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Thursday 22 June 2023
Odessa Veteran Pleads Guilty to Theft of Veteran BenefitsRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Edward Ferraro (48, Odessa) has pleaded guilty to theft of Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) disability benefits. Ferraro faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to public records, Ferraro, a former VA disability rater, exploited his position with the VA to apply for and approve benefits in the name of an unwitting third party in May 2003. The proceeds of the fraud were deposited into a bank account in Ferraro’s name, and over the ensuing years the VA paid more than $500,000 in improper benefits. Ferraro withdrew the VA proceeds from the account and used them to fund his lifestyle, including cash payments to his credit cards, family vacations, gambling, and the like. The scheme was discovered when the identity theft victim—also a veteran—attempted to apply for a VA-backed home loan.
This case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones.
New York Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Multiple Federal Crimes Related to “Ichioka Ventures” Cryptocurrency Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the United States announced the filing of an information charging William Koo Ichioka with multiple felonies in connection with “Ichioka Ventures,” an alleged investment fraud scheme involving cryptocurrencies and other investment vehicles. According to court documents filed in the case, Ichioka has agreed to plead guilty to charges of wire fraud, aiding or assisting in the preparation of a false or fraudulent tax return, fraud in connection with the purchase and sale of securities, and commodities fraud.
The announcement was made by Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Colthurst of the Northern District of California United States Attorney’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp; and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian.
According to the information filed in federal court, Ichioka, 30, of New York and formerly of San Francisco, operated a scheme in which he fraudulently raised tens of millions of dollars from over 100 persons and entities, including residents of the Northern District of California. Ichioka began doing business under the name “Ichioka Ventures” in or about 2019. Ichioka solicited investors by promising that their funds would be invested in various securities and/or commodities, including cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency arbitrage, futures, and derivatives, and foreign exchange currency transactions. He represented to prospective investors that they would earn 10% returns every 30 business days and that his investment and trading activities had been generating or had the ability to generate returns in excess of these amounts. Ichioka created a website for Ichioka Ventures that allowed investors to create and login to accounts to invest, view balances and investments, and view transaction history.
“The allure of using cryptocurrencies to make massive profits in a short timeframe provides fertile ground for fraudsters to take advantage of unwary victims,” said Abraham Simmons, a spokesperson from the Office of the U.S. Attorney. “The information filed in this case alleges Ichioka convinced victims to invest millions of dollars into his phony venture by claiming he was making legitimate profits when, in fact, he was reporting fake results and creating bogus documents.”
“William Ichioka was able to secure millions from investors by telling them lie after lie,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “His ‘miraculous’ rates of return, however, were illusory. He stole from family, friends, and others to fund his lavish lifestyle while sustaining his deceit through investment repayments. The charges filed today are an important step to bring justice for Ichioka’s victims.”
“Mr. Ichioka operated a decades-old type of fraudulent scheme and defrauded over 100 investors,” said Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian of the IRS-CI Oakland Field Office. “The hard work and dedication of our investigators and prosecutors led to Mr. Ichioka’s agreement today to plead guilty. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring this investigation to a thorough and complete conclusion. IRS-Criminal Investigation remains dedicated to bringing to justice those who cheat and defraud.”
According to court filings describing Ichioka’s agreement to plead guilty, Ichioka admitted that he commingled investor money with his own funds and used investor money to make purchases of luxury items, including vehicles, watches, and jewelry, and to fund his own personal expenses, including for rent for his personal residence, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, taxi and car share rides, retail stores, gym membership fees, and online purchases. Moreover, Ichioka admitted that he and Ichioka Ventures did not actually earn 10% returns every 30 business days for his investors throughout the time that he represented that it did. Rather, he and Ichioka Ventures sustained losses from portions of funds that he invested. By the end of 2019 – unbeknownst to investors – Ichioka privately acknowledged that the “[c]ompany hasn’t made any money since we started.”
Ichioka admitted that he repaid existing investors using new investor funds to further perpetuate the scheme to defraud, according to court filings describing Ichioka’s agreement to plead guilty. According to the court filings, Ichioka has agreed that he owes non-family investors in “Ichioka Ventures” at least $21 million as a result of the scheme and additionally owes his family members over $40 million.
Ichioka also admitted that he concealed and hid the scheme by doctoring financial documents to overstate the value of assets (including bank, brokerage, and cryptocurrency exchange materials) and providing doctored documents to prospective investors, according to court filings. He also presented false statements of account to investors via the Ichioka Ventures website, failed to provide tax documentation to investors, and willfully failed to report income to the Internal Revenue Service in this scheme.
In sum, Ichioka has agreed to plead guilty to the following crimes and faces the following maximum penalties:
Offense
Statute
Maximum Statutory Penalty (per count)
Wire fraud (1 count)
18 U.S.C. § 1343
20 years
Aiding or assisting in the preparation of a false or fraudulent tax return (2 counts)
26 U.S.C. § 7206(2)
3 years
Fraud in connection with purchase and sale of securities (1 count)
15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78ff; 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5
20 years
Commodities fraud (1 count)
18 U.S.C. § 1348
25 years
The court may order additional terms of supervised release as well as additional monetary penalties and restitution. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
An information merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ichioka’s initial federal court appearance has not yet been scheduled.
Individuals who believe that they may be a victim in this case but have not yet been contacted by the government should contact the FBI by email at: [email protected].
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section and Oakland Branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the federal law enforcement agencies also thank the San Francisco Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The SEC and CFTC each conducted parallel investigations that were also announced today.
Navy Sailor Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Sex Abuse ImagesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Tanner Michael Jackson (25, Jacksonville), a U.S. Navy petty officer, to 7 years in federal prison for distributing child sex abuse images. The court also ordered Jackson to serve 20 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender. In addition, he was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution to a victim of his offense. Jackson had pleaded guilty on March 17, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, in early 2022, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that suspected child sexual abuse material had been shared via a social media application. Law enforcement obtained the subscriber information for the user who had sent the files and the internet protocol address was traced to Jackson.
On August 22, 2022, law enforcement investigators executed a federal search warrant at Jackson’s residence and seized his phone. A forensic review of the phone yielded multiple files of child sexual abuse material.
“Those who choose to violate the innocence of children come from all walks of life, and unfortunately that includes those who don the uniform of this country’s military and take an oath to serve,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “Thanks to the partnerships we have in the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, including the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, this sailor has lost the freedoms he swore to protect and will no longer be able to victimize innocent and vulnerable children.”
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, and the Naval Criminal Investigation Service. It was prosecuted by former Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Karase and Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.
It is another case 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.justice.gov/psc.
Naples Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm During Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Michael Karp (50, Naples) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Karp faces a minimum penalty of five years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to court documents, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Karp in 2022. The investigation included Karp meeting an undercover ATF agent, who was posing as a drug dealer needing protection during drug deals. Karp indicated to the agent that he participated in that type of work. According to the plea agreement, on May 23, 2023, Karp met at a hotel in Naples believing that he was going to protect the sale of five pounds of methamphetamine. The drug transaction actually involved the sale of faux methamphetamine between two undercover ATF agents. Karp stood by with a pistol as the transaction took place.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
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.
Milwaukee Woman Indicted for Perpetrating a $2.3 Million Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 21, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Markita Barnes (age: 30) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for perpetrating a $2.3 million health care fraud and kickback scheme that involved Barnes lying about having provided prenatal care coordination (PNCC) services and childcare coordination services to at-risk and low-income pregnant women and new mothers in Milwaukee.
According to the indictment, from October 2020 through November 2021, Barnes owned Here For You, which was a PNCC agency operating in Milwaukee. PNCC agencies are reimbursed by Medicaid when they provide services intended to address Wisconsin’s historically high rate of infant mortality among at-risk populations. Specifically, PNCC services are supposed to ensure that women at high risk are identified as early as possible in their pregnancies, receive psychosocial support, prenatal care services, and health and nutrition education, and are referred to available community services that they need to help them achieve positive birth and parenting outcomes.
The indictment alleges that Barnes offered and provided kickbacks to induce women to sign up for prenatal care coordination services with Here For You, and then allegedly submitted millions of dollars of fraudulent claims for services never actually provided to those women. Barnes also allegedly submitted claims for services she contended were provided to her clients before she or anyone from her agency had ever met the client.
The indictment charges Barnes with multiple counts of Health Care Fraud and False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347 and 18 U.S.C. § 1035, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b, Obstruction of a Healthcare Fraud Investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1518, Money Laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957, and Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A.
If convicted, Barnes faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for each count of Aggravated Identity Theft, up to twenty years in prison for each count of Health Care Fraud, up to ten years in prison for each count of Anti-Kickback Statute violations and Money Laundering, and up to five years in prison for each count of False Statements and Obstruction.
“One of the primary reasons the Department of Justice focuses on prosecuting health care fraud is to ensure public funds are used to help the people they are designed to help, and not to unfairly enrich others at the expense of the public and those who desperately need these services,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “We are committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to hold individuals who seek to take advantage of these programs for their own benefit fully accountable for their actions.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Justice investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel will prosecute.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Mexico citizen admits trafficking 29 pounds of meth in Bozeman, BillingsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Mexico citizen accused in trafficking 29 pounds of methamphetamine from Denver, Colorado, to the Bozeman and Billings communities admitted to a drug crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Victor Daniel Mejia Ocampo, 22, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with possession with intent to distribute meth. Ocampo faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Ocampo was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that during an investigation in mid-July 2022, law enforcement made a controlled purchase of cocaine from co-defendant Isidro Vega Carmona in Bozeman. Ocampo was with Carmona during the purchase. About a month later, law enforcement arranged to buy four pounds of meth from Carmona and Ocampo and made another controlled purchase of the drug in Bozeman. Carmona told the buyers that people were bringing the meth from Denver, Colorado.
