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Monday 8 May 2023
Roanoke-Area Heroin and Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke-area heroin dealer, whose product contained fentanyl, was sentenced last week to 126 months in federal prison.
Norman Wayne Harrison, 34, pleaded guilty in February 2023 to one count of distributing heroin and one count of distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl for conduct that occurred in 2020.
According to court documents, on December 1, 2020, Harrison sold a confidential informant 58.74 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. On December 18, 2020, using a female companion, Harrison sold 3.622 grams of heroin to a different informant. During their investigation, law enforcement ultimately obtained over 250 combined grams of heroin and fentanyl from Harrison.
As a result of these controlled purchases, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for an apartment in Roanoke that was connected to Harrison. On January 29, 2021, they seized four firearms and approximately $55,000 in U.S. Currency. Law enforcement also seized two vehicles belonging to Harrison that were used to facilitate his drug trafficking.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Virginia State Police, and members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA), including the Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem Police Departments participated in 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Coleman Adams prosecuted the case.
Recidivist Felon Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Hermelindo Velazquez-Rivera, 45, of Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, by United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to a total of 90 months in prison. Velasquez-Rivera pleaded guilty to Reentry of a Removed Alien and admitted to violating conditions of supervised release.
In May 2022, Velazquez-Rivera illegally returned to the United States while on a term of supervised release, less than three months after he was deported. Velazquez-Rivera had been deported following a prior illegal reentry conviction. His criminal history includes two prior federal convictions for alien smuggling (one that resulted in a crash, and another that involved erratic driving), and a state felony conviction in North Carolina for a fatality he caused while driving under the influence. Velazquez-Rivera was apprehended by a Border Patrol agent near the border in southern Arizona.
Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBERS: 22-CR-01352-RCC-MSA
22-CR-50092-RCC-MSA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-065_Velazquez-Rivera# # #
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.Puyallup, Washington, wound treatment firm settles allegations it submitted false bills to government health care programsRead the Press Release
Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice, the Washington State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division, and United Wound Healing P.S., today resolved allegations that United Wound Healing (UWH) of Puyallup, Washington, had improperly billed Medicare and Medicaid for services provided in nursing homes and care facilities in Washington, Oregon, Utah, and Idaho. UWH will pay $292,132 to resolve the matter. The company is settling the matter but admits no wrongdoing.
UWH partners with long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and adult family homes, to provide wound care to patients residing in those facilities. UWH providers travel to the partner facilities, where they conduct rounds to identify and treat patients with wounds, including wounds caused by pressure, dermatitis, vascular disease, diabetes, and surgery.
Between 2015 and 2022 UWH allegedly submitted false claims to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for evaluation and management (E&M) services. Medicare generally prohibits healthcare providers from separately billing for E&M services provided on the same day as another medical procedure, unless the E&M services are significant, separately identifiable, and above and beyond the usual pre- and post-operative care associated with the medical procedure.
The settlement resolves allegations in a lawsuit filed in the Western District of Washington by Dena Walker, a former employee of UWH. The lawsuit was filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private individuals to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery Ms. Walker will receive approximately $58,426 as part of the resolution.
“Providers have a responsibility to submit accurate claims to Medicare and Medicaid that are driven by patient needs,” said Steven J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “As this case demonstrates, HHS-OIG is committed to investigating those who threaten the integrity of federal health care programs and recovering valuable taxpayer dollars so they can be used for their intended purposes.”
Of the settlement amount, $273,711 will go to the federal government and $18,420 will go to the state of Washington. Of those amounts, $130,136 is restitution to federal healthcare programs, and $15,929 is restitution to the state. The False Claims Act allows for increased damages to discourage improper billing to federal programs.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
This resolution was negotiated by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Burns. Senior Counsel Carrie L. Bashaw handled the matter for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
Piatt County Farmer Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Piatt County man, James R. R. Williams, 63, of rural Cisco, Illinois, pleaded guilty to four counts of bank fraud on May 2, 2023. Sentencing for Williams has been scheduled for September 7, 2023, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Illinois.
In court before U.S. District Judge Collen R. Lawless, Williams admitted that for the 2016 growing season he obtained a loan of approximately $4.6 million from First Security Bank and Gifford State Bank on behalf of his farming operation, RJW Williams Farms, Inc. The loans were collateralized by Williams’s assets, including grain. Williams acknowledged under oath that, beginning in October 2016, he defrauded both banks by concealing his grain sales from the banks by instructing employees of Archer Daniels Midland grain elevators in Niantic and Weldon, Illinois, to issue four checks to another individual, which were then deposited into an account held jointly by Williams and that individual and then used by Williams for his own benefit. The government alleges that between October 20, 2014, and February 1, 2017, Williams caused ADM to issue approximately twenty-two checks totaling $540,505.35 in the name of his son for grain that was actually sold by Williams and was collateral for Williams’s outstanding loan.
Williams was released on bond pending sentencing.
For each of the four counts of bank fraud, Williams faces statutory penalties of a maximum twenty-year term of imprisonment, a maximum $1 million fine, and a maximum five-year term of supervised release.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation -- Office of Inspector General. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is currently representing the government in the prosecution.
Phoenix Man Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison After Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. –Brandon Hall, 33, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 48 months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release. Hall was convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer with a Deadly Weapon.
On July 8, 2022, United States Border Patrol agents received information that seven suspected undocumented non-citizens had entered a silver 2011 Ford Edge near Naco, Arizona. Agents responded to the area and located the vehicle suspected of transporting the group. After initially yielding to law enforcement, Hall, who was driving the Ford Edge, sped up and drove directly at a Border Patrol agent approaching on foot. Hall narrowly missed hitting the agent, as the agent had leapt onto his service vehicle’s hood. Hall then proceeded to drive at nearly 90 miles per hour on State Route 92, passing vehicles on the shoulder, driving through a stop sign, and barely avoiding colliding with other vehicles on the road. Border Patrol agents later found Hall and arrested him, along with his co-defendant, Martina Vega, who was riding in the vehicle’s front seat.
Vega, Hall’s co-defendant, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit While Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Another Person. Judge Zipps sentenced Vega on February 8, 2023, to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 22-CR-01695-JGZ-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-067_Hall# # #
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.Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Telisa Rene McCauley, 31, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, admitting to a role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, McCauley admitted to conspiring with a co-defendant to obtain methamphetamine on or about February 4, 2023. McCauley attempted to obtain methamphetamine from her co-defendant prior to that date, but was told that the co-defendant was out of methamphetamine. The co-defendant then offered McCauley a discount if she would travel to obtain the methamphetamine on the co-defendant’s behalf. McCauley agreed, traveled to the designated located, and obtained the methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of McCauley’s vehicle as she traveled back to the Charleston area, searched her car, and recovered approximately 7 pounds of methamphetamine in the back seat.
McCauley is scheduled to be sentenced on August 23, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $10 million fine.
McCauley is among 30 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 200 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 28 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of fentanyl, 18 firearms and $747,000 in cash.
Six other co-defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31.
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North Carolina Man Arrested, Charged with Threatening to Carry Out Shootings at A Church and Grocery Store, and to Attack A FamilyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced that Daniel Parson, 33, of Charlotte, NC, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making threats in or affecting interstate commerce. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in the early morning hours of May 3, 2023, an individual, later identified as Parson, called the Buffalo Police Department A-District, and stated that he was going to “shoot up” a “fellowship church” on May 7, 2023. Parson also stated that “they knew who he was, and they had it coming.” Later that morning, at approximately 7:50 a.m., Parson called the Buffalo Police Department D-District and stated that he was going to “slaughter” a specific family located in Buffalo at 2:30 p.m. And shortly before 9:00 a.m., Parson called the Buffalo Police Department C-District and stated that he would conduct a mass shooting at an unspecified Tops grocery store.
