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Wednesday 15 November 2023
Omaha Man Sentenced to 15 Months’ Imprisonment for Assault at Eppley AirfieldRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Chol Magwit, 21, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 15, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for interference with security screening personnel. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Magwit to 15 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Magwit will be required to complete a 3-year term of supervised release.
On April 7, 2023, Magwit forced open two separate doors to restricted areas and made it onto the tarmac at Eppley Airfield. Magwit was tackled when he refused commands to stop his movement and before he made it to the active operating area. Magwit was then arrested. Magwit did not appear impaired and said he wanted to go to Egypt. During the arrest, Magwit assaulted an airport officer who had security duties within the airport, and bit the officer’s hand, penetrating the officer’s skin and causing him to require medical treatment. The assault interfered with the performance of the airport officer’s duties while undergoing treatment for his injuries.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Omaha Police Department, and the Omaha Airport Authority Airport Police.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Sudesh Rai, 28, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 14, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for possession of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Rai to 42 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rai’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Rai was ordered to pay $1,100 in special assessments.
On June 1, 2021, Rai was interviewed in person by law enforcement in Omaha, Nebraska, in relation to a separate matter. During the interview law enforcement requested consent to seize and search Rai’s cell phone. Rai completed a Consent to Search Form. The data extraction and forensic review of Rai’s cell phone revealed four videos and two images of minors under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kyrell Wells, 21, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced November 14, 20223 in federal court in Omaha for felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United State District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Wells to 70 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Wells is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On August 11, 2022, Omaha Police Department gang officers observed Kyrell Wells enter Phillips 66 on 59th and Sorensen Parkway. Officers were aware he had several warrants. Officers entered the gas station and ordered Wells to put his hands up. Wells initially complied but then attempted to run. Officers took Wells to the ground and a handgun fell from Wells’ waistband, down his sweatpants, to his ankle. The gun was loaded with one in the chamber. The firearm was a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson. Wells is a convicted felon from a tampering with witness charge in November of 2021.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
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Ohio Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE –Gregory Johnson, 47 years old, of Franklin, Ohio, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady on his conviction for Attempted Child Exploitation following a two-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Defendant Johnson was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in April 2020, Johnson engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with an undercover officer who Johnson believed to be sexually active with a minor. Over the course of several online conversations, Johnson made sexual comments about the minor and expressed an interest in watching a livestream of the minor engaged in sexual activity with the undercover officer. Johnson attempted to commit this crime by providing the undercover officer with graphic detail about exactly what he wanted to see.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lesley J. Miller Lowery and Justin Sheridan.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Ohio Man Indicted for Making False Statements to Purchase Firearms and Selling/Transferring Firearms to JuvenilesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing an indictment charging Gabriel Gladman, (23, Akron, OH) with eight counts of providing false statements with the intent to purchase firearms and six counts of selling/transferring a firearm to a juvenile under the age of 18.
If convicted, Gladman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each false statement count and up to a year in federal prison for each count of selling/transferring a firearm to a juvenile. The indictment also notifies Gladman that the United States intends to forfeit the following eight firearms: a Smith & Wesson, SD40 (.40 caliber semi-automatic firearm), a Taurus G2 semi-automatic firearm, a Glock 24 semi-automatic firearm, a FMK 9C1 semi-automatic firearm, two Taurus G3 semi-automatic firearms, and two Tara TM-9X semi-automatic firearms, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, between November 22, 2022, and June 16, 2023, Gladman bought semi-automatic firearms on eight separate occasions in Tampa, providing false information to federally licensed firearm dealers each time. Gladman represented that he was the actual buyer of the firearms, when in fact he was buying the firearms on behalf of someone else. On six separate occasions, Gladman sold or transferred those firearms to juveniles under the age of 18.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky is handling the forfeiture of the firearms.
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.
Notorious Hacker Sentenced to 18 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Thomas Kennedy McCormick, aka “fubar,” of Cambridge, Mass., was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for his role in the racketeering conspiracy to develop and distribute malicious software (malware) through an international computer hacking forum known as Darkode.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves of the District of Columbia and Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist, of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.
In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates ordered 36 months of supervised release.
According to court documents, McCormick, 30, was an administrator of Darkode, a criminal organization centered around an online, password-protected criminal forum where high-level international hackers and other cyber-criminals convened to develop, buy, sell, trade, and share hacking tools, information, and ideas. Before becoming a member of Darkode, prospective members were vetted through a process in which an existing member invited a prospective member to the forum to present the skills or products that he or she could bring to the group. Darkode members allegedly used each other’s skills and products to infect computers and electronic devices of victims around the world with malware and, thereby gain access to, and control over, those devices.
McCormick was a long-term member of Darkode, eventually rising to the level of administrator. McCormick made and sold malicious software that stole users’ personal identifying information, banking account login in information, and credit card information. He also sold and brokered the sale of stolen credit cards and other financial account information. When his residence was searched, he had the stolen credit card information of almost 30,000 people in his possession along with numerous copies of malware. As part of McCormick’s guilty plea, he admitted his involvement in causing about $679,000 in financial losses through these offenses.
McCormick was indicted on racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud charges. The racketeering conspiracy charge included conspiracy to commit bank, wire, and access device fraud, identity theft, hacking, and extortion. McCormick was also charged with five counts of aggravated identity theft.
He was arrested on Dec. 10, 2018, at the FBI’s Washington Field Office in Washington, D.C. On March 3, 2020, McCormick pled guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering influenced corrupt organization and aggravated identity theft. Today, he was sentenced to 12 months for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering influenced corrupt organization followed by 6 months for aggravated identity theft.
McCormick’s sentencing is the latest in this wide-ranging investigation. In July 2015, the Department of Justice originally announced the dismantling of Darkode, with charges filed against 12 individuals associated with the forum. The charges were part of a coordinated effort by a coalition of law enforcement authorities from 20 nations to charge, arrest, or search 70 Darkode members and associates around the world.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from Europol and their European Cyber Crime Center (EC3) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and the Metropolitan Police Service (Scotland Yard).
Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Dominguez and Corbin A. Weiss and current Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Roman, working with the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, prosecuted the case. The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, and the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance.
North Kingstown Contractor Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud, Suborning Perjury, Money Laundering, and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A North Kingstown man working as a self-employed contractor admitted to a federal judge today that he executed multiple schemes, made false representations, intentionally omitted significant information in filings, suborned perjury, and intentionally obstructed proceedings before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, all in an attempt to conceal substantial assets during bankruptcy proceedings, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Ernest P. Ricci, 62, also admitted that he fraudulently applied for and received COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration, money that he laundered in an effort to conceal the funds.
Ricci pleaded guilty today to charges of bankruptcy fraud, obstruction, suborning perjury, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Appearing in U.S. District Court, Ricci admitted that in October 2017, prior to filing a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petition in an attempt to protect a $1.5 million dollar home in Florida that he and his wife used as both rental property and a vacation home, and on which he had failed to make any mortgage payments for approximately five years, he transferred all of the assets of his business, Premier Home Restoration LLC (Premier), to his wife. Ricci admitted that he then falsely submitted documents to the Bankruptcy Court, under oath, indicating that he had been unemployed for many years, that he had no income, that he garnered no compensation of any kind from his wife’s company, that he controlled no bank accounts, and that he had no assets or properties other than the Florida home.
Ricci admitted today that, in fact, he continued to control Premier after he transferred the company to his wife; that he ran its day-to-day operations; and that he made use of income from the company to maintain his lifestyle, all of which he failed to disclose to the Bankruptcy Court.
Ricci also admitted that he failed to truthfully disclose rental income from his Florida property and from another property that he owned in New Hampshire. Ricci additionally admitted that he was untruthful when he claimed that he held a $200,000 mortgage in the name of another person for the New Hampshire property when, in fact, he owned the property himself and he was collecting rent, and that he convinced that person to commit perjury before the bankruptcy trustee.
According to information presented to the court, in addition to the schemes employed by Ricci to hide assets and mislead the Bankruptcy Court, after the Bankruptcy Trustee was declared to be the equitable owner of Ricci’s former company, Premier, Ricci fraudulently applied for COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration, supposedly to pay Premier employees and company expenses. When filing, Ricci failed to disclose that the Trustee was the owner of Premier, and that he and the company were involved in bankruptcy proceedings.
After fraudulently obtaining the EDIL and PPP funds, Ricci engaged in money laundering by conducted a series of financial transactions to conceal the location, ownership, and control of the COVID support payments , and used the funds to purchase rental property in Warwick, RI, in the name of another person.
Court documents detail a number of stalling tactics, frivolous pleadings, and fraudulent claims by Ernest Ricci, including claims that he was indigent, during the years’ long bankruptcy proceedings. Documents also detail numerous combative communications sent by Ernest Ricci to the bankruptcy Trustee, some laced with profanities.
Ernest Ricci is scheduled to be sentenced on February 22, 2024. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the United States Bankruptcy Trustee.
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New Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLYLE HENRY, 39, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to a drug trafficking and firearm possession offense.
According to court documents and statement made in court, shortly before midnight on October 12, 2022, Henry crashed his vehicle on a retaining wall on the Yale University campus. Carlyle was arrested after Yale Police found a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, and a bag containing distribution quantities of cocaine, packaged heroin and fentanyl, and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.
Carlyle pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for February 7, 2024.
Carlyle has been detained since his arrest.
Henry’s criminal history includes state convictions for firearms possession and narcotics distribution offenses, and a federal narcotics conviction in 2006 for which he received a sentence of 50 months of imprisonment.
This case has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Yale Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Clark through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
New Haven Felon Caught with Gun and Drugs Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MAURICE MENAFEE, also known as “Mo,” 34, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 86 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearm possession offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the morning of February 9, 2022, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the New Haven Police Department Shooting Task Force observed a car involved in suspected drug transactions at the intersection of Baldwin Street and Davenport Avenue in New Haven, and then traveling recklessly at high rate of speed throughout the city. Investigators subsequently located the vehicle parked at a residence on Plymouth Street and identified the driver as Menafee. After Menafee was apprehended, a search of his person revealed $564 in cash and a search of the car revealed a Sig Sauer P238 .380 caliber pistol, 64 baggies of crack cocaine, and 116 wax folds of fentanyl.