The government further alleged that in October 2022, Carmona offered to sell an undercover person 25 pounds of meth for $100,000. On Oct. 12, 2022, Carmona contacted the undercover and confirmed that another co-defendant, Risela Soberanes, was driving the 25 pounds of meth to Billings from Denver and that he would meet the undercover in Billings. Carmona and Ocampo traveled together from Bozeman to Billings, where both were arrested, along with Soberanes. Ocampo removed a large rolling suitcase, which contained 25 pounds of meth, from the trunk of a vehicle that had been driven by Soberanes to a Billings residence. Carmona was arrested as he walked with the suitcase toward a downtown hotel to meet the undercover person. Ocampo drove toward the hotel and was arrested after he parked the vehicle. Twenty nine pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 105,000 doses.
Carmona was sentenced recently to 14 years in prison, while Soberanes was sentenced to two years in prison for their convictions in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Missouri River Drug Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Maryland Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment and Other Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A Maryland restaurant owner pleaded guilty today to willful failure to account for and pay over employment taxes and to filing a false personal tax return.
According to court documents and statements made in court, John H. Worthington of Owings Mills, Maryland, owned and operated The Grill at Harryman House restaurant since 1995. As part of managing the restaurant, Worthington issued Forms W-2 to his employees and withheld federal income and Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes from their wages. However, from 2010 through 2021, Worthington did not file with the IRS the required Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns (Forms 941) reporting these employment taxes and did not pay the withholdings over to the IRS. In total, Worthington did not report or pay approximately $2,813,348.94 in employment taxes due and owing to the IRS.
Instead of meeting his tax obligations, Worthington used funds from his business to pay other creditors and for a variety of personal expenses, including golf club membership dues, season tickets to the Baltimore Orioles, international vacations, and salaries for himself and his wife.
Additionally, Worthington filed a joint 2016 personal tax return (Form 1040) that falsely claimed $24,207 in federal income tax withholdings from his own wages from the restaurant, which he knew had not been paid to the IRS. This resulted in a $9,096 refund to which he was not entitled. Had Worthington accurately reported $0 in withholdings for that year, he would have owed $15,111.
Worthington also failed to timely file his personal income taxes for 2017 through 2021, despite having received wages and compensation from the restaurant. He also failed to timely file corporate tax returns for 2016 through 2021, even though the corporation was active and generated gross receipts or sales of more than $15 million during that time frame.
Worthington faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for willfully failing to account for and pay over the employment taxes and three years in prison for filing a false tax return. He also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties, and restitution. Judge Julie R. Rubin will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Jorge Almonte and Trial Attorney Matthew L. Cofer of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean R. Delaney of the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
Man Who Sexually Abused Minor at Fort Bliss in 2014 Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Dallas man was sentenced in a federal courthouse in El Paso Tuesday to 35 years in prison for sexually abusing a prepubescent child—a penalty that will be served once he reaches the end of his current 20 year sentence on state charges.
According to court documents, Trevor Dylan Lehew, 28, sexually abused a minor under the age of 12 while serving in the Army at Fort Bliss between 2014 and 2015. The child victim disclosed the abuse in 2020 to a Child Adolescence Forensic Interviewer.
Lehew was remanded into federal custody on Jan. 6, 2022. He had been serving a 20-year sentence at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a separate incident involving indecency with a child/sexual contact, and the aggravated sexual assault of a child. On Aug. 8, 2022, Lehew pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
“The child victim in this case was extremely courageous to come forward about the horrible acts that this defendant committed years prior,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “That disclosure led to a successful investigation by our partners at the FBI, which has now resulted in the lengthy imprisonment of a dangerous child predator with repeat offenses.”
“A child should feel and be safe in their homes and community,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey of the FBI El Paso Field Office. “I hope this sentencing brings some closure to the victims knowing this predator will be in federal prison for a very long time. I want to thank the members of the FBI El Paso’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking task force for their work on this case and their commitment to protecting our most vulnerable population, our children, to ensure justice is served for them.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ian Hanna and Michelle Winters prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced for Illegally Selling Steroids OnlineRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Las Vegas, Nevada, man who made millions of dollars by selling illegal steroids online was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a money-laundering conspiracy.
Michael R. Breitel, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to three years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Breitel to forfeit to the government $2,749,363, which represents the proceeds he obtained as a result of his criminal activity, and which will be offset by $403,735 seized from his bank account and the proceeds from the sale of four parcels of real estate in Nevada.
On Oct. 11, 2022, Breitel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Breitel admitted that he and co-defendant Mario Arreola-Soria, 37, of Las Vegas, operated a business known as STACKMEUP from October 2017 through October 2021. STACKMEUP offered various prescription drugs available for purchase without a prescription to customers throughout the United States. Many of the drugs offered for sale were anabolic steroids. Other products available on STACKMEUP are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in humans.
Investigators executed a search warrant at two storage units in Nevada on Nov. 3, 2021, that contained STACKMEUP products. Federal agents seized 2,371,800 units of anabolic steroids with a street value of more than $1.7 million.
Breitel also admitted that he conspired with others to conduct financial transactions that involved the proceeds of the conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids. STACKMEUP customers, who paid for the anabolic steroids and associated drugs with cash or through a number of different peer-to-peer payment processors (such as Venmo, Zelle, Square, Paypal and Google Pay), were instructed to describe the transaction as “Gift” because the payment processors would cancel payments if the real reason for payment was used as the description.
During the course of the illegal anabolic steroid conspiracy, Breitel purchased four real estate properties in Las Vegas, totaling more than $1.2 million, with proceeds from the money laundering conspiracy. All the properties were purchased with cash and without a mortgage.
The federal investigation began when investigators intercepted a package shipped to a bodybuilder, who said he purchased the products from STACKMEUP over Wickr (an encrypted communication application that automatically deletes all messages). The bodybuilder learned of STACKMEUP while at a bodybuilding event in St. Louis, Mo. Agents made seven undercover purchases from STACKMEUP during the investigation. Some of the purchased drugs were tested and, in several instances, the product did not contain the active pharmaceutical ingredient that was claimed or contained different ingredients.
Arreola-Soria was sentenced on May 3, 2023, to three years in federal prison without parole.
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper. It was investigated by Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Johnson County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department and the Henderson, Nevada, Police Department.
Justice Department Releases New Tool to Manage Substance Withdrawals in JailsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), one of six program offices within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) today announced the release of Guidelines for Managing Substance Withdrawal in Jails: A Tool for Local Government Officials, Jail Administrators, Correctional Officers and Health Care Professionals. This groundbreaking document supports the department’s commitment to increasing access to evidence-based treatment for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and those at risk for overdose, including individuals who are incarcerated or reentering their communities.
“These guidelines are a critical and much needed resource to support local government officials, jail administrators, correctional officers and health care professionals faced with the difficult task of managing substance withdrawal in jail settings,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Providing this new, evidence-based tool and treatment guidance, developed by a committee of clinical and correctional experts, will better safeguard the health and well-being of individuals at risk for or experiencing substance withdrawal in jails.”
The high prevalence of SUD among individuals in jail is well-known, both empirically and anecdotally. The number of those in jail who died from drug or alcohol intoxication increased nearly 400% from 2000 to 2019. Less often recognized, but also potentially fatal, is the risk of substance withdrawal complications, such as profound dehydration and aspiration pneumonia due to severe vomiting.
“Jails face a unique and serious challenge managing substance use withdrawal among individuals in their custody, resulting in increased risk of in-custody deaths,” said OJP Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. “These guidelines, developed by a committee of experts representing correctional and medical professionals, offer concrete and evidence-based guidance to help jail administrators protect the health and rights of people in their care.”
“For many, incarceration is the first opportunity for substance use disorder diagnosis and treatment. Guidelines for Managing Substance Withdrawal in Jails can help jails of all sizes safely manage or prevent withdrawal, which may very well be the first step toward a person’s recovery from a substance use disorder and help avoid a return to incarceration,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore.
“These guidelines are an important tool for corrections and health care staff who often face life-saving situations in their daily work life,” said NIC Acting Director Dr. Alix McLearen. “As a clinician myself, I know the value of services grounded in evidence, and I am thrilled these guidelines are now available to help providers safeguard the well-being of individuals in custody.”
An expert committee of clinicians and jail administrators compiled recommendations, grounded in evidence-based practice, for systematically identifying individuals who are at risk for withdrawal and determining the appropriate level of monitoring and medical care.
“As a member of the expert committee, I can attest to the rigor of the process for developing the guidelines,” said Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Marc Stern of the National Sheriffs’ Association and the American Jail Association. “We recognized, from our collective years of experience, that implementing withdrawal management cannot be a solo effort by jails. Successful implementation of the guidelines requires community involvement, such as establishing partnerships with hospitals and opioid treatment providers.”
BJA and NIC are offering technical assistance and training through Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program website to support efforts to implement the guidelines. This webpage serves as a central hub to find relevant resources, submit questions and request TTA tailored to meet individual needs.
