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Wednesday 6 December 2023
Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced - December 2023Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the December 2023 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury.
The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.Elgin Zip Adkins. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Adkins, 23, of Tulsa is charged with possessing firearm
and ammunition after he had previously been convicted of a felony in Tulsa County District Court. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-389Keenan Duke Lamont Brown, II; Isaac Emiliano Littleman-Ortega; Royal Dale Juan Brown. Robbery in Indian Country (count 1); Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (counts 2 and 7); Carjacking (count 3); Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence (count 4); Kidnapping in Indian Country (count 5); Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery (count 6) (superseding). K. Brown, 19, a member of Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Littleman-Ortega, 18, a member of Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, and R. Brown, 20, each from Tulsa, are charged with using a firearm to commit robbery in Sept. 2023. They are further charged with brandishing and discharging a firearm during a carjacking and kidnapping. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua M. Carmel and Nathan E. Michel are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-339
Kyle Thomas Brown; Audryanna Gibbens; Julia Lydia Savage; Dustin Louis Palmer. Drug Conspiracy (superseding). Brown, 28, of Santa Maria, CA, Gibbens, 43, of Oceano, CA, Savage, 33 of Atascadero, CA, and Palmer, 39 of Arroyo Grande, CA, are charged with possessing and distributing methamphetamine from Aug. 2021 through Oct. 2021. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Brasher is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-309
Kacey J. Hamilton. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Hamilton, 32, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender from Sep. 2021 through the date of the Indictment. The United States Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-390
Jorge Hernandez Rubalcaba. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Rubalcaba, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Jun. 2023, at or near Laredo, Texas. He is also charged with failing to register as a sex offender from Jun. 2022 through the date of the Indictment. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, United States Marshal Service and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot P. Anderson is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-393
Kevin David Kost. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Possession of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drag Trafficking Crime. Kost, 34, of Tulsa is charged with possessing firearm and ammunition after he had previously been convicted of felonies in Tulsa County District Court. He is further charged with trafficking, possession and intent to distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Cherokee Nation Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-384
Jarrod Demar Mansker. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country; Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender in Indian Country (superseding). Mansker, 51, a member of Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with strangling an intimate dating partner in Sep. 2023. He is further charged with habitual domestic assault after being convicted in Muscogee (Creek) Nation District Court as well as Tulsa County District Court. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-342
Edward Leon Pulley. Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Pulley, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition after he had previously been convicted of felonies throughout Oklahoma. He is further charged with possessing a stolen firearm in Aug. 2023. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-391
Edgar Geovanny Rodriguez-Aranda. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez-Aranda, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Jul 2018, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-392
Rudy Tyler Rudd. Kidnapping in Indian Country. Rudd, 39, of Adair and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with knowingly and unlawfully kidnapping two victims in Aug. 2023. The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-394
FCI Schuylkill inmate Charged with Assault of A Corrections Officer and Possession of Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carlos Rodriguez-Cruz, age 32, formerly of Puerto Rico, and an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill, in Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday for assaulting a federal corrections officer and for possession of contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges Rodriguez-Cruz with assaulting a corrections officer and possessing contraband on October 6, 2023. The charges stem from an incident in which Rodriguez-Cruz engaged in a physical confrontation with a corrections officer. After the confrontation, staff at FCI Schuylkill searched Rodriguez-Cruz and found him in possession of a dangerous prison-made weapon, commonly known as a “shank.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
In this case, the maximum penalty under federal law is up to 13 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Española Trio Face Charges in Relation to String of Armed Robberies that Led to Shooting DeathRead 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 Ricky Eddie Martinez, Jr., Adelene Urquijo and Ashley Thompson have been charged in relation to a string of robberies in 2022 that culminated with the shooting death of a Blake’s Lotaburger employee on Aug. 16.
Martinez, 32, of Española, is charged with 3 counts of interference with commerce by robbery, 1 count of interference with commerce by attempted robbery, 2 counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count of discharging said firearm, and 1 count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Urquijo, 37, of Española, is charged with aiding and abetting an interference with commerce by attempted robbery. Urquijo and Thompson, 33, of Santa Fe, are charged with being accessories after the fact. Martinez and Urquijo are detained pending trial. Thompson was recently arrested and will be scheduled for a detention hearing at a later date.
According to the criminal complaint, from Aug. 9 through Aug. 16, 2022, Martinez allegedly robbed at least seven businesses in Española, Taos and Santa Fe. In each robbery, Martinez allegedly entered the business, brandished a pistol and demanded money. During a robbery of a Walgreens in Española, Martinez became agitated when a store employee had trouble opening the cash register. Martinez allegedly fired a shot in the direction of the employee, who sustained burns due to the proximity of the gun power from the shot.
On Aug. 16, Martinez allegedly entered a Blake’s Lotaburger in Española and, while ordering food, brandished a firearm and demanded money. Martinez then allegedly fatally shot an employee. Martinez allegedly climbed over the counter and pistol whipped another employee, striking the employee repeatedly in the back of the head. Martinez allegedly attempted to open the cash register, but failed and fled the building on foot.
According to the indictment, Urquijo aided and abetted Martinez during the Aug. 16 incident. Following the incident, Urquijo and Thompson allegedly provided Martinez with assistance in order to prevent his apprehension.
Martinez was previously convicted on three counts of shooting at or from a motor vehicle in 2013, assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country in 2019, and escape or attempt to escape from jail, aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, robbery and burglary of a vehicle in 2021. As a previously convicted felon, Martinez cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Martinez faces up to life in prison. Urquijo faces up to 20 years in prison and Thompson faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Española Police Department, Taos Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Trembley and Brittany DuChaussee are prosecuting the case.
View the Superseding Indictment# # #
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Escapee Sentenced to 18 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Floyd L. Marlow Jr., 29, Milwaukee, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 18 months in prison for escape. Marlow pleaded guilty to this charge on September 13, 2023.
In March 2018, Marlow pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. On May 24, 2018, Marlow was sentenced to a total of 70 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
In June 2022, as his federal prison sentence was nearing completion, Marlow transitioned from a correctional institution to a residential reentry facility. Then, in December 2022, Marlow transitioned from that facility to home confinement at a family member’s home. While on home confinement, Marlow continued to serve his sentence and remained under the rules of the reentry facility.
On February 20, 2023, Marlow became intoxicated and physically assaulted several family members before cutting off his GPS bracelet and fleeing his relative’s home without authorization. Marlow was placed on escape status that night.
Police tried to conduct a traffic stop of Marlow on April 4, 2023. Marlow refused to pull over and instead fled at a high rate of speed. Marlow eventually crashed into another car, that car burst into flames, and the driver of that car died. Police apprehended Marlow, and he has been in custody ever since.
Marlow is scheduled for a plea hearing on December 13, 2023 in his Milwaukee County case involving the flight, car crash, and death.
At sentencing, Judge Conley highlighted Marlow’s lack of impulse control and continuing danger to the community. Judge Conley ordered Marlow’s sentence today to run consecutive to the eight months Marlow has remaining on his sentence in his Eastern District of Wisconsin case, so Marlow will effectively serve 26 months in prison.
The charge against Marlow was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Anderson prosecuted this case.
Convicted handyman imprisoned for drive-by shooting at former clientRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI – A 44-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been sentenced for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jason Jaime Merdes pleaded guilty Aug. 24.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Merdes to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court heard that not only did Merdes possess a firearm, but he also used the gun in a drive-by shooting the day prior to his arrest. Two victims of the shooting provided testimony to the court, both describing how the shooting has affected their lives and how close the shots were to the rooms where their children were sleeping.
On May 15, a homeowner woke up to the sound of gunshots outside his residence at approximately 3 a.m. and alerted authorities. Upon investigation, law enforcement discovered shell casings in the street and multiple bullet holes in the home and garage.
The homeowner named Merdes as a possible suspect. The resident had previously hired Merdes to complete a home repair and sent legal notice to him after the job was not completed.
Neighborhood cameras showed footage of a suspect vehicle. Law enforcement observed the same vehicle leaving Merdes’ residence and made a traffic stop. He was wearing a holster on his belt. Authorities also found a gun under his seat.
A search of his residence revealed nine additional firearms. Of the ten firearms possessed by Merdes, one matched the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting, and two others were consistent with bullet fragments recovered.
As a convicted felon, Merdes is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
Merdes will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI and Corpus Christi Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
Convicted felon going to prison for more than 12 years on child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jason Koscielski, 35, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense conviction, was sentenced to serve 151 months in prison and 20 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that in December 2011, Koscielski was convicted on federal charges of receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography, and sentenced to serve 135 months in prison and 30 years supervised release, which prohibited him from possessing any unmonitored telephone. In November of 2021, Koscielski obtained a Tracfone, in violation of the terms of his supervised release.
Between November 2 and November 16, 2021, Koscielski used the phone to send and receive images of child pornography and to possess approximately 476 images of child pornography. Many of the images involved children younger than 12 years old and were sexually explicit in nature. On November 5, 2021, Koscielski also used the Phone to exchange sexually explicit photos with Minor Victim 1, a 15-year-old male.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Probation Department, under the director of Chief Probation Officer Timothy Englert and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
Commerce Township Man Sentenced in Pandemic Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT - Commerce Township resident Ryan T. Carruthers was sentenced to two years and three months in prison yesterday for defrauding the Small Business Administration and various banks out of approximately $851,000 as part of a pandemic relief fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Carruthers was also ordered to pay $851,963 in restitution to his victims.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Office of Homeland Security Investigations.
Ryan Carruthers, 42, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of wire fraud before United States District Judge Paul D. Borman. The guilty plea arose out of Carruthers’ participation in a wide-ranging scheme to obtain loans to which he was not entitled from two pandemic relief programs overseen by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
According to plea documents, in approximately April 2020, Carruthers began to submit electronic applications for pandemic relief loans in the names of various business entities he purported to own and control. Between April 2020 and April 2021, Carruthers submitted numerous loan applications through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was an SBA-administered program that provided forgivable loans to businesses to encourage them to keep workers employed during the pandemic. Carruthers also submitted a loan application under the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), which was a program that provided low-interest financing to businesses adversely affected by the pandemic. The PPP loan applications were submitted to various participating lenders of the program, while the EIDL loan application went directly to the SBA.
