settle Controlled Substances Act Allegations Related to Pill Presses Sold Through its WebsiteRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – eBay Inc., an e-commerce company headquartered in San Jose, California, has agreed to pay $59 million and to enhance its compliance program to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in connection with thousands of pill presses and encapsulating machines that were sold through its website.
Pill presses and encapsulating machines can be used by criminals to manufacture illegal drugs. When used with a mold, stamp, or die mimicking commonly prescribed controlled substances, pill presses are capable of producing counterfeit pills that appear indistinguishable from legitimate pharmaceutical drugs, including pills that are sometimes laced with fentanyl.
The CSA regulates certain pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, including pill presses and encapsulating machines, by requiring identity verification of purchasers, record-keeping, and reporting to the Drug Enforcement Administration. These requirements are designed to prevent individuals who intend to use these machines illegally from obtaining them and to ensure that the machines are traceable to the end user.
The United States alleged that eBay did not comply with these CSA requirements for thousands of pill presses and encapsulating machines that were sold through its website, including high-capacity pill presses capable of producing thousands of pills per hour. The United States' investigation, which began in the Middle District of Tennessee, further found that hundreds of eBay's pill press buyers also purchased counterfeit molds, stamps, or dies, allowing them to produce pills that mimicked the products of legitimate pharmaceutical companies, and that many of eBay's pill press buyers have been successfully prosecuted in connection with trafficking illegal counterfeit pills.
“Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl are a significant contributor to the deadly overdose epidemic,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Chair of the Department of Justice’s Opioid Epidemic Civil Litigation Task Force. “The Department is committed to using all available enforcement measures to ensure that companies involved in selling the equipment that makes it possible to create these dangerous pills comply with the Controlled Substances Act.”
“eBay’s failure to comply with the Controlled Substances Act’s basic reporting and record keeping requirements for the sales of pill presses contributed to the proliferation of counterfeit pills in this country by allowing private citizens to set up pill factories in their homes and to do so without detection,” said United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, Henry C. Leventis. “This settlement holds eBay accountable for its compliance lapses, serves as a reminder to other e-commerce companies that the Department of Justice will enforce these requirements, and will help keep these items out of the hands of criminals moving forward.”
“Americans deserve to be protected from the dangers of counterfeit prescription pills,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Civil Division will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that all those involved in the sale of counterfeit pills and the equipment used to manufacture counterfeit pills are held accountable.”
“Through its website, eBay made it easy for individuals across the country to obtain the type of dangerous machines that are often used to make counterfeit pills. Our investigation revealed that some of these machines were even sold to individuals who were later convicted of drug related crimes,” said United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, Nikolas P. Kerest. “Our office is committed to holding accountable those who have contributed to the devastating fentanyl crisis we are facing in our communities. Today’s settlement is an important step to ensuring that e-commerce companies do their part by complying with regulations that are designed to protect the public.”
“Fentanyl—pressed into fake pills that look like real prescription medications—is killing Americans. Drug traffickers buy the tools to make fake pills, like pill presses, online,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “eBay and other e-commerce platforms must do their part to protect the public. And when they do not, DEA will hold them accountable.”
In addition to the monetary settlement, eBay also has agreed to maintain and enhance its compliance program with respect to its prohibited and restricted items policy as it pertains to sales of pill presses, counterfeit molds, stamps, and dies, and encapsulating machines.
The matter was handled by Trial Attorneys Scott B. Dalquist and Deborah Sohn, Senior Trial Attorney Sarah Williams, Senior Counsel for Policy and Compliance Shannon Pedersen, Senior Deputy Director of Criminal Litigation A.J. Nardozzi, Director Amanda Liskamm, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun G. Rao of the Civil Division's Consumer Protection Branch, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin E. Hazard and Lauren Almquist Lively and Civil Chief Jules Torti of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Wynn Shuford, Deputy Civil Chief Ellen Bowden McIntyre, and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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eBay to Pay $59 Million to Settle Controlled Substances Act Allegations Related to Pill Presses Sold Through its WebsiteRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – eBay Inc, an e-commerce company headquartered in San Jose, California, has agreed to pay $59 million and to enhance its compliance program to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in connection with thousands of pill presses and encapsulating machines that were sold through its website.
Pill presses and encapsulating machines can be used by criminals to manufacture illegal drugs. When used with a mold, stamp, or die mimicking commonly prescribed controlled substances, pill presses are capable of producing counterfeit pills that appear indistinguishable from legitimate pharmaceutical drugs, including pills that are sometimes laced with fentanyl.
The CSA regulates certain pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, including pill presses and encapsulating machines, by requiring identity verification of purchasers, record-keeping, and reporting to the Drug Enforcement Administration. These requirements are designed to prevent individuals who intend to use these machines illegally from obtaining them and to ensure that the machines are traceable to the end user.
The United States alleged that eBay did not comply with these CSA requirements for thousands of pill presses and encapsulating machines that were sold through its website, including high-capacity pill presses capable of producing thousands of pills per hour. The United States’ investigation further found that hundreds of eBay’s pill press buyers also purchased counterfeit molds, stamps, or dies, allowing them to produce pills that mimicked the products of legitimate pharmaceutical companies, and that many of eBay’s pill press buyers have been successfully prosecuted in connection with trafficking illegal counterfeit pills.
“Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl are a significant contributor to the deadly overdose epidemic,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Chair of the Department of Justice’s Opioid Epidemic Civil Litigation Task Force. “The Department is committed to using all available enforcement measures to ensure that companies involved in selling the equipment that makes it possible to create these dangerous pills comply with the Controlled Substances Act.”
“Through its website, eBay made it easy for individuals across the country to obtain the type of dangerous machines that are often used to make counterfeit pills. Our investigation revealed that some of these machines were even sold to individuals who were later convicted of drug related crimes,” said United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, Nikolas P. Kerest. “Our office is committed to holding accountable those who have contributed to the devastating fentanyl crisis we are facing in our communities. Today’s settlement is an important step to ensuring that e-commerce companies do their part by complying with regulations that are designed to protect the public.”
“eBay’s failure to comply with the Controlled Substances Act’s basic reporting and record keeping requirements for the sales of pill presses contributed to the proliferation of counterfeit pills in this country by allowing private citizens to set up pill factories in their homes and to do so without detection,” said United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, Henry C. Leventis. “This settlement holds eBay accountable for its compliance lapses, serves as a reminder to other e-commerce companies that the Department of Justice will enforce these requirements, and will help keep these items out of the hands of criminals moving forward.”
“Americans deserve to be protected from the dangers of counterfeit prescription pills,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Civil Division will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that all those involved in the sale of counterfeit pills and the equipment used to manufacture counterfeit pills are held accountable.”
“Fentanyl—pressed into fake pills that look like real prescription medications—is killing Americans. Drug traffickers buy the tools to make fake pills, like pill presses, online,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “eBay and other e-commerce platforms must do their part to protect the public. And when they do not, DEA will hold them accountable.”
In addition to the monetary settlement, eBay also has agreed to maintain and enhance its compliance program with respect to its prohibited and restricted items policy as it pertains to sales of pill presses, counterfeit molds, stamps, and dies, and encapsulating machines.
The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin E. Hazard and Lauren Almquist Lively and Civil Chief Jules Torti of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wynn Shuford, Deputy Civil Chief Ellen Bowden McIntyre, and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Wildasin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, and Trial Attorneys Scott B. Dahlquist and Deborah Sohn, Senior Trial Attorney Sarah Williams, Senior Counsel for Policy and Compliance Shannon Pedersen, Senior Deputy Director of Criminal Litigation A.J. Nardozzi, Director Amanda Liskamm, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun G. Rao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
SettlementYork Man Sentenced to Probation for Straw Purchase of FirearmsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jordan Bryan Griffie, age 22, of York Springs, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by the Honorable Jennifer P. Wilson to serve two years probation based upon his previously entered guilty plea to straw purchasing three firearms for individuals who were prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to United States Attorney Gerard Karam, on three separate occasions in 2020, Griffie purchased firearms from a licensed firearms dealer and falsely stated at the time of the purchases that he was the actual purchaser. He subsequently falsely reported that the firearms were stolen because he feared those firearms might be used in illegal activities.
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 York County Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler and former Assistant United States Attorney Paul Miovas prosecuted the case.
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Wisconsin Man Sentenced to Prison for Hacking Fantasy Sports and Betting WebsiteRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOSEPH GARRISON was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to hack user accounts on a fantasy sports and betting website (the “Betting Website”) and sell access to those accounts, resulting in losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the users. GARRISON was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. On November 15, 2023, GARRISON pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit computer intrusion.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joseph Garrison and his co-conspirators orchestrated a bold credential stuffing attack – collecting stolen usernames and password pairs from other large-scale data breaches – by exploiting vulnerabilities to siphon approximately $600,000 from unsuspecting victims. Such attacks not only breach personal security but erode trust in online platforms. Today’s sentencing underscores the urgent need for vigilance and the critical importance of our collective efforts in combatting cyber threats and safeguarding digital integrity.”
According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court:
On or about November 18, 2022, GARRISON launched a “credential stuffing attack” on the Betting Website. During a credential stuffing attack, a cyber threat actor collects stolen credentials, or username and password pairs, obtained from other large-scale data breaches, which can be purchased on the dark web. The threat actor then systematically attempts to use those stolen credentials to obtain unauthorized access to accounts held by the same user with other companies and providers in order to compromise accounts where the user has maintained the same password. Here, in connection with the attack on the Betting Website, there was a series of attempts to log into the Betting Website accounts using a large list of stolen credentials.