Parson was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada and ordered held following a detention hearing in Federal Court in the District of Nevada. He will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Nine Indicted in Multi-State Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging nine individuals with a drug trafficking conspiracy and other charges as a result of a joint investigation dubbed “Operation Ice Man.” According to the indictment and court documents, since early 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the DeLand Police Department, and the Daytona Police Department have been involved in an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that was transporting methamphetamine and cocaine from Phoenix, Arizona and Los Angeles, California to central Florida.
See chart below for details on the defendants and charges. One additional defendant remains unnamed pending their arrest.
Name
Crimes
Potential Penalties
Luis Miguel Hernandez (36, Phoenix, AZ)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison
Saul Sandoval
(39, Phoenix, AZ)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison
Tyrone James Jones
(55, Palm Coast, FL)
Drug trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute
Mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison
Zara Adriana Mascarella (20, Palm Coast, FL)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison
Jimmie Lee Bizzell
(53, Green Cove Springs, FL)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison
Alfred Lamar Shavers
(48, Bunnell, FL)
Drug trafficking conspiracy and possession of firearms by a convicted felon
Maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and mandatory minimum of 15 years up to life in prison
Camarie Dontre Shavers (23, Bunnell, FL)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 5 years up to 40 years in prison
Alfred Lamar Shavers, Jr.
(26, Bunnell, FL)
Drug trafficking conspiracy
Mandatory minimum of 5 years up to 40 years in prison
During the investigation, federal agents and task force officers identified several members of the conspiracy and the methods used by the DTO to ship methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico across the United States to central Florida using commercial trucks. Law enforcement tracked the drugs from Phoenix and Los Angeles gathering vital intelligence on the DTO. Bizzell was one of the commercial truck drivers who transported the drugs from Phoenix to Florida.
On October 31, 2022, search warrants were executed at six locations in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Daytona Beach. As a result, 44.54 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2.72 kilograms of cocaine were seized. In addition, nine guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were seized from a location where Alfred Shavers resided. Jones, Mascarella, Alfred Shavers, Alfred Shavers, Jr., and Camarie Shavers, were all identified as drug distributers in central Florida.
Upon further investigation, law enforcement determined that Sandoval and Hernandez were the sources of the methamphetamine and cocaine from Phoenix and Los Angeles. Agents learned that Sandoval and Hernandez had brokered deals with co-conspirators in Mexico who were sending drugs across the border for Sandoval and Hernandez to sell. Law enforcement also discovered that Sandoval possessed multiple illegal firearms at his residence including fully automatic firearms, short-barrel firearms, and auto switches designed to be installed on Glock handgun slides to render the handguns fully automatic. Authorities believe that since 2021, Sandoval and Hernandez distributed more than 300 kilograms of drugs that were shipped to central Florida.
On April 25, 2023, Sandoval was arrested in Phoenix and a search warrant was executed at his residence. Inside his home, agents located 1,114 grams of fentanyl pills, 18 firearms, 4 firearm suppressors, and more than $5,000 in cash. Sandoval was detained and is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transport to the Middle District of Florida for further proceedings. Hernandez was arrested in Los Angeles on the same day. He was in the middle of conducting a new drug trafficking deal for approximately 36 kilograms of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest. Hernandez was also detained and placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending his transport to 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.
The indictment also notifies Alfred Lamar Shavers that the United States intends to forfeit four pistols, two rifles, and one shotgun which are alleged to be traceable to the offense.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. 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 at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Volusia Bureau of Investigation which includes the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the DeLand Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney AUSA John M. Gardella.
Download Superseding IndictmentNigerian Man Sentenced for Online Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Nigerian man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in online fraud schemes.
Happy Chukwuma, 30, was sentenced on May 5, 2023 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to eight months in prison (time served). On April 10, 2023, Chukwuma pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy. Chukwuma was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2019. He was arrested and detained in the United Kingdom in September 2022 and extradited to the United States in March 2023.
Between November 2015 and January 2019, Chukwuma and his co-conspirators participated in a variety of online fraud schemes, including “phishing” and romance scams. They exchanged victims’ personally identifiable information, including identification and financial documents, and engaged in financial transactions with that information. Several of the victims whose information was compromised were from Massachusetts.
Phishing schemes mimic the appearance of legitimate websites to gather victims’ online credentials, including usernames, passwords, financial account information, social security numbers and other types of personal identifiable information. In romance scams, perpetrators generally create fictitious online personas to develop online romantic relationships with individuals in the United States, and then leverage those relationships to obtain money and property.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police National Extradition Unit provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Chukwuma.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JOYCE JOSEPH BANERJEE (“BANERJEE”), age 56, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was indicted on May 5, 2023 for receipt of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. If convicted, BANERJEE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person of the offense under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. In addition, BANERJEE faces a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life after his release from prison as well as a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to court documents , the case against BANERJEE stemmed from an online child sexual abuse material investigation by the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office. Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) then took over the investigation and special agents executed a federal search warrant at BANERJEE’s New Orleans home in April of 2023. HSI’s investigation determined BANERJEE received images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 United States Attorney’s 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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office; and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.
New Jersey man sentenced for role in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Blackwood, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for being the supplier in a drug conspiracy that stretched from New Jersey to Maryland to West Virginia.
Aquilino Javier Lorenzo-Rivera, 39, previously pled guilty to distribution of fentanyl. Lorenzo-Rivera admitted that he distributed nearly 34 grams of acetyl fentanyl (synthetic fentanyl) and more than 241 grams of a fentanyl mixture.
During today’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh heard about Lorenzo-Rivera’s travels to and from the Eastern Panhandle to supply drugs to another dealer. During the investigation, officers found nearly 200 grams of fentanyl and nearly 300 grams of cocaine base that Lorenzo-Rivera had transported to a dealer in Harpers Ferry, as well as more than $12,000 in cash seized from a traffic stop. The judge discussed Lorenzo-Rivera’s continuous pattern of criminal conduct, which includes 14 felony convictions.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Multiple defendants sentenced or enter guilty pleas on federal firearms chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: At least 20 defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal charges including illegal possession of firearms.
The cases were investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally carry guns.
“In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to the safety and security of our communities,” said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Removing guns from the hands of violent criminals and convicted felons makes all of us safer.”
In the past four years, more than 830 defendants have been federally prosecuted in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony. That charge carries a statutory penalty of up to 15 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
Defendants recently adjudicated on federal firearms charges include:
- Deon Brown, 31, of Augusta, was sentenced to 130 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Brown in August 2021 at his residence and found drugs and multiple handguns in his vehicle. Brown has prior convictions for drug and gun possession.
- Christopher Fitzgerald Jones, 35, of Augusta, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jones in October 2021 on a felony warrant resulting from a series of domestic altercations. Jones, who was carrying a pistol at the time of his arrest, has a substantial criminal history that includes violence and illegal gun possession.
- Jamar Lavelle Alexander, 35, of Crawfordville, Ga., was sentenced to 63 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Taliaferro County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Alexander in November 2020 after finding him passed out behind the wheel of a car parked in the middle of a county highway with a loaded pistol in his lap. Alexander previously was convicted on state charges of weapons possession.
- Windsor Hodge, 64, of Martinez, Ga., was sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies searched Hodge’s residence on a warrant in January 2022 and found 13 firearms. Hodge previously was convicted of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, a felony.
- Dontrell Kydreek Mathis, 30, of Augusta, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found two pistols in Mathis’ vehicle after an attempted traffic stop and subsequent vehicle and foot chase in August 2022.
- Christopher Donnell Crumbley, 34, of Waynesboro, was sentenced to 84 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Burke County sheriff’s deputies arrested Crumbley on outstanding criminal warrants and found three pistols in his possession.
- David Alexander Harris, 43, of Augusta, was sentenced to 51 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Eutylone and Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Harris in March 2020 after finding him asleep at the wheel of his vehicle at a traffic light. A pistol was lying in Harris’ lap.
