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Thursday 30 November 2023
Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office named in award for prosecutions targeting major drug trafficking operationsRead the Press Release
Award recipients who attended the Atlanta ceremony for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Special Group Achievement Award include Blake Dill, with Customs and Border Protection (from left); Jacob Royal, with the Blackshear Police Department; Kristeena Jackson-Billiot, with the Drug Enforcement Administration; Barry Ripley, Georgia Ports Authority Police Department; Brandon Carver, Appling County Sheriff’s Office; AUSA Marcela Mateo; Jason Peters, DEA; Jason Kennedy, DEA; AUSA John Harper; Shawn Fields, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office; AUSA Frank Pennington; DEA Group Supervisor Deverron “Ram” Ramcheran; U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg; and Linh Vuong, DEA.
SAVANNAH, GA: Prosecutors with the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office are among the recipients of an award celebrating success in investigating, prosecuting and dismantling major drug trafficking operations in Georgia and beyond.
U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg announced receipt of the Special Group Achievement Award from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Southeast Region, recognizing the efforts of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force Group that includes the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office. Three federal prosecutors – Assistant U.S. Attorney and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and John P. Harper III – are named in the award, along with individuals and task force officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement agencies.
“This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding success of the collaborative efforts between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in disrupting regional and transnational drug trafficking and money laundering operations,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “The award is a visible symbol of their unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
The Special Group Achievement Award recognizes a group of individuals who demonstrate a commitment to OCDETF’s mission and goals, including its principal strength in partnership through multi-agency cooperation.
The investigations and prosecutions named as part of the award are credited with the seizure of more than 2,200 kilos of cocaine; more than 18,000 kilos of marijuana; approximately 56 kilos of heroin; dozens of firearms; and approximately $13 million, with more than 60 defendants prosecuted as result of indictments from the investigations.
In addition to the prosecutors from the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office, recipients of the award and their agencies at the time of the operations include DEA Group Supervisor Deverron M. Ramcheran, Intelligence Analyst Kristeena Jackson-Billiot, and special agents Lupersio Perez, Jason Peters, Linh Vuong, and Jason Kennedy; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agent Harry D. Hamrick; Customs and Border Protection Agent Blake R. Dill; Georgia Ports Authority Police Department Investigator Barry T. Ripley; GBI Special Agent Nicholas K. McNeal; Chatham-Savannah County Narcotics Investigators Joseph Hood, with the Savannah Police Department, and Thomas Hicks, with the Thunderbolt Police Department; Investigators Ryan Alexander with the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, Shawn E. Fields with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Robert L. Livingston with the Treutlen County Sheriff’s Office, Thimothy G. Burris with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Brandon Carver with the Appling County Sheriff’s Office, and Michael Lewis with the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office; and Investigators Jacob T. Royal with the Blackshear Police Department, and Willie J. Tyler with the Richmond Hill Police Department.
Operations cited in the OCDETF award include:
Operation Apex: This investigation targeted a transnational criminal organization operating within the United States and abroad with activities ranging from harvest and distribution of shark fins and other illegal seafood products, and resulted in the seizure of tons of cocaine and marijuana, and more than $11 million in laundered proceeds including diamonds, gold, silver and jewelry. Twelve defendants were prosecuted as a result of the investigation.
Operation Hear My Train A-Comin’: Agents from the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations targeted a transnational criminal organization using container vessels to smuggle bulk quantities of cocaine and other illegal drugs from South America and the Caribbean to European ports by way of the Port of Savannah. The operation seized more than 1,200 kilos of cocaine and approximately $664,000 in cash.
Operation Snow Plow: In conjunction with the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, this investigation targeted a major drug trafficking organization in the Savannah area, and resulted in 29 federal arrests from Georgia, Florida and Texas and the seizure of nearly 40 kilos of cocaine and other drugs, 38 firearms, nearly $600,000 in cash and 11 vehicles.
Operation Monroe Doctrine: Centered in the greater Laurens County area, this operation seized nearly 20 pounds of methamphetamine, 86 firearms, nearly $50,000 in cash and resulted in the prosecution of 29 defendants on drug trafficking charges.
Operation Deadlier Catch: In collaboration with the FBI, this investigation in the Chatham County area resulted in nearly 60 arrests on drug trafficking charges, along with the seizure of more than 24 kilos of cocaine, 126 pounds of marijuana, three kilos of heroin, 14 firearms, and $1.5 million in cash and other assets.
South Carolina Return Preparer Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina man was sentenced yesterday to 24 months in prison for preparing and filing false individual income tax returns for himself and his clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jeffrey Harmon of Lexington, owned and operated TFL Worldwide, a tax preparation business through which he willfully prepared and filed returns for himself and clients that claimed fraudulent deductions to which he and his clients were not entitled. To reduce his and his clients’ tax liability, Harmon consistently deducted non-deductible personal expenses, including, among other things, rent and mortgage payments for personal residences, personal vacation travel, personal fitness equipment and golf, country and hunt club membership fees. In total, Harmon caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $300,000.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Harmon was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $320,000 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge Donald Trey Eakins of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.
IRS-CI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Wilson Stamm of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina prosecuted the case.
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Six Former Correctional Officers Charged with Federal Offenses Following Death of Inmate at West Virginia JailRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Charleston, West Virginia, returned an indictment today charging five former correctional officers — Mark Holdren, 39; Cory Snyder, 29; Johnathan Walters, 35; Jacob Boothe, 25; and Ashley Toney, 23 — in connection with an assault that resulted in the death of an inmate, identified by the initials Q.B., All five correctional officers, as well as a former lieutenant, Chad Lester, 33, were also charged for covering up of the use of unlawful force.
The indictment alleges that, on March 1, 2022, Holdren, Snyder and Walters conspired with other officers at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, to use unlawful force against Q.B. to retaliate for his earlier attempt to leave his assigned pod. The indictment further alleges that Holdren, Snyder and Walters struck and injured Q.B. while he was restrained and handcuffed, and that Boothe and Toney failed to intervene in the unlawful assault, resulting in Q.B.’s death.
The indictment alleges that all six defendants conspired to cover up the use of unlawful force by omitting material information and providing false and misleading information to investigators. The indictment also charges each defendant individually with engaging in misleading conduct toward another person to hinder, delay or prevent the communication of information of the possible commission of a federal offense. Further, the indictment alleges that Walters, Holdren, and Boothe submitted incident reports that contained false and misleading information, as well as omitted the fact that officers had assaulted Q.B. The indictment also charges Lester, Holdren, Snyder, Toney and Boothe with making false statements to the FBI about the circumstances surrounding Q.B.’s death.
The maximum penalties are life in prison for each of the civil rights offenses, five years in prison for each of the false statement offenses, and twenty years in prison for each of the remaining offenses.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney William S. Thompson for the Southern District of West Virginia and FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.
Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Coleman for the Southern District of West Virginia are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
indictment_holdren_et_al_11.29.23.pdfSerial Armed Robber Sentenced to More than Fifty-Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A seven-time convicted felon who robbed or attempted to rob employees of Cedar Rapids businesses at gunpoint seven times in a twelve-day period in November 2020 was sentenced today to more than fifty-five years in prison.
Cardel Demetrius Redmond, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 6, 2023 jury verdict finding him guilty of six counts of interference with commerce by robbery, six counts of using and possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of those robberies, one count of attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
The evidence at trial showed that on November 17, 2020, Redmond robbed the Subway restaurant on Gateway Place SW in Cedar Rapids by displaying a firearm to the employees and demanding the cash from the register. On November 19, 2020, Redmond robbed a cashier at gunpoint in the Wine and Spirits area of the Hy-Vee grocery store on Oakland Road NE in Cedar Rapids. On November 25, 2020, Redmond robbed the Perkins Restaurant & Bakery on Southgate Court SW in Cedar Rapids by pointing a firearm at one of the employees of the business. On the night of November 27, 2020, Redmond used a firearm to rob an employee at the Hy-Vee grocery store on Mount Vernon Road SE in Cedar Rapids. Minutes later, Redmond robbed two employees at gunpoint at the Little Caesar’s Pizza on Mount Vernon Road SE. Less than twenty-four hours later, on November 28, 2020, Redmond attempted to rob two employees at the Hy-Vee Drugstore on 6th Street SW by brandishing a firearm. One of the employees told him there was a police officer in an unmarked car in the parking lot, and Redmond fled. The following night, November 29, 2020, Redmond robbed the same Subway restaurant on Gateway Place SW by pointing a firearm at an employee.