GARRISON and others successfully accessed approximately 60,000 accounts on the Betting Website (the “Victim Accounts”) through the credential stuffing attack. In some instances, the individuals who unlawfully accessed the Victim Accounts were able to add a new payment method on the account, deposit $5 into that account through the new payment method to verify that method, and then withdraw all the existing funds in the Victim Account through the new payment method (i.e., to a newly added financial account belonging to the hacker), thus stealing the funds in the Victim Accounts. Using this method, GARRISON and others stole approximately $600,000 from approximately 1,600 Victim Accounts on the Betting Website.
Law enforcement executed a search on GARRISON’s home in February 2023. In that search, they located programs typically used for credential stuffing attacks. Those programs require individualized “config” files for a target website to launch credential stuffing attacks, and law enforcement located approximately 700 such config files for dozens of different corporate websites on GARRISON’s computer. Law enforcement also located files containing nearly 40 million username and password pairs on GARRISON’s computer, which are also used in credential stuffing attacks.
On GARRISON’s cellphone, law enforcement also located conversations between GARRISON and his co-conspirators, including discussions about how to hack the Betting Website and how to profit from the hack of the Betting Website by extracting funds from the Victim Accounts directly or by selling access to the Victim Accounts. In one particular conversation, GARRISON discussed, in substance and in part, how successful he was at credential stuffing attacks, how much he enjoyed credential stuffing attacks, and how GARRISON believed that law enforcement would not catch or prosecute him. Specifically, GARRISON messaged the following, in substance and in part: “fraud is fun . . . im addicted to see money in my account . . . im like obsessed with bypassing shit.”
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In addition to the prison term, GARRISON, 19, of Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $175,019.11 in forfeiture and $1,327,061 in restitution.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York City Police Department for its assistance in the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Micah Fergenson are in charge of the prosecution.
Winona man sentenced to prison for distributing drugsRead the Press Release
Greenville, MS – A Winona man was sentenced today to ten years in prison for distribution of a controlled substance.
According to court documents, William Earl Murray, aka “Big Earl,” 48, previously pled guilty to one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Murray was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown to 120 months imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release. Murray was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals following the sentencing hearing.
“We will continue to use all available resources to pursue those who spread the scourge of illegal drugs in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Today’s sentencing will hopefully deter other methamphetamine traffickers who contribute to our nation’s drug crisis and destroy lives and I commend the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Winona Police Department for bringing this defendant to justice.”
"I am proud of the work done by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Northern District of Mississippi - U.S. Attorney's Office, and Winona Police Department on this case," said Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. "When we work together to combat crime, we not only strengthen our law enforcement partnerships but also create a safer environment for our communities."
The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Winona Police Department investigated the case. AUSA Robert Mims prosecuted the case.
Wilmington Resident Sentenced to over 11 years in Federal Prison for Drug Distribution and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware announced that a Delaware man was sentenced on Monday to 135 months in federal prison following a jury conviction in August 2023. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly presided over the trial and pronounced the sentence.
The jury found that James Richard Smith III, age 46 of Wilmington, DE, sold cocaine, methamphetamine, and a firearm to a Delaware State Police undercover officer in November 2019. During trial, the government introduced audio and video evidence that Smith flaunted himself as a drug dealer, stating he could obtain whatever drugs the undercover wanted. Indeed, in November 2019, Smith sold the officer drugs on three occasions – the first of which involved not only illegal drugs but included selling the undercover officer a stolen semi-automatic rifle. During the final drug transaction, Smith sold the undercover officer over 50 grams of methamphetamine, resulting in a mandatory minimum ten-year sentence.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “The combination of trafficking illegal drugs while possessing firearms is doubly dangerous.” My office is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to combat illegal drug distribution and firearm possession within our communities. This case is a testament to the multiple law enforcement agencies who tirelessly investigated this case to ensure Mr. Smith was brought to justice.”
The case was investigated by Delaware State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Briana Knox and Samuel Frey tried the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 20-cr-26.
Washington man sentenced to 12 years in prison for trafficking meth, fentanyl in MontanaRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Washington man who admitted to bringing methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills to Montana for distribution was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Ryan Creighton Doak, 49, of Everett, Washington, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Feb. 2, 2023, Doak was the passenger in a vehicle, driven by his girlfriend, that was stopped in Montana. Law enforcement arrested Doak after a Montana Highway Patrol trooper located a device for smoking drugs and a small amount of heroin on Doak. Investigators executed a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered a firearm, more than 100 grams of meth, and nearly 3,000 fentanyl pills. Doak admitted to investigators to making several trips to Montana to distribute controlled substances. The government estimated that Doak brought to Montana 12,000 to 14,000 fentanyl pills and 1.5 to 1.75 pounds of meth in three months.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case. The Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
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.
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Washington Gun Offender Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Reily William Arambul, age 28, was sentenced after pleading guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 70 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information disclosed at sentencing, on May 9, 2023, Armbul met a man at a friend’s house, who he asked for a ride to an apartment complex near West 5th Avenue in Spokane. When they arrived, Arambul walked up to the apartment complex. The driver waited in the vehicle. While outside the vehicle, Arambul engaged in a verbal confrontation with individuals at the apartment complex. During this verbal confrontation, a residence of the complex call 911 to report disturbance and that an individual, later identified as Arambul, was in possession of a weapon.
As officers with the Spokane Police Department arrived to Arambul’s location, they observed Arambul run back to the truck in which he arrived, and enter the passenger seat. SPD officers ordered the men in the truck to show their hands. The driver put his hands in the air, but Arambul refused. Instead, Arambul attempted to flee law enforcement, reached over from the passenger seat, put the truck in reverse, pressed the gas and began to steer the truck westbound on 5th Avenue. After a short distance, however, the driver managed to press the brakes and stop the truck. SPD then boxed the truck in.
After the truck was boxed in, Arambul got out and began running from officers. He was arrested a short distance away. Officers searched Arambul and found two knives, a black leather holster, a bag of syringes, and a small red bag with approximately 60 fentanyl pills inside. Officers also found a black and silver semi-automatic pistol belonging to the defendant lying the grass nearby.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Dimke noted Arambul’s choice to pull out a firearm put many people, including law enforcement and members of the community, at risk.
“Mr. Arambul put the community in danger by recklessly taking control of a vehicle in an attempt to escape from the police – all while armed with an illegal firearm. Thankfully, he did not get far, and no one was hurt,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am grateful to the brave men and women in law enforcement who place their safety at risk every day to protect our community.”
“As a convicted felon, Mr. Arambul knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Not only did he possess a gun, he continued to disregard the law and engaged in other criminal activity including possessing dangerous weapons and illegal drugs while fleeing from law enforcement. Fortunately, no one was injured due to the swift actions taken by the Spokane Police. The FBI relies on partnerships like these as we work to protect the citizens of Washington state.”
“Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that a convicted felon who illegally possesses a firearm will be held accountable. Mr. Arambul showed no regard for community members or police officers during this incident which highlights the dangers our officers increasingly face when those involved in criminal activity are armed and refuse to comply with police when contacted,” stated Interim Spokane Police Chief Justin Lundgren. “The Spokane Police Department appreciates the collaboration with our federal partners that helps keep the Spokane community safe and armed felons out of our neighborhoods. “
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Spokane Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Cashman.
U.S. government disrupts botnet People’s Republic of China used to conceal hacking of critical infrastructureRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A December 2023 court-authorized operation has disrupted a botnet of hundreds of U.S.-based small office/home office (SOHO) routers hijacked by People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored hackers.
The hackers, known to the private sector as “Volt Typhoon,” used privately-owned SOHO routers infected with the “KV Botnet” malware to conceal the PRC origin of further hacking activities directed against U.S. and other foreign victims. These further hacking activities included a campaign targeting critical infrastructure organizations in the United States and elsewhere that was the subject of a May 2023 FBI, National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and foreign partner advisory. The same activity has been the subject of private sector partner advisories in May and December 2023, as well as an additional secure by design alert released today by CISA.
The vast majority of routers that comprised the KV Botnet were Cisco and NetGear routers that were vulnerable because they had reached “end of life” status; that is, they were no longer supported through their manufacturer’s security patches or other software updates. The court-authorized operation deleted the KV Botnet malware from the routers and took additional steps to sever their connection to the botnet, such as blocking communications with other devices used to control the botnet.
“The Justice Department has disrupted a PRC-backed hacking group that attempted to target America’s critical infrastructure utilizing a botnet,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The United States will continue to dismantle malicious cyber operations – including those sponsored by foreign governments – that undermine the security of the American people.”
“China’s hackers are targeting American civilian critical infrastructure, pre-positioning to cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities in the event of conflict” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Volt Typhoon malware enabled China to hide as they targeted our communications, energy, transportation, and water sectors. Their pre-positioning constitutes a potential real-world threat to our physical safety that the FBI is not going to tolerate. We are going to continue to work with our partners to hit the PRC hard and early whenever we see them threaten Americans.”
“In wiping out the KV Botnet from hundreds of routers nationwide, the Department of Justice is using all its tools to disrupt national security threats – in real time,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Today’s announcement also highlights our critical partnership with the private sector – victim reporting is key to fighting cybercrime, from home offices to our most critical infrastructure.”