- Diemond Dajion Wimberly, 25, of Augusta, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Wimberly during an April 2022 traffic stop after finding a pistol with a high-capacity magazine in the vehicle.
- Ra’ann Michell Coleman, 49, of Eastman, Ga., was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm. In her plea agreement, Coleman admitted that when she purchased two firearms in October and December 2020, she lied about being the actual purchaser of the guns when she in fact was buying the firearms on behalf of someone else.
- Ephelius Artavis Brinson Jr., 28, of Hephzibah, Ga., was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Brinson in June 2022 after he fled from a traffic stop, leaving behind a backpack containing a loaded pistol and drugs.
- Deontre Hubert, 28, of Augusta, was sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Hubert had a pistol in his waistband in June 2022 when pulled over by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies for a traffic violation. He previously was convicted in state court of Involuntary Manslaughter, a felony.
- Ryan Nickolus Smiley, a/k/a “Nick Smiley,” 39, of Clyo, Ga., was sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Smiley was on supervised release from a prior federal firearms conviction when the U.S. Marshal’s Service served an arrest warrant for a violation of supervised release and found ammunition and photos of Smiley in possession of firearms.
- Derrick Drurell Long, 32, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Georgia Department of Community Supervision officers arrested Long in June 2020 after finding a pistol in his apartment during a search.
- Carl Williams, 52, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Investigators from the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division conducted a warrant search of Williams’ residence as part of an investigation into stolen military equipment and found three semiautomatic pistols in Williams’ possession. Williams previously pled guilty and was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Connecticut on a felony charge of Conspiracy to Traffic in Stolen Government Property for receiving and reselling gun sights and night-vision equipment stolen from the U.S. Navy.
- Shannan Barnwell, 24, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Interference with Interstate Commerce by Robbery; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Barnwell’s plea is in connection with an armed robbery of a vendor restocking a South State Bank automatic teller machine.
- Jonathan Bennett Capece II, 53, of Dublin, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Dublin Police officers arrested Capece in April 2020 after finding drugs and two pistols in his vehicle during a traffic stop.
- Horatio Trimane Bynes, 65, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Bynes at a DUI checkpoint after a deputy smelled marijuana and a drug-sniffing dog alerted to the presence of drugs in his vehicle. Deputies searched the car and found drugs, cash, and a .357 caliber revolver.
- Dequan Dante Payne, 31, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Payne in March 2022 after finding drugs and guns during a search of his residence as part of a drug investigation. Payne previously served nearly 10 years in state prison for armed robbery.
- Donald D. Walker, 28, of Hinesville, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to False Statement During Attempted Purchase of a Firearm. Walker made a false statement about being under indictment when he signed forms required for buying a gun at a Hinesville gun store. Walker’s criminal history includes convictions for assault and family violence.
- Tyrique Marquez Mills, 25, of Waycross, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Mills was wanted on felony warrants related to a shooting when he was arrested by Waycross Police officers who found a loaded pistol in his pocket.
- James Travon Walker, 22, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Chatham County Police officers arrested Walker while responding to a report of a vehicle break-in and found a backpack belonging to Walker containing two pistols stolen from the vehicle.
- Lear A. Williams, 33, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers in September 2022 were investigating reports of a man selling drugs when they found a pistol and ammunition in Williams’ possession.
- Olajuwon Raheem Williams, 25, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Williams after he threatened to shoot up his ex-girlfriend’s home and fled from police while firing at the pursuing officer with an AR-style pistol. Williams previously served a state prison sentence for armed robbery.
- Tony Lavardo Blount Jr., 32, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a Grovetown, Ga., home to investigate a report of domestic violence and arrested Blount after a brief foot chase when he pulled a pistol from his pocket.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information from the ATF on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atfw-form-4473
Miami Companies and Owners Sentenced for Conspiring to Tamper with Diesel Truck Monitoring Devices Required by the Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Defendants Vivian Machado, 62, Eric Flaquer, 39, and the Miami-based companies Quick Tricks Automotive Performance, Inc., and Kloud9Nine, LLC were sentenced Friday in federal district court for conspiring to tamper with environmental monitoring devices on diesel vehicles, in violation of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Flaquer was sentenced to three months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, with a special condition of six months home detention with electronic monitoring. Machado was sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release, with a special condition of ten months of home detention with electronic monitoring. Both companies, Quick Tricks and Kloud9Nine, were sentenced to probation. The defendants were further sentenced to publish a public apology and statement regarding their crimes at the 2023 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show.
The purpose of the CAA, among other things, is “to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation’s air resources so as to promote the public health and welfare and the productive capacity of its population.” Motor vehicles, including those with heavy duty diesel engines, cause or contribute to air pollution which may endanger public health or welfare and are thus regulated, including the requirement that manufacturers design and install emissions control systems to treat their exhausts. Those systems are monitored by an on-board diagnostic system (OBD). The OBD is software and sensors that monitor emissions-related engine systems and components. It is a felony to tamper with CAA-required monitoring devices.
Between January 2018 and December 2020, defendants Machado, Flaquer, and Quick Tricks were paid approximately $230,830.61 for 1,100 transactions for the sale of “delete tune files” that tamper with or disable the OBDs on heavy-duty diesel motor vehicles that were required under the CAA to have OBD systems to monitor their emissions control systems. Similarly, between October 2019 and March 2021, Machado, Flaquer, and Kloud9Nine were paid $141,162.70 for an additional 657 “tuner” transactions. The defendants would customize the delete tune files based on the vehicle identification number and desired parameters, and would conduct active customer service for the device customers. Knowing the conduct was illegal, the defendants would often warn customers by e-mail not to tell anyone about the purchases and to take steps to avoid detection by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and “stay under the radar.”
The vehicles at issue in this case were driven in the Southern District of Florida and throughout the United States on public roads and highways. Diesel exhaust contains a mix of acidic and hydrocarbon gases that are harmful to human health. Excess emissions from illegally tampered vehicles can have important environmental justice implications for overburdened communities near major roads and highways. A 2021 study concluded that communities within high vehicle traffic areas are at greater risk of adverse health effects from exposure to diesel emissions. A 2020 study by EPA showed that an average fully deleted diesel truck emits approximately one ton of extra NOx in its lifetime and is equivalent to roughly 16 additional diesel trucks being driven on the road; or put another way, the over 1,700 trucks and engines in this case were akin to approximately 27,000 additional trucks on the road.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Charles Carfagno of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Criminal Investigation Division, Southeast Area Branch, announced the sentence.
EPA, Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi A. Mazer prosecuted it.
If you have any information regarding this investigation, or other environmental crimes, you may contact the EPA, Criminal Investigation Division Hotline at (800) 962-6215; the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Hotline: (800) 853-1964; and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 1-800-344-9453. Locally, environmental crimes, including wildlife violations and environmental justice matters may be reported to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 305-961-9001 or [email protected] .
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-20516.
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Mexican National Sentenced to over 5 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Fentanyl-Related SubstanceRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Oscar Arturo Salomon Perez, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison for distributing fentanyl and p-fluorofentanyl, an analogue of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in October 2021, Perez negotiated the sale of 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and a kilogram of “Chinese food,” believed to be synthetic heroin laced with fentanyl. After confirming the prices with his supplier in Mexico, Perez advised that it would cost $3 per pill for the 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills and $22,000 for the “Chinese food.” Perez requested an additional $1,000 for making the delivery in Fresno for a total of $53,000. An undercover agent agreed to the terms. A couple hours later, Perez met with and showed the agent a large clear plastic bag containing 10,004 blue pills marked “M-30” containing fentanyl and another clear plastic bag containing about 2 pounds of p-fluorofentanyl in powder form. When the agent advised that another car was bringing the money, Perez fled and was eventually stopped by law enforcement officers. Another 219 blue pills containing fentanyl marked “M-30” were found in Perez’s vehicle.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA) composed of law enforcement personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the California Department of Justice; the California Highway Patrol; the Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties Sheriff’s Offices; and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced to Almost Six Years in Prison for Illegally Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Gary Vaughn, 55, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, and Chief Robert J. Contee, III, of the Metropolitan Police Department. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered 36 months of supervised release.