Jury Convicts Brothers Who Conducted Pump and Dump Scheme on Company that Sold Home COVID-19 TestsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 22, 2023
SAN DIEGO – A federal jury has convicted brothers Joshua Yafa and Jamie Yafa, both Florida citizens, of participating in a securities fraud pump-and-dump scheme surrounding the publicly-traded stock of two small companies.
The jury found that the Yafa brothers both committed securities fraud by manipulating the market for the stock of Global Wholehealth Partners Corp. and Nunzia Pharmaceutical Corp. According to the evidence presented at trial, the Yafas worked alongside their co-conspirators to artificially inflate the price and volume of these companies’ stocks by controlling the majority of the company’s free-trading shares through concealed nominee accounts, coordinating the company’s press releases with the issuance of penny stock newsletters, paying analysts to write rosy reports about the companies, and using call rooms, all to create a buying frenzy for the stocks among unwitting investors.
The FBI investigated this case through a combination of forensic analysis and sophisticated covert techniques, including the use of an undercover agent and an informant, both of whom gathered evidence through recorded phone conversations and captured email and text messages.
Central to the scheme were penny stock newsletters that the Yafas created and emailed to thousands of investors. In a single six-month period, for example, the Yafas distributed 116 newsletters touting the stock of Global Wholehealth Partners. The newsletters were sent under various publication names, including OTC Tip Reporter, BuzzStocks, marketCALIBER, and Penny Stock Prophet, but the publications often carried virtually the same content, and always predicted tremendous investment returns; this despite the fact that Global Wholehealth Partners was severely underfunded and had made only a handful of sales in its entire existence.
The conspirators focused heavily on touting Global Wholehealth Partners because the company purported to have access to an early COVID-19 testing product that it could sell to consumers. They hoped that creating excitement among investors about the company’s stock based on the pandemic would make their pump-and-dump scheme extremely profitable.
The Yafas were just two of several defendants who were charged. Their co-conspirators, Brian Volmer and Carl Marciniak of Nevada, and Charles Strongo of Calfornia, all previously pleaded guilty in connection with the scheme.
“This verdict should send a clear message: Pump-and-dump and similar market manipulation schemes are serious crimes, and the Department of Justice will continue to hold those who engage in these schemes accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and FBI agents who diligently pursued this matter.
“The FBI remains committed to aggressively pursuing individuals like the Yafa brothers who intentionally degrade the integrity of the United States financial markets,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “Market manipulation schemes can be devastating for the victims they affect, and we will continue to collaborate with our local, state and federal partners to hold those who perpetrate them accountable.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office expresses its appreciation for assistance provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and FINRA’s Criminal Prosecutions Assistance Group.
Joshua and Jamie Yafa are scheduled to be sentenced on September 25, 2023.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21CR1310-WQH
Joshua Yafa Age: 49 Boca Raton, FL
Jamie Yafa Age: 44 Kissimmee, FL
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Securities Fraud – Title 15, U.S.C., Section 78(j)
Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud – Title 18., U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Interstate Identity Thief Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Yonasky Fernandez Rosa (40, Tampa) to 4 years and 3 months in federal prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The court also sentenced Rosa to a consecutive 10-month sentence for violating the terms of his supervised release in a separate fraud case from the Northern District of Ohio. Rosa had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, in 2018, Rosa was convicted of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft in federal court in Cleveland, Ohio. After serving 22 months in prison, Rosa’s supervised release was transferred to the Middle District of Florida, during which he continued to commit identity theft and access device fraud. On April 6, 2021, Rosa used a victim’s personally identifiable information (PII) to purchase gas at a Circle-K in Plant City without the victim’s authorization. The victim told law enforcement that he did not know Rosa, did not authorize the purchase, and did not give Rosa permission to possess his PII.
On June 2, 2021, during a search of Rosa’s residence in the Town N’ Country neighborhood of Tampa, law enforcement officers discovered device-making equipment, including magnetic stripe encoders and skimmers, and hundreds of instances of PII in the form of credit card numbers, cardholder names, and PINs on Rosa’s laptop computer.
“The Secret Service is proud to partner with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Engel of the United States Secret Service – Tampa Field Office. “The results of this investigation are a testament to strong partnerships across the law enforcement community. The Secret Service remains committed to investigating those who engage in crimes that exploit our financial system.”
“I am beyond proud and thankful for the partnership we have with the United States Secret Service, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement, and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “There is no doubt that our shared dedication to protecting residents put a stop to Rosa’s inexcusable actions. Thankfully, he will no longer be able to victimize members of our community.”
“In partnership with state and federal law enforcement, our Agricultural Law Enforcement team was able to help bring down this criminal and prevent any further harm to consumers,” said Colonel Lee Adams, Director of FDACS’ Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement. “This case sends a clear warning signal to criminals who intend to target the residents and visitors of Florida with fraudulent schemes that these crimes are taken seriously and there will be consequences.”
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDAC) – Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
Illinois Man Caught in St. Louis with AR-15 After Police Shooting Sentenced to 8 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Thursday sentenced a convicted felon who was caught with an AR-15-style rifle in St. Louis, Missouri after someone shot at a police officer in Illinois to eight years in prison.
Ryan Fleming, 31, of Belleville, Illinois, was first spotted early in the morning of Sept. 24, 2021 by a Washington Park police officer responding to a call for shots fired. During the resulting pursuit, someone in Fleming’s car fired repeatedly at the officer’s car, court filings say. Less than 90 minutes later, the Hyundai Sonata involved in the shooting was spotted and pursued by Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers. Fleming, who was driving at speeds reaching 100 m.p.h. on Interstate 70, crashed into a concrete barrier while trying to exit in downtown St. Louis. He got out with a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 semi-automatic rifle but dropped it and ran. He was arrested nearby after a foot chase.
Fleming was found guilty by a federal jury in February of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Fleming has prior convictions in Illinois including drug possession and two charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The case was investigated by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen is prosecuting the case.
Illegal possession of firearm sends Billings felon to prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings felon who admitted to illegally possessing a firearm after law enforcement found a gun in his vehicle, which had stopped in the middle of the road near Hardin, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Cody Lawrence Big Hair, 32, pleaded guilty in February to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
U.S District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that shortly after midnight on April 23, 2022, a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer came upon a pickup truck stopped in the middle of the road near Hardin, in Big Horn County. The officer conducted a wellness check and found Big Hair, the driver and sole occupant, who initially gave a false name and admitted he had been drinking and doing drugs. Big Hair also said he was “trying to kill somebody.” Big Hair was in possession of a .22-caliber bold action rifle, three knives and a pair of brass knuckles. Big Hair had a felony conviction in 2021 in Big Horn County and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Highlands County Man Indicted for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida has returned an indictment charging Shannima Yuantrell Session, aka Shalamar, 46, of Lake Placid, Fla. with 10 counts of sex trafficking.
According to court documents, between 2011 and 2019, Session allegedly trafficked 10 female victims (7 adults and 3 minors). It is alleged that Session recruited his victims through violence and threats, among other things; including offers of drugs, employment, and romantic relationships. Once Session had gained compliance from his victims, he then trafficked them for sex primarily in rural areas of Highlands County for his own profit.
If convicted, Session faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a maximum of lifetime supervised release. Session is being held in custody pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Paul Blackman of Highlands County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover and Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Elizabeth Hutson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting it.
An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-cr-14074.
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Hardin felon sentenced to prison for illegal possession of gunRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Hardin man with felony convictions was sentenced today to 21 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after law enforcement found a firearm in a stolen truck he was driving during a pursuit that began near Billings and ended on the Crow Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Casey Wallace Leider, 32, pleaded guilty in February to felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The federal sentence is in addition to a 16-month sentence the Crow Tribal Court imposed on Leider for conviction for conduct from the same incident.
In court documents, the government alleged that in July 2021, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office deputies pursued a stolen Ford F-350 truck driven by Leider from the Lockwood area and onto the Crow Indian Reservation. The Bureau of Indian Affairs authorized the deputies to continue the chase onto the reservation. The pursuit involved police vehicles and a helicopter. The pursuit eventually ended near Pryor when the truck left the roadway and broke down in a field. Law enforcement arrested Leider, who told a deputy that he was high. Inside the truck was a pistol in plain sight. Leider had two felony convictions and was prohibited possessing firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Greene Medical Arts Pharmacy Pays $65,000 to Resolve Controlled Substances Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Greene Pharma LLC, dba Greene Medical Arts Pharmacy (Greene Pharma), a pharmacy in Catskill, New York, agreed to pay $65,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.
During a January 2022 inspection and controlled substance audit, DEA determined that Greene Pharma failed to keep adequate records pertaining to the receipt and disposition of various controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, methylphenidate, and buprenorphine. Greene Pharma subsequently performed a self-audit of its controlled substance records and was unable to account for 200 oxycodone tablets, 144 buprenorphine films, and 2 buprenorphine tablets, which the pharmacy concluded were likely stolen by an employee who had not been adequately screened before employment. DEA also determined that Greene Pharma failed to maintain records required by the CSA, including pseudoephedrine logs and Controlled Substance Ordering System (CSOS) electronic order forms. This settlement resolves the United States allegations that Greene Pharma caused controlled substances to be distributed without a valid prescription and failed to keep records required by the CSA.
As part of this resolution, and as a condition of maintaining its DEA Certificate of Registration, Greene Pharma also agreed to a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA, which requires the pharmacy to perform employee background checks and maintain complete and accurate records pertaining to the receipt and sale of controlled substances.