“Today, the FBI and our partners continue to stand firmly against People's Republic of China cyber actors that threaten our nation's cyber security,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “We remain committed to thwarting malicious activities of this type and will continue to disrupt and dismantle cyber threats, safeguarding the fabric of our cyber infrastructure.” “This operation disrupted the efforts of PRC state-sponsored hackers to gain access to U.S. critical infrastructure that the PRC would be able to leverage during a future crisis,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The operation, together with the release of valuable network defense guidance by the U.S. government and private sector partners, demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to enhance cybersecurity and disrupt efforts to hold our critical infrastructure at risk.”
“Using traditional law enforcement tools to disrupt state-of-the-art technologies, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas protected Americans from PRC government-sponsored cyber-criminals who used U.S. based routers to hack into American targets,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “This case demonstrates my office’s ongoing commitment to defending our critical infrastructure from PRC initiated cyber-attacks. We thank the FBI and the Justice Department’s National Security Division for its work, and we will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with them to shield our country from state-sponsored hackers.”
“The FBI’s dismantling of the KV Botnet sends a clear message that the FBI will take decisive action to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “By ensuring home and small-business routers are replaced after their end-of-life expiration, everyday citizens can protect both their personal cyber security and the digital safety of the United States. We need the American public’s vigilance and support to continue our fight against malicious PRC-sponsored cyber actors.”
As described in court documents, the government extensively tested the operation on the relevant Cisco and NetGear routers. The operation did not impact the legitimate functions of, or collect content information from, hacked routers. Additionally, the court-authorized steps to disconnect the routers from the KV Botnet and prevent reinfection are temporary in nature. A router’s owner can reverse these mitigation steps by restarting the router. However, a restart that is not accompanied by mitigation steps similar to those the court order authorized will make the router vulnerable to reinfection.
The FBI is providing notice of the court-authorized operation to all owners or operators of SOHO routers that were infected with the KV Botnet malware and remotely accessed pursuant to the operation. For those victims whose contact information was not publicly available, the FBI has contacted providers (such as a victim’s internet service provider) and has asked those providers to provide notice to the victims.
FBI’s Houston Field Office and Cyber Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and the National Security Cyber Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division led the disruption effort. The Justice Department’s Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance. These efforts would not have been successful without the partnership of numerous private-sector entities.
If you believe you have a compromised router. Please visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or report online to CISA. The remediated routers remain vulnerable to future exploitation by Volt Typhoon and other hackers, and the FBI strongly encourages router owners to remove and replace any end-of-life SOHO router currently in their networks.
The FBI continues to investigate Volt Typhoon’s computer intrusion activity.
U.S. Government Disrupts Botnet People’s Republic of China Used to Conceal Hacking of Critical InfrastructureRead the Press Release
Note: Since the publication of this press release, U.S. Government and foreign partner agencies have issued additional cybersecurity advisories (CSAs), and completed a Volt Typhoon Malware Analysis Report. Click to view the February 2024 CSAs on:
- PRC State-Sponsored Actors Compromise and Maintain Persistent Access to U.S. Critical Infrastructure
- Identifying and Mitigating Living Off the Land Techniques
- PRC State-Sponsored Cyber Activity: Actions for Critical Infrastructure Leaders
A December 2023 court-authorized operation has disrupted a botnet of hundreds of U.S.-based small office/home office (SOHO) routers hijacked by People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored hackers.
The hackers, known to the private sector as “Volt Typhoon,” used privately-owned SOHO routers infected with the “KV Botnet” malware to conceal the PRC origin of further hacking activities directed against U.S. and other foreign victims. These further hacking activities included a campaign targeting critical infrastructure organizations in the United States and elsewhere that was the subject of a May 2023 FBI, National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and foreign partner advisory. The same activity has been the subject of private sector partner advisories in May and December 2023, as well as an additional secure by design alert released today by CISA.
The vast majority of routers that comprised the KV Botnet were Cisco and NetGear routers that were vulnerable because they had reached “end of life” status; that is, they were no longer supported through their manufacturer’s security patches or other software updates. The court-authorized operation deleted the KV Botnet malware from the routers and took additional steps to sever their connection to the botnet, such as blocking communications with other devices used to control the botnet.
“The Justice Department has disrupted a PRC-backed hacking group that attempted to target America’s critical infrastructure utilizing a botnet,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The United States will continue to dismantle malicious cyber operations – including those sponsored by foreign governments – that undermine the security of the American people.”
“In wiping out the KV Botnet from hundreds of routers nationwide, the Department of Justice is using all its tools to disrupt national security threats – in real time,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Today’s announcement also highlights our critical partnership with the private sector – victim reporting is key to fighting cybercrime, from home offices to our most critical infrastructure.”
“China’s hackers are targeting American civilian critical infrastructure, pre-positioning to cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities in the event of conflict,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Volt Typhoon malware enabled China to hide as they targeted our communications, energy, transportation, and water sectors. Their pre-positioning constitutes a potential real-world threat to our physical safety that the FBI is not going to tolerate. We are going to continue to work with our partners to hit the PRC hard and early whenever we see them threaten Americans.”
“Today, the FBI and our partners continue to stand firmly against People's Republic of China cyber actors that threaten our nation's cyber security,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “We remain committed to thwarting malicious activities of this type and will continue to disrupt and dismantle cyber threats, safeguarding the fabric of our cyber infrastructure.”
“This operation disrupted the efforts of PRC state-sponsored hackers to gain access to U.S. critical infrastructure that the PRC would be able to leverage during a future crisis,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The operation, together with the release of valuable network defense guidance by the U.S. government and private sector partners, demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to enhance cybersecurity and disrupt efforts to hold our critical infrastructure at risk.”
“Using traditional law enforcement tools to disrupt state-of-the-art technologies, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas protected Americans from PRC government-sponsored cyber-criminals who used U.S. based routers to hack into American targets,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “This case demonstrates my office’s ongoing commitment to defending our critical infrastructure from PRC initiated cyber-attacks. We thank the FBI and the Justice Department’s National Security Division for its work, and we will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with them to shield our country from state-sponsored hackers.”
“The FBI’s dismantling of the KV Botnet sends a clear message that the FBI will take decisive action to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “By ensuring home and small-business routers are replaced after their end-of-life expiration, everyday citizens can protect both their personal cyber security and the digital safety of the United States. We need the American public’s vigilance and support to continue our fight against malicious PRC-sponsored cyber actors.”
As described in court documents, the government extensively tested the operation on the relevant Cisco and NetGear routers. The operation did not impact the legitimate functions of, or collect content information from, hacked routers. Additionally, the court-authorized steps to disconnect the routers from the KV Botnet and prevent reinfection are temporary in nature. A router’s owner can reverse these mitigation steps by restarting the router. However, a restart that is not accompanied by mitigation steps similar to those the court order authorized will make the router vulnerable to reinfection.
The FBI is providing notice of the court-authorized operation to all owners or operators of SOHO routers that were infected with the KV Botnet malware and remotely accessed pursuant to the operation. For those victims whose contact information was not publicly available, the FBI has contacted providers (such as a victim’s internet service provider) and has asked those providers to provide notice to the victims.
FBI Houston Field Office and Cyber Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, and National Security Cyber Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division led the disruption effort. The Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance. These efforts would not have been successful without the partnership of numerous private-sector entities.
If you believe you have a compromised router, please visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or report online to CISA. The remediated routers remain vulnerable to future exploitation by Volt Typhoon and other hackers, and the FBI strongly encourages router owners to remove and replace any end-of-life SOHO router currently in their networks.
The FBI continues to investigate Volt Typhoon’s computer intrusion activity.
5018 search warrant 5530 search warrant 5451 search warrant 5432 search warrantU.S. Attorney’s Office Welcomes Three New Federal ProsecutorsRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has sworn in three new federal prosecutors to serve the Southern District of Illinois.
“It’s an honor to welcome new federal prosecutors to our office,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Each attorney has a deep knowledge of and respect for the law, and I look forward to supporting them in their new roles.”
Amanda McQuaid, Madalyn Campbell and Kathleen Howard joined the office in various Assistant U.S. Attorney positions. McQuaid will focus on e-Litigation, Campbell fills a position to prosecute domestic terrorism and other violent crime cases and Howard joins the office’s Fraud and Corruption unit.
Before becoming AUSAs, McQuaid served as a law clerk to the Honorable District Judge David W. Dugan of the Southern District of Illinois, Campbell was an Assistant Attorney General for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and Howard was in private practice.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Illinois serves the lower 38 counties of the state. The main office is in Fairview Heights with branch offices in Benton and East St. Louis.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More Than $233 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2023Read the Press Release
New Haven – U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery today announced that the District of Connecticut collected $233,519,760 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, approximately $185,939,535 was collected in criminal actions and approximately $47,580,225 was collected in civil actions.
The Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $493,544 in cases pursued jointly by these offices.
“This past fiscal year, our Office’s dedicated attorneys and staff helped to recover more than $233 million, which ranked third in the nation among all U.S. Attorney’s Offices,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “These funds are not only returned directly to victims of crime, but they also are used to fund ongoing federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts, and to provide needed services for victims. Through both our criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement work we are committed to seeking justice for victims, removing ill-gotten gains from wrongdoers, and protecting the integrity of important government programs.”