According to the plea documents, the loan applications contained numerous material misrepresentations and false statements. Carruthers’s business entities were shells that existed on paper only; they had no revenue, employees, or ongoing operations of any sort. However, Carruthers claimed in his applications that each of these entities had between three and 15 employees. The average monthly payroll amounts included in the applications were fictitious, as were representations about how the money would be spent. According to Court documents, Carruthers spent the money on personal investments and expenses, including the acquisition of personal watercraft.
“Ryan Carruthers stole nearly a million dollars from programs intended to help our economy stay afloat during an unprecedented public health emergency,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This prosecution reflects the seriousness with which my office takes this sort of fraud, and we will continue to pursue accountability for all of those who enrich themselves at the public’s expense.”
“This fraud goes against everything our community stands for,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “Let this case be a warning to others who used these funds to line their own pockets. Our agents and partners are wholly committed to investigating these loans and ensuring that justice is served.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John K. Neal. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General.
Cleveland Resident Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Donte Smith pled guilty and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for committing drug trafficking crimes, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Smith, age 44, of Cleveland, Ohio, pled guilty before, and was sentenced by, Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
Smith pled guilty to committing the following crimes in New Castle, Mercer County, Pennsylvania: (1) conspiracy to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl, 50 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of cocaine base, a quantity of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin, from March 2020 to August 2021; (2) distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base, on October 30, 2020; (3) possession with intent to distribute of at least 40 grams of fentanyl, 50 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of cocaine base, and a quantity of cocaine, on August 12, 2021; and (4) possession with intent to distribute of at least 40 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and cocaine, and of another quantity of cocaine, on December 20, 2022.
Judge Hornak ordered Smith to serve four years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Castle Police Department, the Shenango Police Department, and the Hickory Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the convictions and sentence in this case.
Chester County Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Illegally Possessing Guns and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Jonathan Neely, 34, of Fort Lawn, South Carolina has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on March 3, the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, United States Probation Office, and the United States Marshals Service obtained an arrest warrant for Neely for violation of his federal supervised release and a state search warrant for his residence, located in Ft Lawn. Neely was on federal supervised release based upon convictions for knowingly possession of an unregistered firearm, knowingly possession of an unregistered firearm silencer, knowingly possession of an unregistered firearm silencer without a serial number and possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user. These convictions arose out of a federal conviction in Asheville, North Carolina in 2018.
A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of multiple rounds of ammunition, a Ruger pistol and a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine. Law enforcement then went to another residence in Fort Lawn where investigators noted a white colored trailer on the property. This was the same trailer that was reported to have been used by Neely to hide his firearms and that he had recently hidden on this property.
The police spoke to the property owner who stated that the trailer belonged to Neely, that he had dropped it off on the property, and that only Neely had access to it. The property owner stated that they did not have keys to the trailer or know what was inside of it. The police obtained a search warrant for the trailer.
During the search of the trailer, investigators recovered a large amount of ammunition and the following firearms:
• Rossi .22 caliber revolver;
• Makarov 9mm pistol;
• Palmetto State Armory AR-15 style rifle;
• New England Arms 20-gauge shotgun;
• Ruger pistol;
• Stevens Arms .20-gauge shotgun;
On March 14, the Marshals Service located Neely and placed him under arrest. Following his arrest, Neely acknowledged that he owned the firearms in the trailer and that he was aware that his felony convictions had prohibited him from possessing them.
Neely faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Neely after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
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 U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Joshua Azale Mitchell, 21, of Charleston, was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for stealing firearms from two Kanawha County businesses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 9, 2022, Mitchell broke into a Dunbar business and stole a Diamondback Firearms DB15 5.56 caliber rifle and a Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22 .22-caliber rifle. On November 10, 2022, Mitchell broke into a Charleston business and stole a Custom Arms & Accessories LD-15 5.56 caliber rifle and a DPMS Panther Arms A-15 5.56 caliber rifle.
Mitchell pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee and aiding and abetting the thefts. Co-defendant Keara Kilpatrick, 21, of Charleston, was sentenced to six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on October 4, 2023, after pleading guilty to two counts of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee and aiding and abetting the thefts. Kilpatrick drove Mitchell to and from the two Kanawha County businesses where Mitchell broke in and stole the firearms.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and Brian Parsons prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-28.
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California Man to Serve 17 Years for Supplying Fentanyl Causing Wise County OverdosesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A California man, who supplied the fentanyl linked to teenage overdoses that occurred in Wise County, Virginia, was sentenced yesterday to 17 years in federal prison.
Alexander Ortiz, 26, a.k.a. “LoLife,” of Fullerton, Calif., pleaded guilty in January 2023 to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Ortiz and his co-conspirators, Jorge Efrain Perez and Destiny Raeann Perez, were the suppliers of fentanyl for Paul Mason Perkins, Aaron Stidham, Austin Jeremiah Lane, Cheyenne Cassie Carico, and others, all of Southwest Virginia.
Between November 2020, and June 2022, Ortiz sold thousands of pressed pills containing fentanyl to Perkins and others. Ortiz sold 1,000 pills at a time to Perkins using the social media platforms Snapchat and Instagram, making sales to Perkins every few weeks. Ortiz had the pills mailed to Perkins at his residence in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Perkins then distributed the pills to other individuals in Wise County, including multiple sales to co-conspirators Lane and Carico. Jorge Perez and Destiny Perez assisted Ortiz in mailing the illicit packages from California to Virginia, as well as other locations throughout the country.
On November 24, 2021, Perkins sold Carico and Lane three pressed pills. Lane and Carico had purchased two of the pills for a 17-year-old female the two knew from school. Later that night, the 17-year-old female was hospitalized due to a drug overdose. Later the same night, an 18-year-old male who had purchased pressed pills containing fentanyl from Perkins was hospitalized due to a drug overdose. Further investigation revealed that pills from both overdoses were linked to Ortiz.
Search warrants executed at Ortiz’s residences in Los Banos and Santa Ana, California, resulted in the recovery of over 6,000 pressed pills containing fentanyl, approximately $60,000 cash, and 13 firearms.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Craig B. Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Atlanta Division made the announcement.
The Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Norton Police Department, Southwest Drug Task Force (consisting of the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Norton Police Department, Big Stone Gap Police Department, and Virginia State Police), Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff’s Department, Santa Ana (CA) Police Department, Anaheim (CA) Police Department, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Browning man sentenced to prison for manslaughter in death of woman struck by vehicle on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man who admitted to striking a woman with his vehicle and killing her in 2021 on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to one year and a day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jordan Joseph Morgan, 31, pleaded guilty in July to involuntary manslaughter.
In a plea agreement in the case, the parties agreed that a specific recommendation of 12 months and one day imprisonment was appropriate.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $10,600 in restitution.
In court documents, the government alleged that on the evening of Nov. 8, 2021, Morgan encountered the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was known to him, in Browning. The two argued. Morgan got into his vehicle, while Jane Doe stayed by the open window at Morgan’s door. Morgan pulled forward with Jane Doe still at his door and holding onto the open window. After a short distance, the vehicle pulled to the right, throwing Jane Doe under the vehicle. Morgan continued driving and ran over Jane Doe.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Harper Suek and Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
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Bronx Gang Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for MurderRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JALEEL SHAKOOR, a/k/a “Midnight,” was sentenced today to 30 years in prison in connection with the murder of Gerry Mazzella on June 3, 2021, in the Bronx, New York. SHAKOOR previously pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and interstate transportation of a firearm before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jaleel Shakoor murdered 26-year-old Gerry Mazzella by shooting him in the back of the neck from point-blank range. Mazzella’s death was senseless. New Yorkers must be able to lead their lives free from the threat of gang violence. Gang members who commit violent crimes will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
As alleged in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court and based on statements made in public court proceedings:
From at least 2020 to 2022, SHAKOOR was a member of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation (“Gorilla Stone”), which is a set of the national Bloods gang. Gorilla Stone operated primarily in the northeast United States, including in the Bronx, and in the jails and prisons of New York City and the State of New York.
Members of Gorilla Stone committed robberies and distributed controlled substances in order to enrich themselves. They also murdered and assaulted members of rival gangs and members of Gorilla Stone in order to resolve disputes within the gang. Gorilla Stone members promoted and celebrated the gang’s criminal conduct — including drug distribution, acts of violence, and firearms usage — on social media.
On June 3, 2021, in the vicinity of West 165th Street and Woodycrest Avenue in the Bronx, SHAKOOR shot Mazzella in the back of the neck, causing Mazzella’s death. SHAKOOR committed this murder to retaliate against one of Mazzella’s friends, with whom SHAKOOR had an ongoing, gang-related dispute.
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In addition to his prison sentence, SHAKOOR, 28, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick R. Moroney, Christopher D. Brumwell, and Emily A. Johnson are in charge of the prosecution.
Bomb hoaxes lead to indictment of Chatham County manRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Chatham County man has been indicted for making bomb hoaxes targeting a Savannah mosque and an office park.
Mohammed Arafat Afaneh, 27, of Savannah, was indicted by a U.S. District Court Grand Jury on two counts of False Information and Hoaxes, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Afaneh was located and arrested on state charges in Louisville, Kentucky, and remanded to the custody of U.S. Marshals after an initial appearance hearing in federal court in the Western District of Kentucky.
The indictment alleges that on Nov. 17, Afaneh conveyed information that a bomb that would detonate at 3 p.m. at an office park on Chatham Parkway in Savannah, near the federal court building, and that a bomb would detonate seven minutes before Maghrib, or afternoon prayers, inside the Islamic Center of Savannah.
Responding law enforcement agencies determined both warnings were hoaxes.
Indictments contain only charges. Afaneh is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.
Blackstone Man Arrested for Defrauding Former EmployerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Blackstone man was arrested today in connection with a fraudulent scheme to steal money from his former employer – a company that operates a national chain of second-hand retail stores.
Anthony Prizio, 48, was indicted on six counts of wire fraud. Prizio will make an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester today at 2 p.m. today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy.