Menafee’s criminal history includes state firearm and drug convictions. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Menafee has been detained since his federal arrest on March 2, 2022. On January 10, 2023, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine E. Boyles and Nathaniel J. Gentile.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Mexican Man from Florida Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to three months in federal prison.
Luis Ronaldo Lopez-Lopez, age 24, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Arcadia, Florida, received the prison term after a September 12, 2023, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Lopez-Lopez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Lopez-Lopez was previously deported in December 2017 and January 2018. On August 13, 2023, immigration officials learned Lopez-Lopez had illegally returned to the United States and found Lopez-Lopez at the Dubuque County Jail following his arrest on state charges for public intoxication and soliciting prostitution. Those charges are still pending. Lopez-Lopez had been residing in a Dubuque hotel while illegally working in the area. Lopez-Lopez had previously been convicted in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico of illegal entry into the United States in December 2017.
Lopez-Lopez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Lopez-Lopez was sentenced to 90 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Lopez-Lopez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-1017.
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Massachusetts Resident Admits to Participating in a Bank Fraud Scheme Targeting a Rhode Island SeniorRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Worcester, MA, resident appeared in federal court in Providence today and admitted to participating in a fraud scheme that, among other things, intended to defraud a Portsmouth, RI, senior of $7,500, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Fangzhou Qian, 29, admitted to being a member of a conspiracy that contacted victims via telephone and, fraudulently posing as a representative of the victims’ bank, told them that their bank account had been compromised. Victims were instructed to withdraw large amounts of money from their bank account in order to protect their assets, and to provide the funds in cash to a member of the conspiracy who, posing as a courier, would soon arrive at their residence.
According to information presented to the court, in May 2023, a member of the conspiracy, posing as “Sam,” a bank employee, contacted a 73-year-old Portsmouth, RI , resident and falsely informed him that his bank account had been compromised. The Portsmouth senior was instructed to withdraw $7,500 from his bank account and provide the money to a courier, later identified by law enforcement as Qian, who would stop by his residence that day. The Portsmouth resident withdrew the money, but notified law enforcement of the potential scam call. Qian was intercepted by law enforcement before being able to retrieve the money and was arrested.
According to information presented to the court, members of the conspiracy used some of the funds stolen from their victims to purchase large quantities of gift cards. Qian admitted to purchasing 170 Apple gift cards from various stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire during the same timeframe during which members of the conspiracy, including Qian, were attempting to defraud the Portsmouth resident.
Qian pleaded guilty to charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on January 17, 2024. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman.
The matter was investigated by the Portsmouth Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
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Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison on Drug and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A Mount Gilead man was sentenced today to more than 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to two drug charges and two firearms charges, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
SAK KEOSOUMA, age 37, was indicted in March 2023 on one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and three counts related to his possession of firearms. KEOSOUMA entered a guilty plea to the drug counts and two of three gun counts on May 1, 2023.
According to court documents, investigators seized approximately 138 grams of methamphetamine, 232 grams of fentanyl, 16 grams of suspected heroin, 3,759 grams of marihuana, 230 grams of suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms, and approximately $26,750 in United States currency.
Additionally, according to court documents, the firearms seized included a Glock 9mm pistol, an Aero Precision multi-caliber rifle, and nine privately manufactured firearms bearing no serial numbers. These nine privately manufactured and untraceable firearms are also known as “ghost guns.” Seven of the nine ghost guns were Polymer 80 9mm pistols. The other two ghost guns included a .300Blk caliber rifle with an attached firearm silencer that also lacked serial numbers, and a 7.62x39mm/.223 caliber rifle with a “Wide Open Trigger” installed that allowed the rifle to fire automatically, thus constituting a “machinegun” under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Both the silencer and the rifle with the “Wide Open Trigger” constituted NFA "firearms” that require a license and registration in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR).
KEOSOUMA was sentenced to a 210-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable Loretta C. Biggs, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. In addition to prison time, KEOSUMA was ordered to forfeit 11 firearms and more than 500 rounds of ammunition and will be subject to supervised release for 4 years following his release from prison.
This case arises from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, the Moore County Sheriff's Office and Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig M. Principe.
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Man Sentenced in Lakewood Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Darren Michael Connolly, age 27, of Englewood, was sentenced to 147 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for bank robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and brandishing a weapon during a federal crime of violence. His codefendant, James David Trujillo Jr., age 25, of Lakewood, was sentenced on September 18, 2023, to 135 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to facts presented at trial, on June 15, 2022, Connolly and Trujillo robbed a Canvas Credit Union on West 5th Avenue in Lakewood. The men were armed with an AR-15 and shotgun. Connolly was wearing a GPS bracelet at the time of the robbery. Both he and codefendant Trujillo were covered in masks and ran from the bank to a waiting getaway car. Connolly was arrested at his residence on June 16, 2022 and charged. Officers found the AR-15 and shotgun in Connolly’s residence. Investigators were able to identify Trujillo soon thereafter. Connolly subsequently pleaded guilty, and a jury found Trujillo guilty of bank robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and brandishing a weapon during a federal crime of violence.
“We will not tolerate such brazen criminal conduct in our communities,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “We thank our law enforcement partners for their invaluable help in bringing these defendants to justice.”
“It’s a blatant criminal who carries out the armed robbery of a bank while he is being monitored on parole. Clearly, this is a hardened felon and the public is safer with him behind bars,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force will continue to work with state and local agencies to protect our communities from violent criminals.”
United States District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello presided over the sentencing on November 14, 2023.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Coccaro handled the prosecutions.
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.
CASE NUMBER: 22-cr-00213
Man Extradited from Spain to Face Child Sex Abuse ChargesRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Kristian Ignacio Feliz, age 24, of Danbury, Connecticut, has been extradited from Spain to face prosecution in the United States after being indicted in March 2023 for committing child sex crimes. The indictment specifically charges Feliz with three counts of sexually exploiting a minor in Kalamazoo County in January 2023, and one count of coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
“I am grateful to the FBI and our Spanish law enforcement partners for their persistent and successful efforts to find and arrest the defendant in Spain, and to facilitate his swift extradition to the United States to face these very serious charges,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We are prepared to make our case as part of our ongoing efforts to protect children.”
"The FBI prioritizes the protection of children from dangerous predators and is fully committed to investigating criminals, regardless of their location in the world,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Those who make the unconscionable decision to victimize innocent children will be brought to justice. The FBI works with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to hold those criminals accountable, and I would like to extend my appreciation to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for initiating this case and the Spanish National Police for their support in extraditing the defendant to the United States. We continue to urge the public to report alleged crimes of child sexual and physical abuse by calling 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324), contacting your Legal Attaché Office, or submitting tips online to http://tips.fbi.gov."
“Investigating sex crimes that involve children are extremely difficult to pursue because they cross jurisdictional lines and involve sophisticated computer activity,” said Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division Captain Rafael Diaz.“However, the Task Force Officer program that allows Kalamazoo Public Safety Detective Stolsonburg to coordinate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation means that sexual predators will be found and held accountable. This commitment does not waiver.”
The government expects the defendant’s initial appearance will take place on November 16, 2023, at the federal courthouse in Grand Rapids at a time to be determined by the court. Spanish Civil arrested Feliz in June 2023, in Barcelona, at the request of the United States. The extradition proceedings took place in the Spanish judiciary system, through which Feliz consented to be extradited to the United States in August 2023.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) to prepare and submit a request for Kristian Ignacio Feliz’s provisional arrest, with a plan to seek his extradition soon after. U.S. Attorney Totten and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan Cheyvoryea Gibson extend their appreciation and thanks to Spain’s Ministry of Justice, Spanish National Police, and Guardia Civil.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following website: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Castle, and investigated by the FBI, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State provided critical assistance in securing Feliz’s arrest and extradition.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Laurel Man Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Involving More Than $1.5 Million in LossesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Michael Akame Ngwese Ay Makoge, a/k/a “Hype” and “2Hype”, age 28, of Laurel, Maryland pleaded guilty yesterday to a wire fraud conspiracy and to aggravated identity theft, in relation to a Maryland and California unemployment insurance scheme totaling more than $1.5 million.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division (USPIS); Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP); and Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
According to his plea agreement, from March 2020 to October 2021, Makoge and his co-conspirators impersonated victims to submit fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in Maryland and California. As part of the scheme, Makoge and his co-conspirators obtained the birthdates, social security numbers, and other personal identifying information of numerous victims which they used to prepare and submit fraudulent applications for UI benefits. The applications contained false information, including the victims’ contact information, states of residence, and availability for work. These fraudulent applications caused financial institutions to load UI benefits onto debit cards and mail the cards to physical addresses provided and monitored by Makoge and his co-conspirators. Once Makoge and his co-conspirators received the fraudulently obtained benefits on the debit cards, they used them for cash withdrawals and other transactions for their own financial benefit.
A search at Makoge’s residence on February 16, 2021, recovered 11 UI debit cards in the names of six victims from the bedroom. The investigation also revealed numerous text messages between Makoge and his co-conspirators exchanging the PII of victims and discussing the execution of the UI fraud scheme. Further, Makoge made numerous ATM withdrawals using the identities of victims, personally obtaining at least $35,540 as a result of his participation in the scheme. In all, Makoge and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent UI claims using the names and PII of at least 12 victims, resulting in more than $1.6 million in losses.
Makoge faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the wire fraud conspiracy and a mandatory two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson has scheduled sentencing for February 1, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the USPIS, DOL-OIG, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, HSI, MSP, and ATF, for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked the United States Marshals Service, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen McGuinn, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Latest Prison Sentence in Unprecedented Firearms Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Charles O’Bannon, 25, of Villa Rica, Georgia, was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment for his role in a multi-conspirator firearms trafficking operation that flooded the City of Philadelphia with 292 guns over the course of five months.
United States District Court Judge John M. Younge sentenced O’Bannon for his role in this unprecedented firearms trafficking operation, which involved hundreds of firearms being straw purchased from federal firearms dealers in Atlanta, Georgia, and then transported across state lines for resale on the black market in the City of Philadelphia. This fact pattern is known as the “iron pipeline.” Dozens of firearms have since been recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and elsewhere. The conspiracy’s guns have taken the lives of two Philadelphians and used to perpetrate violent crime, including shootings, carjackings, and drug trafficking.