Additional information from sentencing showed that Redmond was released on probation on November 4, 2020. He committed three burglaries on November 9, 2020. The first burglary was at restaurant. He stole a valuable truck parked in front of the restaurant belonging to the restaurant owner. He used the truck as transportation to commit two additional burglaries that morning at cellular telephone stores. After committing the three burglaries, Redmond was driving the stolen truck, when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with another car, causing serious injuries to the other driver. Redmond stayed at the scene of the accident and provided false information to a police officer. He committed another burglary at a retail store on November 12, 2020, that resulted in more than $4,000 in property damage.
Redmond was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Redmond was sentenced to 666 months’ imprisonment. In imposing the sentence, Judge Williams noted the tremendous impact Redmond had had on the community in committing highly aggravating offenses and found that Redmond posed a grave danger to the public. Redmond was ordered to make $2,068.54 in restitution to the victims of the robberies. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyndra Lundquist and Tony Morfitt and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-0085.
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San Francisco Motorist Charged in Death of A Bicyclist in the PresidioRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO - A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Arnold Kinman Low today with involuntary manslaughter and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and United States Park Police Chief Jessica M.E. Taylor.
According to the indictment, Low, 81, of San Francisco, was the driver of a motor vehicle that struck a bicyclist in the Presidio on April 4, 2023. The victim-bicyclist died of his injuries shortly after the crash. Low is alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, to a degree that rendered him incapable of safe operation.
Driving while under the influence of any amount of alcohol can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences. The United States Attorney for the Northern District of California takes seriously all allegations of driving under the influence in places of federal jurisdiction like the Presidio Trust. Area drivers are reminded to consider alternative forms of transportation like ride-sharing or carpooling if necessary.
Low currently is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in San Francisco at 10:30 AM on December 6, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex Tse.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 8 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Hageman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Erick Machado. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the United States Park Police.
Sallisaw Resident Sentenced for Sexual Abuse OffensesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Dewayne Rogers, age 61, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, and 180 months in prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The sentences run concurrently.
The charges arose from investigations by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 20, 2022, after a three-day trial, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, three counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, and one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that over the course of five years, Rogers sexually abused a child under the age of twelve at the time of the crimes. The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Rogers will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.
Rutland Man Indicted on Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that John Ryea, 40, of Rutland, Vermont, was arraigned in the District of Vermont on November 29, 2023. A federal grand jury sitting in Rutland, Vermont returned a two-count indictment on November 15, 2023 alleging that Ryea possessed a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and possessed a stolen firearm. Ryea was arrested on November 28, 2023 and made an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on November 29, 2023. Ryea was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
According to court records, Ryea has a November 30, 2022 misdemeanor domestic violence conviction from Rutland Superior Court where he admitted to punching his then live-in girlfriend in the jaw. He remained on probation in that state court case when he allegedly committed the charges contained in this federal indictment.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Ryea remains presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted of a crime. If convicted, Ryea faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a mandatory special assessment of $100. The actual sentence will be advised by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon Ophardt and Colin Owyang. Ryea is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Russian National Pleads Guilty to Trickbot Malware ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Russian national pleaded guilty today to his role in developing and deploying the malicious software known as Trickbot, which was used to launch cyber-attacks against American hospitals and other businesses.
According to court documents and public reporting, Vladimir Dunaev, 40, of Amur Blast, provided specialized services and technical abilities in furtherance of the Trickbot scheme. Trickbot, which was taken down in 2022, was a suite of malware tools designed to steal money and facilitate the installation of ransomware. Hospitals, schools, and businesses were among the millions of Trickbot victims who suffered tens of millions of dollars in losses. While active, Trickbot malware, which acted as an initial intrusion vector into victim computer systems, was used to support various ransomware variants.
“Dunaev’s guilty plea and our collaboration with South Korea that made his extradition possible are a prime example of what we can accomplish together with our foreign partners,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cybercriminals should know that countries around the world stand ready to bring them to justice and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
Dunaev developed browser modifications and malicious tools that aided in credential harvesting and data mining from infected computers, facilitated and enhanced the remote access used by Trickbot actors, and created a program code to prevent the Trickbot malware from being detected by legitimate security software. During Dunaev’s participation in the scheme, 10 victims in the Northern District of Ohio, including Avon schools and a North Canton real-estate company, were defrauded of more than $3.4 million via ransomware deployed by Trickbot.
“As set forth in the plea agreement, Vladimir Dunaev misused his special skills as a computer programmer to develop the Trickbot suite of malware,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Dunaev and his codefendants hid behind their keyboards, first to create Trickbot, then using it to infect millions of computers worldwide — including those used by hospitals, schools, and businesses — invading privacy and causing untold disruption and financial damage. The Justice Department and our office have prioritized investigating and prosecuting cybercrime, and today’s guilty plea demonstrates our willingness to reach across the globe to bring cybercriminals to justice. We will continue to work closely with our partners, foreign and domestic, and use all resources at our disposal to stop similar behavior.”
“Combating bad actors in cyberspace is a team sport, and we are proud of the collaboration and coordination at the international level that went into today’s plea,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI will pursue criminals who target the American people with malware no matter where they reside.”
“As the world of technology is ever-changing, cybercrime continues to evolve. This case underscores the FBI’s relentless pursuit of cyber criminals and highlights our expertise to find and dismantle criminal networks,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “We appreciate the coordinated work among our public and private sector global colleagues together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to further protect the public from destructive malware.”
In 2021, Dunaev was extradited from the Republic of Korea to the Northern District of Ohio.
Dunaev pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison on both counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The original indictment returned in the Northern District of Ohio charged Dunaev and eight other defendants for their alleged roles in developing, deploying, managing, and profiting from Trickbot.
In June, one of Dunaev’s co-conspirators, Alla Witte, who was a Trickbot malware developer and Latvian national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
In February and September, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued financial sanctions against multiple suspected Trickbot members.
The FBI Cleveland Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Candy Heath of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan Brown and Daniel Riedl for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and National Security Division, as well as the Treasury Department’s OFAC, provided significant assistance.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the International Criminal Affairs Division of the South Korean Ministry of Justice to secure the arrest and extradition of Dunaev.
Russian National Pleads Guilty to Trickbot Malware ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Russian national pleaded guilty today to his role in developing and deploying the malicious software known as Trickbot, which was used to launch cyber-attacks against American hospitals and other businesses.
According to court documents and public reporting, Vladimir Dunaev, 40, of Amur Blast, provided specialized services and technical abilities in furtherance of the Trickbot scheme. Trickbot, which was taken down in 2022, was a suite of malware tools designed to steal money and facilitate the installation of ransomware. Hospitals, schools, and businesses were among the millions of Trickbot victims who suffered tens of millions of dollars in losses. While active, Trickbot malware, which acted as an initial intrusion vector into victim computer systems, was used to support various ransomware variants.
“Dunaev’s guilty plea and our collaboration with South Korea that made his extradition possible are a prime example of what we can accomplish together with our foreign partners,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cybercriminals should know that countries around the world stand ready to bring them to justice and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
Dunaev developed browser modifications and malicious tools that aided in credential harvesting and datamining from infected computers, facilitated and enhanced the remote access used by Trickbot actors, and created a program code to prevent the Trickbot malware from being detected by legitimate security software. During Dunaev’s participation in the scheme, 10 victims in the Northern District of Ohio, including Avon schools and a North Canton real-estate company, were defrauded of more than $3.4 million via ransomware deployed by Trickbot.
“As set forth in the plea agreement, Vladimir Dunaev misused his special skills as a computer programmer to develop the Trickbot suite of malware,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Dunaev and his codefendants hid behind their keyboards, first to create Trickbot, then using it to infect millions of computers worldwide — including those used by hospitals, schools, and businesses — invading privacy and causing untold disruption and financial damage. The Justice Department and our office have prioritized investigating and prosecuting cybercrime, and today’s guilty plea demonstrates our willingness to reach across the globe to bring cybercriminals to justice. We will continue to work closely with our partners, foreign and domestic, and use all resources at our disposal to stop similar behavior.”