The majority of monies recovered in criminal actions were from Glencore, Ltd., to resolve the government’s investigation into a commodity price manipulation scheme, and from Nomura Securities International, stemming from its fraudulent trading of Residential Mortgage Backed Securities. Large civil recoveries were from a medical doctor and his practice to resolve allegations that it defrauded the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and from Yale University and a professor to settle a case involving the failure to share patent royalties with the government.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $47,825,883 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2023. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $7,136,955.82 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2023Read the Press Release
SCRANTON - U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam announced today that the Middle District of Pennsylvania collected $7,136,955.82 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, $4,789,318.17 was collected in criminal actions and $2,347,637.65 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Middle District of Pennsylvania worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $2,481,130.56 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $28,093.06 was collected in criminal actions and $2,453,037.5 was collected in civil actions.
“We work for the people and the communities of the Middle District of Pennsylvania to keep our neighborhoods safe, and we hold no duty more sacred than that which we owe to our neighbors when they fall victim to crime,” said United States Attorney Karam. “That’s why we do not stop working for victims of crime when the defendant is sentenced; we continue to fight for the victims and do what we can to make them whole. We collect restitution from convicted defendants on behalf of crime victims, we work to forfeit the ill-gotten gains that defendants obtain through illegal means, and we fight to get back money owed to taxpayers in criminal and civil cases. I am proud to say that we have collected millions of dollars over the last year for the taxpayers and for crime victims in our district. We are committed to keeping up the fight for our neighbors.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
For example:
Penn State Health is a multi-hospital health system which owns Milton Hershey Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center. On July 1, 2022, Penn State Health voluntarily disclosed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office that Penn State Health, through Milton Hershey Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center, submitted claims for payment to the Medicare Program, causing Medicare to make improper payments to Penn State Health. A settlement agreement was entered into on February 28, 2023, in which Penn State Health agreed to pay $1,252,662.28. The full amount was paid on March 1, 2023.
Melinda Bixler owned and operated two businesses; one was a for-profit company, Elder Healthcare Solutions; and a non-profit company, Adult Care Advocates, Inc. From June 2010 through January 2020, the defendant became the financial Power of Attorney and healthcare Power of Attorney for various elderly individuals. She then used those Power of Attorney’s to apply for mortgages and purchases properties using the monies received from the elderly victims. She was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $147,882.00, which she paid in full on May 25, 2023.
Gordon Raymond conducted a bank scheme at 25 different PNC banks throughout Pennsylvania, Virginia, Indiana, and North Carolina between June 20 – October 2018. The defendant presented fraudulent drivers’ licenses in victims’ names to open a checking/saving account and apply for unsecured loans. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $131,315.96. He made a payment of $101,000.00 on February 14, 2023.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $2,302,004 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2023. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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U.S. Attorney Todd Gee Announces Recipients of Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Awards for their Work Related to the Jackson Water CrisisRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – U.S. Attorney Todd Gee announced that two members of his staff were honored with Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Awards at a ceremony held today at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C. The annual Attorney General’s Awards recognize Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws.
“Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.
In the Southern District of Mississippi, Civil Division Chief Angela Williams and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi Dease Paige were chosen, along with other team members from the Justice Department’s Environmental Enforcement Section, Office of Environmental Justice, and Community Relations Service, for their work related to the City of Jackson’s water crisis.
The Jackson Safe Drinking Water Act/Clean Water Act team was recognized for its outstanding work engaging with the City of Jackson on both its drinking water and wastewater systems and negotiating two stipulated orders appointing a third-party manager to take over the City’s failing systems.
“The Department of Justice’s work with the City of Jackson and other partners to obtain a third party administrator for the water system has already had a real impact on making Jackson’s water safer,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “This award reflects the hard work of the DOJ attorneys and other personnel that helped make that happen.”
Two Plead Guilty to Robbing an Armored Truck at A Gas StationRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Battle, Jr. (29, Palm Harbor) and Carlos Keanu Smith (28, Largo) have pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the robbery. Each faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the robbery offenses and a minimum mandatory sentence of 7 years, up to life, for brandishing the firearm. Battle also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act Robbery, which involves a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2024, and Battle is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2024.
According to court documents, on the morning of June 9, 2023, Battle and Smith met for the purposes of robbing an armored truck. They followed the armored truck along its route from Pinellas County to eastern Hillsborough County before eventually reaching a gas station in Ellenton. Florida Department of Transportation toll records show Battle’s vehicle following seconds behind the targeted armored truck that morning. Surveillance video showed the vehicle also following the armored truck to other locations before conducting the robbery at the gas station in Ellenton when the driver returned to his vehicle. Battle and Smith approached the victim with pistols pointed at him, forcing him to the ground. They stole more than $150,000 from the armored truck.
In connection with the same armored truck robbery, Jorge Serrano Espinoza (19, Clearwater), was also recently charged with Hobbs Act Robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and aiding and abetting others who brandished firearms during the robbery.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.
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.
Two Baltimore “Triple C” Gang Members Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Federal Prison for a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Murders and Attempted MurdersRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Darien Coleman age 23, of Baltimore, to 270 months in federal prison, and sentenced co-defendant Darrell Carter, age 27, of Baltimore to 300 months in federal prison, each followed by five years of supervised release, for a racketeering conspiracy, including murders and attempted murders, related to their participation in the violent street gang known as Cruddy Conniving Crutballs or Triple C, which operated throughout Baltimore. Chief Judge Bredar imposed the sentences on January 29, 2024.
The sentences were announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Departments.
According to Coleman and Carter’s plea agreements and other court documents, Triple C members engaged in a pattern of criminal racketeering activity between 2015 and 2020, including more than a dozen murders and numerous non-fatal shootings, robberies, and carjackings, in order to promote the reputation of Triple C and to command respect from the neighborhood. Other spin-offs of the gang are “SCL” and recently, “TRD.”
As detailed in the plea agreements, the gang benefitted financially from selling narcotics, murdering drug dealers, taking contract killings, and engaging in street robberies. Triple C members also robbed dice games for cash and occasionally carjacked vehicles. Triple C members and associates used at least 14 firearms to commit crimes, often trading with each other or other groups to avoid detection through ballistic evidence. Members divided the proceeds of illegal activities among those who participated in the crimes, and often contacted each other to commit a robbery if a member needed money. Members of Triple C often critiqued each other after committing crimes regarding ways to improve their performance.
Triple C members routinely used social media to identify and locate victims, to communicate with each other, and to share information concerning possible retaliation for violent crimes committed by gang members. Details of the crimes committed by Triple C members were publicized on social media and thus were well-known to CCC members.
Darien Coleman admitted that he participated in the December 31, 2018 murder of Corey Mosley, during which at least one member of the conspiracy fired a gun, striking and killing Mosley.
Darrell Carter admitted that he participated in the October 27, 2015 murder of Quinton Heard in Baltimore, and the June 1, 2016 attempted murder of A.F. in the 3200 block of Tivoly Avenue in Baltimore, during which at least one member of the conspiracy fired a firearm in an attempt to collect the $10,000 contract on A.F.’s life. In addition, Carter possessed a 9mm handgun loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition on November 12, 2020, in the 2300 block of Harford Road.
In addition to these violent acts, both defendants admitted that they agreed to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, including crack cocaine, on behalf of the racketeering enterprise.
This investigation has led to the guilty pleas of 34 members and associates of Triple C.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in this investigation and thanked the United States Marshals Service and the Office of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia C. McLane and Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn.
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Twenty-Year Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export Defense Articles to IranRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – En-Wei Eric Chang, age 48, a citizen of the United States and the Republic of Taiwan, residing in Taiwan, pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge, related to the export of defense materials to Iran. Such materials were embargoed under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).
The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office.
“National security is a top priority, and we will relentlessly pursue and hold accountable those who put us at risk,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.
As detailed in the plea agreement, the export from the United States of arms, munitions, military aircraft parts, and related components and technology, is strictly controlled. The Munitions List is a catalog of designated “defense articles” which are subject to export and certain import restrictions. Any person who intends to export defense articles on the Munitions List from the United States is required to first obtain a license and must identify in the required license application the ultimate and final destination of the goods. At the time of the conspiracy, it was the policy of the United States to deny licenses, other approvals, and exports of defense articles destined for Iran.
According to Chang’s guilty plea, from January 2002 and March 2003, Chang conspired with David Chu to ship items on the Munitions List to Iran without obtaining the proper licensing. Chu had a business relationship with an Iranian businessman and was the sole individual in contact with the Iranian businessman during the time of the conspiracy. In 2001 Chu became acquainted with Chang through Chang’s work as an electrical component supplier.
According to the plea and other court documents, in January 2002, the Iranian businessman requested that Chu research satellite imagery dealers. Chu asked Chang to facilitate this request, and Chang agreed to do so. Shortly thereafter, Chang emailed a Maryland corporation to acquire high-definition satellite space images of Tehran, Iran for export from the United States to Iran. An undercover government agent based in Maryland ultimately responded to Chang, pretending to be a businessman who could help him acquire the satellite images from a defense contractor. The undercover agent told Chang: “if the items are going for end use in Iran, sending them there would be a violation of U.S. law.” Chang wrote back that the images could be sent to Taiwan, and that “from Taiwan to Iran my friend will take care of it.”