Judge Younge had previously sentenced O’Bannon’s conspirators as follows:
- Edwin Burgos, 30, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the leader of the Philadelphia side of the firearms trafficking operation, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment.
- Fredrick Norman, 26, of Villa Rica, Georgia, the leader of the Atlanta side of the firearms trafficking operation, was sentenced to 99 months’ imprisonment.
- Ernest Payton, 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment.
- Kenneth Burgos, 24, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 75 months’ imprisonment.
- Roger Millington, 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment.
- Stephen Norman, 25, of Villa Rica, Georgia, and brother of Fredrick Norman, was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment.
“An important piece of our commitment to stopping the illegal flow of guns through the ‘iron pipeline’ is charging crimes like straw purchasing,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “The substantial prison sentences each defendant received in this case demonstrate that straw purchasing will carry significant consequences.”
“The defendants in this case flooded 300 firearms onto the streets of Philadelphia, a city already plagued with gun violence,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric Degree. “We appreciate the support of the United States Attorney’s Office, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and members of our Firearms Trafficking Task Force, which allowed us to dismantle this firearm trafficking organization.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya T. De Souza.
Largest-Ever Counterfeit Goods Seizures Result in Trafficking Charges Against Two IndividualsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the recent seizures of approximately 219,000 counterfeit bags, clothes, shoes, and other luxury products with a total estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (“MSRP”) of approximately $1.03 billion.[1] Two indictments were unsealed today charging ADAMA SOW and ABDULAI JALLOH, a/k/a “Troy Banks,” with trafficking in counterfeit goods. The defendants were arrested this morning and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. SOW’s case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni. JALLOH’s case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants used a Manhattan storage facility as a distribution center for massive amounts of knock-off designer goods. The seizures announced today consist of merchandise with over a billion dollars in estimated retail value, the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history. This is a testament to the commitment of this Office and its law enforcement partners to combat counterfeit trafficking in New York City.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “Today's groundbreaking announcement underscores the unwavering commitment of HSI New York in the fight against intellectual property theft and serves as a testament to the dedication of our team and partner agencies, who have tirelessly pursued justice, culminating in the largest-ever seizure of this kind. I extend my gratitude to all those involved for their relentless efforts and late nights dedicated to upholding the law.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “The trafficking of counterfeit goods is anything but a victimless crime because it harms legitimate businesses, governments, and consumers. Today’s indictments show how seriously the NYPD and our federal partners take this offense. And we will continue to work hard to hold accountable anyone who seeks to benefit by selling such items on the black market.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictments and other publicly available information:[2]
From about January 2023, up to and including October 20, 2023, ADAMA SOW and ABDULAI JALLOH ran large-scale counterfeit goods trafficking operations out of a storage facility located in Manhattan. JALLOH also trafficked counterfeit goods out of an offsite location in Manhattan. Searches of premises controlled by SOW have resulted in the seizure of over 83,000 counterfeit items with a total estimated MSRP of over $502 million. Searches of premises controlled by JALLOH have resulted in the seizure of over 50,000 counterfeit items with a total estimated MSRP of over $237 million.
A photograph of boxes of counterfeit goods seized from the storage facility is below.
A photograph of one of the storage units controlled by ADAMA SOW inside the storage facility is below.
A photograph of one of the storage units controlled by ABDULAI JALLOH inside the storage facility is below.
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ADAMA SOW, 38, of Queens, New York, and ABDULAI JALLOH, 48, of New York, New York, are each charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of HSI and NYPD. He further thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its assistance and the management of the storage facility in Manhattan for its cooperation with the execution of the seizures.
The cases are being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Ross is in charge of the prosecutions.
The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] The street value of counterfeit goods typically is significantly lower than the MSRP.
[2] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictments and the description of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
KC Husband, Wife Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Three Child VictimsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., couple has indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the sexual exploitation of three child victims.
Houston Wade Young, 36, and Jessica Ann Young, 33, were charged in an eight-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The superseding indictment replaces the original indictment returned against Houston Young on July 25, 2023, and adds Jessica Young (who was arrested today) as a defendant with additional charges.
The federal indictment charges Houston Young with one count of using a minor (identified in court documents as Jane Doe) to produce child pornography, two counts of using the internet and a cell phone to attempt to induce Jane Doe and another minor (identified in court documents as John Doe 1) to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of receiving and distributing child pornography, and one count of distributing child pornography.
The indictment charges Jessica Young with two counts of using a minor, John Doe 1, and another child victim identified in court documents as John Doe 2 to produce child pornography, and one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Vernon County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kentucky Department of Criminal Investigations.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Justice Department Secures over $900,000 Agreement with National Staffing Agency to Resolve Claims of Hiring DiscriminationRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with Kforce Inc. (Kforce), a staffing agency with 36 offices across the United States. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that Kforce violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against non-U.S. citizens with permission to work in the United States and excluding them from job opportunities based on their citizenship status.
“Companies cannot unlawfully exclude people with permission to work in the United States from job opportunities because of their citizenship status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold those accountable who engage in behavior that runs afoul of our nation’s federal civil rights laws.”
The department’s investigation determined that from at least March 1, 2019, to Feb. 28, 2022, Kforce distributed job advertisements that contained unlawful hiring restrictions based on citizenship status or otherwise screened out candidates based on their citizenship status. These actions harmed workers who have been granted asylum or refugee status, and lawful permanent residents by unlawfully deterring them from applying to the job advertisements and failing to meaningfully consider those who did apply.
Under the terms of the settlement, Kforce will pay $690,000 in civil penalties to the United States and set aside $230,000 to compensate affected workers. The agreement also requires Kforce to train its personnel on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute generally prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation; and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation; email [email protected]; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Sign up for email updates from IER.
2023.11.14_kforce_settlement_agreement_signed.pdfJury finds former federal defendant guilty of possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted Antoine Dwayne Riley, 37, of Columbus, with illegally possessing firearms after previously being convicted as a federal defendant in the Southern District of Ohio.
Riley was convicted in 2009 of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on Nov. 13, 2022, officers with the Columbus Division of Police responded to a domestic violence call on East 13th Avenue in Columbus.
Officers were informed that Riley had pushed down a victim and stomped on her face with his foot. Officers were told Riley may have a handgun.
Riley was inside his room in the residence at the time and, for several hours, refused officers’ requests to open his door and exit. Riley eventually complied and was taken into custody. Officers cleared Riley’s bedroom and discovered two rifles: a 12-gauge shotgun and a multi-caliber rifle.
Riley was indicted in June 2023. He faces up to 15 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the verdict returned on Nov. 14. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer M. Rausch and Damoun Delaviz represented the United States in this case.
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Jury Finds Man Guilty of First-Degree Murder in 2014 Christmas Eve Killing of Waitress on 14th St. NWRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Marvin Lopez, 44, of El Salvador, was found guilty by a jury on November 14, 2023, of first-degree murder while armed for the 2014 Christmas Eve slaying of his ex-girlfriend, Evelyn Yamileth Arroyo Guerra, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The slaying took place in front of the El Sabor Latino Restaurant on the 3900 block of 14th St., NW, where Yamileth worked as a waitress.
Lopez was also found guilty of a related gun offense. The verdict followed an eight-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The Honorable Michael O’Keefe scheduled sentencing for January 26, 2024. Lopez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the crimes.
According to the government’s evidence, a pair of MPD Lieutenants were driving south on 14th Street on Dec. 24, 2014, when they heard two gunshots. Citizens on the 3900 block of 14th Street pointed in the direction the gunman had run. One of the Lieutenants gave chase on foot but lost the shooter in a wooded area at the end of Shepherd St, NW. The other Lieutenant found Yamileth on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant at 3910 14th Street NW, suffering from a gunshot wound to her chest and a graze wound to her head. Yamileth had been shot as she was arriving for work at El Sabor Latino, where she was a waitress.
Two witnesses who knew Yamileth told police that they had seen Lopez—the victim’s recent ex—approaching her outside of the restaurant moments before the killing. One of the witnesses showed police Facebook messages between Lopez and Yamileth from days before the murder in which he threatened to kill her. Although an arrest warrant was obtained the next day, Christmas Day, Lopez was not located by police before he fled to El Salvador. He was extradited back to the United States and arrested in March of 2023.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was investigated and indicted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Natiello and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristian Hinson and Sarah Prins.
Jury Convicts Felon with Violent Criminal Past for Illegally Possessing GunRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A federal jury convicted a Valdosta, Georgia, resident with a lengthy and violent criminal history of illegally possessing a firearm after officers discovered an AK-47 style firearm during a domestic violence investigation triggered by a child attempting to protect his mother.
Angelo Devon Williams, 35, was found guilty of one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Nov. 14. The trial began on Nov. 13 before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson at the federal courthouse in Macon. Williams faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2024, in Valdosta, Georgia. The defendant is not eligible for parole.
“Angelo Williams not only has a violent criminal history, but he was illegally armed when a child bravely attempted to protect his mother,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We have zero tolerance for violent convicted felons who illegally possess firearms. Working with our law enforcement partners at every level, our office will continue to pursue these worthy prosecutions.”
“The abhorrent behavior conducted by Williams, especially in the presence of a child, is shocking,” said Rich Bilson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Valdosta office. “This conviction sends the message that the FBI and our partners are devoted to removing violent criminals from our neighborhoods to make them safer for law abiding citizens.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lowndes County, Georgia, 911 received a call from a child the night of July 26, 2020, who told the operator something related to his mother “was being hit.” The 911 operator called back and spoke to the next-door neighbor of the location where the domestic dispute was occurring; Valdosta Police Department patrol officers were dispatched to the scene. Officers found a woman standing outside of the residence who said that Williams allegedly assaulted her and had left the scene shortly before the officers arrived. The victim had significant scrapes, scratches, cuts and bruises on her body and face and a large knot in the center of her forehead.
The victim told officers that Williams had allegedly taken the keys of the victim’s rental car and refused to give them back when she and her child asked. Williams allegedly pushed the child and began punching the victim. The altercation continued when the child ran to the next-door neighbor’s house and called 911.