According to the indictment, from January 2019 until July 2021, Prizio served as the manager of the company’s Worcester store location. In this position, Prizio had access to the store’s timekeeping system for employees’ working hours, human resources panel, and un-activated payroll paycards issued to certain employees for wages. It is alleged that Prizio used his position as the store manager to engage in a scheme to defraud the company by repeatedly falsifying working hours for employees, including employees who no longer worked there. Prizio would then allegedly take some or all of the wages for his own use on personal expenditures, including his home’s utility expenses, vehicle registration fees and veterinary services. It is further alleged that Prizio took steps to conceal his fraud by misrepresenting the productivity of the Worcester store to make it appear that the store processed more items, as well as by entering false paid sick and bereavement for employees to fraudulently cause payment for fictitious hours without adversely affecting the productivity measurement of the store.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross loss involved. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Belgian National Faces Federal Charges for Illegally Procuring Critical U.S. Technology for End Users in China and RussiaRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal indictment was unsealed Tuesday in the District of Oregon charging a Belgian national in connection with the export of sensitive, military-grade technology from the United States to end users in the People’s Republic of China.
Hans Maria De Geetere, 61, of Knokke-Heist, Belgium, has been charged with one count of obtaining goods intended for China in violation of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) and four counts of making false statements.
“Export control laws and regulations serve an important role in protecting our national security. This case demonstrates our commitment to holding individuals accountable wherever they reside,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We urge anyone with information about violations of export control laws to contact OEE and the FBI immediately.”
“The Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) is focused on aggressive enforcement of violations of U.S. export controls. Today’s indictment of De Geetere for seeking to export controlled items with military and aerospace applications to China demonstrates OEE’s commitment to focusing our investigative efforts on transactions of the highest national security significance,” said John D. Masters, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Export Enforcement, San Jose Field Office, Bureau of Industry and Security, US Department of Commerce.
“According to this indictment, Hans De Geetere was breaking laws and risking national security to benefit himself, the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “This investigation was a well-coordinated effort between the FBI and our federal and international partners, and it demonstrates how far we will go to prevent the illegal transfer of military-use technology to our adversaries.”
According to court documents, between April 2021 and August 2023, De Geetere, who owned and operated a Belgium-based supply chain management and procurement services company called Knokke Heist Support Corporation Management (KHSCM), attempted to illegally procure for export to China controlled accelerometers valued at more than $930,000.
On or about April 9, 2021, a company in the United States shipped approximately $13,249 worth of accelerometers to a German reseller to fulfill an order for KHSCM. On or about April 14, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Export Enforcement detained the shipment for inspection to confirm its end user and avoid potential diversion and improper military use.
OEE contacted the German reseller to request that its customer, KHSCM, complete a required BIS form identifying its end user for the accelerometers and how the devices would be used. On or about April 15, 2021, De Geetere is alleged to have completed the form and in it falsely claim the accelerometers were for use by Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, a government agency in the Flemish region of Belgium. Later, on a phone call with an OEE special agent and in an email to the agent written by De Geetere falsely claiming to be a Flemish export control official, De Geetere again falsely stated the accelerometers were for use in Belgium when, in truth, he intended to divert the items to China.
Accelerometers are electronic devices that measure the vibration, tilt, and acceleration of structures in industrial, aerospace, and military systems. In aerospace and military applications, accelerometers play a critical role in structural testing and monitoring, impact survival tests, flight control systems, weapons and craft navigation systems, active vibration dampening, stabilization, and other systems. The export of these accelerometers to certain countries, including China and Russia, is restricted under U.S. law.
In a separate indictment unsealed Tuesday in the Eastern District of Texas, De Geetere and a co-defendant are alleged to have conspired with one another to illegally smuggle from the United States export-controlled field programmable gate array circuits to Russia and short-wave infrared surveillance cameras to China.
De Geetere was arrested Tuesday in Belgium by Belgian authorities.
Obtaining goods in violation of ECRA and making false statements in connection with or during an export enforcement investigation are each punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine, per count of conviction.
This case was investigated by OEE with assistance from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Greg Nyhus, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Today’s actions were coordinated through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states. Under the leadership of the Assistant Attorney General for National Security and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, the Strike Force leverages tools and authorities across the U.S. Government to enhance the criminal and administrative enforcement of export control laws.
23-cr-374-de_geetere-indictment_unsealed.pdfBelgian National Charged with Crimes Related to Scheme to Illegally Procure Critical U.S. Technology for End Users in China and RussiaRead the Press Release
In two separate indictments unsealed yesterday, Hans Maria De Geetere, 61, of Knokke-Heist, Belgium, is charged with crimes related to a years-long scheme to unlawfully export sensitive, military-grade technology from the United States to end users located in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation.
Concurrent with the unsealing, authorities in Belgium, in coordination with the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Brussels, Belgium, executed search warrants and arrested De Geetere and others for questioning on Dec. 5 in connection with a Belgian investigation into De Geetere’s global illicit procurement scheme.
In addition, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added De Geetere and his companies, Knokke-Heist Support Management Corporation and European Trading Technology BV, to the BIS Entity List and the OFAC Specially Designated and Blocked Person (SDN) List for acquiring and illicitly diverting U.S.-origin electronic components used in missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare receivers, and military radar on behalf of parties in the PRC and Russia.
“As alleged, Hans Maria De Geetere orchestrated multiple smuggling schemes to unlawfully re-export advanced U.S. technologies to China and Russia,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department is committed to working with partners, including through our leadership of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, to hold accountable those who violate U.S. export control laws, and place personal profit over the security of the United States and our allies. We are grateful to the Belgian authorities for their coordination with U.S. law enforcement as they work to hold the defendant accountable under Belgian law.”
“Hans De Geetere allegedly acquired and illicitly diverted U.S.-origin electronic components to China and Russia that can be used in missiles, drones, and military radar,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “These coordinated actions, which include the unsealing of federal indictments against De Geetere, his arrest abroad, and additions to our Entity List, demonstrate our commitment to cutting off the flow of critical U.S. electronics to the PRC and Russia.”
“These indictments of Hans Maria De Geetere highlight years of deceit and deception for the benefit of the governments of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “These charges demonstrate the commitment of the FBI and our partners to coordinate and make the world safer, together, by preventing the illegal transfer of military-use technology to our adversaries.”
U.S. v. De Geetere et al., Eastern District of Texas
According to court documents in the Eastern District of Texas, between March 2016 and February 2018, De Geetere and co-defendant Eddy Johan Coopmans, 62, of Ponte Verda, Florida, conspired to illegally smuggle from the United States export-controlled field programmable gate array (FGPA) circuits to Russia and short-wave infrared surveillance (SWIR) cameras to the PRC. As alleged, the defendants wired partial payments totaling over $1.2 million in an attempt to acquire these items. Coopsmans pleaded guilty to the conspiracy on Oct. 5, 2022, and is pending sentencing.
“As alleged, Mr. De Geetere conspired with others to violate U.S. export controls and illegally smuggle sensitive American-made technologies to Russia and the PRC,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “This indictment should be an example that the Eastern District of Texas will aggressively pursue and prosecute those — no matter where they are in the world — who seek to avoid U.S. export laws to supply Russia and the PRC with microelectronics that can be used for nefarious purposes.”
U.S. v. De Geetere, District of Oregon
Separately, according to court documents in the District of Oregon, between April 2021 and August 2023, De Geetere attempted to illegally procure for export to the PRC controlled accelerometers valued at more than $930,000. Accelerometers are electronic devices that measure the vibration, tilt and acceleration of motion of a structure and are often used in aerospace and military systems. During an investigation into De Geetere’s activities, he falsely told a BIS agent that the accelerometers were intended for export to Belgium, whereas in truth, he sought to obtain them for end users in the PRC.
“Export control laws and regulations serve an important role in protecting our national security and this case demonstrates our commitment to holding individuals accountable wherever they reside,” said U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight for the District of Oregon. “We urge anyone with information about violations of export control laws to contact OEE and the FBI immediately.”
In the Eastern District of Texas, De Geetere is charged with one count of conspiring to smuggle goods and one count of conspiring to launder funds. He is further charged with three counts of making false statements and one count of smuggling goods in the District of Oregon. If convicted, he faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to smuggle goods and for each count of making false statements, 10 years in prison for smuggling of goods, and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to launder funds.
The case in the Eastern District of Texas was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas and the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, with assistance from BIS’s Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS), the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Derek Shugert of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES).
The case in the District of Oregon was investigated by OEE, with assistance from the FBI Portland Field Office and HSI Oregon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Nyhus for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case, with assistance from CES Trial Attorney Derek Shugert.
These actions were coordinated through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states. Under the leadership of the Assistant Attorney General for National Security and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, the Strike Force leverages tools and authorities across the U.S. Government to enhance the criminal and administrative enforcement of export control laws.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
De Geetere Texas Indictment De Geetere Oregon Indictment Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office Press ReleaseAtlanta-area man sentenced to federal prison for attempted stolen-car smuggling operationRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Douglas County, Ga., man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in a scheme to smuggle stolen cars to Africa.
Prince Bediako, 41, of Douglasville, Ga., was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to Smuggling, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also fined Bediako $1,000 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“This sentence is a credit to our law enforcement partners who work hard every day to detect, intercept, and prevent the theft of goods and identities alike, and to hold those accountable who would attempt to smuggle goods through one of our nation’s busiest ports.” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We applaud our law enforcement partners who safeguard this vital gateway to the United States.”
As described in court documents and testimony, on multiple occasions in 2020, Bediako aided a co-conspirator in the use of false and stolen identities and credit cards, including both fictional identities and those of unwitting individuals. The co-conspirator, using a false identity, would contact a dealership online and contract with them to ship vehicles from another state, after which the credit card payment would “bounce,” and the dealership would be left without payment.
Nineteen dealerships across the Southeast were identified as victims of this type of theft. Bediako arranged to transport the fraudulently obtained vehicles to the Port of Savannah, and then used the false and stolen identities to attempt to smuggle those vehicles to Ghana while concealing his own identity or participation in the scheme.
Personnel at the Port of Savannah intercepted the shipments.