Chang and the undercover agent communicated over serval months regarding the status of the satellite images order. After Chu’s Iranian contact asked Chu to research and source antennas, on March 12, 2002, Chang contacted the undercover agent asking for quotes on antennas and included in his email specific part numbers for cavity-backed spiral antennas with military applications, including related to the detection and surveillance of ground-based radar. These antennas were designated as defense articles on the United States Munitions List. The undercover agent agreed to attempt to source the antennas. Chang admitted that he knew that the acquisition of the antennas from the United States for export either directly or indirectly to Iran without proper licensing, was a violation of the laws of the United States. Chang also knew that he did not have the proper license or authorization.
As detailed in the plea agreement, the undercover agent ultimately quoted prices for various models of antennas and noted that the U.S.- based manufacturer “won’t even accept order without approved export license up front.” Chang repeatedly urged the undercover agent to act faster and on July 19, 2002, Chang wrote: “Please understand our final end user is Iran. ‘the country’ They will keep buying the stuff if we can always deliver . . . The Iran guy promises [my co-conspirator, Chu] a 10 million USD business [per] year if we can really do this.” On July 31, 2002, Chang provided banking information from the undercover agent to Chu to facilitate $6,400 to be transferred to the undercover agent in Maryland as a 50% down payment on the cavity-backed antennas, which would take approximately five months to produce.
From March 2002 through January 2003, Chang kept in regular contact with the undercover agent regarding the antennas and asked the undercover agent for pricing information that he indicated was requested by his “buyer” in Iran for items that Chang indicated his “buyer” was interested in purchasing. The items included: an anti-submarine and surveillance radar system for installation on helicopters and airplanes; military-grade night-vision goggles for use by pilots; helicopters and helicopter engines; ten handheld laser range-finders; and other military items.
By January 2003, the cavity-backed spiral antennas had been produced in the United States. Chang, his co-conspirator, David Chu, and the undercover agent agreed to transfer the cavity-backed spiral antennas in Guam, where Chu could take possession of them and transfer them to Iran. In February 2003, Chu travelled to Guam and took possession of the cavity-backed spiral antennas from the undercover agent, then checked his luggage, which contained the antennas, for a flight from Guam to Taipei, Taiwan. Chu was arrested and his luggage was seized by U.S. authorities, before he could board the flight to Taiwan.
On March 4, 2003, the undercover agent, via email, informed Chang of his true identity and told Chang that he had been indicted in the District of Maryland with conspiracy to export U.S. Munitions List items to Iran, and that his co-conspirator Chu was in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. The undercover agent encouraged Chang to turn himself in. On March 12, 2003, Chang met with U.S. officials in Taiwan who told Chang that he should consider surrendering to the United States on the current charges, but Chang declined to surrender to the United States.
Chang remained a fugitive until his arrest on April 10, 2023, at Rome-Fiumicino International Airport in Italy and subsequent extradition to the United States.
Co-defendant David Chu, age 48, of Monterey Park, California, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced on February 23, 2004, to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Chang faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI and DCIS for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Aaron S.J. Zelinsky and Robert I. Goldaris, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Tse Bonito Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Tom Tso pled guilty to abusive sexual contact. Tso, 85, of Tse Bonito, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment against Tso on May 9, 2023. In his plea agreement, Tso admitted that between Aug. 4, 1998, and Oct. 11, 2000, he committed abusive sexual contact upon a minor under the age of 18. Specifically, he intentionally and directly touched Jane Doe’s genitalia, groin, and inner thigh with an intent to gratify his sexual desires.
At sentencing, Tso faces up to three years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Trap house drug dealer sent to prisonRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 32-year-old Corpus Christi woman has been sentenced for trafficking narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Melissa Rendon pleaded guilty Aug. 4, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Rendon to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence regarding Rendon’s aggravated role in the offense, her efforts to obstruct the investigation and her use of her minor daughter to hide evidence from authorities.
After conducting surveillance for a month, on July 7, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Corpus Christi where they found several people, but not Rendon. Authorities also found meth, cocaine, heroin, cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl – some packaged for sale – throughout the residence.
The investigation revealed Rendon distributed narcotics from the residence and had recruited a woman to live at the residence and to distribute drugs for her. Law enforcement additionally found a digital scale, baggies and latex gloves within the residence.
On March 2, 2023, authorities witnessed Rendon leaving the residence with four children and drop them off at school. They then conducted a second search. At that time, they recovered cocaine, cocaine base (crack), Ziploc baggies, a digital scale, latex gloves and several pieces of mail addressed to Rendon.
The investigation also revealed Rendon made calls from the jail asking her juvenile daughter to go to her residence, find a white cell phone, change the password and delete everything including all of the pictures, Facebook, texts and Snapchat from the phone.
Rendon will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Gould prosecuted the case.
Tohatchi Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Domestic AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Anthony Joe was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Joe, 38, of Tohatchi, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pled guilty to assault of a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner by strangling on February 22, 2023.
According to court records, on Aug. 13, 2022, Joe assaulted the victim, Jane Doe, as she was trying to leave Joe’s residence. Joe punched Jane Doe with a closed fist in the back of her head and in her side while she was holding their child, then kicked Jane Doe in the back and pulled her away from the door by her hair. Jane Doe eventually escaped from the residence without her child and ran to a nearby gas station where she called law enforcement.
When Jane Doe was later interview by the FBI regarding the incident, she reported that Joe used his arm to choke her from behind as Jane Doe attempted to leave their shared bedroom and knocked her to the floor. As she tried to get away, Joe used his hands to choke Jane Doe twice, causing her to see black and go limp both times. Jane Doe reported needing time after being choked to catch her breath. Jane Doe received medical treatment for the injuries inflicted by Joe and was diagnosed with contusion and soft tissue injury for the bruising to her neck, back, and face.
Over the next month, Joe harassed Jane Doe, her family, and her co-workers. On Sept. 6, Joe set fireworks off in front of Jane Doe’s home, then fled from officers when they approached him. On Sept. 12, 2022, Joe vandalized Jane Doe’s car and threw rocks at the residence where Jane Doe was staying with her relative, and through the window of a residence where Jane Doe previously lived. Joe also vandalized Jane Doe’s workplace by spray-painting “[Jane] you meth whore” on the building. On Sept. 13, 2022, the FBI found incendiary devices known as “Molotov Cocktails” around the trailer of a man Joe believed Jane Doe was in a relationship with.
Upon his release from prison, Joe will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
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Tohatchi Man Pleads Guilty to Assault Charges in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Eric Chandler Watson plead guilty to one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. Watson, 22, of Tohatchi, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to court records, on the morning of December. 9, 2022, Watson confronted a family member outside of a shared residence in Tohatchi, New Mexico. The confrontation escalated to a physical altercation, at which time Watson’s uncle, John Doe, stepped in to stop the fight. Watson and John Doe began to fight instead, and John Doe’s parents stepped in to stop that fight. John Doe then went inside of the residence to Watson’s bedroom with the intent of destroying Watson’s PlayStation Video Game Console. Watson came up behind John Doe and repeatedly stabbed him in the back.
John Doe experienced a collapsed lung sustained from the stab wounds. John Doe also sustained other stab wounds to the upper back and neck area, with one stab wound inches away from his spinal cord.
At sentencing, Watson faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Navajo Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Probasco is prosecuting the case.
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Three Defendants Charged in Interstate Gun Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Erin Keegan, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); Tommy Kalogiros, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging CHRISTEN CHEN, a/k/a “Nauti,” SHAQOYA HALL, a/k/a “Q,” and ZACHARY HAMPTON, a/k/a “J,” with conspiracy to engage in the unlicensed dealing of firearms, firearms trafficking, and interstate transportation of firearms, in connection with their involvement in a scheme to illegally transport firearms from Georgia to New York, among other places, for resale.
SHAQOYA HALL and ZACHARY HAMPTON were arrested on January 30, 2024, in New York, New York. CHRISTEN CHEN was arrested on January 30, 2024, in Staten Island, New York. HALL and HAMPTON were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger and detained. CHEN will be presented later today before Judge Lehrburger.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, these defendants directly contributed to the flow of illegal guns into New York City, endangering communities in this District for little more than financial gain. To anyone who is thinking about illegally selling guns to New Yorkers or illegally bringing guns to New York: we and our law enforcement partners are watching.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “HSI New York’s Violent Gang Task Force worked collaboratively with the ATF and the NYPD to disrupt the alleged iron pipeline of firearms flooding New York neighborhoods. I commend all agencies involved in this vital partnership, which prevented 13 illegal firearms from potentially making their way into the hands of criminals and gang members.”
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tommy Kalogiros said: “The unchecked flow of weapons onto our streets is a threat to every single person in NYC. These arrests serve as a notice to those who think they are above the law and can illegally traffic guns into our communities. The men and women of ATF NY will never waiver on our commitment to protect the public and to aggressively target firearms traffickers. The proliferation of illegal guns may be continuous, but law enforcement is united and strong. I thank all the members of the ATF NY Joint Firearms Task Force, HSI, NYPD, and SDNY for their diligent work and tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “When investigating the gun violence that plagues our city, the NYPD and our law enforcement partners always look at how the illegal firearms arrived in the five boroughs and who is selling them here – then we devise and execute a strategy to dismantle those schemes. These latest arrests are a prime example of a great plan coming together. I commend everyone involved in this multi-agency effort, from our NYPD investigators to all of our colleagues at the ATF, HSI, and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
From at least in or around September 2023, up to and including January 2024, the defendants worked together to obtain firearms in southern states — primarily Georgia —, transport the firearms to New York via car or bus, and resell the firearms in, among other places, New York City (the “Gun Trafficking Scheme”). Over the course of the Gun Trafficking Scheme, the defendants discussed the sale of approximately 40 firearms and successfully sold at least 13 firearms to a confidential informant (the “CI”).