The rental car was full of Williams’ belongings, including his AK-47 style semi-automatic rifle. Williams has prior state felony convictions for robbery/carjacking in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and felony fleeing/attempting to elude in Hamilton County, Florida. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Valdosta Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sonja Profit and Monica Daniels are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Huntington Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Amy Lynn Carter, 40, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to deliver 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 20, 2021, Carter was a passenger in a vehicle parked at a Barboursville convenience store when a law enforcement officer approached the vehicle. The officer observed drug paraphernalia in plain view within the vehicle. A police K-9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found 19 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, more than 242 grams of methamphetamine and $10,300. Carter admitted that she possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it. Carter further admitted that she intended to buy additional methamphetamine with the cash found in the vehicle for distribution within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Carter is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams is prosecuting 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. 3:22-cr-19.
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Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jimmie Lee Holbrook, 43, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 10, 2023, Holbrook sold a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant in a vehicle outside of a service station in Huntington.
Holbrook is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting 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. 3:23-cr-149.
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Houstonian sent to prison for trafficking meth and heroinRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute nearly 4,000 grams of drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jorge Delgado-Santacruz pleaded guilty Nov. 29, 2022.
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal has now ordered Delgado-Santacruz to serve 180 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony about the impact meth and heroin has had on the community at large and noted the sentence was appropriate to deter this kind of activity.
The investigation began in November 2020 when authorities learned Delgado-Santacruz was trafficking both meth and heroin in the Houston area.
Law enforcement set up numerous controlled drug buys. Delgado-Santacruz would negotiate the sale price of the substances and then directed others to deliver the narcotics.
Delgado-Santacruz was ultimately held accountable for the distribution of 892 grams of meth and 3,059.357 grams of heroin from Dec. 9, 2020, to Jan. 18, 2022. The total street value of all the drugs attributable to him is estimated at $375,000.
Delgado-Santacruz has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart A. Burns prosecuted the case.
High-Ranking MS-13 Fugitive Arrested on Terrorism IndictmentRead the Press Release
Today, at the conclusion of a removal hearing, a federal court in Houston, Texas ordered Elmer Canales-Rivera, also known as “Crook de Hollywood,” a high-ranking leader of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, to be transferred in custody to the Eastern District of New York where he and 13 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders were indicted in December 2020 on terrorism offenses relating to their direction of the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico and elsewhere over the past two decades.
On November 9 2023, Canales-Rivera was arrested by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), when he arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. Specifically, Canales-Rivera has been charged with conspiracy to provide and conceal material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to finance terrorism and narco-terrorism conspiracy.
Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General; Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY); Christopher A. Wray, Director, FBI; and Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security announced Canales-Rivera’s arrest and initial appearance.
“We allege that Elmer Canales-Rivera, a founding member of MS-13’s ‘Twelve Apostles of the Devil,’ bears responsibility for the gang’s efforts over decades to terrorize communities, target law enforcement, and sow violence here in the United States and abroad,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The arrest of this high-ranking, long-time leader of MS-13 should serve as a warning to MS-13’s other leaders that the Justice Department will hold you accountable for your crimes.”
“The defendant’s appearance in a federal courtroom today in the United States is a giant step in holding him accountable for his significant role as an alleged member of the MS-13 gang’s leadership body known as the ‘Twelve Apostles of the Devil’ and later renamed Ranfla Nacional,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “As alleged, Canales-Rivera along with his co-defendants acted as a board of directors, directing acts of violence, intimidation and material support of terrorists in El Salvador and throughout the United States including in the Eastern District of New York where he will appear next in a federal courtroom in Central Islip to answer these charges.”
This case was brought by Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created to combat MS-13, led by Assistant United States Attorney John J. Durham of the EDNY, and comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as other government agencies and offices have been essential partners in JTFV, including the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division, the FBI; HSI; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the USMS; the U.S. Bureau of Prisons; and the United States Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General.
Mr. Peace expressed his thanks to the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, which has spearheaded JTFV’s MS-13 leadership investigations, with critical support provided by the Criminal Investigative Division’s Safe Streets Gang Unit, along with HSI’s National Gangs and Violent Crime Unit and HSI’s New York and Houston Field Offices. Additionally, FBI Legal Attachés in Mexico City and San Salvador, FBI Houston Field Office, HSI Attaché Mexico City, USMS Legal Attaché in Mexico City and the United States Customs and Border Protection Officers at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston provided critical support in connection with the arrest, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office and the USMS for the Southern District of Texas for coordinating the initial appearance in Houston.
Mr. Peace also thanked the numerous Department of Justice components that contributed to this indictment, including: the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Executive Office; the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training. In addition, the Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the United States Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Asset Control have provided valuable assistance for JTFV’s mission.
“With determination and coordinated effort, the FBI and our law enforcement and foreign partners successfully apprehended a violent criminal that directly threatened the safety of our communities," said FBI Director Christopher A. Wray. "This pursuit exemplifies the FBI's commitment to safeguard the American public and continued promise to dismantle criminal networks like MS-13.”
“This arrest makes it clear that there is no hiding place for leaders of criminal syndicates that threaten our communities,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Through the dedication and investigative abilities of HSI agents and our federal partners, we are taking on criminal organizations like MS-13 and helping to bring all those who perpetrate transnational crimes to justice.”
As set forth in the indictment, which was returned on December 16, 2020 and unsealed on January 14, 2021, and related court filings, Canales-Rivera and his co-defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional, Ranfla en Las Calles, and Ranfla en Los Penales. They play significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and throughout the world. In total, 27 of the highest-ranking leaders of MS-13 have been charged in the Eastern District of New York in this indictment and the related indictment of United States v. Arevalo-Chavez, et al.
As further alleged, in approximately 2002, Canales-Rivera, his co-defendants, and other MS-13 leaders began establishing a highly-organized, hierarchical command and control structure as a means to effectuate their decisions and enforce their orders, even while in prison. They directed acts of violence and murder in El Salvador, the United States, and elsewhere, established military-style training camps for its members and obtained military weapons such as rifles, handguns, grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and rocket launchers. Further, beginning in approximately 2012, Canales-Rivera and other members of the Ranfla Nacional negotiated with officials from the government of El Salvador (GOES) and obtaied benefits and concessions from the GOES. In order to extract those benefits and concessions from GOES, MS-13 engaged in public displays of violence to threaten and intimidate civilian populations, targeted GOES law enforcement and military officials, and manipulated the electoral process in El Salvador. Canales-Rivera played one of the most prominent roles in MS-13’s negotiations and agreements with the GOES.
Additionally, as alleged, the Ranfla Nacional directed the expansion of MS-13 activities around the world, including the United States and Mexico, where several high-ranking leaders were sent to organize operations, make connections to obtain narcotics and firearms from Mexican drug cartels such as the Zetas, Gulf Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and Sinaloa Cartel, and engage in human trafficking and smuggling. The Ranfla Nacional also directed MS-13’s large membership in the United States to engage in criminal activities, such as drug trafficking and extortion to raise money to support MS-13’s terrorist activities in El Salvador and elsewhere.
Finally, the Ranfla Nacional and MS-13’s transnational leadership structure is alleged to have directed members in the United States to commit acts of violence, including murders, to further its goals and implemented rules that enabled MS-13 to entrench itself in parts of the United States, including within the EDNY where, under the defendants’ leadership and rules, MS-13 has committed numerous acts of violence—including murders, attempted murders, assaults, kidnappings, drug trafficking, extortion of individuals and businesses, obstructed justice and sent dues and the proceeds of criminal activity by wire transfer to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador. For example, this Office’s Long Island Criminal Division has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members, and associates for carrying out more than 65 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present.
When the indictment was unsealed in January 2021, Canales-Rivera was in custody in El Salvador serving a prison sentence, and the United States lodged an INTERPOL Red Notice and submitted an extradition request for Canales-Rivera to the GOES. However, in or about November 2021, Canales-Rivera was released from custody by the GOES and then unlawfully entered Guatemala. Canales-Rivera remained a fugitive until November 7, 2023, when he was apprehended by Mexican authorities.
Further, in addition to requesting Canales-Rivera’s extradition, in 2021 and 2022, the United States requested the extradition of 11 of his co-defendants, including Borromeo Enrique Henriquez, also known as “Diablito de Hollywood,” who is widely recognized as the most powerful member of the Ranfla Nacional. To date, the GOES has not extradited any of those defendants.
Two of Canales-Rivera’s co-defendants, Fredy Ivan Jandres-Parada, also known as “Lucky de Park View” and “Lacky de Park View,” and Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, also known as “El Grenas de Stoners” and “Oso de Stoners,” and three related defendants from the Arevalo-Chavez indictment, Jorge Alexander De La Cruz, also known as “Cruger de Peatonales,” Juan Antonio Martinez-Abrego, also known as “Mary Jane de Hollywood,” and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, also known as “Veterano de Tribus,” remain at large. Members of the public with information concerning their whereabouts are strongly encouraged to contact the FBI’s toll-free MS-13 tip line, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or HSI’s tip line at (866) 347-2423 or https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form. Together, FBI and HSI have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the fugitives.
These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Canales-Rivera faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John J. Durham, Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci, and Megan E. Farrell from the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Donnelly (District of New Jersey), Matthew Shepherd (Northern District of Ohio), and Stewart Young (District of Utah) from JTFV.