“Combating bad actors in cyberspace is a team sport, and we are proud of the collaboration and coordination at the international level that went into today’s plea,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI will pursue criminals who target the American people with malware no matter where they reside.”
“As the world of technology is ever-changing, cybercrime continues to evolve. This case underscores the FBI’s relentless pursuit of cyber criminals and highlights our expertise to find and dismantle criminal networks,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “We appreciate the coordinated work among our public and private sector global colleagues together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to further protect the public from destructive malware.”
In 2021, Dunaev was extradited from the Republic of Korea to the Northern District of Ohio.
Dunaev pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison on both counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The original indictment returned in the Northern District of Ohio charged Dunaev and eight other defendants for their alleged roles in developing, deploying, managing, and profiting from Trickbot.
In June, one of Dunaev’s co-conspirators, Alla Witte, who was a Trickbot malware developer and Latvian national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
In February and September, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued financial sanctions against multiple suspected Trickbot members.
The FBI Cleveland Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Candy Heath of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan Brown and Daniel Riedl for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and National Security Division, as well as the Treasury Department’s OFAC, provided significant assistance.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the International Criminal Affairs Division of the South Korean Ministry of Justice to secure the arrest and extradition of Dunaev.
Prior Federal Felon Sentenced Again for Crack Sales and Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man was sentenced yesterday to 192 months in prison for distribution of cocaine base (“crack”) and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Tony Lavores Davis entered a guilty plea to these charges on June 8, 2023.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, investigators with the Nash County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) received information in the summer of 2022 that Davis, 43, was selling crack cocaine out of his residence on Kingston Avenue in Rocky Mount. Davis had recently been released from the Bureau of Prisons after serving an 81-month combined sentence. He was initially sentenced to 48 months and then his supervised release was revoked and served an additional 33 months for a previous conviction in the Eastern District of North Carolina for Distribution of Cocaine Base.
NCSO conducted a series of controlled purchases from Davis at his residence from July through September of 2022. On September 26, 2022, NCSO investigators executed a search warrant at Davis’ residence and seized quantities of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, pills containing methamphetamine, and a loaded .380 handgun.
Davis bonded out of the Nash County jail and quickly resumed selling crack cocaine. Investigators were able to conduct three additional controlled purchases of crack from Davis in October and December of 2022.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-117-D.
Principals of Fire Alarm Repair Company Charged with Decade-Long Scheme to Overbill City AgenciesRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging two defendants, Walter Stanzione and William Neogra, with wire fraud conspiracy for systematically defrauding the City of New York. The defendants are charged with overbilling New York City agencies for more than a decade in connection with contracts to repair and maintain fire alarm systems. Stanzione is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak, while Neogra is scheduled to be arraigned before Untied States Magistrate Judge Laura D. Hatcher in the District Court of Delaware.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI) announced the charges.
“As alleged in the indictment, the defendants were hired to make sure that the fire alarm systems in hundreds of New York City buildings functioned safely and effectively,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The defendants took this as an opportunity to steal and defraud, abusing and betraying their obligations. This indictment demonstrates our Office’s commitment to holding accountable government contractors who fleece city agencies and taxpayers.”
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “These defendants, as charged, overbilled City agencies for more than a decade, including the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Sanitation, by submitting fraudulent invoices reflecting inflated prices. I thank our federal law enforcement partners for their commitment to protect the City’s resources and to hold accountable vendors who use their City contracts to engage in fraud.”
“Doing business with the city is a privilege Neogra and Stanzione allegedly abused for over a decade. Their alleged crimes milked the city of valuable resources. They got used to getting paid more for less, but today it caught up to them,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith.
“The defendants in this case took money out of the pockets of hard-working New Yorkers by allegedly overbilling the city with fake invoices and inflated prices. This fraud affects all those taxpayers who trusted that the City was paying for services rendered. The defendants are now being held responsible for their criminal acts and will face justice for their decades-long scheme.” said Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI New York.
As alleged in the indictment, the defendants exercised control over Fire Alarm Electrical Corp., a company that held numerous contracts with New York City agencies to repair and maintain fire alarm systems. For more than a decade, Fire Alarm Electrical Corp. overbilled those agencies by submitting fraudulent invoices with dramatically inflated prices, including invoices that purported to be from legitimate retailers, which the defendants had altered and modified, as well as invoices from shell companies that the defendants owned and controlled.
The charge in the indictment is an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The defendants face maximum sentences of 20 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik Paulsen and Michael Gibaldi are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
WALTER STANZIONE
Age: 65
East Meadow, New YorkWILLIAM NEOGRA
Age: 63
Millsboro, DelawareE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-482
President of Auto Parts Distributor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The owner, president, and chief executive officer of an automotive parts distributor pleaded guilty today in Washington, D.C., to conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act.
Aaron Rudolf, 36, of Burlington, North Carolina, pleaded guilty, November 29, 2023, and agreed to pay a fine of $600,000 for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act by tampering with a monitoring device on diesel trucks. According to court documents, Rudolf founded Rudy’s Performance Parts Inc. in 2009. Rudy’s is a distributor and seller of aftermarket automotive and truck parts.
U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Assistant Administrator David Uhlmann for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance made the announcement.
According to court documents, Rudolf and others agreed to have Rudy’s employees disable or remove emissions control components and tamper with on-board diagnostic systems (OBDs) on approximately 300 diesel trucks between 2015 and 2017. As part of the process, Rudy’s sold, and its employees installed, “defeat devices” known as “tuners.” The tuners plugged into the vehicle’s OBD port to reprogram the electronic control unit and tamper with the OBDs, impairing its ability to monitor the operation of the vehicle’s emission control system. Rudolf and certain Rudy’s employees knew that using the tuners in this manner would tamper with the OBDs on vehicles that were not used exclusively for competition purposes. The removal of emission control components resulted in additional diesel exhaust emissions, which include multiple hazardous compounds that negatively impact human health and the environment.
U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden scheduled sentencing for on April 12, 2024.
EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the case.
Attorneys from ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
Placer County Doctor Charged with Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Khursheed Haider, 48, of Roseville, charging him with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Haider, a Sacramento Area pulmonologist, used an application called Wire to post, distribute, and request child pornography that included videos and images of prepubescent boys and girls being sexually abused. After a search warrant was executed, agents discovered additional prepubescent child sexual abuse material on one or more of Haider’s electronic devices.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Klein is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of distribution of child pornography, Haider faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of possession of child pornography, Haider faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Physician sentenced for $1.2M pill mill schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Texas doctor has been sentenced to seven years in prison for operating a pill mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal jury convicted Dr. Oscar Lightner, 73, Laredo, April 11 of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances and conspiracy.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lightner and Andres Martinez Jr., 29, Laredo, operated Jomori Health and Wellness (Jomori), a purported Houston pain management clinic, as a pill mill. Lightner, who was the owner of and physician at Jomori, unlawfully prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances — including of hydrocodone, carisoprodol and alprazolam — to his patients without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments ranging from $250 to $500.
Martinez, who was Jomori’s office manager and Lightner’s stepson, coordinated with crew leaders to bring multiple people, including individuals living in homeless shelters, into Jomori to pose as patients to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. Jomori received over $1.2 million in cash over 14 months through its scheme that resulted in the unlawful distribution and dispensing of more than 600,000 opioids and other controlled substances.
Martinez is set for sentencing Dec. 12
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division made the announcement as well.
The DEA conducted the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Monica Cooper and Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Physician Sentenced for $1.2M Pill Mill SchemeRead the Press Release
A Texas doctor was sentenced today to seven years in prison for operating a pill mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. Oscar Lightner, 73, and Andres Martinez Jr., 29, both of Laredo, operated Jomori Health and Wellness (Jomori), a purported Houston pain management clinic, as a pill mill. Lightner, who was the owner of and physician at Jomori, unlawfully prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances — including of hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and alprazolam — to his patients without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments ranging from $250 to $500. Martinez, who was Jomori’s office manager and Lightner’s stepson, coordinated with crew leaders to bring multiple people, including individuals living in homeless shelters, into Jomori to pose as patients to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. Jomori received over $1.2 million in cash over 14 months through its scheme that resulted in the unlawful distribution and dispensing of over 600,000 opioids and other controlled substances.