This case was investigated by DEA Albany District Office’s Diversion Group. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Moran represented the United States in this matter.
Fugitive Extradited from Hungary to the United States to Face Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – 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 Uchenna Christian Nlemchi made his initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 7 after being extradited from Hungary on an indictment charging him with conspiracy, 13 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering, aggravated identify theft, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Nlemchi, 31, a Nigerian national, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Nlemchi on May 24, 2017. According to the indictment, Nlemchi and his co-conspirators registered with online dating websites to initiate romantic relationships with victims for the purpose of tricking those individuals into transferring money to them by way of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises. Simultaneously, the co-conspirators used phishing emails and malware to collect other victims’ email account names and passwords. They used this information to spy on email correspondence to identify upcoming financial transactions in order to divert and steal said funds and transfer them to bank accounts controlled by Nlemchi.
Nlemchi was arrested on these charges in June of 2017 and released on conditions pending trial. In Oct. of 2017, Nlemchi violated the conditions of his release, and an arrest warrant was issued. At that time, Nlemchi fled the country and was believed to have returned to his native Nigeria. The FBI pursued Nlemchi for five years before locating him in Hungary. Nlemchi was extradited to the United States and arrested on June 6, 2023. Nlemchi will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
The Albuquerque Division of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department during the extradition process. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña is prosecuting the case.
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Fugitive Extradited from Hungary to the United States to Face Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – 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 Uchenna Christian Nlemchi made his initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 7 after being extradited from Hungary on an indictment charging him with conspiracy, 13 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering, aggravated identify theft, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Nlemchi, 31, a Nigerian national, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Nlemchi on May 24, 2017. According to the indictment, Nlemchi and his co-conspirators registered with online dating websites to initiate romantic relationships with victims for the purpose of tricking those individuals into transferring money to them by way of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises. Simultaneously, the co-conspirators used phishing emails and malware to collect other victims’ email account names and passwords. They used this information to spy on email correspondence to identify upcoming financial transactions in order to divert and steal said funds and transfer them to bank accounts controlled by Nlemchi.
Nlemchi was arrested on these charges in June of 2017 and released on conditions pending trial. In Oct. of 2017, Nlemchi violated the conditions of his release, and an arrest warrant was issued. At that time, Nlemchi fled the country and was believed to have returned to his native Nigeria. The FBI pursued Nlemchi for five years before locating him in Hungary. Nlemchi was extradited to the United States and arrested on June 6, 2023.
The Albuquerque Division of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department during the extradition process. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña is prosecuting the case.
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Fremont Man Indicted for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 21, 2023, a federal grand jury had returned an indictment alleging that Joshua J. Ozment (age: 34) of Fremont, Wisconsin, distributed child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A).
According to the indictment, Ozment knowingly distributed a sexually explicit image of a prepubescent child via the internet. If convicted, Ozment faces a mandatory minimum of five years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000.
This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Fourth Defendant Sentenced to Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Gas Pump Skimming SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The fourth defendant in a gas pump skimming scheme was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 81 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to defraud victims of more than an estimated $5 million in Nevada and Southern California.
Adrian Leyva Tamayo, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty in February 2023 to one count of conspiracy, one count of use of unauthorized access device, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, from at least April 2017 and continuing through August 2020, Leyva Tamayo, together with co-conspirators Danyer Manuel Alarcon Rodriguez, Juan Sosa Tamayo, and Francisco Rodriguez Gonzalez, conspired to use credit and debit card account numbers stolen from victims by means of skimmers attached to gas pumps in Las Vegas and various locations in California. As part of the conspiracy, Leyva Tamayo and his co-conspirators drove to gas station and broke into gas station pumps and installed skimmers on card payment terminals to steal credit and debit card account information from unsuspecting customers. They subsequently recoded the stolen account information and other personal data onto counterfeit cards. Then, the defendants used the counterfeit cards to fraudulently obtain goods and to make ATM cash withdrawals. Leyva Tamayo and his co-conspirators stole at least 8,229 credit and debit card numbers through the use of their skimmers, and caused a total estimated loss amount of $5,032,616.
Juan Sosa Tamayo was previously sentenced to 56 months in prison; Danyer Manuel Alarcon Rodriguez was previously sentenced to 61 months in prison; and Francisco Rodriguez Gonzalez was previously sentenced to 70 months in prison.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Karon Ransom for the United States Secret Service made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Schmale and Kimberly Frayn prosecuted the case.
If you are a victim of identity theft, you may make a report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling 1-877-438-4338 or online at www.identitytheft.gov. For identity theft prevention tips and free resources visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
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Four Nigerian Nationals Extradited to the United States to Face Charges in Wire Fraud and Identity Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger Handberg announces the successful extraditions of Akinola Taylor of the United Kingdom, Olayemi Adafin of the United Kingdom, Olakunle Oyebanjo of the United Kingdom, and Kazeem Olanrewaju Runsewe of Sweden. These individuals have been charged in the Middle District of Florida with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, filing false claims with the United States, theft of public money or property, and aggravated identity theft. Taylor, Adafin, and Runsewe were arrested on November 30, 2022, and Oyebanjo was arrested on December 2, 2022. Taylor, Adafin, and Oyebanjo were apprehended in London, United Kingdom at the request of the United States, and Runswewe was apprehended in Malmo, Sweden at the request of the United States. In connection with the arrests, foreign authorities conducted searches of the residences of Taylor and Runsewe. These individuals first appeared in the Middle District of Florida in May and June 2023. Another related defendant, Ogunlana Oluwarotimi of Texas, was arrested in Texas in January 2023 and is currently pending trial.
If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud conspiracies, as well as additional penalties for the remaining counts. The indictments also notify the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit assets which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offenses.
According to their indictments, Taylor and Runsewe obtained unauthorized access to United States businesses’ computer servers, participated in stealing from those servers the personally identifying information (PII) of U.S. residents, and used that information to file false and fraudulent IRS Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns (“Form(s) 1040”) seeking income tax refunds from the IRS. Adafin, Oyebajno, Ogunlana, and others assisted in the collection of fraud proceeds directed to prepaid debit cards in their possession or to addresses or bank accounts they controlled or to which they had access and transferred a share of the fraud proceeds to other conspirators.
One of the places that Taylor and Runsewe had obtained unauthorized access to computer servers was the xDedic Marketplace, a website that operated for years and was used to sell access to compromised computers worldwide and the PII of U.S. residents. The xDedic administrators strategically maintained servers all over the world to facilitate the operation of the website.
The xDedic Marketplace was taken down as part of coordinated, global enforcement operations led by the FBI Tampa Division, the IRS-CI Tampa Field Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
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 investigation was led by the IRS-CI Cyber Crimes Unit in Washington, D.C. Substantial assistance was provided by the IRS-CI Tampa Field Office, the FBI Tampa Division, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, IRS-CI International Operations at Mission UK and Canada, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United Kingdom’s National Extradition Unit, the United Kingdom’s Eastern Region Special Operation Unit, the United Kingdom’s North West Regional Organized Crime Unit, and the Swedish Economic Crime Authority. The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones.
Fort Worth Oil & Gas Man Sentenced to 17+ Years for Wire Fraud, Ordered to Pay $16M RestitutionRead the Press Release
An oil and gas fraudster was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison for running a multi-million dollar Ponzi-type scheme, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Billy Marcum, Jr., 67, of Fort Worth, Texas, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to wire fraud. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 210 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, who also ordered him to pay more than $16 million in restitution.
In plea papers, Mr. Marcum – the owner of a number of oil and gas companies, including Navarro Minerals, Caddo I, Bluecreek Operating, Fullspike Energy, Viejo Services, and Viejo Exploration – solicited money from investors, telling them their funds would be used to purchase oil and gas leases and to pay for well oil repairs and returns would be paid out of profits from the ensuing oil and gas sales.
A classic Ponzi scheme, instead of purchasing the leases, Mr. Marcum used new investors’ money to fund earlier investors’ returns, lulling them into believing their investments were sound and that they should continue investing with him. (He also used some of the investment money to pay personal expenses.)
In furtherance of the scheme, Mr. Marcum fabricated reports about oil production and sales and sent them to investors. The false run statements noted purported lease name and number, the gross volume of product taken, sales value, taxes paid, dates, and net amount to be paid to the operator. Marcum also recorded false lease assignments related to his scheme in counties throughout Texas to disguise his crime.
Around September 2018, Mr. Marcum realized he lacked sufficient revenues and could no longer raise sufficient funds to pay existing investors. He conspired with a man named Jay Taylor to solicit investor funds on behalf of several of his companies. Mr. Marcum knowingly supplied false information to Mr. Taylor, who used the information to successfully solicit additional funds.
In April 2022, Mr. Marcum admitted to FBI agents that he concocted false run statements about oil and gas sales and sent them directly to some investors and indirectly, through Mr. Taylor, to others in order to entice investments. He also admitted that he used new investor funds to pay off other investors and represented to them that the returns were from oil sales.
At sentencing, prosecutors said Mr. Marcum defrauded over 150 victims, collecting nearly $30 million in investor funds and inflicting over $16 million in losses.
Mr. Taylor also pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced in April to eight years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Fort Worth Resident Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy Larson, John de la Garza, and Beverly Chapman prosecuted the case.
Former Navy Chief Petty Officer Sentenced for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A former Navy Chief Petty Officer was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for attempted coercion and enticement, attempted sex trafficking of a minor, obstruction of justice, and false statement to law enforcement officer.