According to court documents, on six different occasions between December 2021 and February 2022, an undercover officer (“UC”) with the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) met with Vaughn at various locations in SE Washington, DC – including a park and Vaughn’s home – to purchase narcotics. On each of the six occasions, Vaughn sold the UC multiple Ziplock baggies that each contained a white powdery substance containing fentanyl. In total, Vaughn sold 415 Ziploc bags containing fentanyl. Vaughn was arrested on August 31, 2022, with an additional 139 Ziploc baggies that contained fentanyl.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of the detectives and patrol officers of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit. They expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Mid-Atlantic Laboratory. They also commended those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Wang and Nihar Mohanty from the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section (VRTO).
Long-Term Drug Trafficking Investigation Secures Fifteenth Guilty PleaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A 15th defendant has entered a guilty plea in United States District Court in connection with a wide-ranging investigation centered on the area of 7th and O Streets, in Northwest, Washington, D.C. These guilty pleas stem from a series of arrests and indictments filed in May and June of 2022, following a long-term investigation led by the FBI and MPD.
Elliot Johnson, 43, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty May 5, 2023 to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2023.
According to court documents, in or around late 2021, members of the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”), in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), began investigating violent crime and drug trafficking activities occurring in or around the corner of 7th Street and O Street in Northwest, Washington, D.C. Investigation revealed that the individuals charged gathered in this area on a regular basis to sell controlled substances.
Law enforcement identified several residences that the group used for storing drugs and for processing and packaging drugs for resale. Further investigation revealed the defendants were engaged in hand-to-hand drug sales on the sidewalk. Undercover officers began purchasing crack cocaine and fentanyl from members of the drug trafficking group. The quantities of crack cocaine purchased by law enforcement ranged from one gram to over 28 grams at a time. The charged members of this group, in total, sold law enforcement approximately 158 grams of cocaine base. The quantities of fentanyl purchased by law enforcement from members of this drug trafficking group ranged from less than one gram up to 65 grams at a time. The charged members of this group, in total, sold law enforcement approximately 470 grams of fentanyl. Through the executed searches, four firearms were also seized.
The following defendants have entered guilty pleas in connection with this series of indictments:
Defendant
Case Number
Guilty Plea
Plea Date
Sentencing Date
Elliot Johnson, 43,
22-CR-164
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl
May 5, 2023
TBD
Jeremy Young, 37,
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl
March 1, 2023
Scheduled for June 7, 2023
William Proctor, 55
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine
November 7, 2022
Sentenced to Five Years in Prison on February 27, 2023
Andre Williams, 33
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine
March 22, 2023
Scheduled for July 7, 2023
Ako Handy, 50
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine and possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person
April 11, 2023
Sentenced to Five Years in Prison on April 11, 2023
Keith Gliss, 37
22-CR-164
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime and Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine
May 4, 2023
TBD
Stanley Hood, 27
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine
January 12, 2023
Scheduled for May 24, 2023
Thomas Shelton, 26
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine and Fentanyl
January 10, 2023
Sentenced to Two Years in Prison on April 10, 2023
Tyrone Wade, 30
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl
April 10, 2023
Scheduled for July 26, 2023
Christion Cooper, 22
22-CR-164
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
February 23, 2023
Sentenced to Five Years in Prison n February 23, 2023
Kenneth Watts, 25
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine
December 22, 2022
Sentenced to Two Years in Prison on April 6, 2023
Brandon Benson, 24
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine
January 11, 2023
Scheduled for May 16, 2023
Burnell Smith, 33
22-CR-164
Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine
December 2, 2022
Sentenced to Probation on March 21, 2023
Kelfa Kamara, 39
22-CR-196
Possession with the Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
December 9, 2022
Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison on March 29, 2023
Samuel Hall, 41
22-cr-195
Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
February 1, 2023
Scheduled for May 30, 2023
Jonathan Brown
22-cr-114
Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person
October 7, 2022
Pending
This investigation additionally led to an indictment being filed against Jonathan Brown in Case Number 23-CR-79, related to the July 31, 2021 homicide of Kervin Sanchez at the corner of 7th and O street, NW.
The prosecutions followed a joint investigation by the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) of MPD’s Violent Crime Suppression Division, the FBI Washington Field Office’s Cross Border Safe Streets Task Force, and the Washington Division of the DEA. The Cross Border Safe Streets Task Force targets the most egregious and violent street crews operating in the District of Columbia.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Rosenberg and Solomon Eppel of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with valuable assistance provided by Assistant United States Attorney Steven Wasserman and former Special Assistant United States Attorney Shaunik Panse.
Leader of Sex Trafficking and Drug Conspiracy Pleads Guilty, Faces up to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced that Lairon Graham a/k/a Shah a/k/a Uncle Shah a/k/a Unc, 65, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and sex trafficking by force or coercion. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $20,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas T. Cooper and Aaron J. Mango, who are handling the case, stated that between 2013 and August 2021, Graham coerced four victims to engage in commercial sex acts by exploiting their addictions, by providing the victims with crack cocaine or heroin. Graham also used physical violence and threats of physical violence to get the victims to engage in commercial sexual activity. Graham brutally beat one victim on a near-daily basis.
In addition, between June 2020, and Spring 2021, Graham organized and led a drug conspiracy, selling cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl out of a residence on Swinburn Street in Buffalo. In the Spring of 2021, Graham moved his drug dealing operation into a Liddell Street residence. Graham was the primary source of supply of heroin and fentanyl to multiple individuals. Between January and August 2021, Graham resided on Davey Street in Buffalo, where on August 25, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at the residence, seizing 43 grams of fentanyl, 37 grams of crack cocaine, $2,500 in cash, and assorted drug paraphernalia. Graham also used this residence to sell drugs and possessed a firearm inside the residence.
“This defendant not only sold dangerous and illegal drugs in our community, he used the addiction of vulnerable women to prey upon them and force them to commit sex acts for his financial benefit” stated U.S. Attorney Ross. “We as a society cannot, and will not, tolerate this type of criminal activity. With the work of our law enforcement partners, we have convicted this defendant, along with others who’ve engaged in this reprehensible behavior, and we will continue to investigate and prosecute anyone who commits these offenses in our community.”
FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia stated, “As today’s plea details, Lairon Graham showed zero regard for human life by deceiving, manipulating, and profiting off those grappling with addiction for his benefit. The FBI’s focus is, and always will be, on protecting our communities from these violent offenders. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue our collaborative efforts to identify and dismantle violent gangs found to be dealing in the deadly drug trade.”
“Graham used violence and addiction to coerce and control the women he victimized—a technique all too common among human traffickers. After today’s guilty plea, Graham will be off the streets and looking at a significant federal sentence for his crimes,” said Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Buffalo. “HSI works every day with our law enforcement and non-governmental organizational partners to make our communities safer. It is only through partnerships and collaboration that we can achieve this goal.”
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia stated, “These arrests and convictions bring an end to a level of violence that plagued the Broadway area of the City of Buffalo for far too long. Human trafficking, drug dealing, and shootings brought on a significant response from the Buffalo Police Department in partnership with law enforcement of all levels. These convictions were made possible by the dedicated work of the patrol officers and detectives of the Buffalo Police Department working side by side with all of our law enforcement partners. I thank all of our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's office for obtaining these convictions.”
Sheriff John C. Garcia stated, “We are delighted about the investigation and outcome. This case demonstrates the tremendous partnership between all levels of law enforcement throughout Western New York to remove this deadly poison from our streets and to end the leader’s reign of brutality and coercion by forcing his victims to engage in sex acts.”