On April 11, Lightner and Martinez were convicted of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances and conspiracy. Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division made the announcement.
The DEA investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Monica Cooper and Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Perry Johnson Jr., 29, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Johnson admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about November 28, 2022, Johnson conducted phone calls with co-conspirator Alexandria Jasmine Estep, during which he arranged to sell multiple pounds of methamphetamine to her. Johnson arranged for the methamphetamine to be delivered by third parties in a vehicle to Estep’s Charleston residence the following day.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Estep, 22, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on November 15, 2023, and awaits sentencing. Johnson and Estep are among 32 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash.
Johnson, Estep and 22 other defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
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-33.
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Omaha Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Miguel Avalos-Diaz, 26, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced November 30, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for four drug trafficking charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Avalos-Diaz to 260 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Avalos-Diaz’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
In August, a jury convicted Avalos-Diaz of conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine and found him not guilty of a gun charge. The day before trial, Avalos-Diaz pleaded guilty to three charges, including two counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one charge of possession with intent to distribute meth.
Omaha police received information from a cooperator that Avalos-Diaz was distributing meth and cocaine. Police used the cooperator to make three “controlled buys” from Avalos-Diaz in February and March of 2022. All three times, the cooperator bought meth from Avalos-Diaz. During the third drug deal, Avalos-Diaz also “fronted,” i.e. provided on credit, one ounce of cocaine.
After the third drug deal, police searched a residence in south Omaha near Bellevue on March 30, 2022. Inside, officers encountered and arrested Avalos-Diaz and co-defendant Jose Salvador Perez. Police seized approximately 2.5 pounds of meth, more than $36,000 in cash, and a loaded .45-caliber handgun. Officers also found evidence of cocaine distribution in the residence, including six digital scales, cutting agents, a vacuum sealer, and small amounts of cocaine packaged in baggies. Review of both defendants’ Facebook messages dating back to December 2021 revealed a conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine throughout the time period of the messages.
Avalos-Diaz’s advisory sentence under the United States Sentencing Commission guidelines was increased because he maintained a premise for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance and possessed a weapon in connection with a drug offense.
A total of $36,598 in cash has been forfeited to the United States as proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.
Perez, 27, of Omaha is scheduled to be sentenced on January 24, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Omaha Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Nebraska attorney was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for filing false individual income tax returns.
Thomas Campbell, of Bennington, pleaded guilty on July 27 to one count of filing a false tax return.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2014 and 2018, Campbell, a licensed attorney since 2011, was the owner and manager of TLN Law, a solo-practice law firm in Omaha. Campbell controlled the law firm’s finances and was aware of substantial amounts of cash payments his firm received for legal services. For 2014 through 2018, Campbell did not report over $2.8 million in cash his firm received, which flowed through to, and should have been reported on, his personal tax returns. In total, Campbell caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $400,000.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Brian C. Buescher ordered Campbell to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $407,665 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Susan T. Lehr for the District of Nebraska made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Ferretti for the District of Nebraska prosecuted the case.
Omaha Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Thomas Campbell, 41, of Bennington, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 30, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for filing a false individual income tax return. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Campbell to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Campbell’s release from prison, he will begin a 1-year term of supervised release. Campbell was also ordered to pay $407,665 in restitution to the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2014 and 2018, Campbell, a licensed attorney since 2011, was the owner and manager of TLN Law, a solo-practice law firm in Omaha. Campbell controlled the law firm’s finances and was aware of substantial amounts of cash payments his firm received for legal services. For 2014 through 2018, Campbell did not report over $2.8 million in cash his firm received, which flowed through to, and should have been reported on, his personal tax returns. In total, Campbell caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $400,000.
“IRS Criminal Investigation takes violations of our tax laws very seriously,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock. “It’s important for all taxpayers to have confidence that the tax system is fair, and all are paying their share.”
In praising the work IRS Criminal Investigation did on this case and the sentence imposed, Acting U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr stated, “This case ends years of investigation and goes to show that no one, regardless of their position or status, is above the law. Millions of Americans every year pay their taxes in accordance with the law. Mr. Campbell was not immune from that obligation.”
Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Ferretti for the District of Nebraska prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.
Nicholas County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jolene Myers, 41, of Mount Nebo, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 19, 2022, Myers sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential informant outside of a Summersville-area business. Myers admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling methamphetamine to the confidential informant on three other occasions in Nicholas County.
On April 9, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Myers on Mount Lookout Road in Nicholas County. Myers admitted that officers found a quantity of methamphetamine in her pants and a SCCY Model CPX-1, 9mm pistol in her purse when they searched her and the vehicle.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Central West Virginia Task Force.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.
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-53.
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New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Weapons Offenses and Possessing Car Stolen from Norfolk Southern RailyardRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NORMAN ANDREWS, age 23, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on November 28, 2023 before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to possession of a car stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 659; possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, ANDREWS was arrested, following a brief chase, on February 11, 2023 in the French Quarter by a New Orleans Police Department officer. When ANDREWS was finally apprehended, he possessed a Glock Model 19x firearm with a loaded, extended magazine containing 31 rounds, a black ski mask, two blister packs of tapentadol, two bags of marijuana, and over $2,000 in cash.
On March 27, 2023, a Ford Explorer Timberline was stolen from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility. Andrews was observed on surveillance video driving the Ford Explorer, two days after it was stolen.
For possessing the stolen car, ANDREWS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. For possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and a minimum of three years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. For possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, ANDREWS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
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 Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
Multiple assaults on dating partner on Blackfeet Indian Reservation send Babb man to prison for more than four yearsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Babb man who admitted assaulting his dating partner on three separate occasions within a year was sentenced today to four years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Zachary James Cassidy, 33, pleaded guilty in June to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and two counts of assault of a dating partner resulting in substantial injury.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Cassidy and the victim, identified as Jane Doe, were in a romantic relationship between March 2022 and January 2023. During that time, Cassidy assaulted the victim on three separate occasions. In June 2022, Cassidy and the victim were at a bar in St. Mary when Cassidy became upset with Jane Doe. Cassidy assaulted the victim in the bar, dragged her outside and continued the assault. Cassidy then dragged Jane Doe to a truck and drove to his residence, where he continued the assault. Jane Doe woke up on a couch, was alone and could not move. When found, she had to be carried to a car. Jane Doe sought medical attention the next day for multiple injuries and returned to the hospital a month later for follow up. In August, Cassidy assaulted Jane Doe at his residence. When a friend sought to intervene, Cassidy assaulted her, told her she was trespassing and that he was going to shoot her. Jane Doe went to the hospital after that assault for treatment of injuries. A third assault occurred on Jan. 9 as Cassidy and Jane Doe were traveling from Doe’s family residence toward Babb. Cassidy started getting mad at Jane Doe and his truck ultimately got stuck in the snow. Cassidy assaulted Jane Doe, who refused to get out of the truck. A neighbor witnessed the assault and called law enforcement. A standoff between Cassidy and officers ended with the use of chemical agents.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Glacier County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, conducted the investigation.
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Missouri Man Indicted, Accused of Seeking Child Pornography OnlineRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from O’Fallon, Missouri was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday and accused of coercing two underage girls to send him images containing child pornography and the statutory rape of one of the girls.
Andrew Haller, 33, was indicted on two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography.
Haller was initially charged by complaint November 14. Charging documents say the FBI received a tip about Haller in October alleging that a 15-year-old girl had met Haller online, communicated with him via Tumblr and Telegram and sent him nude pictures at his request.
A motion seeking Haller’s detention until trial and a subsequent detention order say the second alleged victim is also 15, and that Haller traveled out of state to meet her. The indictment accuses Haller of the statutory rape of that girl.
“It is common for child predators to lurk and prey where children spend time interacting with others on the internet. It is no different in the physical world,” said Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division. “When it comes to online child exploitation, we need our children to know they are the victims and are not in trouble with the law so they feel comfortable telling a trusted adult.”
The FBI is asking for information relevant to the investigation of Andrew Haller or any potential victims to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes 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.
Missouri Man Admits Recording Sexual Abuse of ToddlerRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Jefferson County, Missouri has admitted recording the sexual abuse of a toddler.
Kyle J. Gipson, 22, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday to one felony count of production of child pornography.