Newly Arrested Defendant in U.S. Custody:
ELMER CANALES-RIVERA (“Crook de Hollywood”)
Age: 47Fugitive Defendants:
FREDY IVAN JANDRES-PARADA (“Lucky de Park View” and “Lacky de Park View”)
Age: 47CESAR HUMBERTO LOPEZ-LARIOS (“El Grenas de Stoners” and “Oso de Stoners”)
Age: 44Defendants with Pending Extradition Requests, Reportedly in El Salvador Custody:
BORROMEO ENRIQUE HENRIQUEZ (“Diablito de Hollywood”)
Age: 45EFRAIN CORTEZ (“Tigre de Park View” and “Viejo Tigre de Park View”)
Age: 54RICARDO ALBERTO DIAZ (“Rata de Leewards” and “Mousey de Leewards”)
Age: 50EDUARDO ERAZO-NOLASCO (“Colocho de Western” and “Mustage de Western”)
Age: 51EDSON SACHARY EUFEMIA (“Speedy de Park View”)
Age: 49JOSE FERNANDEZ FLORES-CUBAS (“Cola de Western”)
Age: 49LEONEL ALEXANDER LEONARDO (“El Necio de San Cocos”)
Age: 43JOSE LUIS MENDOZA-FIGUEROA (“Pavas de 7-11” and “Viejo Pavas de 7-11”)
Age: 59HUGO ARMANDO QUINTEROS-MINEROS (“Flaco de Francis”)
Age: 50SAUL ANTONIO TURCIOS (“Trece de Teclas”)
Age: 45ARISTIDES DIONISIO UMANZOR (“Sirra de Teclas”)
Age: 45E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 20-CR-577 (JMA)
High-Ranking MS-13 Fugitive Arrested on Terrorism ChargesRead the Press Release
At the conclusion of a removal hearing, a federal court in Houston, Texas ordered Elmer Canales-Rivera, aka Crook de Hollywood, a high-ranking leader of La Mara Salvatrucha, aka MS-13, to be transferred in custody to the Eastern District of New York where he and 13 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders were indicted in December 2020 on terrorism offenses relating to their direction of the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere over the past two decades.
On Nov. 9, Canales-Rivera was arrested by members of the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) when he arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. Specifically, Canales-Rivera has been charged with conspiracy to provide and conceal material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to finance terrorism and narco-terrorism conspiracy.
“We allege that Elmer Canales-Rivera, a founding member of MS-13’s ‘Twelve Apostles of the Devil,’ bears responsibility for the gang’s efforts over decades to terrorize communities, target law enforcement, and sow violence here in the United States and abroad,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The arrest of this high-ranking, long-time leader of MS-13 should serve as a warning to MS-13’s other leaders that the Justice Department will hold you accountable for your crimes.”
“This arrest makes it clear that there is no hiding place for leaders of criminal syndicates that threaten our communities,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Through the dedication and investigative abilities of HSI agents and our federal partners, we are taking on criminal organizations like MS-13 and helping to bring all those who perpetrate transnational crimes to justice.”
“With determination and coordinated effort, the FBI and our law enforcement and foreign partners successfully apprehended a violent criminal that directly threatened the safety of our communities,” said FBI Director Christopher A. Wray. “This pursuit exemplifies the FBI's commitment to safeguard the American public and continued promise to dismantle criminal networks like MS-13.”
“The defendant’s appearance in a federal courtroom today in the United States is a giant step in holding him accountable for his significant role as an alleged member of the MS-13 gang’s leadership body known as the ‘Twelve Apostles of the Devil’ and later renamed Ranfla Nacional,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “As alleged, Canales-Rivera along with his co-defendants acted as a board of directors, directing acts of violence, intimidation, and material support of terrorists in El Salvador and throughout the United States, including in the Eastern District of New York where he will appear next in a federal courtroom in Central Islip to answer these charges.”
As set forth in the indictment, which was returned on Dec. 16, 2020 and unsealed on Jan. 14, 2021, and related court filings, Canales-Rivera and his co-defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional, Ranfla en Las Calles, and Ranfla en Los Penales. They play significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and throughout the world. In total, 27 of the highest-ranking leaders of MS-13 have been charged in the Eastern District of New York in this indictment and the related indictment of United States v. Arevalo-Chavez, et al.
As further alleged, in approximately 2002, Canales-Rivera, his co-defendants, and other MS-13 leaders began establishing a highly-organized, hierarchical command and control structure as a means to effectuate their decisions and enforce their orders, even while in prison. They directed acts of violence and murder in El Salvador, the United States, and elsewhere, established military-style training camps for its members and obtained military weapons such as rifles, handguns, grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and rocket launchers. Further, beginning in approximately 2012, Canales-Rivera and other members of the Ranfla Nacional negotiated with officials from the government of El Salvador (GOES) and obtained benefits and concessions from the GOES. In order to extract those benefits and concessions from the GOES, MS-13 engaged in public displays of violence to threaten and intimidate civilian populations, targeted GOES law enforcement and military officials, and manipulated the electoral process in El Salvador. Canales-Rivera played one of the most prominent roles in MS-13’s negotiations and agreements with the GOES.
Additionally, as alleged, the Ranfla Nacional directed the expansion of MS-13 activities around the world, including the United States and Mexico, where several high-ranking leaders were sent to organize operations, make connections to obtain narcotics and firearms from Mexican drug cartels such as the Zetas, Gulf Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and Sinaloa Cartel, and engage in human trafficking and smuggling. The Ranfla Nacional also directed MS-13’s large membership in the United States to engage in criminal activities, such as drug trafficking and extortion, to raise money to support MS-13’s terrorist activities in El Salvador and elsewhere.
Finally, the Ranfla Nacional and MS-13’s transnational leadership structure is alleged to have directed members in the United States to commit acts of violence, including murders, to further its goals and implemented rules that enabled MS-13 to entrench itself in parts of the United States, including within the EDNY where, under the defendants’ leadership and rules, MS-13 has committed numerous acts of violence — including murders, attempted murders, assaults, kidnappings, drug trafficking, extortion of individuals and businesses, obstructed justice and sent dues and the proceeds of criminal activity by wire transfer to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador. For example, this the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York’s Long Island Criminal Division has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members, and associates for carrying out more than 65 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present.
When the indictment was unsealed in January 2021, Canales-Rivera was in custody in El Salvador serving a prison sentence, and the United States lodged an INTERPOL Red Notice and submitted an extradition request for Canales-Rivera to the GOES. However, in or about November 2021, Canales-Rivera was released from custody by the GOES and then unlawfully entered Guatemala. Canales-Rivera remained a fugitive until Nov. 7, when he was apprehended by Mexican authorities.
Further, in addition to requesting Canales-Rivera’s extradition, in 2021 and 2022, the United States requested the extradition of 11 of his co-defendants, including Borromeo Enrique Henriquez, also known as “Diablito de Hollywood,” who is widely recognized as the most powerful member of the Ranfla Nacional. To date, the GOES has not extradited any of those defendants.
Two of Canales-Rivera’s co-defendants, Fredy Ivan Jandres-Parada, aka Lucky de Park View and Lacky de Park View, and Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, aka El Grenas de Stoners and Oso de Stoners, and three related defendants from the Arevalo-Chavez indictment, Jorge Alexander De La Cruz, aka Cruger de Peatonales; Juan Antonio Martinez-Abrego, aka Mary Jane de Hollywood, and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, aka Veterano de Tribus, remain at large. Members of the public with information concerning their whereabouts are strongly encouraged to contact the FBI’s toll-free MS-13 tip line, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or HSI’s tip line at 866-347-2423 or www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form. Together, FBI and HSI have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the fugitives.
This case was brought by Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created to combat MS-13, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Durham of the Eastern District of New York, and comprised of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, including the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as other government agencies and offices have been essential partners in JTFV, including the Justice Department’s National Security Division and the FBI’s Criminal Division; HSI; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); USMS; Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP); and U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General.
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office spearheaded JTFV’s MS-13 leadership investigations, with critical support provided by the Criminal Investigative Division’s Safe Streets Gang Unit, along with HSI’s National Gangs and Violent Crime Unit and HSI’s New York and Houston Field Offices. Additionally, the FBI Legal Attachés in Mexico City and San Salvador, FBI Houston Field Office, HSI Attaché Mexico City, USMS Legal Attaché in Mexico City, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston provided critical support in connection with the arrest, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the USMS for the Southern District of Texas for coordinating the initial appearance in Houston.
Numerous Justice Department components that contributed to this indictment, including: the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Executive Office; the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training. In addition, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) have provided valuable assistance for JTFV’s mission.
If convicted, Canales-Rivera faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John J. Durham, Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci, and Megan E. Farrell for the Eastern District of New York’s Long Island Criminal Division are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Donnelly for the District of New Jersey, Matthew Shepherd for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stewart Young for the District of Utah from JTFV.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Harrison County man sentenced for federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Neal Boram, II, age 38, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 80 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Boram, a convicted felon, persuaded a female to purchase him a 9mm pistol from a licensed firearms dealer in Morgantown. Investigators searched Boram’s hotel room and found the 9mm pistol’s box, another firearm, ammunition, and controlled substances. Further investigation revealed that Boram sold the 9mm, along with two other firearms, to a convicted felon.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Harlem man sentenced to 18 months in prison for drive-by shooting of residence on Fort Belknap Indian reservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Harlem man who admitted to shooting into an occupied house in Fort Belknap Agency on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Tyree Daniel Doney, 22, pleaded guilty in June to assault with a dangerous weapon.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $3,900 restitution.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Jan. 19, a man, identified as John Doe, was inside his residence with his family, including two children. John Doe heard multiple gunshots, and one bullet lodged inside his residence. John Doe feared that he or his family would be harmed from the drive-by shooting. Law enforcement learned that Doney was in the area at the time of the shooting, and Doney ultimately admitted to firing the gunshots into John Doe’s home. Doney did so, in part, because Doney was upset about a physical fight he had with John Doe four months prior. Officers recovered 9mm casings outside John Doe’s residence, 9mm casings inside Doney’s vehicle and the 9mm firearm inside Doney’s residence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
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Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Killing Bald EagleRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Domingo Zetino Hernandez, 21, of Guatemala, was sentenced on November 14, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. United States Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson sentenced Zetino Hernandez to time served. Zetino Hernandez has been in custody since March 20, 2023. Zetino Hernandez is subject to removal proceedings with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
On or about February 28, 2023, law enforcement received a report of a suspicious vehicle located at the Wood Duck Wildlife Management Area, located in Stanton County, Nebraska. Law enforcement arrived at Wood Duck and approached the vehicle with Ramiro Hernandez Tziquin and Zetino Hernandez as the occupants. During the encounter, Zetino Hernandez admitted that he shot a bird and that it was in the trunk of the vehicle. Law enforcement obtained consent to search the vehicle and found one bald eagle carcass. Zetino Hernandez admitted to taking and possessing the bald eagle found in the trunk of the vehicle without being permitted to do so.