Graham is the last of 10 defendants to be convicted in this case. Also convicted are Kimberly Udrea, Patrick Schrecengost a/k/a Country, Cornelius Truesdale a/k/a Big Corn, Anthony Graham, Johnny Williams, Jordan Davis, Thomas Degree, Joseph Ward, and Jamie Washington.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Karn, Jr.; and the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 11, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
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Lead Defendant in Multimillion-Dollar Boiler Room Scam that Targeted Timeshare Owners Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A former Long Beach resident pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for leading a telemarketing scheme in which boiler room tactics were used to scam dozens of timeshare owners out of more than $3.5 million by giving them false promises of financial relief.
Michael McDonagh, 42, who currently resides in Lowell, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. The other four defendants charged with along with McDonagh also have pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud,
McDonagh, this criminal case’s lead defendant, founded and/or controlled several telemarketing companies – Irvine-based Global Transfer Inc., Costa Mesa-based Global Transfer SoCal Inc., Santa Ana-based Nationwide Transfer Inc., and Signal Hill-based Nationwide Exit Specialist Inc. – that purported to offer timeshare relief. Once one telemarketing company became inundated with consumer complaints, McDonagh would form a new telemarketing company to perpetuate the fraud.
According to court documents, from 2015 to May 2019, “openers” who worked for the McDonagh-controlled telemarketing companies contacted timeshare owners and offered to help them terminate their timeshare interest for a fixed fee. If the timeshare owner expressed interest in the telemarketing companies’ services, the call was transferred to a “closer” who convinced victims to sign contracts with the telemarketing companies to get them out of their timeshare for a “one-time fee.”
Within weeks of the victim paying the fee, the victims were contacted and told a series of lies to induce them to pay more money. For example, some victims were falsely told that they would obtain – for an additional fee – a large settlement payment based on purported litigation against the victim’s timeshare company.
McDonagh and his co-schemers also made false promises of securing – for an additional fee – a large “restitution” payment from the victim’s timeshare company because the timeshare company had purportedly rented out the victim’s timeshare property without the victim’s permission.
McDonagh admitted in his plea agreement that more than $3.5 million in actual losses were caused by him or his co-schemers whom he employed at his telemarketing companies.
United States District Judge David O. Carter scheduled an October 30 sentencing hearing, at which time McDonagh will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The United States Secret Service and the Huntington Beach Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas F. Rybarczyk of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and Ian V. Yanniello of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Lawyer Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for $8 Million Escrow FraudRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that BRIAN O’NEILL, a Maryland attorney and escrow agent, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni to nine years in prison for defrauding his clients of funds he was holding for them in escrow. O’NEILL pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud in November 2022.
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and matters included in public filings:
Beginning at least as early as August 2020, O’NEILL engaged in two related fraudulent schemes.
First, O’NEILL engaged in a scheme to defraud a medical equipment company (“Victim-1”) by falsely promising to hold over $5 million of the company’s funds in escrow. Specifically, in August 2020, Victim-1 entered into an agreement with a Florida-based medical wholesale company (“Seller-1”) for the purchase of personal protective equipment (“PPE”). In connection with the transaction, Victim-1 and Seller-1 entered into an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) with O’Neill & Partners, the firm at which O’NEILL was the managing partner. Pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, O’Neill & Partners was to act as escrow agent for the transaction and hold $5.1 million deposited by Victim-1 in escrow. Instead of holding that money as required, however, O’NEILL secretly used the funds to execute personal deals for the purchase of PPE and completely dissipated the funds by approximately November 2020.
In November 2020, Victim-1 cancelled the transaction and sent a letter to O’Neill & Partners requesting that the $5.1 million in escrowed funds be returned to Victim-1. When O’Neill & Partners refused to return Victim-1’s money, Victim-1 filed a civil action in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Civil Action”). In connection with the Civil Action, the Court ordered O’Neill & Partners to deposit the $5.1 million with the Clerk of the Court. On September 22, 2021, O’NEILL deposited $3.3 million with the Clerk.
The $3.3 million deposited with the Clerk, however, formed the basis of O’NEILL’s second scheme to defraud. That money was neither part of the $5.1 million Victim-1 had deposited nor was it O’NEILL’s own money. Instead, it consisted of funds being held by O’NEILL in escrow for a separate transaction. In other words, O’NEILL stole $3.3 million from a separate set of escrow clients in an attempt to satisfy the Court’s order in the Civil Action and repay Victim-1.
* * *
In addition to his prison term, O’NEILL, 49, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh, Amanda C. Weingarten, and Aline Flodr are in charge of the prosecution.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Gregorio Godinez, 40, pleaded guilty in May 2022 to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the sentencing hearing on May 3, 2023.
According to court documents and admissions made in court by Godinez, on multiple occasions in 2019, he conspired to sell methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. On July 2, 2019, he possessed and attempted to sell 880 grams of methamphetamine. During that drug sale, Godinez possessed a 9mm pistol. In total, Godinez sold 1,935 grams of methamphetamine.
Co-defendant Jonathan Garcia pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 months in prison; and co-defendant Elio Ramirez-Guerro pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 80 months in prison.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Las Vegas District Office made the announcement.
The DEA investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Sokolich prosecuted the case.
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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Nine Florida Tax PreparersRead the Press Release
The United States filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking to bar nine Florida tax return preparers and their associated business from assisting in the preparing of federal income tax returns for others.
The complaint alleges that Richard Louis, Teddy Davis, James Merrill, Daniel Ouku, Demetrius Knowles, Harold Bornelus, Joseph Garrett, Marlyne Wah and Romeo Davis prepared and filed thousands of federal income tax returns for customers through or in connection with the unincorporated entity known as Taxman. According to the complaint, one scheme used by the defendants was to claim fraudulent Residential Energy Credits on their customers’ tax returns. Louis and Taxman also allegedly falsified and overstated business and itemized deductions on their customers’ tax returns and prepared tax returns for customers claiming the incorrect filing status. As alleged in the complaint, defendants’ pattern of preparing returns that understate their customers’ taxes or that overstate their customers’ refunds has resulted in defendants’ customers receiving refunds to which they are not entitled. As further alleged in the complaint, based on the returns it has examined, the IRS estimates that the United States has lost millions of dollars in tax revenue as a result of defendants’ actions.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS offers tips on how to accurately file returns and how to choose a tax return preparer, as well as steps taxpayers can take to get a jumpstart on filing.
Taxpayers seeking assistance can access the IRS’s free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also has programs offering free basic return preparation for qualifying seniors and individuals with low to moderate income). In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $72,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronical federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free.
In the past decade, the Department of Justice Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Jury Convicts KC Man of Leading Cyberstalking Conspiracy That Resulted in MurderRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been convicted by a federal trial jury of leading a cyberstalking conspiracy that utilized GPS tracking devices to carry out the murder of another Kansas City, Mo., man by tracking him and shooting him to death in front of his minor daughter.
Lester E. Brown, 36, was found guilty on Friday, May 5, of one count of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, one count of cyberstalking resulting in death, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Co-defendants Michael Young, 32, and Ronell Pearson, 36, have each pleaded guilty to their roles in the cyberstalking conspiracy. Young also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting cyberstalking resulting in death. Both co-defendants are currently in custody awaiting sentencing.
Murder of Christopher Harris
Brown, Young, and Pearson participated in a conspiracy from Nov. 1, 2017, to March 19, 2018, to engage in the cyberstalking of Christopher Harris. Brown deployed multiple GPS devices on vehicles used by Harris and his associates to track their locations.