According to court documents, Daniel Alan Puff, 38, from Virginia Beach, negotiated to receive a sex act from a 13-year-old female, believing he was speaking to her mother. In fact, he was communicating with an undercover law enforcement agent (UC). The investigation began on March 29, 2022, when Puff contacted the UC and agreed to pay $60 in exchange for a sex act from what he believed was a 13-year-old female. On March 30, 2022, the UC directed Puff to the meeting location in Chesapeake. Puff arrived at the agreed-upon meeting location in Chesapeake and surveilled the area to check for the presence of law enforcement. Puff then approved the UC, gave $60 to the UC, and stated the sex act he wished to engage in with the child. He was then arrested and taken into custody. While handcuffed in the back of a police vehicle, he deleted the text application from his phone and falsely claimed to a law enforcement agent that he was attempting to text someone.
Puff was found guilty of four counts by a jury on January 26, 2023.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Montoya and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-44.
Former Idaho Commercial Driver’s License Skills Tester Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Taking Bribes in Exchange for Passing Test ScoresRead the Press Release
BOISE – Kelly Nathaniel Goodman, 72, of Gooding, Idaho, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for honest services wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
U.S. District Court Judge Amanda K. Brailsford imposed the sentence, which also requires Goodman to forfeit $38,000.
To obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Idaho, an applicant must, among other requirements, receive a passing score from a CDL skills test examiner. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) contracts with third-party CDL skills test examiners to administer CDL skills tests in Idaho.
According to court records, since the 1990s until late 2021, Goodman was an Idaho CDL skills test examiner. Between December 2017 and May 2020, Goodman engaged in a scheme and artifice to defraud ITD’s right to honest services while serving as an Idaho CDL skills tester. Without the knowledge or permission of ITD, Goodman accepted at least $38,000 in bribes in return for providing passing scores on Idaho CDL skills tests. Goodman specifically pleaded guilty to receiving a bribe on August 31, 2021, in return for giving an individual a passing score on an Idaho CDL skills test.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Transportation—Office of Inspector General, which led to the charges.
Former Dell City Employee Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Dell City FundsRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A City of Dell City woman was arrested Wednesday on a criminal charge related to her alleged theft of Dell City funds.
According to an indictment returned by an El Paso Grand Jury on June 14, Diana Suarez, 53, a former Dell City employee, used funds from the city’s bank accounts to make purchases and cash withdrawals for personal use between Sept. 13, 2020 and Sept. 12, 2021.
Suarez is charged with one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey of the FBI El Paso Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Arreola is prosecuting the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Acosta handling the forfeiture component.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Florida Man Sentenced for Role in Credit Card Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jose Eloy Gonzalez Cuenca (33, Land O’Lakes) to four years and six months in federal prison for credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft. Gonzalez Cuenca had pleaded guilty on December 1, 2021.
According to court documents, between December 2020 and September 2021, Gonzalez Cuenca was involved in a conspiracy to install credit card skimmers on gas pumps in the Tampa area and throughout the United States to obtain stolen credit card and debit card account information. The conspirators then used the stolen information to commit fraud.
As part of the conspiracy, Gonzalez Cuenca sold credit card numbers and credit card skimming devices to others. Unbeknownst to him, one of the individuals to whom he sold numbers and devices was a confidential informant (CI) working with law enforcement. In April 2021, Gonzalez Cuenca sold the CI 1,000 credit and debit card account numbers and four credit card skimmers.
FDLE Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell said, “Criminals like this who prey on Florida’s hardworking citizens and visitors to disrupt lives and empty bank accounts have no place in our great state. I am tremendously grateful to our members and partners who worked tirelessly on this case to not only bring this thief to justice but also to prevent anyone else from falling victim to his schemes.”
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.
Florida Man Indicted for Federal Sex Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, returned an indictment charging a Florida man with 10 counts of sex trafficking.
According to court documents, between 2011 and 2019, Shannima Yuantrell Session, aka Shalamar, 46, of Lake Placid, trafficked seven women and three girls. Session allegedly recruited his victims through violence and threats, among other things; including offers of drugs, employment and romantic relationships. Once Session had gained compliance from his victims, he then trafficked them for sex primarily in rural areas of Highlands County for his own profit.
If convicted, Session faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a maximum of lifetime supervised release. Session is being held in custody pending trial. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office and Sheriff Paul Blackman of Highlands County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
The FBI Miami Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Elizabeth Hutson of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trarfficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal correctional officer indicted on excessive force and obstruction chargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Justin Newkirk has been arraigned on federal charges of using excessive force against an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta (“USP-Atlanta”) and for writing a false incident report to justify his use of force.
“Correctional officers perform a particularly challenging and critical job in maintaining order and protecting inmates in our nation’s prisons and jails,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “But this officer’s alleged misconduct of abusing an inmate and then writing a detailed false report to conceal the crime demands accountability.”
“Newkirk allegedly used excessive force and then lied to try to cover up his conduct. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to holding accountable those that abuse their power,” said James F. Boyersmith, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Miami Field Office.
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: At the time of the alleged misconduct, Justin Newkirk was employed as a correctional officer at USP-Atlanta. On March 17, 2022, Newkirk allegedly sprayed an inmate with pepper spray repeatedly without any legal justification. Following the assault, Newkirk also allegedly wrote a report in which he falsely claimed that it was necessary for him to use pepper spray after the inmate lunged at him with a closed fist “showing imminent signs of violence.”
Justin Newkirk, 35, of Locust Grove, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard. Newkirk was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 13, 2023. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Federal Jury Convicts Statesville Man of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
STATESVILLE, N.C. – A federal jury convicted Jessie Leroy Glass, Jr., 49, of Statesville, for possession and receipt of child pornography, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell presided over the two-day trial which ended late yesterday.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Sheriff Darren Campbell of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to trial evidence, witness testimony and filed court documents, between January and February 2020, Glass received and possessed images and videos of child pornography. As trial evidence established, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into Glass after an individual alerted law enforcement about Glass’s possession of child pornography. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered two cell phones associated with Glass. A forensic analysis of the cell phone devices revealed that they contained images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants and toddlers.
The jury convicted Glass of three counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Glass was released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set.
The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Each count of receipt of child pornography carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI, HSI, and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kimlani Ford and Stephanie Spaugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Transporting Minors Across State Lines with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on June 21, 2023, charging a Louisville man with four counts of transporting a minor in interstate commerce with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment and a previously filed criminal complaint, during the late hours of May 7, 2023, going into May 8, 2023, Brian Anthony Sauer, 44, transported three minor girls who had run away from a residential care facility in Louisville, Kentucky, to Clarksville, Indiana, and subsequently engaged in sexual activity with the girls. Sauer ultimately drove all three girls to a trailer park in the southwest area of Jefferson County, Kentucky, where he left them on May 10, 2023.
Sauer previously made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and he was ordered detained pending trial. Sauer is scheduled for arraignment on June 23, 2023.
If convicted, Sauer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and maximum potential penalties of life in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, and at least five years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Louisville Metro Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless is prosecuting 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.”
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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FBI and Seattle Police arrest three connected to illegal gun possession and firearms traffickingRead the Press Release
Seattle – Three Seattle-area men were arrested today on a criminal complaint charging each defendant with unlawful possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Marquise Tolbert, 27, of Tacoma, Washington, Parchey Kelly, 29, of Issaquah, Washington, and Kisean Coleman, 22, of Renton, Washington, were arrested today. The men made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle today.
According to the criminal complaint, Marquise Tolbert is alleged to have possessed firearms on May 28, 2023, and on June 1, 2023. Tolbert is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a September 2022 conviction in King County Superior Court for illegally possessing a firearm. Kelly allegedly possessed a firearm on May 30, 2023. Kelly is a prohibited person due to a conviction for assault – a domestic violence conviction from 2019. Coleman is alleged to have possessed a firearm on June 1, 2023. Coleman is a prohibited person due to theft and robbery convictions in King County Superior Court in 2019.
According to a detailed criminal complaint, investigators with the FBI Safe Streets task force, the DEA, and the Seattle Police Gun Violence Reduction Unit, were investigating a drug trafficking organization when Tolbert and the other defendants were heard on the wiretap discussing a gang related shoot-out in Federal Way. From that point on, investigators worked to identify those who were possessing and using firearms as part of their criminal activity.
In various conversations, Tolbert, Coleman, and Kelly discussed their efforts to obtain, buy or sell firearms. In some instances, the men texted images of the firearms they wanted to buy or sell. On May 30, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant in the 3800 block of Klahanie Drive SE, in Issaquah and seized four firearms from Kelly’s car and residence in an effort to interdict the gun sales.
On June 1, 2023, the wiretap indicated Tolbert was in the process of buying a Ruger handgun from Coleman. Law enforcement obtained a warrant and searched Tolbert’s residence seizing the Ruger firearm.
Coleman was arrested today, and additional firearms were seized from his residence. Tolbert was arrested on the federal charges today when he reported to his state probation officer. Kelly was arrested today without incident.
Illegal firearms possession is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Seattle Police Department, and the DEA as part of their focus on getting firearms off the streets.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Michelle Jensen.
FACT SHEET: Justice Department Efforts to Protect Reproductive Rights, Health and JusticeRead the Press Release
In the year since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Justice Department has worked with commitment and urgency to defend the reproductive freedoms that are protected by federal law. In response to the Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the department established the Reproductive Rights Task Force, which formalized the department’s ongoing work to protect reproductive freedoms under federal law.