Over the course of the Gun Trafficking Scheme, HAMPTON and CHEN communicated directly with the CI and discussed the potential sale of a variety of firearms including, among other things and as depicted below, semi-automatic handguns, handguns with extended magazines, at least one assault style handgun, and at least one rifle:
On three occasions, CHEN, HAMPTON, and HALL met with the CI to sell firearms. On or about October 16, 2023, CHEN, HAMPTON, and HALL sold one firearm to the CI in Staten Island. On or about October 22, 2023, CHEN and HALL sold the CI four firearms in Staten Island. And, on or about January 30, 2024, HAMPTON and HALL were arrested in New York, New York, while attempting to sell the CI eight firearms.
October 15, 2023, Sale
October 22, 2023, Sale
January 30, 2024, Attempted Sale
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CHEN, 28, of Staten Island, New York; HALL, 24, of Staten Island, New York; and HAMPTON 28, of Augusta, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit gun trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of gun trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. CHEN and HALL are additionally charged with one count of interstate travel with intent to engage in gun trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, ATF, and the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Nicolas is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Tennessee Man Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Flight Attendant in AustinRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – A Tennessee man was sentenced in a federal court in Austin to six months in prison for simple assault on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
According to court documents, on March 20, 2022, Michael Goins, Jr., 35, of Spring Hill, assaulted a flight attendant on a Southwest Airlines flight. The aircraft landed at Austin Bergstrom International Airport and was sitting on the airport apron awaiting the availability of an arrival gate. Goins, a passenger, loudly uttered several expletives during a cell phone call which was overheard by passengers seated near him. A passenger traveling with children was disturbed by the language used by Goins, which led to his aggressive response toward the passenger. During an altercation, Goins intentionally and deliberately pushed his closed fist into a flight attendant’s upper abdomen and pushed her back, causing her pain.
The six-month prison sentence is the statutory maximum. In addition to his imprisonment, Goins was ordered to pay $650.00 in restitution.
“This prison sentence reflects the seriousness of these types of crimes and promotes respect for the law,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Airline passengers and employees should be able to travel safely, and this violent behavior cannot be tolerated.”
"As a passenger on an active flight, Mr. Goins disruptive behavior escalated into a violent outburst directed at a flight attendant,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron G. Tapp of the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI is dedicated to ensuring Americans can go to work and travel by plane without the fear of being attacked. We are grateful to our partners at the Austin Police Department for their work on this case – and their ongoing dedication to keeping our citizens safe.”
The FBI and Austin Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon Pierce prosecuted the case.
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Two Individuals Charged with Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 23, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against registered sex offender Daniel L. Anderson (age 54) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chasity S. Evans (age 37) of Ripley, Tennessee (formerly of Milwaukee). The indictment charges Anderson and Evans with production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and 2251(e). The indictment also charges Anderson with Commission of a Felony Sex Offense by an Individual Required to Register as a Sex Offender, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2260A.
According to the indictment, Anderson and Evans aided and abetted the repeated production of CSAM of a minor child between February 2023 and June 2023. The child is alleged to have been between the ages of 11 and 12 years old during the production of the CSAM. The indictment further alleges that Evans sent the CSAM to Anderson via cell phone, in exchange for small sums of money via Cash App.
If convicted of producing CSAM, Anderson faces a mandatory 25 years’ imprisonment and up to 50 years’ imprisonment. This enhanced penalty is predicated on Anderson’s 2014 state criminal convictions for child enticement. If convicted of that offense, Evans would face a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment. Each also could be fined up to $250,000 for the production offense. If convicted of committing a felony as a registered sex offender, Anderson would also face a mandatory sentence of 10 years, which would run consecutively to any sentence for producing CSAM.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Memphis, Tennessee field offices) investigated this case, with the assistance of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick.
An indictment contains allegations is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove them each guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Springfield Sex Offender Sentenced to 17 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who is a prior sex offender was sentenced in federal court yesterday for receiving and distributing child pornography within an online group.
Anthony P. Thuro, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 17 years in federal prison without parole, to be followed by a 25-year term of supervised release.
On June 5, 2023, Thuro pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. Thuro, a registered sex offender, has two prior felony convictions for statutory sodomy (involving 7-year-old and 13-year-old victims). The court also sentenced Thuro to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration.
During a law enforcement investigation, the FBI discovered that a user distributed a Mega folder containing 13.7 gigabytes of data, which included numerous videos of child sexual abuse material, to a Kik group. The Mega folder was traced back to Thuro, and IP addresses indicated that Thuro accessed the Mega folder multiple times. According to court documents, those videos in the Mega included depictions of toddlers being sexually abused, prepubescent children subjected to sexual abuse and bondage, and prepubescent children subjected to bestiality.
On Aug. 30, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Thuro’s residence. They seized Thuro’s cell phone, which contained evidence he had accessed the Mega and Kik applications in the past. Investigators also found 36 images of child sexual abuse material that were cached in the gallery application of the phone.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Project Safe Childhood
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 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 victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office staff presented with Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished ServiceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON: Staff members from the Southern District of Georgia received recognition today as Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees.
“Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.”
Southern District of Georgia First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons, along with Paralegal Tracy Long and Victim Witness Coordinators Kellie Wiggins and Iverna Campbell, received the 70th Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, the agency’s second-highest award, along with nine staff members from the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the FBI. The award recognizes the investigation and prosecution team in the Ahmaud Arbery case.
“The trial and conviction of the three men responsible for the murder of Brunswick, Ga., resident Ahmaud Arbery was a painstaking, arduous journey for these dedicated investigators and prosecutors, and this prestigious award recognizes their accomplishments,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We especially are honored that our staff members’ hard work on behalf of the United States delivered a measure of justice for the victim’s family.”
Three Brunswick men – Travis McMichael; his father, Gregory McMichael; and William “Roddy” Bryan – were convicted at trial in February 2022 of violating Ahmaud Arbery’s civil rights, targeting Arbery because of his race as they pursued him through a Brunswick neighborhood. Arbery died after Travis McMichael shot him. The McMichaels were sentenced to life terms in August 2022, while Bryan was sentenced to 35 years in prison. All three also are serving state sentences.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons of the Southern District of Georgia, and Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
Smith County man sentenced for federal firearms and drug trafficking violationsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas– A Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms and drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Juan Espinoza, Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a crime of family violence and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on Jan. 31, 2024.
According to information presented in court, on Feb. 16, 2022, a federal search warrant was executed at Espinoza’s Tyler residence during which officers discovered approximately 4,600 grams of marijuana, 476 grams of Psilocybin, five semi-automatic pistols, a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, multiple rounds of ammunition, and $12,145.00 in cash. Espinoza was convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence in Smith County in 2016 and prohibited by federal law of possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
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St. John Man Sentenced on Cocaine Possession ConvictionRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced that Calis Sewer, 25, of St. John, was sentenced by Chief Judge Robert A. Molloy to four years of incarceration after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, on March 21, 2023, Virgin Islands Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop on Sewer who was driving a Suzuki Vitara registered in his name. During the stop, a drug detection canine alerted to the presence of narcotics and officers later discovered 18 bricks of cocaine concealed in a duffle bag in the trunk of Sewer’s vehicle. Prior to the traffic stop, federal law enforcement agents surveilled Sewer as he walked down the Brown Bay trail, an area known for drug smuggling, towards the beach. Sewer was later observed walking up the trail carrying a black duffle bag. Law enforcement agents maintained surveillance of Sewer as he traveled to his residence and later left with the duffle bag. Sewer was arrested after disembarking the car ferry in Red Hook, St. Thomas.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigation and Virgin Islands Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Kenneth Walden, 43, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a suspect had stored child sex abuse material in a Google Photos account connected to his Google and iCloud accounts. Further investigation revealed that the account belonged to Kenneth Walden, who was a registered sex offender.
Investigators discovered that between January 2021, and March 5, 2021, Walden uploaded child sex abuse material to his Google account. Most of the files depicted prepubescent males, some as young as 10- to 12-years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including sexual intercourse. The abuse images collected by the defendant included images and videos depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct, or other depictions of violence against children.
Law enforcement agents searched Walden’s Google account and residence and found more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material in his iPhone and on a SIM card.
At the time of his arrest, Walden was a registered sex offender and had a lengthy criminal history involving sexual misconduct against a child and registration offenses:
- On October 20, 2000, he was convicted in St. Joseph County, Michigan, for Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd degree, victim under 13, and sentenced to a year in prison.
- On October 2, 2007, he was convicted of being a Child Sex Offender at a public park in Richland County, Illinois, and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
- On August 23, 2011, he was convicted of Failing to Report as Sex Offender in Jasper County, Illinois and sentenced to two years in prison.
“This defendant’s choice to seek and collect images of the horrific sexual abuse of children is shocking, but not surprising. For years, this sex offender demonstrated his sexual interest in children and willingness to flout the laws designed to make our communities safer from predators like him,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Trafficking in these images online furthers the abuse inflicted on innocent children and fuels the desires of criminals with sexual interests in children. The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that our office is committed to working with all law enforcement agencies to protect our children from those who desire to exploit their trauma for their own sick gratification.”