“The Bureau of Industry and Security will not tolerate efforts to undermine the integrity of our export control system through the submission of false or misleading information,” said John Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Miami Field Office, Office of Export Enforcement. “The Office of Export Enforcement will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to apply the investigative resources and utilize the authorities necessary to ensure compliance with U.S. export laws.”
“Our CBP Officers continually refine their skills, knowledge and awareness of current trends and techniques utilized by bad actors. These skills led to the interdiction and recovery of these stolen vehicles,” said Henry Deblock, Area Port Director in Savannah. “Their sustained efforts, training, and analysis, along with valuable collaboration among law enforcement agencies led to the success in this case. At the Port of Savannah, we take pride in our officer’s abilities to go past the point of seizure and build out the entire criminal network. That extra step is vital in dismantling these criminal organizations and putting these bad actors behind bars.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security Office of Export Enforcement; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Georgia Ports Authority Police Department; and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenna G. Solari and Darron J. Hubbard.
Army Civilian Employee Indicted in San Antonio for Alleged $100 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment today charging a San Antonio woman with 10 counts related to a fraud scheme she allegedly conducted while working as a civilian financial program manager at Fort Sam Houston.
According to court documents, Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, allegedly stole more than $100 million in Army funds by regularly submitting fraudulent paperwork that indicated an entity she controlled, Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development (CHYLD), was entitled to receive funds from the Army. Mello claimed that CHYLD provided services to military members and their families, when, in reality, CHYLD did not provide any services. The indictment alleges that Mello instead used the funds to buy millions of dollars in jewelry, clothing, vehicles, and real estate. Additionally, Mello is alleged to have falsified the digital signature of one of her supervisors on multiple occasions.
Mello is charged with five counts of mail fraud, four counts of engaging in a monetary transaction over $10,000 using criminally derived proceeds, and one count of aggravated identity theft. She is scheduled for her initial court appearance Dec. 14 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Bemporad of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, Mello faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each fraud charge, up to 10 years in prison for each spending statute charge, and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charge. The indictment also includes a notice of forfeiture for the proceeds and property that Mello obtained as a result of the criminal conduct alleged. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Simmons and Antonio Franco are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Arizona Man Arrested on Two Counts of Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Donald Day, Jr., 58, of Heber, was arrested on Friday, on a federal arrest warrant after a federal grand jury indicted him on two counts of Interstate Threats.
From January 2022 to February 2023, Day used social media platforms to express a desire to incite violence and threaten a variety of groups and individuals, including law enforcement and government authorities. As to Count One, following the killing of two Queensland (Australia) Police Service officers in December 2022, Day posted a video on YouTube threatening any law enforcement official who came to his residence. Separately, as to Count Two, Day threatened to kill a victim (the Director General of the World Health Organization) in February 2023 on the video platform BitChute, calling on others to join him.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-8132-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-196_Day# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Adams County Man Sentenced to 300 Months’ Imprisonment for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Michael Sealover, age 45, of Adams County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 5, 2023, by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 300 months’ imprisonment for producing child pornography. Judge Wilson also ordered Sealover to serve 15 years on supervised release after the conclusion of his prison sentence and to pay $5,100 in assessments.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Sealover previously pleaded guilty and admitted to contacting multiple pre-adolescent girls online in July 2020, and coercing and enticing them to send him sexually explicit images at his direction. As part of the scheme, Sealover often posed as a teenage boy to gain the girls’ trust and then enticed his victims to send him sexually explicit images, falsely promising to give the victims cell phones as compensation. When Sealover’s victims resisted his instructions or expressed despair at being exploited, Sealover would threaten to publish their images online unless they complied with his demands.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Adams County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.
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.
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16-year-old Virginian charged as an Adult for October 21, 2023, murder of 24-year-old D.C. ResidentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ashton Inabinet, 16, of Alexandria, Virginia, was arrested yesterday on Second Degree Murder While Armed charges stemming from the homicide of 24-year-old Diamonte Lewis on October 21, 2023, in front of Nellies Bar at 9th and U Streets NW, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced.
Inabinet, who was a student at West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia, was arraigned on a charge of second degree murder while armed in D.C. Superior Court, Courtroom C-10, earlier today, where he entered a plea of not guilty. Judge Nolan found probable cause that the defendant committed the murder and held him without bond pending a preliminary hearing on December 13, 2023 before Judge Robert Okun.
An arrest on a complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
In announcing the arrest, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Assistant United States Attorney Erin DeRiso for her efforts in prosecuting this case.
Tuesday 5 December 2023
Woman Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Robbing West Hartford BankRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JALANIA PANTANO, 28, formerly of Middletown, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for robbing a West Hartford bank last year.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 20, 2022, Pantano and her boyfriend, Gino Rizzo, entered the People’s United Bank located inside the Stop & Shop at 176 Newington Road in West Hartford and presented to two different tellers notes stating “Give us the money with no dye packs or GPS.” The tellers provided Pantano and Rizzo with approximately $1,599 in cash and they exited the bank and supermarket.
Rizzo, using notes demanding cash, had previously robbed People’s United Bank branches located in Stop & Shop supermarkets in Glastonbury on July 16, 2022, and in Newington on July 18, 2022.
Rizzo was arrested on July 21, 2022, and Pantano was arrested on August 30, 2022. On April 11, 2023, while on pre-trial release, Pantano and Rizzo each disconnected their GPS electronic monitoring bracelets and absconded from their court-mandated rehabilitation centers.
Pantano has been detained since her rearrest on May 24, 2023. On August 23, 2023, she pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery.
Rizzo has been detained since his rearrest on May 22, 2023. He pleaded guilty on July 25, 2023, and is awaiting sentencing.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Middletown, Glastonbury, Newington, and West Hartford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Robert S. Dearington.
Wichita man sentenced after dealing narcotics out of hotelRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to five years in prison for having firearms while dealing illegal narcotics.
According to court documents, Alexander Schultz, 36, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In February 2023, the Sedgwick County Sherriff’s Office (SCSO) learned that Schultz was selling narcotics at a hotel in Wichita. Through surveillance, SCSO detectives observed Schultz dealing out of his hotel room and from his car in front of the hotel. Law enforcement arrested Schultz on an outstanding warrant and searched his vehicle. Detectives discovered baggies with blue "M30" pills with later tested positive for fentanyl with a total net weight of 138.89 grams. Law enforcement also found methamphetamine (29.40 grams), two firearms, $2,878 in U.S. Currency, and several zipper bags containing raw marijuana inside the vehicle.
In Schultz’s hotel room, deputies found approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine, a small amount of crack cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. They also found a rifle under the mattress.
Schultz admitted the items located inside of the vehicle and hotel room were his, and that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine and fentanyl. He told investigators he had the firearms to protect himself and the drugs he was trafficking.
“Wherever there are illegal narcotics sales and guns there will likely be violence at some point. The defendant chose to deal drugs from a hotel showing he had no regard for the safety of the staff and other guests,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “Law enforcement was able to arrest Alexander Schultz and stop him from selling fentanyl and methamphetamine which may have saved lives.”
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Wichita Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ola Odeyemi and Deb Barnett prosecuted the case.
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Wayne Man Pleads Guilty to Lying to DEA Task Force OfficerRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Wayne man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to intentionally making false statements to a federal law enforcement agent.
According to court records, in November 2022, Victor Sousa, 24, was questioned by a Task Force Officer with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regarding two subjects of a federal narcotics investigation. After denying that he knew either suspect, Sousa called Suspect A from jail multiple times. Court records further indicated that Sousa had previously lived with Suspect A and that Suspect B had supplied Sousa with narcotics in the past.
Sousa faces up to up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA investigated the case.
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Wausau Man Indicted for Drug Offenses in Two North-Central Wisconsin Tribal CommunitiesRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 28, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Charles A. Parham a/k/a “Red,” a/k/a “Cuzzo,” with drug crimes taking place on the Menominee Indian Reservation and at a tribal casino on land owned by the Ho-Chunk Nation.
The indictment charged Parham, a 41-year-old formerly of Wausau, as follows:
COUNT
DATE
CHARGE
PENALTY
One
On or about September 29, 2023
Distribution of Heroin, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C)
Maximum of 20 years in prison; up to $1 million fine
Two
On or about October 12, 2023
Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(b)
Mandatory minimum 5 years, up to 40 years in prison; up to $5 million fine
Parham also faces terms of supervised release and special assessments of $100 per count if convicted.
According to filed court documents, on or about September 29, 2023, Parham distributed heroin to another person at a location on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Count Two relates to Parham’s possession with intent to distribute at least 40 grams of a mixture and substance containing Fentanyl, which was at a tribal casino in western Shawano County.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies as part of the Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) and Native American Drug and Gang Initiative (NADGI). NADGI and STTF allow federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement to partner in an effort to combat drug trafficking and violent crime on the Menominee Indian Reservation. STTF members are deputized federal officers who identify and target for prosecution individuals who are involved in distribution of dangerous drug on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Coordination of state resources through NADGI permits efficient communication and evidence processing, which are essential to swift but fair prosecution of offenders.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, with assistance from the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, Shawano County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will prosecute the case in U.S. District Court in Green Bay.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer
414-297-1700
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Waubay Man Sentenced for Escaping from CustodyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Waubay, South Dakota, man convicted of Escape from Custody. The sentencing took place on November 28, 2023.
Levi Ambrose Locke, age 32, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Locke was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 25, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on April 13, 2023, when Locke was in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at Dismas Charities, an institutional facility located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Locke was at Dismas Charities based on a felony conviction. On April 13th, Locke left Dismas Charities to go work his shift at his place of employment, but instead of going to work, Locke escaped and did not return to the facility that same day as required.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Locke was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Waterloo Felon and Domestic Abuser Sentenced to Federal Prison for Discharging Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who discharged a stolen firearm during an argument was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison. Dean Eugene Smith, age 54, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 10, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
In a plea agreement, Smith admitted that, on April 16, 2023, he was involved in an argument with a woman. During the argument, Smith discharged a stolen firearm into the air. After he discharged the firearm, Smith held the firearm behind his back while he shouted at the woman, until she ran away. Smith also admitted that, prior to April 16, 2023, he had previously been convicted of several offenses that prohibited him from possessing firearms and ammunition, including third‑degree sexual abuse, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury (second offense), first‑degree theft, multiple third‑degree burglary offenses, and several failures to comply with sex offender registry requirement offenses.
Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Smith was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a three‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Smith is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-02031-CJW.
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Washington Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KELVIN WARREN, age 30, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, pled guilty on Thursday November 30, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Barry Ashe to possession with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and over 40 grams of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to a maximum sentence of life. He also faces a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, at least 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. The sentencing will be held on March 14, 2024.
According to court documents, on January 27, 2022, WARREN was in a vehicle that was stopped by police. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located a bag containing approximately 1.7 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.8 ounces of fentanyl, a scale, and other drug paraphernalia on the front passenger floorboard near WARREN’s feet.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.
U.S. Attorney's Office Warns About Common Holiday ScamsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –U.S. Attorney Dena J. King issued a warning today to alert consumers about a potential uptick in online scams during the holiday season, and cautioned against financial schemes that target older adults. To further the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts to protect seniors from online scams, federal prosecutors hosted a game of Fraud Bingo today, to educate older Americans about online fraudsters and internet schemes that specifically target the elderly.
“December is the month of giving, but it’s also the time of year when cybercriminals try to take advantage of consumers, quickly turning a joyous season into a living nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Whether shopping online for a gift, choosing a charity for a donation, or applying for seasonal work to earn extra money, it is imperative for everyone to stay vigilant against online scams and identity theft schemes. It’s important for all of us to do all we can to protect our hard-earned money and our personal information from financial predators.”
2023 Holiday Scams
According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crimes Report, North Carolina is ranked among the top 20 States for online financial fraud, both in the number of victims and in monetary losses. The report notes that in 2022 Americans lost a combined total of over $281 million to internet scams, including online shopping and “non-delivery” schemes, that generally spike during the holiday season.
Here are the most common scams that consumers may encounter during the holiday season this year:
Fake Online Stores or “Lookalike Stores.” Be on the lookout for online stores that are either entirely fake or made to look like a legitimate store. Watch out for red flags, such as deeply discounted prices especially for in-demand items, like electronics, jewelry, and clothing. Be particularly careful with social media ads that link you to bogus online stores or product listings. These scams target shoppers looking to buy luxury or hard-to-find items at an affordable price. Consumers may end up with stolen credit card information or paying for an item that is never received.
Missed Delivery/Non-Delivery Notification. With the rise in online shopping, lots of packages arrive at our front door during the holiday season. Beware of fake delivery notification emails or text messages alerting you of a missed package delivery. Do not be quick to click on the link provided in a text or email, as you may be directed to a website designed to steal your information. Make sure you pay attention to the domain address of the link to ensure it is a reputable delivery site and be especially cautions with delivery websites that ask for your personal or payment information in order to complete a package delivery.
Gift Card Scams. Gift card scams involve either scamming consumers into buying fake gift cards or tricking consumers into using gift cards to pay for fraudulent goods or services. For example, avoid online stores or advertisements that purport to sell commercial gift cards at deeply discounted prices. While they may have you believe you are buying a gift card on sale, in fact you may end up receiving a gift card with zero money value. Instead, purchase gift cards from reputable retailers.
Fake Charities. During the holidays, cybercriminals seek to take advantage of consumers’ generosity through fraudulent charities, GoFundMe campaigns, and other charitable causes. These types of scams can be particularly difficult to decipher, so before donating money be extra cautious about selecting a charity. If donating online, research the charity thoroughly, check with the Better Business Bureau, and take a look at the charity’s URL and website for telltale signs of fraud, including misspellings, bad grammar, and no contact information. For GoFundMe type of donations research the organizer or the group behind the campaign before making a donation.
Phishing Emails or Texts. Cybercriminals take advantage of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to dupe consumers via phishing emails or texts that contain suspicious links. Be particularly mindful of purported communications from your bank or credit card company, warning you that your account has been compromised. These phishing emails or texts generally prompt you to click on the provided link to log into your account to update your compromised information, so scammers can steal your information. Also avoid clicking on emails that promise free giveaways, prompt you to claim a prize, or ask you to confirm a reservation or other booking. If you receive this type of communication do not use the provided link. For example, if it’s an email related to a compromised bank account, instead of using the link in the email, go to your bank’s main website to log into your account.
Fraudulent Seasonal Jobs. Employment scams tend to increase during the holiday season, as scammers prey on individuals seeking to make extra money. Be mindful of fake job ads, especially online job listings that offer really good money for very little work. Do not ever pay upfront for any equipment or training you need for a new job. Also, do not readily provide your personal identifying information (social security number, date of birth, address, etc.) or your financial and banking information without confirming the job is legitimate. Be particularly mindful of money mule schemes, in which a fake employer asks you to cash a check through your bank, keep a portion of the money, and then send the rest of the money back to the employer.
Scams Targeting Older Adults
U.S. Attorney King also noted that older adults are particularly vulnerable of becoming victims of online fraud, not only during the holidays, but throughout the year. According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crimes Report, adults 60 years and older reported the highest financial losses last year, with a combined $3.1 billion in money lost to financial fraud.
In an effort to educate older adults about online scams and financial fraud, today the U.S. Attorney’s Office hosted a scam alert seminar at the Rutherford County Senior Center, during which participants were presented important information about financial fraud. Following the presentation, the attendees played a game of “Fraud Bingo,” a fun activity designed to deliver information and practical tips on how to prevent the financial exploitation and victimization of older adults by scammers.
“Online scams that target seniors are a growing concern in North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney King. “We have a responsibility to protect our vulnerable older population from financial fraud and from scammers that victimize seniors and threaten to leave them in financial peril. Elder Fraud Bingo is an entertaining way to help older adults understand how scams operate and to educate them on how to protect themselves from financial ruin.”
Some examples of financial fraud targeting seniors are:
- Lottery Phone Scams – in which the callers convince seniors that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
- Grandparent Scams – which convince seniors that their grandchildren are in trouble and need money to make rent, repair a car, or even money for bail.
- Romance Scams – which lull victims to believe that their online paramour needs funds for a U.S. visit or some other purpose.
- Tech Support Scams – which convince victims to pay for non-existent problems with their computers.
- IRS Imposter Scams – which defraud victims by posing as IRS agents and claiming that victims owe back taxes.
- Sham Business Opportunities – which convince victims to invest in lucrative business opportunities or investments.
Below are some tips shared with participants during the seminar on how to avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
- Don’t share personal information with anyone you don’t know.
- Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.
- Don’t click on pop-up ads or messages.
- Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.
- Don’t send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger.
- Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or a lucrative business deal.
- If a scammer approaches you, take the time to talk to a friend or family member.
- Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.
- Remember, it’s not rude to say, “NO.”
- A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
To report elder fraud please call the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). If you believe you are the victim of an online scam call the FBI and file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or contact local law enforcement.
Two Busby residents sentenced to prison for meth trafficking, firearm crimes on Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — Two Busby residents convicted of methamphetamine and firearms crimes after the drug and guns were found in a vehicle in which they were traveling were sentenced to prison terms today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jamesey Maria Jefferson, 33, was sentenced to seven years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release.
Co-defendant Ivan Eaglefeathers, 21, was sentenced to six years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Both defendants pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Sept. 12, 2021 on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, law enforcement officers stopped a car that had run two stop signs, was traveling at a high rate of speed and was believed to have been seen at an earlier shooting. Officers detained Jefferson, Eaglefeathers and two others who were in the car. A federal search warrant was served on the car, and officers found approximately 48 grams of meth, $2,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia, ammunition and three firearms. The guns were a .17-caliber rifle, an AR-style 5.56mm rifle and a 9mm handgun. Jefferson admitted to investigators that she possessed the meth, the .17-caliber rifle and the 9mm handgun. A video of Eaglefeathers and a co-defendant shows Eaglefeathers outside of the vehicle on the same day with a gun in his hand. Eaglefeathers admitted to having one of the rifles in the car and to having shot it in the air.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.
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Tucson Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Elton Tillman, 55, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Tillman pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on March 27, 2023.
On May 5, 2022, Tillman, a convicted felon, sold a loaded Arsenal 7.62x39 mm pistol and 100 rounds of ammunition for $1,000 to a federal agent. After the sale, agents executed a search of Tillman’s apartment and found a loaded Taurus 9 mm pistol, 9 mm ammunition, .380 caliber ammunition, 7.62x39 mm ammunition, narcotics, narcotics paraphernalia, and bulk United States currency. Analysis of the firearms and ammunition confirmed they passed through interstate commerce. Prior to possessing and selling the pistol to the agent, Tillman had been convicted of multiple Arizona felonies, including manslaughter.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 22-01262-RM-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-193_Tillman# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Three Sentenced in Austin for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in 18 Year Old’s DeathRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – An Austin man and two co-conspirators were sentenced in a federal court in Austin for their roles in the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
According to court documents, David Lee Jr., 46, of Austin, Virginia Zepeda, 43, of Austin, and Jackie Lynne Chester, 37, of Taylor, were identified as suppliers of counterfeit oxycodone tablets and other counterfeit prescription pills in the investigation of the overdose death of an 18-year-old Coupland male. Video surveillance footage revealed the victim approaching Lee’s vehicle at a gas station and engaging in a hand-to-hand exchange with Chester through a window of the vehicle. Four and a half tablets of counterfeit oxycodone were recovered from the victim’s residence following his death. As part of the investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration agents conducted controlled-buys with Lee and Zepeda, indicating that the two were actively distributing fentanyl in the form of counterfeit oxycodone following the victim’s death.
Lee was sentenced to 240 months in prison; Zepeda was sentenced to 135 months in prison; and Chester was sentenced to 108 months in prison.
“These drug dealers knowingly sold several counterfeit pills, each containing incredibly lethal doses of fentanyl, to an unsuspecting victim, tragically leading to the poisoning and death of an 18-year-old,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “This is another case in which a young victim leaves behind their loving family and friends, while the criminals themselves walked away with the intent to cause more harm. Thanks to our local and federal law enforcement partners, these three will now spend decades off the streets, unable to inflict any further damage in our communities.”