Led by Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, the Task Force consists of senior officials and dedicated staff from across a dozen department components who are working daily to address complex and widespread threats to reproductive health in the wake of Dobbs. The Associate Attorney General regularly convenes Task Force meetings, including a meeting on Friday, June 23, to reflect on the department’s work in the year since Dobbs and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Over the past year, the Task Force has also met with a broad array of stakeholder groups – ranging from state Attorneys General offices to foreign delegations to members of litigating and reproductive justice organizations – to discuss the fallout from Dobbs and gather information about on-the-ground developments.
The Task Force’s website contains resources for attorneys, state officials, patients and providers.
“The Dobbs decision was and is devastating for people and communities across this country,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “We established the Reproductive Rights Task Force to bring a whole-of-department approach to protecting access to reproductive health care. And we remain committed to utilizing every tool at our disposal to protect reproductive freedoms in the days ahead.”
Taking Action to Protect Federal Law and Reproductive Rights: The department continues to monitor state laws and enforcement actions that threaten to infringe on federal protections of reproductive rights. The department takes legal action where appropriate, including by filing affirmative suits or statements of interest and by intervening in private litigation. For instance, in August 2022, the department filed suit against the State of Idaho under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which mandates that every hospital that receives Medicare funds provide necessary stabilizing treatment – including abortion care, in certain instances — to a patient who arrives at an emergency room suffering from a medical condition that could place their life or health in serious jeopardy. The department successfully obtained a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of Idaho’s total ban on abortion as applied to medical care required by EMTALA.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has made clear that the department will defend bedrock constitutional protections of women who reside in states that have blocked access to comprehensive reproductive care: Women must remain free to travel to states in which that care is lawful and, under the First Amendment, individuals must also remain free to inform and counsel each other about the reproductive care that is available across state lines.
Protecting Access to Medication Abortion and Other Reproductive Care: The department is vigorously defending the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against multiple legal challenges concerning the abortion medication mifepristone. On April 21, the Supreme Court issued a stay in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, which means that mifepristone – a safe and effective medication that FDA approved more than two decades ago – will remain available nationwide as that case continues to make its way through the courts. Among other challenges, the department is also defending the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in litigation concerning guidance on the emergency care guaranteed by EMTALA, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in litigation concerning the VA’s interim final rule allowing access to reproductive health services at VA clinics.
Advising Federal Agencies and Employees: The department is advising federal agencies as they consider policies and actions to preserve access to reproductive services. For example, the Office of Legal Counsel has published opinions concluding that: the VA had authority to adopt an interim final rule allowing access to reproductive health services at VA clinics; the Department of Defense may lawfully provide funds to enable servicemembers and their dependents to travel out of state for abortion care; and the Department of Health and Humans Services can provide transportation to women seeking abortions without violating the Hyde Amendment. The Office of Legal Counsel also published an opinion advising the U.S. Postal Service that the federal Comstock Act does not generally prohibit the mailing of mifepristone.
In addition, the department has made clear that it will support and provide representation to any federal employees who are subject to legal actions for appropriately carrying out their duties under federal law.
FACE Act Enforcement: The Civil Rights Division continues its ongoing enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE, Act. The FACE Act prohibits anyone from obstructing access to reproductive health services – including abortion services, reproductive health services provided by pharmacies and pregnancy counseling services – through violence, threats of violence or property damage.
Since January 2021, the department has brought 18 cases involving a total of 48 defendants accused of criminal FACE Act-related violations. The department is also working to ensure that federal prosecutors across the country are equipped to bring FACE Act cases.
In addition, the department has brought civil actions to enjoin violations of the FACE Act, and our National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care has prepared training for state Attorneys General offices, which can similarly bring civil actions under the FACE Act.
Legal Representation and Access to Justice: Pursuant to Executive Order 14076 on Protecting Access to Reproductive Healthcare Services, the department and the White House Counsel’s Office convened pro bono counsel, bar associations, law professors and public interest groups to identify gaps in legal representation and catalyze coordination and action. Coming out of that convening, pro bono counsel and non-profit groups stood up a clearinghouse to provide legal assistance, and the department has continued to meet with lawyers on the front lines to understand the needs and gaps in legal assistance for patients, providers and others.
Provision of Technical Assistance: The department is providing technical assistance to Congress in connection with draft legislation that would, for example, codify reproductive rights, protect the right to travel and ensure access to comprehensive reproductive services. And the department will provide technical assistance on federal constitutional protections to states that are seeking to afford patients and providers from out of state access to reproductive healthcare and abortion services.
Drug Traffickers from St. Martinville Area Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that five men who were involved with the trafficking of cocaine and cocaine base in the St. Martinville, Louisiana, area were each sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge David C. Joseph. The five defendants and their sentences are as follows:
Marvis Mason, 41, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Kendrell Jones, 43, of New Iberia, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Marcus Bourda, 44, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Dennis Benoit, 44, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 33 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Codie James, 43, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
In late 2019, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), assisted by officers with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, began an investigation into the suspected illegal activities of a narcotics distributor residing in the Western District of Louisiana. Through their investigation, agents were able to identify this distributor of cocaine and cocaine base. Law enforcement agents were granted an application authorizing the interception of wire communications from this individual’s phone. During the interception period, agents learned that this individual used his residence to sell cocaine as well as cook and sell cocaine base. Agents were able to intercept communications wherein he agreed to multiple narcotics transactions which were then confirmed through physical surveillance of his residence.
Through their investigation, agents determined that the individual’s suppliers for powder cocaine and cocaine base included Kendrell Jones, Dennis Benoit, and Marvis Mason. Jones also supplied narcotics to others, including Marcus Bourda. In addition, agents determined that Codie James also assisted in the distribution of cocaine.
“This case has resulted in the arrest and conviction of numerous individuals who chose to illegally possess and distribute controlled substances and contribute to the corruption in this area,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “It is without a doubt thanks to the great work of law enforcement agents in the Western District of Louisiana, from both the federal and state agencies, who partnered together and put in many long hours investigating and developing the evidence needed to convict these individuals. We look forward to continuing these partnerships in our district.”
Another defendant in this case, Darrall Johnson, 29, of New Iberia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and is scheduled to be sentenced June 29, 2023.
Other defendants in this case who have already been convicted and sentenced are as follows:
Joshua Bourda, 38, of St. Martinville, was sentenced on April 3, 2023, to 60 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
Brandon K. Fontnett, 39, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on April 3, 2023, to 151 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
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District Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Two Shootings in Northeast D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Braxton Johnson, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 126 months for two separate shootings that occurred in Northeast D.C., in November and December of 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Mr. Johnson pleaded guilty, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of assault with intent to kill in April 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, on November 28, 2022, at approximately 8:20 p.m., Mr. Johnson used a firearm to shoot multiple rounds at three individuals, one of which was Mr. Johnson’s ex-romantic partner, who were walking southbound on 21st Street NE between Maryland Ave NE and I Street NE. As a result of the shooting, one victim suffered a single gunshot wound to the lower left back, and another victim suffered from a single gunshot wound to his left bicep, which shattered his humerus. Mr. Johnson then fled the scene.
On December 19, 2022, at approximately 11:18 a.m., Mr. Johnson drove a scooter to one of the victim’s residences. At around 11:21 a.m., one of the victims exited the residence and was spotted by Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson, using the same firearm that was used on November 28, 2022, fired ten rounds at this victim while chasing the victim down the street. While this victim was not injured in the shooting, multiple innocent bystanders were endangered by the shooting.
On January 2, 2023, Mr. Johnson was arrested and admitted to the shootings in a custodial interview.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Michelle Wicker and Cynthia Muhammad. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin F. Song, Shakinah Douglas, and Monisha Rao, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Davenport Iowa Man Convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – On June 21, 2023, Auston McLain, 38, of Davenport, Iowa, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.
Over two days of trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah Darrow, the United States presented evidence establishing that from November 10, 2020, through November 14, 2020 McLain communicated with an individual he believed to be a minor about engaging in sexual activity, sent pornographic pictures to the person he believed was a minor, asked for pictures, and then traveled from Iowa to Illinois with the intent to meet with the child and engage in sexual activity. Federal law enforcement agents arrested him when he arrived at the meeting location.
Sentencing for McLain has been scheduled for October 18, 2023, at the U.S. Courthouse in Peoria, Illinois. At sentencing, McLain faces statutory penalties of ten years to life imprisonment, a possible fine of $250,000, and a five year to life term of supervised release for attempted enticement and up to thirty years imprisonment, a possible $250,000 fine, and a five year to life term of supervised release for travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. He also must register as a sex offender. McLain has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
The prosecution was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with the assistance of the Rock Island Police Department, the Macomb Police Department, the East Moline Police Department, and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tanner Jacobs and Matthew Weir represented the United States at trial.
The case against McLain was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
D.C. Man Convicted of Drug-Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a D.C. man yesterday for engaging in a conspiracy to traffic 500 grams or more of cocaine.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Roldin Martinez Diaz, 32, had a multiple-year agreement to distribute cocaine that ended upon his arrest in August 2022. This conspiracy included co-defendant Delvin Funez Perdomo, a drug distributor in Northern Virginia, and others. Funez Perdomo pleaded guilty to this conspiracy on January 23, 2023, before Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Evidence introduced at trial further demonstrated that Martinez Diaz negotiated and later distributed nearly half a kilogram of cocaine during two controlled purchases.