U.S. Secret Service in partnership with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Walden be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case.
This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. Visit https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/ to learn more about their efforts.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
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Protecting Places of Worship Forum Held to Prevent and Combat Hate Crimes, Acts of Religious Violence, and DiscriminationRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On Jan. 30, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the FBI, hosted a Protecting Places of Worship forum, facilitated by the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, with nearly 200 faith and community leaders as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s United Against Hate initiative.
The Protecting Places of Worship forum brought together U.S. Department of Justice representatives and others, including faith-based leaders and congregants (from churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples), federal and state prosecutors, and law enforcement and public safety personnel to prevent and combat hate crimes and protect our local faith-based institutions. The attendees came together to learn about and discuss: best practices for protecting and securing places of worship; how local, state, and federal hate crimes laws are used to prosecute people who harm or threaten places of worship and their congregants; how and when to identify, report and prevent threats to places of worship, hate crimes, acts of religious violence, and faith-based discrimination; hate crimes statistics; strategies to prepare staff, clergy, and congregants for an active shooter situation; resources available to places of worship; as well as victim services and community concerns.
“In a time when we are witnessing a rise in religious-based violence, hate crimes, and threats to our places of worship, yesterday’s forum in support of the Department’s United Against Hate initiative could not be more imperative,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe. “One of the best ways to prevent crimes fueled by religious bias is to ensure that our faith-based leaders have the information and resources they need to help protect their places of worship and congregants. No one should live in fear because of their religious beliefs. We must all speak out against the insidious threats that strike at our right to practice our religious beliefs freely and safely. Remember, united, we are stronger than hate.” “Everyone who attends a religious service deserves to do so in peace,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami.“Yesterday’s gathering marked another milestone in our ongoing partnership with faith-based community leaders to protect houses of worship from those intent on violence. Hate crimes are the highest priority of the FBI’s civil rights program. As such, we want our religious leaders to have the latest information on ways to secure their facilities and deal with threats that may come their way. We hope that the forum serves to further educate our faith communities about civil rights laws, maintain an open dialogue, and encourage ongoing cooperation between law enforcement and these important communities. Our common goal is to ensure people are safe.”
The Protecting Places of Worship forum fostered partnerships and engagement, while providing attendees with invaluable federal, state, and local resources, to include tools to help protect and secure places of worship. Forum partners included the Department of Justice Community Relations Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Defense Agency, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, the Broward State Attorney’s Office, the Broward Sherriff’s Office, the Miami-Dade County Asian American Advisory Board, the Miami-Dade County Interfaith Advisory Board, the Anti-Defamation League of Florida, and the Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement and community partners will not stop working to protect everyone in South Florida from unlawful acts of hate.
In Sept. 2022, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland started the United Against Hate program to convene local forums that connect community groups to federal, state, and local law enforcement to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes; build trust between law enforcement and communities; and create and strengthen alliances between law enforcement and other government partners and community groups to combat unlawful acts of hate. The United Against Hate program represents a “whole of government” approach to combating hate crimes. To learn more visit https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/spotlight/united-against-hate.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and our law enforcement partners are United Against Hate. Our united mission is to prevent, investigate and prosecute threats to places of worship and hate crimes through education, outreach, and the justice system. The U.S. Attorney’s Office Hate Crimes Public Service Announcement (PSA) can be viewed at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/media/1336351/dl?inline. For more information visit the Southern District of Florida’s Hate Crimes Prevention and Enforcement website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/hate-religious-crimes.
In support of the United Against Hate mission, following the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, U.S. Attorney Lapointe and Special Agent in Charge Veltri issued a statement highlighting the Department’s commitment to combat hate crimes and potential threats to the South Florida community. A copy of the statement can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/joint-statements-us-attorney-markenzy- lapointe-southern-district-florida-and-special.
In a Nov. 2023 program, U.S. Attorney Lapointe, FBI Special Agent in Charge Veltri, Broward County State Attorney Harold F. Pryor, and Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle addressed over 200 South Florida law enforcement officers during a day-long interactive training session. The program included a keynote address by Judy and Dennis Shepard of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and a presentation by the Anti-Defamation League. More information regarding the training program is available by visiting https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/south-florida-law-enforcement-officers- receive-latest-hate-crimes-training.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI’s outreach, prevention, and enforcement efforts are ongoing.
If you have information about a possible threat to a place of worship or believe you are a victim of or a witness to a hate crime, contact your local law enforcement agency (911), then the FBI at www.fbi.gov/tips or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225- 5324). You can also report a hate crime, find resources and grant information, and learn more about the Department of Justice’s hate crimes prevention and enforcement work by visiting www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
###Postal Employee Indicted for Mail TheftRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SHAKEITHA WILEY, age 41, of New Orleans, was indicted on January 25, 2024 for mail theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709. According to the indictment, WILEY, a postal employee, stole gift cards from the mail and used those gift cards at a local store.
If convicted, WILEY faces up to five (5) years of imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a $100 mandatory 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 Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Post Falls Man Sentenced for Fraud Related to Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Jimmy Winebrenner, 79, of Post Falls, was sentenced for using or trafficking in unauthorized access devices in relation to an unemployment insurance scheme, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, in Spring 2020, Winebrenner began receiving unemployment benefits cards in the mail from various state agencies, including cards from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR). The unemployment benefit cards were debit cards and preloaded with unemployment benefit funds issued in other persons’ names. Winebrenner was specifically sentenced for using a debit card issued in another person’s name and obtaining $14,830 at an ATM in Coeur d’Alene from the debit card. Winebrenner did so with the intent to defraud. Between July and August 2020, Winebrenner obtained $81,180 from Nevada DETR debit cards issued in other persons’ names.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Winebrenner to serve five years of probation, and to pay restitution in the amount of $81,180 to the Nevada DETR.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the United States Postal Inspection Service for its investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol prosecuted the case.
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Port Trevorton Man Sentenced for Straw Purchase of FirearmsRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dalon Sass-Maxwell, age 26, of Port Trevorton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by the Honorable Matthew W. Brann to serve two years of incarceration based upon his previously entered guilty plea to straw purchasing thirteen firearms for individuals who were prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on six separate occasions in 2020 and 2021, Sass-Maxwell purchased firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers and falsely stated at the time of the purchases that he was the actual purchaser.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur prosecuted the case.
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Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Robbery and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – On January 30, 2024, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of Hobbs Act robbery and violating federal firearms law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Anthony Kendrick, 37, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Kendrick had been one of three individuals involved in a string of robberies targeting gas stations, convenience stores, and fast-food restaurants in the Pittsburgh area between June and August of 2019. In particular, Kendrick pleaded guilty to armed robberies at two BP gas stations on the evening of August 4 and August 5, 2019. The Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for June 5, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 27 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Kendrick.
Pittsburgh Resident Indicted on Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.The one-count Indictment named Demond Pinkett, 45, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the Court, on January 17, 2024, Pinkett possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this 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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate U.S. Export LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on January 30, 2024, to a charge of conspiring to violate federal export laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Derby Clerfe, 44, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge William S. Stickman.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Clerfe had purchased nine handguns and provided them to another individual who would arrange for their export to Haiti without filing the export information required by federal law.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for May 30, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Clerfe.
Phoenix Man Sentenced for Role in Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Tut Chuol, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on January 31, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Chuol to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Chuol’s release from prison, he will begin a four-year term of supervised release.
On December 2, 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intercepted a package at UPS Next Day Air that had been shipped from Arizona to Omaha. A narcotics trained canine indicated to the package. It was opened and the package contained 1,000 M30 pills that tested positive for fentanyl. A controlled delivery of the package was made to the addressee. A search of the addressee’s phone and Snapchat messages led to the identification Chuol as being the individual that sent the package.
A warrant was issued for Chuol’s arrest. On February 8, 2023, DEA agents went to Chuol’s residence in Phoenix to make the arrest. Chuol was home and taken into custody without incident. A search of his residence by law enforcement located two pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Philadelphia Man Indicted for Targeting U.S. Army Servicemembers in Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft and CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Alpha Omega Mayhue, 39, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft, seven counts of misuse of a Social Security number, seven counts of aggravated identity theft, twenty-one counts of false statements, and one count of cyberstalking.
The indictment alleges that from February 2018 to March 2021, Mayhue, who served in the United States Army with his victims, stole and used their personally identifiable information to harass and stalk them over past grievances he had with them in the military. Mayhue and his co-conspirators impersonated the victims and conducted numerous unauthorized transactions with banks, credit unions, the Federal Trade Commission, and other entities. In addition, Mayhue cyberstalked one victim, claiming he was surveilling her and subjecting her to sexual threats. If convicted of these offenses, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 164 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $9,250,000 fine, and a $3,700 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (“DCIS”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Company Office of Inspector General (“FDC-OIG”) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Man Charged in Connection with Eight Carjackings and Nine RobberiesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Khalil Dickens, 20, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy, eight counts of carjacking and aiding and abetting, and four counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and aiding and abetting.
Between approximately June 2023 and July 2023, Dickens and others allegedly took part in eight armed carjackings and nine additional robberies, in the city of Philadelphia, several of which involved the perpetrators physically assaulting, or even shooting at, their victims.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Peace Ambassadors Leadership Program sees area high school students become leaders in school and communityRead the Press Release
MIAMI – For the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, South Florida high school students are participating in the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) Peace Ambassadors Leadership Program.