“These defendants were blinded by greed and sold fake fentanyl pills for a quick profit, and as a result, the victim and his family have suffered an immeasurable loss,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division. “Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat facing our country today, and it takes just a small amount to take someone’s precious life away. The disregard for human life by these defendants is apparent, and we hope these sentences serve as a closure to the family now devastated by the loss of their 18-year-old son.”
“It is the goal of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office Organized Crime Unit to arrest and prosecute fentanyl dealers to the fullest extent of the law,” said Sheriff Mike Gleason for the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. “Fentanyl poisonings have increased in central Texas, and we will continue to use all resources available to us, including the DEA and USAO. Task Force members are committed to serving the victims, seeking justice, and providing closure for their families.”
The DEA, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Marshall prosecuted the case.
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Tennessee Man Sentenced in Covid Relief FraudRead the Press Release
OXFORD – A Memphis, Tennessee man was sentenced today to 62 months imprisonment following his conviction for his role in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) by submitting fraudulent loan applications to the SBA for over $11 Million.
According to court documents, Norman Beckwood, 29, of Memphis, recruited individuals to submit fraudulent loan applications to the SBA. Beckwood and his co-conspirator, Lakeith Faulker, who was an employee of the SBA and used his position at the SBA to assist borrowers, helped submit over $11 Million in fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”). In return for their assistance in the fraudulent loans, the borrowers paid Beckwood and Faulkner $2.3 Million.
On January 17, 2023, Beckwood entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Today, U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Beckwood to serve 62 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. In addition to prison time, Faulkner was ordered to pay $10,620,452.26 in restitution to the SBA. In connection with his guilty plea, Beckwood also forfeited $700,147.74, a 2018 Mercedez Benz C Class and a 2020 Mercedes Benz G63.
On December 7, 2022, Faulkner entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On May 24, 2023, United States District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Faulkner to serve 62 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. Faulkner was also ordered to pay $10,620,452.26 in restitution to the SBA.
Twenty-one (21) individual borrowers have also been charged in connection with the same scheme. In the case of United States v. Raven L. Brown, et al, (Case No. 3:23CR23), eight individuals have changed their plea to guilty and been sentenced by United States Senior District Judge Glen H. Davidson, Raven L. Brown (24 months incarceration, 3 years supervised release, $1,802,800 in restitution); Gerald Pegues (12 months + 1 day incarceration, 5 years supervised release, $173,200 in restitution); Gregory Shields (12 months + 1 day incarceration, 5 years supervised release, $206,000 in restitution); Shunequa Shields (6 months incarceration, 5 years supervised release, $177,100 in restitution); Devin Booker (6 months incarceration, 5 years supervised release, $211,000 in restitution); Tommie L. Spencer, Jr. (6 months incarceration, 5 years supervised release, $250,600 in restitution); Adonis Golden (12 months + 1 day incarceration, 3 years supervised release, $199,900 in restitution); and Jemarious Fair (22 months incarceration, 5 years supervised release, $199,600 in restitution). A remaining defendant is currently set for trial on February 12, 2024.
“Norman Beckwood and his cohorts stole millions of dollars from American taxpayers while taking advantage of programs designed to help keep businesses afloat during a national crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring those who committed pandemic benefit fraud to justice and will use all available tools to recover the stolen funds.”
“Abusing SBA’s pandemic relief programs intended to provide critical relief to small businesses is unconscionable.” said SBA OIG’s Central Region Special Agent-in-Charge Brady Ipock. “This sentencing further showcases that OIG will relentlessly pursue fraudsters and bring them to justice. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”
This scheme was initially uncovered during a civil investigation, led by the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Harland Webster.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton A. Dabbs, Parker King and Sam Wright of the Northern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the criminal case.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Tech Company’s Tip Leads to Guilty Plea of Lake St. Louis ManRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Lake St. Louis, Missouri man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Tuesday and admitted taking pictures of his sexual abuse of a young girl.
Steve G. Flores, 51, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White to one count of production of child pornography.
Authorities were initially alerted by a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by a cloud storage company about two files that appeared to contain child sexual abuse material. Court approved searches of Flores’ Google and cloud storage accounts revealed hundreds of pictures and videos he’d produced of the victim. A search of his home on Nov. 8, 2022, found electronic devices that contained similar images, as well as other images containing child pornography.
Flores is scheduled to be sentenced March 5, 2024. The charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years, with a maximum of 30. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson will ask for 25 years, the plea agreement says.
The FBI, the St. Charles County Police Department and St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Southfield Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing $300,000 in Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Southfield woman pleaded guilty today to wire fraud arising out of a scheme to defraud the State of Michigan out of more than $300,000 in pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and Special Agent in Charge John Marengo of the United States Secret Service’s Detroit Field Office.
Katrina Maddox, 47, entered her guilty plea this afternoon, before United States District Judge Terrence G. Berg.
According to court records, beginning as early as April 2020 and continuing through at least September 2021, Maddox filed approximately 65 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims seeking pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) benefits. Maddox submitted the fraudulent claims in the names of multiple individuals, using their Social Security Numbers and other personal identifying information, without those individuals’ authorization or consent. The fraudulent UI benefits were paid out via debit cards, which Maddox then used to repeatedly withdraw the funds from ATMs.
United States Attorney Ison stated, “This case reflects our ongoing commitment to prosecute those who took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic by stealing funds intended for those in need. My office will remain vigilant in the pursuit of those who cheat the government and their fellow citizens.”
“Katrina Maddox engaged in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme targeted at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency by filing false UI claims in the names of identity theft victims to obtain debit cards containing stolen UI benefits. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the UI system from those who exploit these benefit programs,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
“We are thankful to the Department of Labor and the US Attorney’s Office for partnering with us in the investigation and prosecution of this case. We will continue to work with our partners to protect our nation’s financial infrastructure. We will continue to work with our federal and state partners to bring these perpetrators to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Marengo.
Maddox faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment on the charge of wire fraud. Per the terms of her plea agreement, Maddox will also be required to pay restitution to the victim states in the total amount of $311,440. Sentencing is set for April 25, 2024 at 2pm.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Youngblood and Ryan A. Particka.
South Carolina Man Is Sentenced to 8+ Years in Prison for Possession of A Firearm by A FelonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Lamar Jacquise Floyd, 28, of York, South Carolina, was sentenced today to 100 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department (HPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, on December 9, 2022, at approximately 9:23 a.m., HPD patrol officers responded to a call for service at a McDonald’s restaurant, in reference to a suspicious person with a firearm. Responding officers identified Floyd as the person reported in the service call. Law enforcement escorted Floyd outside of the restaurant, and asked Floyd whether he had a firearm on his person. Court records show that Floyd responded that he had a firearm in the pocket of his jacket. The officers retrieved the firearm, along with two loaded magazines, ammunition, narcotics, and approximately $1,860 in U.S. currency.
Floyd has previous state convictions for narcotics and firearms violations and he is prohibited for possessing a firearm or ammunition. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and the Hickory Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Boykin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Carjacking and Use and Brandishing of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota man, convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Carjacking and Use and Brandishing of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence. The sentencing took place on November 30, 2023, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Jose Uribe, age 26, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $200 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Uribe was indicted for Carjacking, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on September 11, 2023.
According to court documents, on or about the 31st day of May of 2022, Uribe, working with two others, was given a ride by another individual. During the ride, Uribe pointed a shotgun at that person and demanded the person get out of the car. Uribe and the other two conspirators then drove away in the car, later fleeing from law enforcement in the vehicle and on foot.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
Uribe was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Sioux Falls Man Convicted of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Armando Cheshier, age 25, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death and two counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Fall. The verdict was returned on November 22, 2023.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in custody and/or a $1,000,000 fine, life on supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Cheshier was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2022.
Cheshier distributed fentanyl and Xanax to the victim in this case, which ultimately resulted in her death, due to the fatal amounts of fentanyl in her system. The defendant and victim in this case were friends and had spent the night together, after both ingested multiple illegal narcotic substances. The defendant awoke the next day to find the victim lying lifeless in his bed. After traveling across town to obtain Narcan to administer to the victim, the authorities were then called, and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. An interview of the defendant following the incident revealed that he had not only provided the fentanyl that caused the overdose, but that he had also ingested the remaining pills prior to authorities arriving at the scene.
“According to lab testing, seven out of every ten fentanyl pills contain a lethal dose of this deadly controlled substance,” said Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “So when Armando Cheshire provided the victim a fentanyl pill, he essentially gave her a death sentence. We are fortunate to have law enforcement partners such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sioux Falls Police Department that will investigate these difficult cases and help us hold accountable those who carelessly distribute this lethal drug. This prosecution also serves as a stark reminder that as a community, it is imperative we educate our loved ones on the dangers of fentanyl so that we can avoid the tragic loss of young lives.”
“Armando Cheshire faces countless hours in federal prison to reflect on the tragic consequences that came as a result of his actions,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said. “Two milligrams of fentanyl, small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered potentially lethal. We need to raise awareness of the threat this drug poses to our communities if we want to prevent futures deaths such as this one from occurring.”
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has been set for February 9, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sharon Resident Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Sylvia Ferguson was sentenced to 15 months in prison for drug trafficking, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Ferguson, age 43, of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Judge Bissoon ordered Ferguson to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
Ferguson pled guilty earlier this year to conspiring to distribute morphine from July 2019 to November 2021 in Sharon, Mercer County. She was on probation at that time as a result of a prior conviction in state court.
Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the conviction and sentence 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 of Justice 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.
Salem Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Transferring a Machine GunRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Salem, Oregon man previously convicted at trial was sentenced to federal prison Monday for illegally transferring a machine gun.
Daniel Matthew Kittson, 61, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in December 2019, a special agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) learned that Kittson was attempting to sell a Russian PPSh-41, a machine gun capable of firing approximately 900 rounds per minute. Investigators learned that he had prior felony convictions for attempted murder, first degree manslaughter, and felon in possession of a weapon, making it illegal for him to possess any type of firearm.