In March of 2023, an undercover FBI agent in an online group on the social media platform Wickr that was dedicated to discussing and trading original images of child sexual abuse learned of Gipson. The agent and Gipson began communicating on Wickr and later moved to the social media platform Telegram. Gipson sent the agent a picture of a 2-year-old girl and said he had sexually abused her, his plea agreement says. He also sent a nude picture and offered to provide access so the girl could be sexually abused, his plea says.
After a court-approved search of Gipson’s home on March 13, investigators found child sexual abuse material involving that toddler and others. They also found communications in which Gipson discussed his sexual abuse of the victim with six others on social media. Gipson was also monitor and gatekeeper for a social media group focused on child sexual abuse material, bestiality and rape.
The production of child pornography charge carries a penalty of at least 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years. The U.S. Attorney’s office will ask for the maximum penalty at Gipson’s sentencing, scheduled for March 6, 2024.
The FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department Special Investigations Unit 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.
Metamora Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Metamora, Illinois man, Dana Anthony Curtin, 50, of the 1100 block of Willow Lake Drive, was sentenced on November 29, 2023, to 180 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. Curtin must also register as a sex offender.
At the trial before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the United States presented evidence to establish that from March through May 2022, Curtin spoke with an individual he believed to be an adult offering sex with a minor, then traveled to meet the adult and child. Federal law enforcement agents arrested him when he arrived at the meeting location.
Curtin was arrested on May 20, 2022, and was indicted on June 7, 2022. A federal jury found him guilty on June 15, 2023, following trial. Curtin was initially released on bond and has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since June 2023.
The statutory penalties for attempted sex trafficking of a minor are15 years to life imprisonment, to be followed by five years to life of supervised release, and a possible fine of up to $250,000.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald L. Hanna and Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the United States.
The case against Curtin was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Marion County Man Pleads Guilty to Impersonating A Deputy United States MarshalRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Derry Wayne Lambert (52, Belleview) has pleaded guilty to false impersonation of a federal officer. Lambert faces a maximum penalty of 3 years in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, on July 31, 2023, a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office observed Lambert driving a pickup truck with no agency markings that had activated red/blue emergency lights and an audible siren. When confronted by the deputy, Lambert claimed to be a Deputy United States Marshal from Texas. Though he had no law enforcement credentials, Lambert was wearing a hat with the logo “Police - U.S. Marshal.” He presented the deputy with a false U.S. Marshal badge. Further investigation revealed that Lambert had no affiliation with the U.S. Marshals Service. Deputies also recovered a .380 caliber pistol in the center console of Lambert’s truck.
Lambert’s truck, hat, and badge.
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Man Who Pointed Gun at Sikeston Officer Sentenced to 168 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Thursday sentenced a convicted felon from Sikeston, Missouri who pointed a gun at a police officer to 168 months in prison.
Ruben R. Ramirez, 27, pleaded guilty in August to one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Ramirez admitted as part of his plea that an officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety was responding to a reported burglary on March 8, 2023, when he spotted Ramirez walking away. Ramirez raised a silver-colored .22-caliber pistol and pointed it at the officer before dropping the gun when the officer drew his own firearm.
In a later interview, Ramirez said he tried to fire the pistol because he wanted the officer to kill him, but his gun jammed.
Ramirez has a prior conviction for unlawful use of a weapon in a 2021 case in New Madrid County Circuit Court.
The Sikeston Department of Public Safety investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced to Three Years for Cyberstalking After Months of Harassment and Violent Threats to a North Carolina FamilyRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Timothy Mann, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for two counts of cyberstalking. Mann, 25, pled guilty to the charge on August 23, 2023.
“Online harassment, threats, and cyberstalking cause immense trauma for victims. They are also federal crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Those who would try to send heinous death threats through anonymous social media accounts should take note. The sentences are stiff, and there is no screen time in federal prison.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, around May 2021, D.E., a Raleigh NC resident, met and befriended the defendant Timothy Mann through social media online. Mann, who lived in New York, later moved to North Carolina. D.E., however, began to distance himself from Mann after Mann’s behavior became erratic, and this resulted in increased hostility. Mann began contacting and harassing D.E. and D.E.’s mother repeatedly. Despite their attempts to block and otherwise avoid him, Mann persisted contacting them using dozens of anonymous phone numbers, social media accounts, and email accounts, as well as through messages to other family members.
Many of these messages were violent and threatening. For example, in early 2022, Mann commented on an Instagram photo of D.E.’s daughter, stating that Mann hoped the daughter would be present when he “takes out” D.E. “so her last memory is her father getting his brains out.” In a separate Instagram message to D.E.’s girlfriend, Mann wrote that he knew where she lived, would “handle” her too, was “gonna shoot” her, hoped her “baby dies and [she] bleed[s] out,” and finally that he would “piss on [her] child.” The same day, Mann sent D.E.’s stepfather a text message photo of a Glock pistol along with the statement that Mann “will not be held accountable” and was not concerned about the police because “after i kill him im going kill myself.” In March 2022, D.E.’s mother received a message stating that “bullets go threw windows houses and cars im just getting started.” With the message, Mann attached a photo of the mother’s home. The harassment continued into the fall. In an October 2022, message to D.E. and his mother, Mann stated that the mother would have “bullet holes all threw ya body” and that she wouldn’t be able to stay in her home all day. He added that they better “hope nd pray Raleigh police department gets there fast enough.” In messages to D.E.’s aunt in November, Mann announced repeatedly that he planned to kill the mother on Christmas Day, that he had “been planning this for a while year,” and that he was “ready to die” if necessary.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Raleigh Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-00014-FL.
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Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting Girlfriend on the Warm Springs Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Warm Springs, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for assaulting his girlfriend and leaving her lying injured in the driveway of her home on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.
Maron Brent Graybael, Jr., 38, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on May 16, 2023, Graybael Jr. became angry at his girlfriend, grabbed her by her hair, and punched her more than ten times with a closed fist in her abdomen. After the woman fell to the ground, Graybael Jr. kicked her, grabbed her by her hair again, and slammed her head into the ground multiple times. He then left the woman, seriously injured, lying in her driveway, and walked away. After several minutes, the woman called 911 to report her own assault and injuries. Police responded and she was transported to a local hospital.
On June 1, 2023, Graybael Jr. was charged by criminal complaint with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. One week later, on June 7, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted him on the same charge. On August 31, 2023, Graybael was convicted at trial.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Pamela Paaso and Suzanne Miles, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
Domestic violence is a serious crime that can include both physical and emotional abuse, and it is frequently hidden from public view. Many survivors suffer in silence, afraid to seek help or not knowing where to turn. The traumatic effects of domestic violence also extend beyond the abused person, impacting family members, friends, and communities.
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you need assistance or know someone who needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Many communities throughout the country have also created support networks to assist survivors in the process of recovery.
The StrongHearts Native Helpline offers culturally specific support and advocacy for American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence. Please call 1-844-762-8483 or visit www.strongheartshelpline.org for more information.
Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor and Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Alan Walker, 41, of Winnebago, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 30, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for abusive sexual contact with a minor and for failing to register as a sex offender. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Walker to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Walker’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
In September 2022, Walker entered a family residence and groped an 11-year-old child’s buttocks as the child slept. The child woke up to Walker’s inappropriate touching and reported his conduct to a trusted adult, who notified law enforcement.
In 2012, Walker was convicted in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, for Sexual Assault of a Child in the 3rd Degree, requiring him to register as a sex offender. Beginning in September 2022, Walker failed to update his registered address as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Man Gets 11+ Years in Prison for Aiding St. Louis County Armed Robbery, Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Thursday sentenced a man to 11 years and five months in prison for helping rob a St. Louis County Boost Mobile store in 2021.
Damonta Bridges, who is a convicted felon, also admitted possessing a firearm in a carjacked vehicle.
Bridges was present at a Boost Mobile store at 12135 Bellefontaine Road on Aug. 9, 2021 when his co-defendant, Kadijah McFadden, pointed a firearm at a store employee and demanded cash. McFadden stole about $630. She and Bridges also stole mobile phones.