Martinez Diaz faces a mandatory minimum of 60 months and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison when sentenced on September 15, 2023. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the verdict.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hahn and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maya D. Song are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-219.
Co-Conspirator of Tucson Amtrak Shooter Sentenced to 10 YearsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Devonte Okeith Mathis, 24, of Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 10 years in prison (60 months on Count 2, consecutive to 60 months on Count 1), followed by 60 months of supervised release. Mathis pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
On October 4, 2021, Mathis and his co-conspirator were traveling together aboard an Amtrak train in Tucson, Arizona, when his co-conspirator shot and killed Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Michael Garbo aboard the train. His co-conspirator also shot and injured a second DEA Special Agent and a DEA Task Force Officer. The co-conspirator died on the scene after a shootout with a Tucson Police Department Sergeant. In pleading guilty, Mathis admitted that he knew that his co-conspirator possessed two handguns. He also admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable that his co-conspirator would possess the firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking conspiracy, and that he would carry and use the two handguns during and in relation to their drug trafficking conspiracy.
“Today we honor resilience,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “We commemorate the strength of a fallen hero’s family; the courage and recovery of a TPD officer and a DEA agent injured in the line of duty; the esprit de corps of our law enforcement partners at DEA and TPD; the dedication of the FBI in its investigation; and the renewed commitment by local, state, and federal law enforcement to uphold the rule of law and keep our communities safe. Most of all, we honor DEA Group Supervisor Michael G. Garbo for being an agent who made everyone around him better.”
“Every day, law enforcement officers face dangerous situations to keep our communities safe. Supervisory Special Agent Michael Garbo made the ultimate sacrifice to protect everyone on that train and prevent others from being harmed,” said Akil Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “Today is for Michael Garbo, and his loved ones and colleagues. We hope this sentence will bring a degree of comfort and closure knowing that Mr. Mathis has been held accountable for his criminal conduct.”
“Supervisory Special Agent Michael Garbo dedicated himself to DEA’s mission and gave his life in service to his country,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Today, we remember him as a hero, mentor, and friend and, each and every day, we honor his legacy by continuing our fight to keep Americans safe. His daughter Alexis and wife Vida are in our thoughts, as well as our DEA Special Agent and Task Force Officer who were injured during the tragic events of October 4, 2021. We want to thank the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for their dedicated work on this case and pursuit of justice.”
“That day is seared in our collective memory as an agency and as a law enforcement community,” said Tucson Chief of Police Chad Kasmar. “We will never forget our fallen colleague, DEA Group Supervisor Mike Garbo, and we are thankful that more lives were not lost that day - due to the heroic actions of many of our TPD members. Two others were seriously injured, a DEA agent and a TPD officer. I remain extremely proud of TPD's response and I hope that today's decision brings closure and peace to the family of GS Garbo, and to all who were affected by this event.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-2714-TUC-RM-MSA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-096_Mathis# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Scott Phalen, 63, of Charleston, was sentenced today to one year in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 15, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to a report from an employee at a restaurant in the Kanawha City section of Charleston that an individual had placed a firearm in a trash can at the restaurant. Officers recovered a SCCY, model CPX-1, 9mm semi-automatic pistol from the trash can. Phalen admitted to possessing the firearm and further admitted to placing the firearm in the trash can.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Phalen was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for first-degree sexual abuse in Kanawha County Circuit Court on February 14, 2012.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-204.
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Cass County (Iowa) Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl Causing Serious Bodily Injury or DeathRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Cass County (Iowa) man was sentenced yesterday, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl causing serious bodily injury or death.
Mason Blaine Loudermilk, 19, was sentenced to 192 months in prison. Loudermilk must serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Loudermilk plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The investigation revealed that between August 2020 and May 2022, Loudermilk obtained fentanyl, in pill form, from a source in Omaha, Nebraska. In turn, Loudermilk distributed the pills containing fentanyl in and around Cass County (Iowa) causing several fentanyl overdoses, each overdose requiring medical attention to prevent death.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Atlantic Police Department, Cass County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Office, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (SWINE), Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa Division of Intelligence, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Omaha Police Department.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pill, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
Carter County Resident Sentenced in Two Federal CasesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy Matthew Girty, age 43, of Carter County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and 120 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently. In a separate case, Girty was sentenced to 96 months in prison for Manslaughter in Indian Country. The manslaughter sentence was ordered to run consecutive to the drug and gun crimes.
The drug and gun charges arose from an investigation by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, the Ardmore Police Department, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The manslaughter charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On April 7, 2022, Girty pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. At the plea hearing, he admitted that on July 14, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence in Carter County and found three handguns, ammunition, and baggies containing approximately 35 grams of methamphetamine. He further admitted he intended to distribute some of the methamphetamine seized during the search and that he was a convicted felon and knew he could not possess firearms.
On June 10, 2022, Girty pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in Indian Country. At the plea hearing, Girty admitted that on July 31, 2021, he was drinking at a friend’s home. Girty and a passenger left in Girty’s pickup. Girty lost control and flipped the pickup killing the passenger. The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Jodi W. Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Girty will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve the non-paroleable sentences of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Gross and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Cape Coral Man Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl and Other Federal OffensesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Brandon Albanito (37, Cape Coral) has pleaded guilty to a six-count information charging him with possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) with the intent to distribute it, two counts of possessing counterfeit drugs for sale, possessing parts used to manufacture counterfeit drugs, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and bank fraud. Albanito faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for the bank fraud, up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the controlled substance offenses, up to 15 years on the firearms offense, and lesser penalties for the counterfeit drug charges. Albanito has agreed to forfeit $97,146.95, traceable to the fraud offense, and the other items he possessed illegally, including a pill press and firearms. Albanito is also required to make full restitution to the financial institution which was the victim of his fraud scheme.
According to court documents, in March 2021, Albanito defrauded his federally insured bank with a scheme involving falsely disputed cash transfers which he had authorized. Albanito illegally obtained $97,146.95 through the scheme. In furtherance of its investigation into his fraud, the U.S. Secret Service executed a search warrant at Albanito’s Cape Coral residence in January 2023. Upon entry into the residence, law enforcement observed a large, commercial-grade pill press in the garage and hundreds of counterfeit oxycodone pills on a nearby shelf. The counterfeit pills, which appeared identical to prescription oxycodone pills, were found to contain fentanyl.
Law enforcement obtained a second warrant permitting them to search for and seize evidence related to drug manufacturing and distribution. During this search, they seized a five-gallon bucket containing approximately 30 pounds of counterfeit alprazolam pills (which actually contained the designer drug clonazolam), a five-gallon bucket containing approximately 20 pounds of pill binding agent, pill dies (i.e. tooling used by a pill press to create pills), and two firearms within the residence. DNA testing conducted on both firearms determined that Albanito had possessed them. Albanito was previously convicted in two federal cases (2011) involving money laundering, drug distribution, creating false identification documents, and possessing a firearm as a felon. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the United States Food and Drug Administration, the Cape Coral Police Department, with assistance from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.
California Women Plead Guilty to Iowa Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Two women who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty on June 16, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Lauretta Payce, 61, from Fontana, California, and Andrea Romo, 41, from Gardena, California, were convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearings, each admitted their involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine from December 2019 through May 2022. Payce and Romo further admitted to assisting at least six others in the conspiracy by distributing roughly four pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of marijuana from California and Nevada and transporting the drugs, in a hidden vehicle compartment to Cherokee, Iowa, for further distribution.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after presentence reports are prepared. Payce and Romo were each taken into the custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, United States Postal Inspectors, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and Cherokee Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4066. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Brooklyn Park Felon Charged in Federal Complaint for Possession of Fentanyl, Firearm Following Deadly Vehicle CrashRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Derrick John Thompson has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with illegal possession of fentanyl and a firearm following a deadly vehicle crash that killed five victims, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on June 16, 2023, a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol observed a black Cadillac SUV speeding north on I-35W, traveling at 95 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour speed zone. The trooper began following the SUV but did not initiate the emergency lights or attempt to make a traffic stop because the trooper did not want to cause the driver, later identified as Thompson, 27, to continue to drive recklessly on city streets. The trooper observed Thompson abruptly cut across four lanes of traffic to exit the freeway at the Lake Street exit. At the intersection of 2nd Avenue South and East Lake Street, Thompson sped through a red light at the intersection without stopping or slowing. The SUV struck at full speed the driver’s side of a Honda Civic that was traveling lawfully through the intersection. All five occupants of the Honda Civic, four adult females and one juvenile female, were killed. When law enforcement responded to the scene of the crash, witnesses told officers that Thompson had fled on foot through a nearby alley. Officers found Thompson sitting on the curb outside of a nearby restaurant. Officers detained Thompson, who was later transported to Hennepin County Medical Center for evaluation.
According to court documents, an officer found at the scene a Hertz rental record for the Cadillac SUV indicating that Thompson rented the vehicle from a Hertz located at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport approximately 30 minutes before the crash. After obtaining a warrant to search the SUV, officers found a black leather bag on the front passenger side floor that contained a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine, as well as three baggies containing 2,169 blue “M-Box 30” fentanyl pills, a baggie containing an additional 14 grams of powder fentanyl, a baggie containing 13 MDMA pills, a baggie containing 35 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale.