In early January 2020, investigators communicated with Kittson on two separate occasions to arrange a controlled purchase of the machine gun and, on January 10, 2020, completed the transaction. Following their purchase, investigators tested the firearm and confirmed that it was indeed a functional machine gun.
On March 9, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Kittson with illegally possessing and transferring a machine gun and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
On May 28, 2021, Kittson was arrested without incident by the U.S. Marshals Service and was released following his first appearance in federal court. In June 2022, Kittson absconded his pretrial supervision. Three months later, on September 27, 2022, he was located and arrested in Crook County, Oregon in possession of a firearm and small quantities of methamphetamine and heroin.
On August 24, 2023, a jury found Kittson guilty of illegally transferring a machinegun.
This case was investigated by ATF. It was prosecuted by Leah Bolstad and Nicole Bockelman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Roshell Beaty Sentenced to 124 Months in Prison for over $1 Million in COVID FraudRead the Press Release
Beaty enlisted the help of five family members who have been convicted alongside her
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Roshell Beaty, 46, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced to 124 months in prison for her role related to pandemic fraud schemes used to obtain over $1 million in COVID-19 relief. Beaty previously pled guilty to two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and one count of Aggravated Identity Theft.
“Federal pandemic dollars were meant to protect people who had fallen on hard times,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Beaty and her co-defendants deliberately devised a multi-state plan to commit fraud and steal over a million dollars. My office will continue to aggressively hold accountable scam artists and cheats who steal hard-earned taxpayer dollars.”
Beaty and her family stole $1,036,870 in money intended to help people during the COVID pandemic. During COVID, the federal government provided money to states to distribute to people who could not work. Beaty and her co-defendants stole $749,086 of unemployment insurance money to which they were not entitled from Michigan, California, Indiana, Illinois, and Arizona. They did this by filing unemployment insurance claims in their own names in multiple states, often states where they did not live or work. Beaty also filed unemployment insurance claims in the names of other people by using fake identification documents. Beaty and her co-defendants also stole $287,784 in loans intended for businesses suffering decreased business due to the COVID pandemic. Beaty was the leader of the group, and she enlisted the help of five family members to file fraudulent claims. Those family members have all been convicted for their role in the conspiracy. The previous press release can be viewed by visiting the following link Six Defendants Charged In $1 Million Covid Fraud Schemes.
“The blatant disregard by the defendant to defraud unemployment insurance and loan programs during the COVID-19 pandemic while many individuals and families were struggling was staggering,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. “Providing false information to fraudulently gain access to relief funds is a theft of taxpayer money. The FBI remains committed to working with our partners to investigate and hold those accountable who seek to defraud government assistance programs.”
"Roshel Beaty defrauded multiple state workforce agencies by filing false unemployment insurance (UI) claims in the names of identity theft victims,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “Beaty stole benefits intended to assist those who became unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the UI system from those who exploit these benefit programs.”
“This sentencing wraps up yet another successful anti-fraud case for UIA’s investigators who work closely with our law enforcement partners at the state and federal levels to stop fraudsters,” said Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Director Julia Dale. “Our agency has increased its staffing in the Fraud and Investigations Division to allocate even more resources to catching bad actors who steal from Michigan taxpayers and bringing them to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the Michigan Department of Labor, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General.
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Riverside County Woman Sentenced to Nearly 3½ Years in Federal Prison for $2.8 Million Unemployment Insurance ScamRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A Riverside County woman who participated in a scheme that used stolen identities to fraudulently apply for just over $2.8 million in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison, the Justice Department announced today.
Sasha Lizette Jimenez, 26, formerly of Placentia and now residing in Riverside County, was sentenced Monday afternoon by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney. In addition to the prison term, Judge Carney ordered Jimenez to pay $2,304,203 in restitution to the EDD.
Jimenez pleaded guilty on May 22 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and admitted that she fraudulently obtained UI benefits from the EDD, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits intended for individuals who were unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the scheme that started at the beginning of the pandemic and ran for about two years, Jimenez and her co-conspirators obtained stolen personal identifying information (PII) – sometimes from the darkweb – and used those stolen identities to apply for UI benefits. The PII was stolen from victims who did not live in California, were deceased or were otherwise not eligible for UI benefits, including pandemic benefits. In total, the fraud scheme caused the issuance of at least $2,804,508 in fraudulent unemployment benefits – which were disbursed via EDD debit accounts – and at least $2,304,203 was withdrawn from those accounts.
“[B]ank records show that in 2020, an EDD card in the name of victim S.S. was used to purchase luxury jewelry from Peter Marco, a Beverly Hills jewelry business frequented by [Jimenez],” prosecutors noted in a sentencing memorandum.
In her plea agreement, Jimenez also admitted participating in a separate check fraud scheme orchestrated by her boyfriend, Meshach Samuels, 26, of Placentia. Samuels, who also participated in the EDD fraud scheme, was sentenced in October to 90 months in federal prison.
The investigation in this matter was conducted by the Los Angeles El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force led by Homeland Security Investigations that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration also participated in this investigation. The Costa Mesa Police Department, the Inglewood Police Department, the Placentia Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Miami Beach Police Department provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Rachel N. Agress of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section prosecuted this case.
Anyone with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Richmond County man convicted at trial for trafficking heroin, illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Richmond County man has been convicted at trial on drug trafficking and gun possession charges.
Kelvin Laron Howard, 68, of Augusta, was convicted by a U.S. District Court jury after a two-day trial on charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The conviction subjects Howard to a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison on the drug charge, with an additional mandatory minimum of five years in prison for gun possession in conjunction with drug trafficking. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Kelvin Howard viewed Augusta as a wide-open market where he could profit from illegal drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify and shut down those who would endanger our communities with illicit drugs and illegal guns.”
The jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Howard guilty on all charges brought in an indictment filed in U.S. District Court in May 2020. As described in court documents and testimony, the charges stemmed from an investigation by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office that identified Howard as a heroin distributor in the Augusta area. During a search of Howard’s apartment in August 2019, investigators found enough heroin for more than 700 individual doses, along with drug scales and packaging materials, nearly $1,000 in cash and a loaded semiautomatic pistol.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule a sentencing hearing for Howard after U.S. Probation Services completes a presentence investigation.
The case was investigated by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and L. Alexander Hamner.
Resumen de la Cumbre de la Fuerza Operativa Conjunta AlfaRead the Press Release
La fiscal general adjunta en funciones Nicole M. Argentieri, de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia, convocó ayer en Washington, D.C., una reunión con cinco fiscales de los EE. UU. y los principales dirigentes, fiscales y colaboradores del departamento en la Fuerza Operativa Conjunta Alfa (JTFA, por sus siglas en inglés) para hablar sobre la labor de la JTFA en el desmantelamiento de las redes de tráfico y trata de personas que operan cerca de la frontera sudoccidental.
La fiscal general auxiliar en funciones Argentieri estuvo acompañada por el fiscal general Merrick B. Garland, el fiscal Alamdar Hamdani del distrito sur de Texas, el fiscal Jaime Esparza del distrito oeste de Texas, el fiscal Alexander M.M. Uballez del distrito de Nuevo México, el fiscal Gary Restaino del distrito de Arizona y la fiscal Tara K. McGrath del distrito sur de California, quienes son socios claves de la JTFA.
“El tráfico y la trata de personas son delitos insidiosos”, declaró el fiscal general Garland. “Los traficantes de personas se aprovechan de los sueños de una vida mejor de los inmigrantes vulnerables. Ponen en peligro y explotan a las personas con fines lucrativos. Y las redes de tráfico y trata de personas amenazan la seguridad de nuestras comunidades y nuestra seguridad nacional”. Hasta la fecha, la labor de la Fuerza de Tarea Operativa Conjunta Alfa ha dado como resultado más de 260 aprehensiones nacionales e internacionales, más de 170 condenas, importantes penas de prisión y cuantiosas incautaciones y decomisos de bienes y contrabando, incluidos cientos de miles de dólares en efectivo, bienes, vehículos, armas de fuego, municiones y drogas”.
Durante la reunión, la fiscal general auxiliar en funciones Argentieri destacó la labor de la JTFA para exigir responsabilidades a quienes se aprovechan de la desesperación de los migrantes, los ponen en peligro y socavan el estado de derecho mediante el tráfico de personas. Expresó su agradecimiento por el continuo compromiso de las fiscalías estadounidenses y de las autoridades del orden público con la misión fundamental de la JTFA. Fiscales estadounidenses del distrito sur de Texas, del
distrito oeste de Texas, del distrito de Nuevo México, del distrito de Arizona y del distrito sur de California están asignados a la JTFA para investigar y procesar a los traficantes de personas que operan en México, Guatemala, Honduras y El Salvador. La Sección de Derechos Humanos y Enjuiciamientos Especiales de la División Penal dirige a la JTFA en colaboración con las Fiscalías de los Estados Unidos y con el apoyo especializado de la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales; la Oficina de Desarrollo, Asistencia y Capacitación de la Fiscalía; la Sección de Estupefacientes y Drogas Peligrosas; la Sección de Lavado de Dinero y Recuperación de Activos; la Oficina de Operaciones de Aplicación de la Ley; y la Sección de Crimen Violento y Delincuencia Organizada. La JTFA también cuenta con una importante inversión en la aplicación de la ley por parte del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, el FBI, la Administración para el Control de Drogas y otros socios. La JTFA coordina estrechamente con las autoridades del orden público extranjeras las investigaciones transfronterizas, las aprehensiones de objetivos extranjeros y las extradiciones.
En la reunión, los líderes de la JTFA hablaron sobre las formas de utilizar los recursos limitados para mejorar los esfuerzos de aplicación de la ley de EE. UU. para combatir las redes de tráfico y trata de personas más prolíficas y peligrosas que operan en México, Guatemala, El Salvador y Honduras, y fortalecer nuestras relaciones con nuestros socios extranjeros en esos países. La fiscal general auxiliar en funciones Argentieri reafirmó el compromiso de la División Penal de dirigir y apoyar la labor fundamental de la JTFA para desarticular y desmantelar las redes delictivas que explotan a los migrantes y amenazan la seguridad pública.