On Sept. 5, 2021, Bridges was a passenger in a 2017 Jeep Cherokee that McFadden had carjacked at gunpoint earlier that day. McFadden was driving. After police spotted the stolen vehicle, Bridges threw a Stoeger 9m pistol out of the window. Both McFadden and Bridges were caught by police after McFadden crashed.
Bridges, 31, pleaded guilty in August to a robbery charge and a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
McFadden was sentenced in September to 15 years in prison. She pleaded guilty in December to carjacking, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Walker prosecuted the case.
Man Charged in $148M Medicare and Medicaid Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, returned an indictment today charging a Louisiana man for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of over $148 million in medically unnecessary definitive urine drug testing services.
According to court documents, Brad Paul Schaeffer, 48, of Zachary, was a co-owner and chief executive officer of MedComp Sciences LLC (MedComp), a diagnostic laboratory located in Zachary. From approximately January 2013 through approximately August 2022, MedComp, at the direction of Schaeffer, allegedly billed Medicare and Medicaid for definitive testing of at least 15 substances in urine specimens it received, regardless of the patient’s treatment plan and history, or the request of the referring provider. To perpetuate the fraud, Schaeffer, through MedComp, allegedly took several actions, among them, writing off patient co-pays, directing MedComp staff to fill out and submit order forms on providers’ “behalf,” concealing the true nature, permissibility, and extent of testing from providers, orchestrating a pass-through billing scheme using hospitals, and paying kickbacks to physicians disguised as laboratory ownership interests. Schaeffer then allegedly used the fraudulent proceeds for his own benefit, including spending thousands of dollars to renovate a pool and on a pool house in his backyard, and to restore a truck.
Schaeffer is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, five counts of health care fraud, and three counts of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr. for the Middle District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry made the announcement.
HHS-OIG, the FBI, and the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Kelly Z. Walters and Samantha E. Usher of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth E. White for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lutcher Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Today, United States District Judge Carl Barbier sentenced JUAN CAZES to 216 months imprisonment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
CAZES was indicted on November 4, 2021 for possessing with intent to distribute approximately two (2) pounds or 909 grams of crystal methamphetamine. According to court documents, CAZES planned to sell the crystal methamphetamine to a confidential source. Following completion of his prison term, CAZES will face five years of supervised release. He is also required to pay a $200 mandatory special assessment fee per count.
U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.
Lumberton Gang Member Convicted of Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal jury convicted Quillan Inman, 33, this week on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Inman is a previous felon and validated gang member from Lumberton.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, members of the narcotics unit with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office were conducting surveillance near Perritt’s Grocery in Lumberton on November 14, 2020 when they saw a vehicle cross the center line. Deputies attempted to make a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled for a short time and surpassed 90 mph during the chase. Ultimately the vehicle stopped, and the driver fled. Inman was a passenger in the vehicle and a deputy ordered him to step out of the vehicle when he saw Inman making a stuffing motion towards the front of his hooded sweatshirt. As Inman stepped out of the vehicle, the deputy saw the handle of a handgun sticking out of the pocket of the hoodie. He immediately cuffed Inman, who attempted to reach for the gun as the deputy patted him down. The deputy also recovered suspected cocaine and suboxone strips. A search of the vehicle revealed three more firearms.
Inman faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced. He was previously convicted in N.C. state court of robbery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of second-degree kidnapping. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder in 2019, but the charges were later dismissed.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan accepted the verdict. The FBI and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Rhoades, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Warlick and Phil Aubart prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:22-cr-00007-FL-1.
Louisiana Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation in Dangerous Assault of a Non-Violent ManRead the Press Release
A former officer of the Shreveport, Louisiana, Police Department, Dylan Hudson, 37, was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release for assaulting a non-violent loitering suspect. Hudson was convicted earlier this year after a four-day trial.
“This defendant’s use of force was grossly excessive, inhumane and potentially fatal. The defendant repeatedly hit a nonviolent suspect in the head, kicked him in the face, tased him multiple times and pistol-whipped him in the head,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When an officer so grievously abuses the authority entrusted to him by his community, the Justice Department will respond with the full force of the law.”
“The defendant’s conduct was not representative of the oath he once swore to uphold as a law enforcement officer,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “When the federal government learns of such egregious conduct and we feel criminal civil rights charges can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, we will seek to hold those responsible accountable with an ancillary goal of restoring, and in some cases establishing, public trust in state, local and federal law enforcement.”
“The jury verdict and sentencing send a clear message to those who wear the badge and to the public that sickening conduct like that of Hudson’s will simply not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “The FBI is committed to ensuring those who violate the public’s trust are held accountable.”
The evidence at trial established that Hudson physically assaulted a loitering suspect during a daytime arrest in Shreveport. During the arrest, Hudson repeatedly struck the suspect in the head and face. The conduct showed by police body-worn cameras included several potentially deadly uses of force, including striking the man in the head with a loaded pistol, tasing him at the base of the skull and kicking him in the face. Hudson’s fellow officers testified that the loitering suspect was non-violent throughout the entire arrest, and that Hudson’s repeated violations of training and policy created a danger not only to the suspect, but to others as well.
The FBI New Orleans Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Mudrick for the Western District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.
Los Angeles Man Convicted in Large-Scale Marriage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Los Angeles man was convicted on Thursday by a federal jury in Boston for his role in operating a large-scale marriage fraud “agency” that arranged hundreds of sham marriages entered into for the primary purpose of circumventing immigration laws.
Engilbert Ulan, 42, a Philippine national residing in Los Angeles, was convicted of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration document fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2024. Ulan was arrested and charged along with 10 others in April 2022 in connection with the marriage fraud “agency” operated by Marcialito “Mars” Benitez.
“Mr. Ulan played a key role in operating a fraudulent marriage “agency” that arranged over 300 sham marriages that aimed to subvert immigration laws. It was a systematic fraud on the U.S. government.” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Marriage fraud is a serious offense that undermines the foundation of our nation’s immigration system. Mr. Ulan and his co-conspirators not only exploited our immigration system for personal gain, but also compromised the United States’ principles of welcoming immigrants and prospective citizens. The swift and decisive enforcement action taken in this case reflects our commitment to preserving the integrity of the immigration process and upholding the values that have defined this nation.”
“It is the utmost honor and privilege to become an American citizen, but Engilbert Ulan made an absolute sham of that process. Mr. Ulan and his co-conspirators broke immigration laws that are in place to protect public safety and created an unfair disadvantage for those seeking to earn their citizenship lawfully,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s conviction should serve as a warning to others that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are united in our efforts to disrupt and dismantle large-scale criminal enterprises like this one that seek to circumvent our laws by fraudulent means.”
“For six years, this fraudster made thousands of dollars by operating a fake agency aimed at creating marriage fraud,” said Chad Plantz, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego. “The sham marriages and illicit immigration benefits discovered in this case wasted countless federal resources which delayed an unknown number of legitimate marriages between foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, and threatened national security by enabling individuals to remain in the country through deceit. HSI and our partnered agencies will dismantle organizations that look to exploit our nation’s immigration system.”
Ulan worked for what he and others referred to as an “agency” that arranged hundreds of sham marriages between foreign national “clients” and United States citizens, including at least one foreign national who resided in Massachusetts. The agency then prepared and submitted false petitions, applications and other documents to substantiate the sham marriages and secure adjustment of clients’ immigration statuses for a fee of between $20,000 and $30,000 in cash.
After pairing foreign national clients with citizen spouses, the agency booked appointments to stage fake wedding ceremonies at chapels, parks and other locations, performed by hired online officiants. For many clients, the agency would take photos of undocumented clients and citizen spouses in front of prop wedding decorations for later submission with immigration petitions.
Evidence presented at trial established that, starting in or around 2019, Ulan worked out of brick-and-mortar offices in Los Angeles with Benitez and other co-conspirators. Among other things, Ulan conducted practice interviews with the agency’s clients and their fake spouses for the purpose of preparing the couples to pass required interviews with immigration authorities. Ulan coached the sham couples to provide the same, fabricated answers to questions posed during green card interviews and conceal the fraudulent nature of the marriages.
Ulan assisted clients with preparing fraudulent marriage and immigration documents, including fabricating supporting documents submitted as “evidence” of the marriage’s legitimacy. Ulan also rented out the use of his apartment address to clients who lived outside of Los Angeles so they could list his address as their own on green card applications and related documents, to make it appear to immigration authorities that they were living with their sham spouses in the Los Angeles area. Ulan also received cash commissions for referring new clients to the agency.