On March 14, 2018, Brown tracked Harris to a dance studio in Raytown, Mo. With Brown driving and Young and Pearson passengers, they followed Harris’s vehicle as he drove his daughter home from dance class and dropped her off at her mother’s residence in Independence. Brown pulled up behind Harris’s vehicle; Brown and Young got out of the car and shot a firearm multiple times into Harris’s vehicle, causing Harris to scream, “My daughter’s in the car! My daughter is in the car!” Brown fired several rounds into the vehicle, and then several more rounds at Harris as he ran to the door. Harris’s daughter was able to make it inside the house unharmed but Harris fell to the ground before he reached the house. Brown stood over him and fired two last rounds at him while he lay on the ground.
Prior to his murder, conspirators had been sending threatening messages to Harris using the social media service Snapchat. These messages included photographs of GPS devices, and demanded a payment to Brown of $10,000 per month.
In January 2018, conspirators surveilled Harris’s girlfriend at her place of employment, and followed her to the residence she shared with Harris. In February 2018, they deployed a GPS tracking device on Harris’s black Nissan Altima, and used a tracking service to determine his real-time location. Another tracking device was deployed on Harris’s vehicle on March 12, 2018.
Brown’s conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm is related to him illegally possessing the Glock .45-caliber pistol used to murder Harris. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Brown, who was on supervised release following his conviction and incarceration for being a felon in possession of a firearm, also has a prior felony conviction for receiving stolen property.
Murder of Ryan Cobbins
Evidence was also presented regarding the murder of Ryan Cobbins, a friend and associate of Harris. One of the Snapchat messages sent to Harris threatened, “Man, you … are gonna end up like Ryan,” which Harris took to be a reference to the murder of his friend Ryan Cobbins in 2013.
Cobbins went missing on Oct. 24, 2013, following a haircut appointment. In November 2013, Brown accepted $20,000 from Harris and another person as “ransom” payment for the return of Cobbins. Brown claimed he could act as the middleman between the kidnappers and Harris, and that he could arrange the safe return of Cobbins. On Dec. 31, 2014, Cobbins was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for three and a half hours before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Monday, May 1.
Under federal statutes, Brown is subject to a sentence of up to life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Wolesky and Nicholas P. Heberle. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the FBI.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years for Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Gregory James White (45, Jacksonville) to 13 years and 9 months in federal prison for attempted coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. The Court also ordered White to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. He also forfeited a cellphone that had been used in the commission of the offense. White had pleaded guilty on November 17, 2022.
According to court documents, in 2021, White spent more than three weeks communicating with an undercover agent, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl, over a social media platform and via text message. During these conversations, White engaged the fictitious child in sexual conversations and requested that the child send him explicit sexual images. On June 25, 2021, White traveled to a residence in Jacksonville for the purpose of committing a sexual battery on the child and was subsequently arrested.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.
Indictment Charges Brothers with Fentanyl Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that DAVID QUINTANA, 35, of East Hartford, and EDGAR QUINTANA, 33, of Hartford, have been charged by indictment with fentanyl distribution offenses. The indictment also charges David Quintana with possession of a firearms by a felon.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in March and April, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from David Quintana, and his brother, Edgar Quintana. David and Edgar Quintana were arrested on April 17, 2023. On that date, a search of David Quintana’s residence revealed two .40 caliber handguns that had been reported stolen, and one 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number. A search of Edgar Quintana’s residence revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine.
David Quintana’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On April 25, 2023, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging David and Edgar Quintana with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. The indictment also charges them with multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. David Quintana is also charged with possession of firearms by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
David and Edgar Quintana appeared today before in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. David Quintana is detained and Edgar Quintana is released on a $150,000 bond.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe and Robert S. Dearington through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Human Smuggling Stash House Coordinators Sentenced to Combined 220 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Angelico Roa-Joachin, age 43, of Mexico, was sentenced on April 21, 2023, by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Roa-Joachin was convicted of Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit and Reentry of a Removed Alien.
Judge Zipps sentenced three other co-conspirators in 2022. Co-conspirator Rafael Hernandez-Garcia, age 35, of Mexico, was also sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. Additional co-defendants Luis Alberto Calixto-Pegueros, age 25, and Alexis Mejia-Zamora, age 26, both of Mexico, were sentenced to 37 months, and 27 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the conspiracy.
On April 22, 2021, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed a search warrant at two human smuggling stash houses in Phoenix, Arizona, and apprehended Roa-Joachin, Hernandez-Garcia, Calixto-Pegueros, and Mejia-Zamora, along with over 30 undocumented non-citizens. Agents seized firearms, cash, and ledgers detailing smuggling activities. The HSI investigation revealed that the organization regularly moved hundreds of undocumented non-citizens through the two stash houses. The individuals were often held in overcrowded conditions and were not permitted to leave until their families or sponsors paid the smuggling organization for their release. Judge Zipps further found that Roa-Joachin, Hernandez-Garcia, and Calixto-Pegueros sexually coerced or sexually assaulted at least one female undocumented non-citizen who was being held at the stash houses, which resulted in a sentence enhancement.
This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is part of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime.
Homeland Security Investigations – Douglas Office conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-01176-TUC-JGZ-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-066_Roa-Joachin# # #
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.
Gun/Gamecock Dealing Results in Guilty PleaRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Pedro Gavino, 27, of Orosi, pleaded guilty today to selling firearms without a license and conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act by selling gamecocks and participating in cockfighting events, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from February 2017 to October 2018, Gavino negotiated for the sale of 28 firearms at Gavino’s ranch in Orosi and at different gas stations in Selma. He actually sold 24, including AR-15 type pistols and AR-15 type short-barreled rifles that had been privately made using unfinished receivers, also known as “ghost guns.”
On Feb. 14, 2018, during one of the illegal gun transactions, Gavino sold two American Game Fowl type of birds commonly used for cockfighting and six Mexican slashers, or short knives, that are attached to the leg of a rooster for fighting.
On April 15, 2018, Gavino and his father, co-defendant Pedro Gavino-Robles, 62, brought five gamecocks to a large cockfighting event in an orchard in Orosi where 200 to 300 spectators gathered. After two of the defendant’s gamecocks fought and won there was a dispute, gunshots were fired, and the crowd dispersed. On Oct. 4, 2018, during the execution of a federal search warrant at Gavino’s ranch, agents found 128 gamecocks, 30 hens used for breeding gamecocks, and 278 Mexican slashers.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the Fresno Police Department Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC). Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Gavino-Robles is awaiting trial, set for Nov. 7, 2023. The charges against him are only allegations; and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Gavino is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Sept. 18, 2023. Gavino faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine as to each offense. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Former Nurse Sentenced for Stealing Drugs from Two Boston-Area HospitalsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former nurse was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for diverting opioids from two Boston-area hospitals.
Lisa Tarr, 33, of St. Petersburg, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to five years of probation, with the first year spent in home detention. In October 2022, Tarr pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception and subterfuge.
In August 2018, Tarr was a Student Nurse working at a Boston-area hospital. Tarr admitted to investigators at the hospital that she had stolen and self-injected fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, from the hospital.
In 2020, while working for another Boston-area hospital, Tarr stole an infusion bag containing fentanyl that was being used to treat a patient. On another occasion in 2020, while still working at the second hospital, Tarr stole multiple syringes of hydromorphone, a Schedule II controlled substance, from a locked drug cabinet.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office; and Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Begg Lawrence, Chief of Rollins’ Health Care Fraud Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Licensed Registered Nurse Agrees to Plead Guilty to Product Tampering ChargeRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced the filing of an information and plea agreement charging Dawn Drum, 54, Janesville, Wisconsin, with product tampering while employed as a Registered Nurse at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Janesville in November 2021.
According to the information and plea agreement filed today, Drum tampered with vials of fentanyl by withdrawing the drug from the vials and replacing it with saline and then resealing the vial stopper with what appeared to be superglue. Drum then put the tampered vials back into a Pyxis machine, an automated medication dispensing system, so that the tampered fentanyl vials would be available for use with other patients at the hospital. An audit of the Pyxis transactions in Drum’s name revealed that she had an excessive pattern of fentanyl overrides and wastes when compared to other employees in 2021. In November 2021, hospital management confronted Drum with this discrepancy and asked her to take a drug test. Drum refused and instead resigned from her position at the hospital.