Some 110 students from 11 area high schools recently gathered in Miami Jackson Senior High’s auditorium to learn about the program and commit to seeing it through. Students will become leaders in both their schools and in their communities. The program is a collaboration between Miami-Dade School District and staff from the USAO for the Southern District of Florida. Students will have a monthly classroom challenge as well as a community challenge.
Past classroom challenges have included teaching conflict resolution skills to underclassmen and past community challenges have seen students pack “essentials bags” to distribute to the homeless as well as organize park cleanups.
“It’s rewarding when you find students who lean into it and make the most of the program,” said USAO Law Enforcement Coordination Specialist Michael L. Martinez. “It feels good to hear their success stories.”
The program teaches students to focus on core principles such as integrity, authenticity, and empathy to look within and take on projects that are personal to them. Creating positive environments and activities in communities that struggle with violence can have a snowball effect and may be able to offset some of the negativity these communities experience.
“How many here are happy with safety in your communities?” asked Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section Chief J.D. Smith, USAO. “How many think it could be better?” Many student hands went up to signify that improvements could be made. “Why not you? That is the question. You could be the people who change your communities for the better … change your families for the better.”
According to Smith, the key is start small and focus on oneself. Strive to be better every day. By doing so, students can lay a foundation that will get stronger with every positive action taken. Only then can they move on to affect others in a positive manner.
“They should work on themselves first, then start working on their families, and then on to their schools and communities,” said Smith. “That is how it starts. You have to take those first steps. This is about the students in the program being positive role models. If they take anything away from this, be positive role models in your families and communities.”
Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section Chief J.D. Smith presents to area high school students on the USAO Peace Ambassador Leadership Program. This program encourages and helps students become leaders in their communities.
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Ohio Man Arrested for Wire Fraud and Aggravted Identity Theft in Connection with Scheme on St. CroixRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – Mitch G. Stevenson, 61, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of the Virgin Islands for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, was arrested yesterday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced. After his arrest, Stevenson was brought before Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman of the Southern District of Ohio, who ordered that he be detained pending further judicial proceedings.
According to court documents, in the summer of 2023, Stevenson approached a Florida-based investor with a business proposition which involved the purchase of scrap electric and wire cable located at Port Hamilton on St. Croix. Stevenson proposed that the Florida-based investor pay Port Hamilton $83,200 for 9,200 feet of miscellaneous electric wire and cable, which would be secured by a bill of sale granting him ownership of the scrap electric and wire cable. Court documents further state that the scrap electric and wire cable would then be transported to Florida, where it would be processed to extract the copper, which would be re-sold for a profit. The two men would then equally split the profits from the sale of the extracted copper.
According to court documents, in order to effectuate this business transaction, Stevenson entered into a contract with Port Hamilton for the purchase of the scrap electric and wire cable. The contract, which was signed by a representative of Port Hamilton, did not include the Florida-based investor as a party to the agreement. Court documents further state that Stevenson concealed the source of the funding from the Port Hamilton representative and gave the Florida-based investor a fake bill of sale, purportedly signed by a representative of Port Hamilton. In reliance on the fake bill of sale, the Florida-based investor wired the $83,200 to Port Hamilton’s bank account. Upon receipt of the $83,200, Port Hamilton transferred ownership of the scrap wire and metal to Stevenson even though the Florida-based investor paid for it.
The United States Attorney reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Evan Rikhye.
North Carolina Man, Who Sent Nude Picture to FBI Undercover, Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A North Carolina man, who sent a nude photograph to an employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation whom he believed to be a 9-year-old girl, pled guilty yesterday to federal child pornography charges.
William “Willy” Alexander Korthals, 30, of Beaufort, NC, waived his right to be indicted and pled guilty yesterday to a one-count Information charging him with attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor.
“One of the cornerstones of the Department of Justice’s mission is protecting the most vulnerable among us: our children.” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “This case should serve as a warning to all predators lurking online seeking to exploit children: You are not invisible, and agents from the FBI and other federal agencies are actively hunting you in every corner of the internet in order to bring you to justice.”
“Protecting children from all forms of exploitation is one of our highest priorities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Richmond Field Office, Stanley M. Meador. “We will continue to fully investigate these crimes and work with our law enforcement partners to protect children from predators, hold them accountable and protect our communities. I want to thank the I-81 Human Trafficking and Crimes Against Child Task Force and our partners for their work on this case.”
According to court documents, in May 2022, Korthals was in a Kik chat room for “Active Parents,” in a group titled “Loving Family,” when he responded to a public group thread that read, “anyone want to come to Virginia to have sex with my daughter?”
Korthals reached out to the individual who posted the thread and inquired about the age of the “daughter” and was told she was nine years old. Unbeknownst to Korthals, the thread was posted by an undercover FBI employee posing as the girl’s father. In an effort to coax the “daughter” to send him pictures, Korthals sent a photograph of his erect penis.
For over a year, Korthals chatted with the undercover FBI employee and requested “live” photographs of the 9-year-old as well as other sexually explicit photographs and videos, and also attempted to Facetime with the undercover “father and daughter.” Additionally, Korthals described specific acts of sexual abuse he wanted the “father” to perform on his “daughter,” including oral, vaginal, and anal sex.
In preparation for an in-person meeting with the undercover father and his “daughter” in August 2022, Korthals sent his laboratory test results of his sexually-transmitted disease status to the undercover “father” so that Korthals could have unprotected sex with the 9-year-old “daughter.” Two days before the planned meeting, Korthals cancelled it.
At sentencing, Korthals faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DENT HUNTER, age 45, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on January 30, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion to both making false statements and money laundering, related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law the CARES Act, which provided emergency assistance, administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), to small business owners affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The two primary sources of funding for small businesses were the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program.
According to the charging documents, or about April 6, 2020, HUNTER, on behalf of a business, made false statements to an approved lender to obtain a $122,100 PPP loan. On or about July 22, 2020, HUNTER stole $149,900 from the SBA by using an application in the name of NexLevel ONE Realty. Finally, HUNTER committed two counts of money laundering by using these ill-gotten funds to buy two motor vehicles for family members.
Sentencing will be on May 14, 2024. At sentencing, HUNTER faces up to five years in prison for the false statement counts. He also faces up to ten years in prison for the money laundering count. All of the counts include up to $250,000 in fines, up to three years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
For more information on the Department of Justice’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.
This case was investigated by an agent assigned to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 21 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from 15 Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General (a member of the PRAC) and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Minnesota Woman Charged for Embezzling More Than $1 Million from EmployerRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Eden Prairie woman has been indicted for embezzling more than $1 million from her employer, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Monica Svobodny, 51, worked as the Supply Chain and Engineering Manager at Sico, Inc, a furniture and home furnishing manufacturing company located in Edina, Minnesota. Svobodny used her position to embezzle funds and convert them to her own use and benefit.
According to court documents, Svobodny regularly used company credit cards for unauthorized personal expenses such as designer clothing, spa services, and luxury hotel stays. To cover her fraud, she left unapproved credit card expenses as “pending” for accounting purposes. On more than 300 occasions, she used company cards to transfer funds to herself via PayPal to cover personal expenses. Svobodny also edited PayPal transaction receipts and fraudulently listed some of the expenses as payments to a defunct company.
In total, Svobodny knowingly and willfully embezzled more than $1,137,000 from Sico, Inc. over a period of seven years.
Svobodny was charged with one count of wire fraud. She will make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Edina Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea A. Walcker is prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the information are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Arson of Target Corporation HeadquartersRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in the arson of the Target corporate headquarters in downtown Minneapolis, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Minneapolis experienced arson, rioting, and looting following the suicide of a suspect in a homicide, and in response to false rumors surrounding the man’s death. Leroy Lemonte Perry Williams, 37, and his co-defendants went to the Target Corporation’s corporate headquarters building (“Target Corporation building”) in downtown Minneapolis where dozens of other people had gathered. Williams and others broke into the Target Corporation building and repeatedly attempted to set fire both inside and outside the building.
On October 26, 2023, Williams was convicted on one count of arson. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Paul A. Magnuson.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Minneapolis Fire Department, and the Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Richfield Police Departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Nathan H. Nelson prosecuted the case.
Miami County Man Sentenced to 72 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Cody Shanks, 29 years old, of Bunker Hill, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Shanks was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, between November 2022, and March 2023, Shanks, an elementary school teacher, received child sexual abuse material files via the internet.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Miami County Sheriff’s Department, and the Howard County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John M. Maciejczyk and Hannah T. Jones.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Mexican National Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine and Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Israel Robledo-Cardenas, 48, of Michoacan, Mexico, was sentenced January 31, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Robledo-Cardenas to 120 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge, and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the gun charge. After Robledo-Cardenas’s release from prison, he will be deported to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen.
On November 15, 2022, a Butler County Deputy Sheriff observed Robledo-Cardenas driving a vehicle in Rising City, Nebraska. At the time the Deputy knew Robledo-Cardenas did not have a valid operator’s license. After a traffic stop, Robledo-Cardenas gave a false name and was placed under arrest. His vehicle was towed to an indoor facility where a canine was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from within. A subsequent search revealed 104 grams of meth along with a 9 mm handgun in a compartment behind the center console.
This case was investigated by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Police Department.