Because Thompson has a prior felony conviction, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The complaint charges Thompson with possession of a firearm as a felon, possession of fentanyl, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the charges, Thompson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. Thompson, who is currently in state custody in Hennepin County, will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport Police Department, in close coordination with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Calhoun-Lopez and Ruth S. Shnider are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Blue Springs Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Conspiracy to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Blue Springs, Mo., man who watched online as a 7-year-old girl was raped and sexually abused was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to produce child pornography.
Justin W. Hardin, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 27 years and three months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Hardin to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration.
On Feb. 2, 2023, Hardin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography, two counts of receiving child pornography over the internet, one count of distributing child pornography over the internet, and one count of possessing child pornography.
According to court documents, investigators identified an individual who was posting photos and videos of his sexual abuse and rape of a 7-year-old girl online. Hardin engaged in numerous chats with this individual on Google Hangouts between Aug. 1 and Sept. 3, 2019. During the chats, Hardin viewed in real time the individual’s sexual abuse and rape of the child victim. In addition, Hardin asked the individual to write “Abbi Dillon” (Hardin’s online screen name) on the child’s body while the abuse was occurring.
On Sept. 11, 2019, law enforcement officers seized Hardin’s Apple iPhone. A forensic evaluation found evidence of the receipt and distribution of child pornography, as well as images of the sexual abuse of the 7-year-old victim.
The individual who sexually assaulted the child victim was sentenced in another jurisdiction to 25 years imprisonment for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and 155 months for rape, to be served consecutively.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Western Missouri Cybercrimes Task Force.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Belle Vernon Resident Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Belle Vernon, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of wire fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Patty Lynn Mavrakis, 65, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in September 2016, Mavrakis was the Branch Manager for Valley 1st Community Federal Credit Union in Belle Vernon, Pa. The Court was further advised that, on September 5, 2016, the Credit Union was closed because of Labor Day, but Mavrakis entered the Credit Union, accessed the safe, and left the Credit Union with multiple boxes, at least one of which contained cash from the safe. On the following day, September 6, 2016, Mavrakis arrived at the Credit Union before any other employees and staged a fire in the safe. As the only witness to the fire, Mavrakis falsely claimed that an alarm wire “caught on fire” and consumed $340,200 in cash. On September 7, 2016, Mavrakis submitted an insurance claim to the Credit Union’s insurance company and again falsely claimed that an alarm wire caused the fire. The insurance company processed and paid the claim.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for October 11, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Mavrakis may remain released on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mavrakis.
Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Thomas D. Manns, 37, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 26, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to a report of shots fired at a Ewart Avenue apartment complex in Beckley and encountered Manns holding what they believed to be a firearm as he ran into a stairway. Officers searched the stairway and found a Mossberg, model 500AT, 12-gauge shotgun in a trash can. Video footage from the apartment complex’s security cameras showed Manns holding the shotgun before he put it in the trash can. Manns admitted to possessing the firearm.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Manns knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Raleigh County Circuit Court on November 29, 2006.
Manns is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell 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. 5:22-cr-66.
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Baltimore Felon Sentenced to Almost Six Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggs today sentenced Marquis Johnson, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 71 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; and Acting Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department.
“The actions of the DEA and the Baltimore City Police Department, in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, literally stopped a felon with a bulletproof vest before he used a gun on Baltimore’s streets,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “We will swiftly respond to those who would bring violence to our communities.”
According to his guilty plea, on September 21, 2021, Johnson robbed someone who was standing near his residence on Chapel Street in Baltimore City. Immediately after the robbery, Johnson claimed in a call he made to a friend from his cell phone that 10 to 15 shots were fired at him. The call was intercepted as part of a months-long DEA investigation of several individuals, including Johnson.
As detailed in the plea agreement, Johnson asked his associates to help him find the individual who shot at him so he could retaliate, telling them, “I already know which one it was.” Shortly after the calls, DEA investigators saw Johnson walking in East Baltimore along with several of his associates. While investigators watched Johnson, he got into an argument with the driver of a van on the street. Knowing that Johnson was on his way to retaliate against the individual who shot at him and was most likely armed, investigators stopped Johnson and conducted a pat down for weapons. Investigators recovered a .45 caliber handgun loaded with 12 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, with one in the chamber, from Johnson’s waistband. Johnson was also wearing a bulletproof vest.
Johnson knew that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as the result of a previous felony conviction. Further, the investigation showed that the gun had been reported stolen on June 21, 2021.
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.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Oldham and Ari Evans, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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5th and final man admits role in Laredo cocaine trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old man has pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and launder money, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Elizardo Vasquez Jr. admitted to being the courier of cocaine and drug proceeds.
Vasquez is the fifth co-conspirator to be convicted in this trafficking ring. He joins Cesar Mendiola, 57, Jose Angel Rodriguez Jr., 60, Rafael Rodriguez, 63, and Jose Angel Rodriguez III, 34, all of Laredo, who admitted on June 7 to felony charges related to cocaine distribution and money laundering in Laredo.
Throughout the course of this investigation, authorities seized nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine and over $147,000 in drug proceeds.
The investigation revealed brothers Rodriguez Jr. and Rodriguez would receive kilograms of cocaine from a source in Mexico through Vasquez and provide that cocaine to Mendiola for further distribution in and around Laredo. Rodriguez III kept records of transactions and drug proceeds for his father, Rodriguez Jr.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Sept. 25. At that time, Vasquez faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Vasquez will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Webb County District Attorney’s Office, the Webb County Sheriff’s Office and the United Independent School District Police Department. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony J. Evans and Brian Bajew are prosecuting the case.
31 Individuals Involved in a Drug Trafficking Organization in Marion County and Lorain County IndictedRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND, OH – Federal, county, and local law enforcement officials today announced that 31 individuals were charged in two separate indictments for their roles in drug trafficking conspiracies that involved the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the Northern District of Ohio, including in Marion, Wyandot, and Lorain Counties. Twenty-one were arrested during an early morning operation and transported to federal court in Cleveland.
This announcement is made by United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko, FBI Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen, and the MARMET Drug Task Force in Marion, Ohio. “Yesterday’s arrests and announced indictments will give the community of Marion, Ohio, some
relief from the opioid epidemic that has been a persistent scourge in our District,” said United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko. “These arrests reflect law enforcement targeting organizations that sell deadly drugs in our communities to hold those organizations accountable for the lives they regularly destroy. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue its targeted and collaborative efforts with our local, state, and federal partners to identify and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that bring poison and violence into our neighborhoods.”“FBI Cleveland and the Mansfield Resident Agency, together with its seven resident agencies across northern Ohio, is focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting drug trafficking organizations and eliminating their operations,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “The coordination of these arrests was highly complex and underscores the collaborative effort of the FBI, together with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement. We thank and appreciate their work as they continue to find criminal actors who seek to ruin lives and poison our communities through their expansive drug network.”
The fourteen and eighteen individuals listed below, respectively, were charged in two separate multi-count indictments with the following charges: conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense:
Christopher Payne, 24, Marion, OH; Michael Worthington, G., 28, Marion, OH; Dave Davis, 43, Marion, OH; Matthew Taylor, 28, Marion, OH; Tyler Landrum, 26, Marion, OH; Dalton Gruber, 42, Marion, OH; Donovan Caskey, 28, Marion, OH; Crystal Rivers, 42, Green Camp, OH; Gerald Houseworth, 31, Marion, OH; Sheena Stolz, 34, Upper Sandusky, OH; Anthony Clark, 53, Marion, OH; Christina Weaver, 25, Marion, OH; Steven Mollet, 27, Marion, OH; Starla Artressia, 26, Marion, OH;
and separately,
Justin Stanley, 35, Marion, OH; Freddie Sanchez, 36, Lorain, OH; Christopher Payne, 24, Marion, OH; Dustin Russell, 32, Marion, OH; Walter Thomas, 41, Marion, OH; Austin Hogan, 29, Marion, OH; Kyle Rentschler, 26, Prospect, OH; Donna Wrick, 31, Marion, OH; Lawrence Dempster, 49, Marion, OH; Ryan Pheasant, 30, Marion, OH; Michael Cottrill, Jr., 22, Marion, OH; Casey Taylor, 47, Marion, OH; Derek Hesson, 29, Marion, OH; Jacob Martin, 28, Marion, OH; James Holsinger, Jr., 29, Marion, OH; Jason Smith, 47, Marion, OH; Jeffery Hall, 31, Marion, OH; and Dustin Freeman, 36, Marion, OH.
According to the indictments, between as early as on or about September 1, 2020, and continuing through on or about June 14, 2023, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire with each other to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), oxycodone, and methamphetamine.
The co-conspirators obtained fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine-base (“crack”), oxycodone, and methamphetamine from suppliers in Columbus, Ohio; Lorain, Ohio; and Marion, Ohio. The coconspirators concentrated their redistribution of these drugs in and around Marion, Ohio. During the investigation, law enforcement seized 3 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilograms of cocaine, over 1 kilogram of methamphetamine, 15 firearms, and $25,546 in U.S. Currency.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
For the past two and a half years, Marion-Metrich (MARMET) Drug Task Force and FBI Mansfield investigated the drug trafficking activities of the Justin Stanley DTO and the Christopher Payne DTO. Investigators and law enforcement officers of the Marion Police
Department, Marion County Sheriff Office, Morrow County Sheriff Office, Lorain Police Narcotics Unit, Wyandot County Major Crimes Unit, Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, and U.S. Marshal Service assisted in the investigation.This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vasile C. Katsaros.