According to the plea agreement, the parties are recommending the Court impose a sentence of 18 months imprisonment and a fine of $30,000 due and payable immediately at sentencing. A date for Drum’s plea hearing has not been scheduled. The statutory maximum penalties for the product tampering charge are 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges against Drum were the result of an investigation conducted by the Food and Drug Administration--Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration--Diversion Control Division. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Daniel J. Graber.
Former IRS Employee Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Prison for Scheme to Defraud IRS and Commit Identity TheftRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Deena Vang Lee, 41, of Fresno, was sentenced today to four years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $191,597 in restitution following her convictions for preparing and filing false tax returns for other individuals, underreporting her own taxable income on her personal tax returns, and committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On Jan. 26, 2023, after a three-day trial, a jury found Lee guilty of 13 felony counts, including three counts of wire fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, five counts of preparing and presenting false and fraudulent returns, and three counts of making and subscribing a false and fraudulent tax return.
According to evidence presented at trial, from 2012 through 2016, Lee, in her role as a tax preparer, put materially false information on customers’ tax returns without their knowledge or consent and submitted the returns to the IRS. As part of the scheme, Lee obtained the identification of multiple individuals and falsely listed these individuals as child care providers on multiple customers’ tax returns without their knowledge or consent.
Lee also underreported her own income related to the payments she received for tax preparation services on her personal tax returns for tax years 2013, 2014, and 2015.
“This defendant was familiar with the tax laws and purposefully defrauded the United States, and even after overwhelming evidence was presented to the jury, she continued to deny her conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The repeated fraud, substantial loss, and need for deterrence justify today’s prison sentence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to use all lawful means to identify and prosecute unscrupulous tax preparers like this defendant.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation is sworn to protect the tax system, and that includes uprooting unscrupulous tax return preparers and bad actors from within the agency,” said Darren Lian, Special Agent in Charge with IRS Criminal Investigation’s Oakland Field Office. “The sentence handed down today shows the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct and we will remain vigilant in identifying and investigating those who seek to defraud honest and hardworking American taxpayers.”
“Taxpayers put trust in tax preparers to prepare their tax returns in accordance with the law. It is unacceptable for tax preparers to break this confidence by submitting fraudulent returns in their clients’ names,” said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is committed to bringing to justice tax preparers who betray their clients’ trust for their personal gain.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the IRS-CI and TIGTA. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Dempsey and Henry Carbajal prosecuted the case.
Former Federal Agent Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Two Women and Preventing Them from Reporting AttacksRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A former special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was sentenced today to life in federal prison for sexually assaulting two women and abusing his official position to prevent them from reporting his violent conduct.
John Jacob Olivas, 48, of Riverside, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal, who also ordered Olivas to pay $17,125 in restitution.
At today’s hearing, Judge Bernal said, Olivas had engaged in “systematic torture of women” and was an individual whose “senseless” crimes would cause his victims to “live with this trauma for the rest of their lives.”
At the conclusion of an 11-day trial, Olivas was found guilty in December 2022 of three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. Olivas was ordered remanded into federal custody after the verdict was read.
Olivas began his career with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2007 and resigned in September 2015 after working as an HSI special agent for just over six years. He sexually assaulted the two victims in 2012.
Olivas attempted to rape one woman in January 2012 after making it clear to her that the police would not be responsive to any report she would make about Olivas because he was “above a cop,” and “untouchable” and “invisible” to police due to his position as a federal agent, according to the victim’s trial testimony. Olivas also threatened the victim that he could make her “disappear,” have her children taken from her, and get her arrested on fake criminal charges, the victim testified.
Olivas raped another woman in September 2012 and then again in November 2012. Both times, Olivas made it clear to the victim that police would not respond to any report she might make about attacks by him, causing the victim to believe that he was “invincible” to the criminal justice system, the victim testified. She also testified at trial that Olivas pointed his HSI-issued service weapon into her back moments before he sexually assaulted her in September 2012.
Both victims endured Olivas’s “violent, escalating, controlling, and intimidating behavior, which included his repeated brandishing of HSI credentials to [them] and asserting that he was above the law,” prosecutors wrote in court documents. In all three sexual assaults, Olivas violated the victims’ constitutional rights to liberty and bodily integrity.
“Olivas is a sexual predator who willfully abused his power as a federal agent to torment his victims, causing them physical, emotional, and psychological pain,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Those who abuse their power as public officials must be held accountable. We hope the sentence imposed in this civil rights case eases the victims’ anguish and reminds would-be offenders that there is a stiff penalty for law enforcement officials who violate their vow to enforce and uphold the law.”
“John Jacob Olivas not only used the power of his position to commit horrific acts of violence and silence his victims, his actions while employed as a government agent served to undermine the efforts of honorable law enforcement officials,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “This significant sentence should not only deliver a measure of justice to his victims, but restore trust in government as we hold accountable individuals who use their position to violate civil rights.”
“Former SA Olivas willfully abused his position as a special agent and his acts were reprehensible,” said Jeffrey J. Gilgallon, Special Agent in Charge of ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility’s Western Region. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that no law enforcement officer is above the law. OPR remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute instances of abuse of authority.”
The FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Frances S. Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and Eli A. Alcaraz of the Riverside Branch Office prosecuted this case.
Foreign National Charged with Immigration Fraud and Human Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging an Iranian national with leading a visa fraud scheme to facilitate the illegal entry of individuals from Iran into the United States.
According to court documents, Hesam Fatehi Peykani, 38, allegedly organized, led, and worked with others in his Iranian-based smuggling network to facilitate the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses. Peykani allegedly carried out his scheme by charging Iranian citizens between $1,000 to $30,000 to submit or cause to be submitted tourist visa applications with false information on their behalf at a nearby U.S. consulate or embassy. The purportedly false information made the Iranian citizens appear to have strong ties to Iran to increase the likelihood of receiving a U.S. tourist visa, even when the applicants intended to remain in the United States permanently. Peykani allegedly coached the applicants to repeat the lies on their tourist visa application during their visa interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy. On one or more occasions, Peykani allegedly provided fraudulent documents to the Iranian citizens to support the lies in their visa application during their visa interview.
“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is alleged to have fraudulently facilitated the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States when they were not entitled to otherwise do so – enriching himself in the process, by charging large fees for his services,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this case demonstrates, the department continues to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to profit from conduct that undermines our system of legal immigration.”
“Peykani allegedly exploited individuals and the U.S. immigration system through his visa scheme, trading on lies and fake documents to facilitate the illegal entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are committed to holding accountable those who seek personal monetary gain by compromising and undermining the integrity of the immigration process.”
“This case represents the finest efforts of cooperative law enforcement,” said Supervisory Special Agent Gregory Batman of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “DSS pursued investigative leads which led to disrupting and dismantling human smuggling operations. These crimes threaten the national security of the United States and the trustworthiness of our visa process.”
“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is allegedly part of a larger Iranian smuggling network that purportedly lined their own pockets by cheating Iranian citizens out of thousands of dollars and lying to the U.S. government,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., Field Office. “They allegedly enabled Iranians to enter the U.S. under fictitious pretenses. HSI Washington cannot allow such breaches of security to happen without consequences. We are constantly looking to reinforce our nation’s security in order to provide safety for the American people.”
Peykani is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit visa fraud, visa fraud, conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to come to the United States for profit, and encouraging and inducing an alien to come to the United States for profit. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The DSS Criminal Fraud Investigations Branch is investigating the case, with assistance from the HSI Washington D.C., Field Office, and is supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.
Trial Attorney Clayton O’Connor of the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza Ty for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florissant Bank Manager Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Stealing $175,000Read the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former bank branch manager from Florissant, Missouri was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison for stealing $175,842 from customers.