Co-defendant Hernandez Tziquin remains at large. Hernandez-Tziquin, who was living in Norfolk, Nebraska, at the time of the incident, is believed to have fled the local area around the time his arrest warrant was issued, and to date has not been located. Hernandez-Tziquin may currently be living with family or associates in Nebraska, Texas, or elsewhere. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking information regarding the current location of Hernandez-Tziquin. There may be a reward available for information leading to an arrest by calling 1-844-FWS-TIPS (1-844-397-8477) or online at https://www.fws.gov/wildlife-crime-tips. Callers may remain anonymous.
This case was investigated by United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Nebraska Games and Parks Commission, and the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office.
Greensboro Man Sentenced to Total of 142 Months on Firearm Offense, Supervised Release ViolationsRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – RYAN ROBERT AUGHENBAUGH was sentenced today to a total of 142 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
AUGHENBAUGH was indicted in November 2022, and pleaded guilty to the single-count Indictment on July 17, 2023.
AUGHENBAUGH was sentenced to a 115-month term of imprisonment for the felon in possession charge by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. In addition, Judge Schroeder sentenced AUGHENBAUGH for two supervised release violations, imposing terms of 27 and 24 months, to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to the 115-month sentence.
This case arises from an investigation by the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. According to documents filed in the case and evidence presented at sentencing, on June 29, 2022, GPD responded to a call reporting someone breaking into cars on Westhaven Drive. As officers approached, AUGHENBAUGH - who matched the description of the suspect given by the caller – attempted to flee on foot. He was taken to the ground, and during the ensuing struggle, AUGHENBAUGH discharged a gun, hitting himself in the leg and wounding one of the officers. Officers ultimately recovered two guns from AUGHENBAUGH, both of which had been reported stolen.
As of June 29, 2022, AUGHENBAUGH had been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison. Most notably, on April 22, 2016, he was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon by the Hon. Catherine C. Eagles in case number 1:15CR406-1 [MDNC]. He also received a sentence of 24 months of imprisonment on December 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, for bank fraud in case number 7:15CR98-1.
The case was prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon and former Assistant United States Attorney Tanner Kroeger.
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Greene County Man Charged with Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Drew Caswell, age 25, of Cairo, New York, appeared in federal court yesterday on a charge that he possessed child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Alfred A. Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to the criminal complaint, on August 7, 2022, Caswell possessed a phone that contained numerous electronic files depicting the sexual abuse of children. The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Caswell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
As part of yesterday’s initial appearance in which Caswell was detained, United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart scheduled a detention hearing for tomorrow, November 16.
If convicted of the charge in the complaint, Caswell faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Caswell would also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Fugitive Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Apprehended after a four-year man hunt by federal law enforcement officials, a U.S. District judge sentenced a fentanyl and heroin trafficker to 13 years in federal prison.
Mario L. Delgado-Lopez, 42, originally from Puerto Rico, appeared in court for his sentencing hearing on Nov. 9 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute in 2018.
“The defendant was responsible for trafficking large amounts of illicit narcotics into southern Illinois and then fled the country,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle A. Crowe. “As a fugitive of justice for several years, this federal prison sentence is appropriate for his conduct.”
According to court documents, Delgado-Lopez admitted to federal charges for conspiring with co-defendants to distribute more than 850 grams of fentanyl and more than 550 grams of heroin in Madison and St. Clair counties. Collinsville police arrested Delgado-Lopez following a traffic stop in August 2015 when officers discovered drugs in the vehicle.
“The Drug Enforcement Administration and its law enforcement partners, to include the U.S. Marshals and the Collinsville Police Department, will stop at nothing to hold those who peddle poison in our communities accountable for their crimes,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Dixon, head of DEA investigations in southern Illinois. “We will ensure these criminals spend time behind bars and no longer endanger the lives of our family, friends and community.”
Delgado-Lopez’s sentencing hearing was previously scheduled for May 8, 2019, but he failed to appear in court. Mexican authorities arrested him in June on a federal warrant and transferred him to U.S. border officials.
The judge upheld a sentencing enhancement for his obstructing justice due to absconding and being a fugitive. Following imprisonment, Delgado-Lopez will serve five years of supervised release.
DEA led the investigation with support from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Collinsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Trippi prosecuted the case.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Fourteen Gang Members and Associates Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
A superseding indictment was unsealed today in the District of Minnesota charging 14 additional members and associates of the Minneapolis Highs gang with racketeering (RICO) conspiracy and fentanyl trafficking. Additional charges include firearms violations, kidnapping, assault, and carjacking.
In addition to the previously charged conduct involving a years-long pattern of violence, the superseding indictment alleges an extensive fentanyl trafficking operation involving Arizona-based suppliers. Between the summer of 2020 and the spring of 2023, Highs members are alleged to have made numerous round-trip flights from Minneapolis to Phoenix, at times carrying large sums of U.S. currency, to obtain fentanyl pills for re-sale in Minneapolis. During the same time period, Highs members shipped numerous U.S. Postal Service parcels containing fentanyl pills to Minneapolis from Arizona. The superseding indictment alleges numerous instances of fentanyl possession and distribution in and around Highs territory in Minneapolis.
Through the course of the investigation, law enforcement has seized approximately 11.6 kilograms of fentanyl, at least 36 firearms, and over $218,000 in U.S. currency.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota, Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Engelbert of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, Chief Brian O’Hara of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Kuszynski of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Chicago, Inspector in Charge Bryan S. Musgrove of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division, Chief Deputy Tracey Martin of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Superintendent Drew Evans of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), and Assistant Commissioner Eddie Miles of the Minnesota Department of Corrections made the announcement.
The ATF, FBI, MPD, IRS-CI, USPIS, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota BCA, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the cases, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies also contributed to the investigation.
Trial Attorney Brian W. Lynch of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates, Justin A. Wesley, Albania Concepcion, and Jordan L. Sing for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Superseding IndictmentFourteen Gang Members and Associates Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A superseding indictment was unsealed today in the District of Minnesota charging 14 additional members and associates of the Minneapolis Highs gang with racketeering (RICO) conspiracy and fentanyl trafficking. Additional charges include firearms violations, kidnapping, assault, and carjacking.
“Today’s charges against the Highs gang are focused on the criminal organization’s extensive fentanyl trafficking operations,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “Selling fentanyl in our communities is as dangerous and lethal as the brazen gun violence we’ve seen in our cities. Addressing the nexus between narcotics trafficking and violent crime is a critical piece of our Violent Crime Strategy, and I am grateful to my law enforcement partners who are equally focused on protecting the lives of Minnesotans, regardless of the threat.”
In addition to the previously charged conduct involving a years-long pattern of violence, the superseding indictment alleges an extensive fentanyl trafficking operation involving Arizona-based suppliers. Between the summer of 2020 and the spring of 2023, Highs members are alleged to have made numerous round-trip flights from Minneapolis to Phoenix, at times carrying large sums of U.S. currency, to obtain fentanyl pills for re-sale in Minneapolis. During the same time period, Highs members shipped numerous U.S. Postal Service parcels containing fentanyl pills to Minneapolis from Arizona. The superseding indictment alleges numerous instances of fentanyl possession and distribution in and around Highs territory in Minneapolis.
Through the course of the investigation, law enforcement has seized approximately 11.6 kilos of fentanyl, at least 36 firearms, and over $218,000 in U.S. currency.
The following defendants are charged in the Highs superseding indictment, with all defendants being from Minneapolis, unless otherwise noted below.
- Gregory Brown, aka Lil’ G, aka Knowledge, 33, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Marques Walker, aka Q, aka Quez, 41, is charged with RICO Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Deandre Poe, aka Squizzy, aka Fat Squad, 34, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Clinton Brown, aka CJ, 29, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Amarjah Lester, aka M-Thang, 21, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime.
- Christopher Lee Washington, aka Flock, aka David Hendricks, 29, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Ernest Ketter, aka Shakedown, 27, is charged with RICO conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Robert Lesure, aka Bibby Folks, 21, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Avante Nix, aka Fat Folks, 21, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Arron Davis, aka A-Boogie, 31, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Dashawn Jackson, aka D-Nice, 31, is charged with RICO Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Jadarius Wright, 29, of Phoenix, Arizona, is charged with is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
- Carlos Serrano, 31, of Phoenix, Arizona, is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
- Leneal Frazier, aka Baby Chop, aka Lil’ Chop, 22, who was previously indicted on September 6, 2023, is charged with Kidnapping in Aid of Racketeering, Assault in Aid of Racketeering, Carjacking, and Brandishing a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy.
The ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the cases, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates, Justin A. Wesley, Albania Concepcion, and Jordan L. Sing for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney Brian W. Lynch of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four People Sentenced in Multimillion-Dollar PPP SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Lori Hammond, a/k/a Lori McCracken, a/k/a Lori Blakely, 54, of Summerville, Christopher Conrad, 41, of Holly Hill, Catherine “Cassie” Needham, 38, of Manning, and Jontrell Wright, 37, of Orangeburg, were sentenced to federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud for submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications and misusing the funds. The Honorable David C. Norton presided over the sentencing hearings in Charleston.
Evidence presented during the sentencing hearings established that Lori Hammond submitted more than $11 million is fraudulent loan applications for PPP and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans for her personal enrichment and the personal enrichment of her co-conspirators Conrad, Needham, and Wright. The loan applications contained inflated employee and payroll funds, were often submitted on behalf of companies that did not exist or were inactive and included fake business addresses and fraudulent tax documents. More than $5.8 million in PPP and EIDL loans were paid to Hammond and her co-conspirators.
Hammond personally received $3,162,038.50 in PPP and EIDL loan funds. Hammond thereafter spent the money on personal expenses, including purchasing a home, luxury vehicles, a golf cart, and plastic surgery. On Oct. 17, the Court sentenced Hammond to 80 months imprisonment, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. The Court also ordered Hammond to pay $2,722,932.50 in restitution, representing the remaining outstanding unpaid loans funds.
Conrad fraudulently received $898,300 in loan funds and spent the funds largely on unapproved personal expenses. On Nov. 14, the Court sentenced Conrad to 12 months and one day incarceration, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. The Court ordered Conrad to pay $898,300 in restitution.