De izquierda a derecha: fiscal de los EE. UU. Restaino, fiscal de los EE. UU. Uballez, fiscal general auxiliar en funciones Argentieri, fiscal general Garland, fiscal de los EE. UU. McGrath, fiscal de los EE. UU. Hamdani y fiscal de los EE. UU. Esparza.
Readout of Joint Task Force Alpha SummitRead the Press Release
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division convened a meeting with five U.S. Attorneys and the department’s key leaders, prosecutors, and contributors to Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) in Washington, D.C., yesterday to discuss JTFA’s work dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks operating along the Southwest Border.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri was joined by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico, U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona, and U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath for the Southern District of California, who are key partners in JTFA.
“Human smuggling and trafficking are insidious crimes,” said Attorney General Garland. “Human smugglers and traffickers prey on vulnerable migrants’ dreams of better lives. They endanger and exploit people for profit. And human smuggling and trafficking networks threaten the safety of our communities and our national security. So far, Joint Task Force Alpha’s work has resulted in over 260 domestic and international arrests; more than 170 convictions; significant jail sentences; and substantial seizures and forfeitures of assets and contraband – including hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, property, vehicles, firearms, ammunition, and drugs.”
During the meeting, Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri highlighted JTFA’s work to hold accountable those who prey on migrants’ desperation, put migrants in danger, and undermine the rule of law through human smuggling. She expressed appreciation for the continued commitment from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and law enforcement partners to JTFA’s critical mission. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona, and Southern District of California are detailed to JTFA to investigate and prosecute human smugglers operating in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section leads JTFA in partnership with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and with dedicated support from the Office of International Affairs; Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training; Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. JTFA coordinates closely with foreign law enforcement partners on cross-border investigations, arrests of foreign targets, and extraditions.
At the meeting, JTFA leaders discussed ways to use limited resources to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts to combat the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras and strengthen our relationships with our foreign partners in those countries. Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri reaffirmed the Criminal Division’s commitment to leading and supporting JTFA’s critical work to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks who exploit migrants and threaten public safety.
From left to right: U.S. Attorney Restaino, U.S. Attorney Uballez, Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri, Attorney General Garland, U.S. Attorney McGrath, U.S. Attorney Hamdani, and U.S. Attorney Esparza.
Prolific mail thief who stole postal vehicles and postal keys pleads guilty to federal chargesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A man who committed a series of mail vehicle and mail key thefts plead guilty to theft of government property, mail theft, illegal transactions on access devices, and illegally possessing a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman. Johny Mixayboua, 27, committed a string of mail theft incidents involving stolen postal vehicles, stolen postal keys, mail theft and associated crimes. The postal service had to halt deliveries in the zip code 98118 for about a week while investigators worked to track down and arrest Mixayboua. Mixayboua will be sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge Richard A. Jones in Seattle on March 8, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, between December of 2022 and May of 2023, Mixayboua unlawfully gained access to cluster mailbox units in various locations throughout King County. He repeatedly stole mail from the cluster mailbox units that were addressed to others.
During this time, Mixayboua stole credit cards from the mail he unlawfully collected and used the stolen credit cards to make purchases for himself. He also stole and operated a United States Postal Service Vehicle. When law enforcement executed an arrest warrant on Mixayboua in May of 2023, he was found with a firearm. Mixayboua is prohibited from possessing any firearms because of previous felony convictions in King County Superior Court.
This case was investigated by U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Theft of Government Property is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Mail Theft is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Access Device – Illegal Transactions is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Unlawful Possession of a Firearm is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elyne Vaught.
Postal carrier pleads guilty to selling mail keyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A former United States Postal Service employee pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to selling a postal key that was then used to steal mail from collection boxes.
Demarco Tapplar, 19, of Cincinnati, admitted to selling a mail arrow key, which is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
According to court documents, in 2023, individuals in the Cincinnati area sought to steal cash and checks from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes by illegally obtaining the postal keys to the boxes.
On Jan. 23, 2023, police recovered a stolen postal key. The next day, the perpetrators of the mail theft obtained a new postal key by purchasing one from Tapplar. At that time, Tapplar was a postal carrier.
Court documents also detail that in August 2022, 10 altered checks were deposited into Tapplar’s bank accounts and in September 2022, a check stolen from the mail was altered to include Tapplar’s name and cashed.
Tapplar was indicted in June 2023.
Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentences, and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, announced the guilty plea entered on Dec. 4 before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case.
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Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Fraud LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal fraud laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Corey Mizell, age 51, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to four-counts of embezzlement by an officer or employee of the United States and one-count of mail fraud before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in April 2020, Corey Mizell began working as an agent cashier at the H. John Heinz III Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In that capacity, patients would bring him veteran benefit checks to be deposited into their patient accounts. When the veterans wanted to withdraw cash from their patient accounts, they would physically appear before Mizell at his teller window to request a withdrawal. To effectuate the transaction, Mizell would call a disbursing officer, who would confirm for Mizell that the veteran had an account and provide him a transaction number. Mizell would then complete a Patient Funds Form to document the withdrawal and hand the patient the requested cash.
In January 2021, the sister of a deceased veteran called the VA Police after reviewing the balance in her brother’s patient account. According to the sister, her brother was essentially bedridden due to his disability and the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, he could not spend the amount of cash withdrawn from his account. Subsequently, the VA Police opened an investigation into the account activity and questioned the teller who conducted each withdrawal – Mizell.
Mizell initially informed the VA Police that someone must have misrepresented their identity to him in order to fraudulently obtain the funds. Mizell also opined that he was an easy target for such a scheme since he recently became an agent cashier. The investigation revealed that Mizell would call for authorization to withdraw funds from patients who were either on COVID lockdown or who could not leave their room without an escort due to their disabilities. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), confronted Mizell after driving by his residence to find a remodel of the backyard and exterior of his home.
Subsequently, Mizell participated in an interview with the VA-OIG. He provided a written confession in which he admitted to “fraudulently taking money . . . from accounts of veterans.” He attributed his conduct to losing income during the pandemic and unpaid bills. Mizell identified taking money from three veterans. He estimated the total amount embezzled as $17,660. Mizell resigned from the VA on April 20, 2021.
Following Mizell’s resignation, one veteran reported that he noticed over $1,000 missing from his patient account. Law enforcement determined that $1,175 in cash withdrawals occurred from that veteran’s account between November 2020 and January 2021. While Mizell did not identify this person in his written statement, the evidence supports that Mizell embezzled from that account as well. For each withdrawal, Mizell was the cashier, and he withdrew money from that account on four occasions when he embezzled money from other patients accounts. In addition, the VA-OIG determined that the amount of cash deposited by Mizell into his bank account was consistent with the total amount embezzled.
As part of the VA’s investigation, a digital forensic examination was completed on Mizell’s VA computer. The examination revealed that Mizell, on numerous occasions, visited an unemployment compensation website maintained by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As a result, the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, conducted a separate investigation into Mizell related to filing for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).
Individuals are only eligible for these pandemic benefits if they are unemployed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic and are available to work. Therefore, individuals must certify on an electronic application that they are unemployed due to the pandemic and are available to accept work. After submission, the application is transmitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor for review. If approved for pandemic benefits, individuals are notified of the amount they will receive. In addition to the initial application, and in order to continue receiving pandemic benefits, individuals must certify on a weekly basis that they are still eligible to receive benefits. Of note, individuals are able to certify that they were unemployed for prior weeks in the pandemic and receive benefits for those weeks. The government transported the resulting payment of benefits in the form of checks and debit cards via the mail.
The Department of Labor’s investigation into Mizell revealed that he filed an electronic application for pandemic benefits on April 24, 2020. Despite working for the VA since 2016, Mizell falsified that he was not a federal employee on a VA computer using the VA medical center’s IP address. Beginning in May 2020, Mizell falsified that he was not working fulltime. During that time, he was working fulltime as an agent cashier. In April 2021, Mizell resigned from the VA. Nevertheless, in his weekly unemployment certifications, he represented that he was unemployed due to the pandemic. These falsifications allowed Mizell to collect pandemic benefits.
Mizell collected a total of $38,400 in unemployment pandemic benefits from April 2020 until September 2021. He initially received checks, but pandemic benefits were then disbursed via a debit card, which was reloaded with additional money by the government following Mizell’s weekly certifications. On June 5, 2020, the United States Postal Service transported the debit card in Mizell’s name to an address associated with him in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 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.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Mizell on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General and Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mizell.
Pennsylvania plumbing and heating company settles allegations it failed to properly subcontract with disabled veteran owned companiesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A heating and plumbing business headquartered in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania will pay $1.35 million to settle allegations it failed to follow the terms of a contract for servicing fire and life safety systems at seven Veteran’s Affairs (VA) facilities nationwide. Media Plumbing and Heating, dba Kinetix, participates in the VA’s service-disabled veteran owned small business program. Under terms of its contracts with the VA, Media was supposed to hire sub-contractor companies that also qualified as service-disabled veteran owned to service the fire and life safety systems. However, between January 2016 and December 31, 2022, it failed to do so.
“Part of the VA’s mission is to assist veterans with the transition to life after their service. This program helps support service-disabled veterans as they seek to grow their businesses,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “Media had agreed to find those similarly situated companies across the country to make the program work for other veterans. The failure to do that limited the impact of the program.”
“It is critical that companies who agree to hire service-disabled veteran-owned businesses honor those commitments. Many of our nation’s veterans depend on these contracts for their livelihoods,” said Jason Root, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this case.”
According to the settlement agreement, Media had agreed to find service-disabled veteran owned companies to service the fire and life safety systems at VA facilities in Seattle, Palo Alto, California, Louisville, Kentucky, West Palm Beach, Florida, Oklahoma City, Hines, Illinois, and Bedford, Massachusetts. If the company could not find such subcontractors, it was to do the work itself. Instead, it hired non-compliant subcontractors to do the work.
Of the $1.35 million settlement amount, $592,231 is restitution.
The matter was investigated by the Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG).
The investigation and settlement were handled Assistant United States Attorney Matt Waldrop for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.