During Ulan’s involvement in the conspiracy, between approximately December 2019 and March 2022, the agency arranged sham marriages and submitted fraudulent immigration documents for over 300 clients.
Ulan is the 10th defendant to be convicted in this case, with nine of his co-defendants having pleaded guilty. Benitez pleaded guilty on Sept. 27, 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10, 2024.
The charge of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration document fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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 U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen, HSI SAC Plantz and Alanna Ow, Director of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, San Diego District made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Holcomb and Leslie A. Wright of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
Long-time Laredo drug dealer heads to prison for selling “China White”Read the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old man has been sentenced for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jose Pedro Garcia pleaded guilty Aug. 8.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Garcia to serve 286 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Garcia was selling poison and had been trafficking drugs that have been killing people for a long time. The court also emphasized the harm Garcia had done over the years in selling these drugs.
On May 26, authorities executed a search warrant at Garcia’s residence. At that time, they found multiple small plastic baggies, each containing various types of suspected narcotics. Authorities seized, separated, weighed and ultimately identified them as heroin, meth, cocaine base and fentanyl.
Garcia later admitted to selling drugs for approximately 10 years and started with crack cocaine, then meth, but ultimately moved on to “China White,” because it gave people a stronger high and was more popular. Garcia also color coded the bags to differentiate between the drugs.
“China White” is slang for fentanyl, a Schedule II-controlled substance.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and the Laredo Police Department Narcotics Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew prosecuted the case.
The case was prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
More information on the dangers of fentanyl can be found on the DEA’s website. #OnePillCanKill
Local businesses owner and employee each plead guilty to filing false tax returns after failing to report nearly $4 million in incomeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Ronald S. Zieve, the owner of Hair Restoration Specialists, Inc. (“HRS”), and Marshall Boyd, the co-director of HRS, have each pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return. Since 2018, Zieve deliberately failed to report approximately $3.2 million in income, and Boyd deliberately failed to report approximately $790,000 in income.
“These defendants behaved as if our tax laws did not apply to them,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “People who cheat on their taxes, file false returns, or fail to pay taxes owed are subject to investigation and prosecution.”
“Filing false tax return documents to hide income is stealing from the U.S. government,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “On behalf of the honest, law-abiding taxpayers, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Department of Justice and other law enforcement agencies will continue investigating and holding individuals accountable who willfully shirk their tax responsibilities to honestly report their income.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Ronald Zieve failed to properly report income he earned from HRS for tax years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. In March 2021, for example, Zieve filed an IRS-1040 form for tax year 2020 that falsely reported his “other income” as $107,070 when, in fact, Zieve knew he had earned more than $1 million in other income.
An investigation of the defendants, including through the execution of a search warrant at HRS’s office, and a review of relevant business, bank, and tax records, revealed that Zieve deliberately concealed his actual income from the IRS in a variety of ways. Zieve, for instance, improperly classified personal expenses as business expenses and hid his income by directing it into bank accounts of other businesses that he controlled, but which did not actually engage in any business activities. As a result of Zieve’s failure to report approximately $3.2 million in income, he caused a tax loss to the United States of approximately $1 million.
Investigators also learned that since 2016, Zieve had been paying Boyd hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash commissions that Boyd never reported to the IRS. In February 2021, for example, Boyd filed an IRS-1040 form for the tax year 2020 that falsely reported “other income” of “$0” when, in fact, Boyd knew that he had earned approximately $191,000 in other income. As a result of Boyd failing to report approximately $790,000 in income, he caused a tax loss to the United States of approximately $266,000.
Ronald S. Zieve, 75, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Marshall Boyd, 50, of Douglasville, GA, Georgia, each pleaded guilty to one count of filing a fraudulent tax return. Sentencing is scheduled for March 5, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Las Vegas Doctor Convicted of Unlawful Distribution of Opioid MedicationsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS — A federal jury in Las Vegas convicted a Las Vegas doctor Tuesday of unlawfully distributing opioid pain medications in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. William Alvear (68), of Las Vegas, unlawfully distributed Hydrocodone without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice. Hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, has a high potential for abuse and can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. In addition, Alvear unlawfully distributed and dispensed Alprazolam, common brand name Xanax. Alprazolam is a Schedule IV controlled substance that also has the potential for abuse and can lead to psychological or physical dependence.
The jury convicted Alvear of three-counts of distributing a controlled substance – Schedule II and five-counts of distributing or dispensing a controlled substance – Schedule IV. The six-day jury trial was held before U.S. District Judge Cristina D. Silva.
Alvear faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000, and three years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Supriya Prasad and Kimberly Sokolich are prosecuting the case.
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Lafayette Man Sentenced to 57 Months Imprisonment for Federal Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On November 29, 2023, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced DAVON EUGENE to 57 months in the Bureau of Prisons for possession of a machine gun and being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
EUGENE was indicted on January 22, 2021 for possessing a machinegun, a Glock Model 26, 9 mm handgun, bearing serial number XPT053, equipped with a Glock auto-sear, while being a convicted felon. EUGENE will serve 57 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit.
Kenner Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Misprision of a FelonyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RYAN MOREAU, age 30, a resident of Kenner, Louisiana, was sentenced on November 29, 2023 by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to time served, 1 year of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to misprision of a felony, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 4, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on November 19, 2020, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Deputy learned than an individual was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 after having purchased narcotics from his source of supply. Agents established surveillance along Interstate 10 and conducted a traffic stop of the truck. As the agents approached the truck, the front seat passenger gave a bag containing several ounces of methamphetamine to MOREAU. MOREAU, who was seated in the back seat, put the bag into a container of bleach that was also located on the back seat. As one of the agents approached, he saw a torn plastic bag with methamphetamine next to MOREAU. MOREAU admitted placing the methamphetamine in the container of bleach to avoid detection by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Kansas Woman Sentenced for Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Amy Shepherd, age 44, of Wichita, Kansas, was sentenced on November 30, 2023, in federal Court in Omaha, Nebraska, for wire fraud. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Shepherd to 18 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Shepherd’s release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Shepherd was also ordered to pay $112,257.80 in restitution.
Roadrunner Temperature Controlled is the refrigerated trucking division of Roadrunner Transportation Systems and it is located in Sarpy County, Nebraska. Roadrunner Temperature Controlled (hereinafter “Roadrunner”) uses Electronic Funds Source (hereinafter “EFS”), an electronic wire transfer service, for their driver cash advances.
Amy Shepherd was employed by Roadrunner from July 25, 2016, through June 21, 2019. During her employment at Roadrunner, Shepherd was a Customer Service Manager, Driver Business Leader Manager, and, most recently, a Dispatch Lead Manager. Shepherd was a Dispatch Lead Manager from October 13, 2018, to June 21, 2019. Amy Shepherd worked remotely from her home in Kansas. Johnny Bradford II was a driver employed by Roadrunner from February 28, 2017, until May 4, 2018.
From February 1, 2018, through June 21, 2019, Shepherd, used her position with Roadrunner as a Dispatch Lead Manager to fraudulently generate advances and enter EFS check codes into Roadrunner’s accounting system. Shepherd characterized the advances as relating to legitimate business purposes, for example repairs, washouts, or trailer unloading. Shepherd entered the advances for current Roadrunner drivers. After generating the check code, Shepherd sent the check code to Bradford. Bradford filled out the EFS Checks with the check code he received from Shepherd. Bradford then cashed the checks at vendor establishments. After Bradford received the funds, he would use Western Union to send portions of the money he received from the fraudulent driver advances back to Shepherd. One such wire occurred on June 9, 2019, when an Electronic Check in the amount of $826.64 was initiated by Shepherd, in Kansas purportedly being for “TRL16452 Alternator” through Roadrunner’s accounting system in Nebraska, to Bradford in Nevada. As a result of the scheme and artifice to defraud, from February 1, 2018, through June 21, 2019, Shepherd and Bradford caused an actual loss of $112,257.80.
On September 19, 2023, Bradford pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14, 2023, at 1:30.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.