Needham fraudulently received $1,244,200 and thereafter used the funds for improper personal expenses, including purchasing property, a golf cart, a pool, home improvements, and plastic surgery. On Sept. 13, the Court sentenced Needham to 21-months incarceration, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. The Court ordered Needham to pay $1,244,200 in restitution.
Wright fraudulently received $561,700.00 in loan funds and thereafter spent the funds on unapproved personal expenses. On Dec. 19, 2022, the Court sentenced Wright to 15 months incarceration, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. The Court ordered Wright to pay $561,700.00 in restitution.
“While millions of South Carolinians were struggling during the pandemic, these defendants defrauded the systems meant to provide relief,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina Adair F. Boroughs. “We will continue to pursue bad actors such as these and hold them accountable for exploiting these resources for their own gain.”
“These sentences reflect the severity of PPP loan fraud,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “Such crimes challenge the integrity of relief programs designed for those who need assistance most. The FBI is committed to holding offenders accountable and safeguarding loan programs to ensure the public’s trust in our financial systems.”This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse prosecuted this case.
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Former USP McCreary Inmate Sentenced to Life in Prison for First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— A man originally from New Orleans, but who was confined at United States Penitentiary McCreary, Kenneth Shaver, 45, was sentenced to life in federal prison on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, following his conviction for first-degree murder.
According to evidence presented at Shaver’s trial, Shaver, his co-defendant Justin Boe, and the victim, Lance Cameron Smith, were federal inmates in custody at USP McCreary. Shaver and Boe assaulted Smith due to suspicion that Smith had cooperated with law enforcement. On February 4, 2015, Boe lured Smith into Boe’s cell, where Shaver was waiting for him. Per trial testimony, Smith was stabbed dozens of times and subsequently died from those wounds.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the United States Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosenberg prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Former Stamford Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Stealing More Than $700K from ClientsRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAM McCULLOUGH, 63, of Westerly, Rhode Island, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for stealing more than $700,000 from clients of his law practice.
According to court documents and statements made in court today, prior to his resignation from the Connecticut bar in March 2019, McCullough operated a law practice in Stamford for several years. As part of his practice, McCullough worked on real estate transactions for clients. In that capacity, McCullough received funds from clients and knew he was required to deposit those funds in an Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (“IOLTA Account”) and use them in accordance with his duties to each client. In March 2018, the Connecticut Statewide Grievance Committee audited McCullough’s IOLTA Account and found that he had failed to maintain required documents for several years. The audit revealed that more than $1.27 million was due to clients, but the IOLTA Account held less than $600,000. A subsequent criminal investigation revealed that McCullough defrauded clients by using funds in his IOLTA Account to cover funds owed to others, and for his own use. McCullough made false representations to clients, including providing a false and inaccurate closing statement to at least one individual, to prevent the scheme from being uncovered.
McCullough’s clients lost approximately $720,851.05 through this scheme. Judge Bolden ordered him to pay full restitution.
On November 22, 2022, McCullough pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
McCullough, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on January 8.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Wallingford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Weingarten.
Former St. Louis Postal Worker Admits Depositing Checks Stolen from MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former employee of the U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday admitted stealing checks from the mail and depositing them in her own account.
Porcia Denise Rhodes, 27, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of bank fraud and one count of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service.
Rhodes, who was a mail processing clerk at the time, admitted stealing about 21 checks. Rhodes then scratched out the payee’s name and wrote in her own before depositing the checks into her personal bank account. The checks were valued at $5,035. In one example listed in Rhodes’ plea agreement, she intercepted a birthday card containing a $500 check that a Troy, Illinois woman was trying to mail to her grandson in Florida.
Rhodes is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 12, 2024, by U.S. District Court Sarah E. Pitlyk. The bank fraud charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both. The theft charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane is prosecuting the case.
Former Sewerage and Water Board Official Sentenced for TheftRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JAMES ARNOLD was sentenced today for Theft from an Agency Receiving Federal Funds. United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced ARNOLD to four years of probation, 90 days of which are to be served under home confinement, and restitution in the amount of $108,290.
ARNOLD engaged in a theft scheme while employed as a Utility Services Administrator for the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (S&WB). Beginning in approximately 2012, and continuing until in or about November 2021, ARNOLD stole S&WB funds by causing the S&WB to issue plumbing permits when it had not received the fees required for the issuance of those permits. ARNOLD did this by instructing plumbers to provide him directly with payments for the fees. ARNOLD would then keep the payments for his personal use and cause the S&WB to issue the permits without the S&WB having received the required fees.
“The Arnold case is a prime example of the FBI's commitment to drag public corruption into the daylight, no matter how long it takes,” said Douglas A. Williams, Jr., Special Agent in Charge for FBI New Orleans. “Stealing from the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board is by extension taking advantage of the very people who rely on its services every day.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Orleans Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit was in charge of the prosecution.
Former Nurse Sentenced for Drug Diversion from Boston-Area HospitalRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former nurse was sentenced yesterday in federal court today in Boston for diverting opioids from a Boston-area hospital.
Andrea Falzano, 39, of Winchester, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to three months in prison and one year of supervised release. In August 2023, Falzano pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception, and subterfuge.
“Our office is committed to fighting the opioid epidemic on all fronts, including the diversion of medical opioids by unethical health care providers like Ms. Falzano. This defendant took advantage of her position of trust to steal drugs from her employer,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
“The DEA is committed to ensuring the Controlled Substances Act is followed,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office. “Stealing drugs like opioids from hospitals’ controlled environments jeopardizes public health and public safety. DEA pledges to work with our law enforcement partners in Massachusetts to ensure these rules and regulations are followed by all.”
Beginning in May 2019, Falzano used her capacity as a nurse in the emergency department at a Massachusetts based hospital to withdraw controlled substances from a locked drug cabinet. These substances included morphine, fentanyl and hydromorphone, all of which are opioids and Schedule II controlled substances. In total, Falzano withdrew these substances 412 times for 299 already discharged patients over an approximately five-month period. Negative drug tests uncovered during the investigation indicated that Falzano did not self-administer the drugs that she stole from the hospital at which she was employed, despite stating otherwise to her employer and the Board of Registration in Nursing. In statements to the Board, Falzano attempted to minimize her conduct by calling her theft of controlled substances an “isolated incident,” which it was not.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; DEA SAC Boyle; and Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Judge, Defense Attorney, Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—A man who has served as a county judge, prosecutor, and criminal defense attorney was sentenced to federal prison for possession of child pornography. On Wednesday, United States District Court Judge Billy Roy Wilson sentenced Daniel Arthur Stewart, 54, of Fort Smith, to 84 months in prison with 10 years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
Stewart was originally indicted on January 8, 2019, on charges of attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity following an investigation into conduct that occurred between February 1, 2016, and March 19, 2016. On June 8, 2023, Stewart pleaded guilty to a superseding information that charged him with possession of child pornography related to the conduct.
The investigation revealed that on February 1, 2016, a Faulkner County police officer with an undercover profile answered an ad posted on Craigslist. The ad was searching for contact with a “young guy” or “son.” The undercover profile was that of a 42-year-old male with a 13-year-old son. The undercover officer responded to the ad by inquiring if the poster was interested in “family play,” a term commonly used to describe sexual contact between family combinations such as father/son or mother/daughter. When the poster responded positively, the communication then continued on Kik, which is an online messaging platform. The poster’s contact photo was identified as Stewart. A sexually explicit conversation followed that led Stewart indicating he would reserve a hotel room in Fort Smith for the purpose of Stewart having sex with the 13-year-old on March 19, 2016.
When Stewart entered the lobby of the Hampton Inn, he was taken into custody. Following Stewart’s arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence and seized numerous electronic devices. On those devices, law enforcement found videos containing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct involving minors, including oral sex and anal penetration between minors and between minors and adults.
Stewart previously worked in the Sebastian County prosecutor’s office before serving as Sebastian County District Court Judge in Fort Smith. Following his time on the bench Stewart also worked as a public defender for Crawford County and more recently for Sebastian County.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter:
@EDARNEWS
Former JCPS Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Violating Federal Child Sexual Exploitation LawRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A former Jefferson County Public Schools teacher was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison for attempted online enticement.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron made the announcement.
According to court documents, Kevin O’Donnell, 26, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, for attempted online enticement of a minor. There is no parole in the federal system. O’Donnell used the internet to communicate with an undercover law enforcement officer who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl for the purposes of engaging in sexual contact. O’Donnell then traveled to meet the undercover agent to engage in sexual conduct.
This case was the result of a joint federal, state, and local operation called Operation Angel, aimed at making federal arrests of individuals who preyed upon children. The United States Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Former Gary, Indiana, Police Officer Sentenced for Using Excessive Force in Violation of Federal Civil Rights LawsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former officer with the Gary, Indiana, Police Department (GPD), was sentenced today to one year and a day in prison, and one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to violating the civil rights of an arrestee. Terry Peck, 48, previously admitted to having used unreasonable force during the arrest of the victim, a man the defendant had stopped for an alleged traffic infraction.
“All people in our country have a right to be free from excessive force by police officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The sentencing of this defendant makes clear that officers cannot violate people’s civil rights with impunity. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute any law enforcement officer who willfully violates the civil rights of the people they are sworn to serve and protect.”
“When interacting with members of the public, even when those public members may have engaged in criminal activity, law enforcement officers are under an obligation to conduct themselves within the limits of the Constitution,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “This successful prosecution demonstrates how justice can prevail when victims and witnesses bravely report criminal misconduct by those who took an oath to serve and protect.”
“This sentence should send a clear message the FBI won’t tolerate the abuse of power of those who took an oath to serve and protect,” said Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “The action of this officer not only violated the victim’s civil rights but damaged the community’s trust in law enforcement. When there is excessive use of force that rises to a federal crime, the FBI will investigate, and those individuals will be held accountable.”
According to the plea agreement, Peck admitted that, on March 19, 2019, while on duty and acting as an officer for GPD, he conducted a traffic stop and placed the driver under arrest. While the driver was handcuffed and not posing a threat to Peck or anyone around him, Peck slammed the driver’s face and head against a police vehicle, breaking the man’s tooth and causing him bodily injury.
The Merrillville Resident Agency of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas McGrath and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chang for the Northern District of Indiana prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office encourages anyone who may have been a victim of a civil rights or hate crime violation to contact the FBI at (219) 769-3719 or submit a tip to [email protected].
Former Gary, Indiana, Police Officer Sentenced for Using Excessive Force in Violation of Federal Civil Rights LawsRead the Press Release
A former officer with the Gary, Indiana, Police Department (GPD) was sentenced today to one year and a day in prison and one year of supervised release for violating the civil rights of an arrestee.
Terry Peck, 48, previously pleaded guilty to having used unreasonable force during the arrest of the victim, a man the defendant had stopped for an alleged traffic infraction.
“All people in our country have a right to be free from excessive force by police officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The sentencing of this defendant makes clear that officers cannot violate people’s civil rights with impunity. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute any law enforcement officer who willfully violates the civil rights of the people they are sworn to serve and protect.”
“When interacting with members of the public, even when those public members may have engaged in criminal activity, law enforcement officers are under an obligation to conduct themselves within the limits of the Constitution,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “This successful prosecution demonstrates how justice can prevail when victims and witnesses bravely report criminal misconduct by those who took an oath to serve and protect.”
“When a police officer uses excessive force, it erodes the trust between law enforcement and the community they are sworn to protect,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will work to ensure law enforcement officers who use unreasonable force are held accountable under the law.”
According to the plea agreement, Peck admitted that, on March 19, 2019, while on duty and acting as an officer for GPD, he conducted a traffic stop and placed the driver under arrest. While the driver was handcuffed and not posing a threat to Peck or anyone around him, Peck slammed the driver’s face and head against a police vehicle, breaking the man’s tooth and causing him bodily injury.
The FBI Indianapolis Field Office, Merrillville Resident Agency investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas McGrath and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chang for the Northern District of Indiana prosecuted the case.
Anyone who may have been a victim of a civil rights or hate crime violation should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip to [email protected].
Federal Prosecutors Work up the Chain and Convict California Man Trafficking Fentanyl into Southwest VirginiaRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Buena Park, California man, who supplied as many as 30,000 pressed fentanyl pills a week to individuals who shipped the pills to Southwest Virginia, pled guilty today to a pair of federal drug charges.
Robert Contreras, 23, a.k.a. “Quill,” pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh made the following statement today following the guilty plea:
“Fentanyl, especially in the form of pressed pills, is taking its toll on America, and Virginia is no exception. This case shows one way how we are combatting the pressed pill epidemic.
After a tragic overdose event in Southwest Virginia, the federal prosecutors in my Office worked with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify, prosecute, and convict the wholesale supplier of the overdose, who was here in Virginia. We then identified his direct supplier (Ortiz) in California, who we also charged and convicted here in Virginia. We identified Ortiz’s supplier in California (Orozco) and charged and convicted him here as well. In this matter, we identified Orozco’s supplier – Mr. Contreras – who was selling between 10,000 and 30,000 pills a week for distribution into communities across America, to include the Western District of Virginia.
Our bottom line is this: We will not sit by and allow individuals to profit by distributing this poison into our communities, and we will follow the trail as far as we can. We will investigate and prosecute individuals like Mr. Contreras and hold them accountable here in the Western District of Virginia.”
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2023, Contreras sold between 10,000 and 30,000 pressed fentanyl pills from his home in California to co-conspirator Marco Orozco at least once a week for further distribution. At the height of the conspiracy in late 2021 and early 2022, Contreras sold Orozco 10,000 pressed fentanyl pills multiple times per week.
Contreras knew Orozco, and others, were distributing the pressed pills he provided to customers throughout southwest Virginia and other locations across the country. Specifically, Orozco’s sub-distributors used various social media platforms to facilitate their drug trade.
On March 6, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Contreras’ residence in California. At that time, officers recovered 1,639 pressed fentanyl pills, $31,294 in cash, and five firearms without serial numbers, in addition to approximately 7,000 alprazolam pills, 3,000 Adderall pills, 242 grams of cocaine, and other hallucinogenic narcotics.
Contreras is scheduled to be sentenced on February 22, 2024 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Norton Police Department, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force (consisting of the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Norton Police Department, the Big Stone Gap Police Department, and the Virginia State Police), the Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Ana (CA) Police Department, the Anaheim Police Department (CA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Federal Correctional Officer Sentenced to 96 Months for Sexually Abusing Multiple Female InmatesRead the Press Release
A former Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) correctional officer was sentenced today to 96 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for sexually abusing multiple female inmates and making false statements while he was a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin, California.
Andrew Jones, 36, of Clovis, California, pleaded guilty to the charges on Aug. 17. Today’s sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
“The egregious sexual abuse that took place at FCI Dublin was disgraceful and tragic, and the Justice Department will not rest until we have eliminated such misconduct from the Federal Bureau of Prisons,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “As the defendant’s guilty plea and today’s sentencing demonstrate, FBOP employees who abuse their positions of authority and assault those in their custody will be held to account.”
“Jones participated in a culture of sexual abuse of female inmates at FCI Dublin that included the Warden, the Chaplain, and other employees, and he like them has now been held to account for his heinous acts,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz of the Justice Department Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG). “The DOJ Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate this type of egregious criminal conduct, and we will do everything within our authority to pursue justice for victims of sexual abuse.”
“The defendant's conduct, sexually abusing inmates and threatening violence to keep them silent, is sick and reprehensible,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “Today’s sentencing comes amid relentless efforts to prevent abuse and misconduct by corrections personnel entrusted with the care and protection of others. The FBI will continue to work with partners to ensure the physical safety and civil rights of all individuals and hold accountable any public servant who abuses a position of trust.”
“This ongoing investigation has unearthed evidence regarding the criminal activities of numerous employees at the Federal Correctional Institution at Dublin,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “So far, seven correctional officers have been convicted of felony conduct involving sexual abuse of female inmates and an eighth employee has been charged with similar conduct. To be clear, this investigation is not over – correctional officers at FCI Dublin are trusted to secure the safety of inmates at the institution; the Department of Justice will continue to hold accountable any correctional officer who violates that solemn responsibility.”
According to his plea agreement, Jones was employed as a correctional officer at FCI Dublin where he supervised prisoners who worked in the Food Services Department. Jones admitted that, between July 2020 and June 2021, while he had supervisory and disciplinary authority over all the female prisoners, he received oral sex from, and/or had sexual intercourse with, three female prisoners who worked for him in the FCI Dublin kitchen. Jones admitted that he sexually abused these prisoners in multiple places near the FCI Dublin kitchen, including a staff bathroom, a warehouse, and a room where kitchen utensils were kept.
In a memorandum filed in connection with Jones’ sentencing, the government argued that Jones “enforced silence and obedience” from the prisoners by using “violence and threats of violence.” The memorandum stated that “intimidation and insults on the one hand, and the flattery on the other, was aimed at cultivating pliant prisoners who Jones could abuse for his own sexual pleasure, while he remained safe in the belief that his misconduct would go unreported.”
In sum, Jones pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual abuse of a ward involving three inmates and one count of false statements to the DOJ-OIG.
Jones is one of eight correctional officers to have been charged with federal crimes involving sexual misconduct at FCI Dublin in the past three years and the fourth to have been sentenced. To date, all the recent sentences for FCI Dublin guards convicted of sexual abuse of a ward and/or abusive sexual contact of a prisoner have resulted in sentences that are above the U.S Sentencing Guidelines.
DOJ-OIG and thr FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly K. Priedeman and Andrew Paulson for the Northern District of California prosecuted the cases, with the assistance of Madeline Wachs, Sara Slattery, Christine Tian, Claudia Hyslop, Leeya Kekona, and Kay Konopaske.
FBOP is committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law. The numerous FBOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of misconduct are critical to the Department’s reform efforts.
El Paso Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Causing Fentanyl Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man pleaded guilty in a federal court in El Paso to one count of distribution of fentanyl, causing death or serious bodily injury.
According to court documents, Christian Torres, 24, was the supplier of counterfeit M-30 pills containing fentanyl at his residence on March 4, 2022. Torres and another user consumed the pills, which led to the overdose and death of the other person. The death was determined to be the result of fentanyl toxicity.
Torres faces 20 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Countryman is prosecuting the case.
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El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo de más de $900,000 con una agencia nacional de contratación para resolver acusaciones de discriminación en la contrataciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con Kforce, Inc. (Kforce), una agencia de contratación con 36 oficinas por todo Estados Unidos. El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento que Kforce vulneró la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) al discriminar a no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. con permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos cuando los excluyó de oportunidades laborales con base en sus estatus de ciudadanía.
«Las compañías no pueden, de manera, ilícita, excluir a personas que tienen permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos de oportunidades laborales debido a estatus de ciudadanía», dijo Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «El Departamento de Justicia seguirá haciendo responsables a aquellos que incurran en conductas que vulneran las leyes de derechos civiles de nuestro país».
La investigación del Departamento determinó que, desde al menos el 1 de marzo del 2019 hasta el 28 de febrero del 2022, Kforce distribuyó anuncios de empleo que contenían restricciones de contratación ilícitas basadas en el estatus de ciudadanía o de otro modo eliminó a candidatos en función de su estatus de ciudadanía. Estas acciones perjudicaron a los trabajadores a los que se les ha otorgado el asilo o el estatus de refugiado, así como a los residentes permanentes legales, al disuadirles, de manera ilícita, de presentar una solicitud para los anuncios de trabajo y no considerar, de forma significativa, a aquellos que sí solicitaron un trabajo.
En virtud de los términos del acuerdo, Kforce pagará $690,000 en sanciones civiles a los Estados Unidos y destinará otros $230,000 para compensar a los trabajadores afectados. El acuerdo también requiere que Kforce capacite a su personal en cuanto a los requisitos de la INA, que revise sus políticas de empleo y que se someta a los requisitos de supervisión y declaración departamentales.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, por lo general, la ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda mediante este vídeo corto. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito o visualizar una presentación a la carta; enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico desde IER.
2023.11.14_kforce_settlement_agreement_signed.pdfDulce Man Pleads Guilty to Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Steven Williams pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Williams, 29, of Dulce, and an enrolled member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.
According to court records, between February 11 and February 14, 2023, Williams repeatedly assaulted Jane Doe, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, with a knife, injuring her hands, throat, and arms.
At sentencing, Williams faces up to ten years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
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