Kanawha County Woman Sentenced for Federal Fraud CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tonja Oakes, 58, of Cross Lanes, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation, including eight months on home detention, and ordered to pay $21,943.80 in restitution for wire fraud. Oakes admitted to defrauding the American Red Cross (ARC) while employed at its Cross Lanes office.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the ARC hired Oakes in 2015 as a business operations specialist, and her duties included acting as the purchasing agent for the ARC Central Appalachian Region. On March 9, 2019, Oakes began working as the executive assistance to the chief executive officer of the ARC Central Appalachian Region. Among her duties in that position, Oakes reviewed monthly statements of credit cards issued by ARC to certain employees and approved the statements for payment. This position allowed Oakes to review and approve her own expenditures.
Oakes admitted to making multiple unauthorized purchases with ARC-provided credit cards from at least February 17, 2017 through at least October 5, 2020. Oakes further admitted that the unauthorized transactions included a $973.77 payment for servicing a 2011 Kia Sorento on June 8, 2020. Other unauthorized purchases by Oakes included buying items while on vacation in South Carolina, groceries, and personal items purchased on Amazon. Oakes admitted that she used her employment position to review and approve her credit card statements, even though she knew many of the payments were unauthorized.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Blackwell and Holly Wilson prosecuted the case.
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-67.
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Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shawn Michael Patton, 47, of Dunbar, was sentenced today to 11 years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 13, 2022, Patton sold 2 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on the front porch of his Park Drive residence in Dunbar in exchange for $700.
On February 9, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Patton’s residence and seized approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine from a bedroom chair and $14,572.
On September 20, 2022, officers executed another search warrant at Patton’s residence and seized approximately 287 grams of methamphetamine, two firearms and $554.
On October 5, 2022, Patton was arrested by officers and consented to a search of his residence. Officers seized approximately 25 grams of heroin, 379 grams of marijuana and $2,315.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
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. 2:22-cr-212.
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Justice Department Secures Agreement from Pennsylvania Jail to Provide Medications for Opioid Use DisorderRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania has agreed to offer treatment with any Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medication for opioid use disorder (OUD) to all individuals booked into the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ) for whom such treatment is medically appropriate. Allegheny County will also pay $10,000 to an individual allegedly denied access to methadone in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ADA prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against individuals with disabilities and protects people in recovery from OUD, including individuals who are taking OUD medication at the direction of a medical provider.
“Too many individuals with opioid use disorder cycle in and out of jails because they can’t find a path to recovery,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This agreement will ensure that Allegheny County Jail provides access to medications that can help break that cycle. These effective, evidence-backed treatments provide viable paths to recovery for those struggling with substance use disorders and help our communities begin to heal.”
“Allegheny County, like so much of the country, has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This agreement ensures that effective OUD treatment will be available to those in Allegheny County who need it most. We appreciate the county’s cooperation in reaching this agreement and look forward to continuing to collaborate in making improvements to ACJ and demonstrating what other jails and prisons must do to address the needs of individuals with opioid use disorder and comply with the ADA.”
Under the three-year agreement, Allegheny County will implement new policies and personnel training programs to ensure that people with OUD who are incarcerated at ACJ receive medically appropriate treatment for their disability. Specifically, Allegheny County will medically evaluate all individuals for OUD at the start of their incarceration. It will ensure that individuals who were receiving OUD medication from a licensed treatment provider before their incarceration are continued on that medication. The county will also offer all individuals with OUD booked into the jail the option to receive treatment with any FDA-approved medically appropriate OUD medication, even if they were not being treated with that medication before their incarceration.
Allegheny County will not change or discontinue an individual’s use of a particular OUD medication unless doing so is based on an individualized determination by a qualified medical provider. The county also will not use incentives, rewards or punishments to encourage or discourage individuals at ACJ from receiving any particular OUD medication.
The Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section handled this matter in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The Justice Department plays a lead role in combatting the opioid epidemic, including by removing barriers to treatment for OUD. For more information about the Justice Department’s work to address discrimination against individuals with opioid use disorder, please visit www.ada.gov/topics/opioid-use-disorder/. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov.
us_and_allegheny_county_settlement_agreement_accessible_copy_for_web_posting.pdfJustice Department Secures Agreement from Pennsylvania Jail to Provide Medications for Opioid Use DisorderRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania has agreed to offer treatment with any Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medication for opioid use disorder (OUD) to all individuals booked into the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ) for whom such treatment is medically appropriate. Allegheny County will also pay $10,000 to an individual allegedly denied access to methadone in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ADA prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against individuals with disabilities and protects people in recovery from OUD, including individuals who are taking OUD medication at the direction of a medical provider.
“Too many individuals with opioid use disorder cycle in and out of jails because they can’t find a path to recovery,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This agreement will ensure that Allegheny County Jail provides access to medications that can help break that cycle. These effective, evidence-backed treatments provide viable paths to recovery for those struggling with substance use disorders and help our communities begin to heal.”
“Allegheny County, like so much of the country, has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This agreement ensures that effective OUD treatment will be available to those in Allegheny County who need it most. We appreciate the county’s cooperation in reaching this agreement and look forward to continuing to collaborate in making improvements to ACJ and demonstrating what other jails and prisons must do to address the needs of individuals with opioid use disorder and comply with the ADA.”
Under the three-year agreement, Allegheny County will implement new policies and personnel training programs to ensure that people with OUD who are incarcerated at ACJ receive medically appropriate treatment for their disability. Specifically, Allegheny County will medically evaluate all individuals for OUD at the start of their incarceration. It will ensure that individuals who were receiving OUD medication from a licensed treatment provider before their incarceration are continued on that medication. The county will also offer all individuals with OUD booked into the jail the option to receive treatment with any FDA-approved medically appropriate OUD medication, even if they were not being treated with that medication before their incarceration.
Allegheny County will not change or discontinue an individual’s use of a particular OUD medication unless doing so is based on an individualized determination by a qualified medical provider. The county also will not use incentives, rewards or punishments to encourage or discourage individuals at ACJ from receiving any particular OUD medication.
The Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section handled this matter in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.The Justice Department plays a lead role in combatting the opioid epidemic, including by removing barriers to treatment for OUD. For more information about the Justice Department’s work to address discrimination against individuals with opioid use disorder, please visit www.ada.gov/topics/opioid-use-disorder/. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov.
Note: View the agreement here.
Jefferson Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – VINH NGUYEN, age 39, of Gretna, pled guilty on November 29, 2023 to one (1) count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and 846, and eight (8) counts of interstate travel in aid of racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, in July 2019, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Agents learned that NGUYEN, and others, participated in a drug and money trafficking network that spanned from California to Louisiana. Text messages confirmed that NGUYEN worked with a supplier in California, who negotiated the cost and strains of marijuana with growers in San Francisco for NGUYEN. NGUYEN paid for the marijuana by having other co-conspirators fly the cash to the supplier in San Francisco. Another co-conspirator owned a shipping company that shipped the marijuana from San Francisco to a warehouse in Kenner. Yet another co-conspirator would pick up the marijuana shipments from the Kenner warehouse and deliver them to various unknown locations in the New Orleans area and other cities throughout the country.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case was investigated by the Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill, Pleads Guilty to Possession of Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Thadusse Hartridge, age 22, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill, in Minersville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on November 28, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Julia K. Munley, to the charge of possession of contraband in prison.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Hartridge, formerly of Washington D.C., admitted to possessing a dangerous prison-made weapon, commonly known as a “shank.” The charge stems from an incident in October 2022 in which staff at FCI Schuylkill found Hartridge in possession of the weapon.
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.
The maximum penalty under federal law is five 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.
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Houstonian imprisoned for two child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 51-year-old local man has been sentenced following his convictions of possession and distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Amado Garcia III pleaded guilty June 9.
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has now sentenced Garcia to 96 months for each count of distribution and possession of child pornography, which will run concurrently. He was further ordered to serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Garcia will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Garcia came to the attention of law enforcement during communications in an online group with participants interested in the sexual abuse of children. In the group, he was found distributing videos of children under the age of 10 being sexually assaulted by adults.
During the investigation, authorities discovered 180 videos and 166 images of child pornography on multiple devices. The images depicted sexual abuse of babies, toddlers and sexual abuse of children involving bondage and sadomasochism.
Garcia was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Ann Leo and Anna Swanson prosecuted this case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Holdenville Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Bryant Dilbeck, age 27, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging him with Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Holdenville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Dilbeck remains in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.