U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig also ordered Andrea Nicole Hopkins, 29, to repay the money.
Hopkins actually took more than $328,000 from the accounts of 15 customers, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman said in court Monday, but returned some of the money to earlier victims to perpetuate the scheme. Hopkins stole from the accounts of some victims multiple times, he said. Some of her victims were elderly and had a diminished ability to understand their financial affairs. Among them are two 80-year-olds, one 95-year-old and one 82-year-old, her plea agreement says.
From Feb. 20, 2020 to May 25, 2021, while manager of the Commerce Bank branch on Natural Bridge Avenue in St. Louis, Hopkins logged into customer accounts and transferred funds out into either cashier’s checks or prepaid cards, her plea says. She changed the address on some account statements, forged signatures and transferred funds among customers to try and hide the thefts. The bank has since repaid customers.
She used the money to buy a motorcycle, to pay for living expenses and to pay personal debts.
Hopkins pleaded guilty in January to four felony counts of bank fraud.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Bateman is prosecuting the case.
First Defendant Charged with Violating Anti-Doping Act Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendant ERIC LIRA pled guilty today for his role in providing banned performance-enhancing drugs (“PEDs”) to Olympic athletes in advance of the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo in the summer of 2021. LIRA is the first defendant to be charged under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, signed into law on December 4, 2020, which proscribes doping schemes for the purpose of influencing international sports competitions, including the Olympic Games. LIRA pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This conviction is a watershed moment for international sport. Lira provided banned performance-enhancing substances to Olympic athletes who wanted to corruptly gain a competitive edge. Such craven efforts to undermine the integrity of sport subverts the purpose of the Olympic games: to showcase athletic excellence through a level playing field. Lira’s efforts to pervert that goal will not go unpunished.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint, the Indictment, other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings:
The charges in this case arise from an investigation of a scheme to provide Olympic athletes with PEDs, including drugs widely banned throughout competitive sports, such as human growth hormone and the “blood building” drug erythropoietin, in advance of and for the purpose of corrupting the 2020 Olympic Games, which convened in Tokyo in the summer of 2021. LIRA, who claims to be a “kinesiologist and naturopathic” doctor operating principally in and around El Paso, Texas, obtained unapproved versions of these, and other, prescription drugs from sources in Central and South America before bringing those drugs into the United States and distributing them to, among others, the two athletes referred to in the Indictment. Throughout the scheme, LIRA and an athlete competing for Nigeria communicated via encrypted electronic communications regarding the sale, shipment, and use of LIRA’s illegal drugs and specifically discussed the “testability” of those drugs by anti-doping authorities. LIRA separately communicated with an athlete competing for Switzerland, also via encrypted electronic communications, discussing the use of human growth hormone and erythropoietin. Both athletes tested positive for prohibited substances, and in both cases, LIRA directly and indirectly advised that the athletes should blame the positive drug test on contaminated meat, knowing full well that the drug tests had accurately detected the presence of banned, performance-enhancing drugs.
LIRA is the first defendant charged and convicted pursuant to the recently enacted Rodchenkov Act. On December 4, 2020, the Rodchenkov Act was signed into law, Pub. L. 116-206, and incorporated into Title 21 of the United States Code at sections 2401 through 2404. The Rodchenkov Act prohibits any person, other than an athlete, to knowingly carry into effect, attempt to carry into effect, or conspire with any other person to carry into effect a scheme in commerce to influence by use of a prohibited substance or prohibited method any major international sports competition. 21 U.S.C. § 2402.
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LIRA, 43, of El Paso, Texas, pled guilty to violating the Rodchenkov Act, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the FBI’s Integrity in Sports and Gaming Initiative. Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Anti-Doping Agency for their support of this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Mortazavi and Benjamin Gianforti are in charge of the prosecution.
Federal Jury Convicts Former El Paso Independent School District Employee on Kidnapping 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 a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Jeffrey Steven Clay. The jury convicted Clay, 51, of Anthony, New Mexico, on one count each of kidnapping and transportation for illegal sexual activity. United States District Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales presided over the trial.
A federal grand jury indicted Clay on Nov. 9, 2022. At the time, Clay was employed as the Executive Director of Analytics, Strategy, and Assessment and Public Education Information Management Systems for the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD). Clay previously worked for EPISD in various roles including as a teacher and school principal.
According to the evidence at trial and other publicly available court records, on Aug. 4, 2021, Clay offered a ride to Jane Doe near Copia Street in El Paso, Texas, ostensibly to take her to a friends’ residence in El Paso. Instead, Clay took Jane Doe to his residence in Anthony, New Mexico. There, Clay attempted to kiss Jane Doe. When she rebuffed him, Clay struck Jane Doe in the face and handcuffed her. Clay then took Jane Doe to a bedroom where he struck her in the face and sexually assaulted her while she was handcuffed, crying, and pleading with Clay to stop. Afterward, Clay drove Jane Doe back to El Paso. Jane Doe escaped when Clay was stopped at a traffic light and sought help at a nearby convenience store.
At trial, another woman testified that Clay repeatedly sexually abused her as well, both when she was a minor and when she was an adult, including while she was seven months pregnant.
“This crime was disturbing and relentless,” said Raul Bujanda, FBI Special Agent in Charge. “The conviction of Jeffrey Steven Clay is a great achievement in keeping our communities safer from those who target and prey on innocent people. The FBI will always work together with our partners and hold these criminals accountable and prevent such violence from happening in our communities.”
“Even in darkness there is light,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez. “For those of us who serve in law enforcement, the light is working with these heroic victims and witnesses whose courageous testimony ensures that sexual predators will never ruin another life. I stand in awe of these two brave women who shared their stories so that others would be safe.”
Clay faces up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, Clay would be subject to registration as a sex offender.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the El Paso Police Department, and the Third Judicial District of New Mexico District Attorney's Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Ry Ellison are prosecuting the case.
The FBI is seeking other potential victims of Clay. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or report online to tips.fbi.gov.
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Federal Authorities Seize 13 Internet Domains Associated with ‘Booter’ Websites that Offered DDoS Computer Attack ServicesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – As part of an ongoing initiative targeting computer attack “booter” services, the Justice Department today announced the court-authorized seizure of 13 internet domains associated with these DDoS-for-hire services.
The seizures this week are the third wave of U.S. law enforcement actions against prominent booter services that allowed paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service, or DDoS, attacks that flood targeted computers with information and prevent them from being able to access the internet. Data relating to the operation of booter sites previously seized by law enforcement show that hundreds of thousands of registered users have used these services to launch millions of attacks against millions of victims. School districts, universities, financial institutions and government websites are among the victims who have been targeted in attacks launched by booter services.
Ten of the 13 domains seized today are reincarnations of services that were seized during a prior sweep in December, which targeted 48 top booter services. For example, one of the domains seized this week – cyberstress.org – appears to be the same service operated under the domain cyberstress.us, which was seized in December. While many of the previously disrupted booter services have not returned, today’s action reflects law enforcement’s commitment to targeting those operators who have chosen to continue their criminal activities.
Authorities emphasized that investigations into booter services remain ongoing.
In relation to the domains seized this week, the FBI opened or renewed accounts with each booter service and used cryptocurrency to pay for subscription plans. Each service was tested by using the website to launch DDoS attacks on computers controlled by the FBI. The FBI then observed the effects of the attacks at their “victim” computers, confirming that the booter websites operated as advertised. In some cases, despite the “victim” computer being on a network with a large amount of capacity, the test attack was so powerful that it completely severed the internet connection.
In addition to harming victims by disrupting or degrading access to the internet, attacks from booter services can also completely sever internet connections for other customers served by the same internet service provider via a shared connection point.
“Victims who are attacked by such services, or those providing Internet services to the victims, often have to ‘overprovision,’ that is, pay for increased Internet bandwidth in order to absorb the attacks, or subscribe to DDoS protection services, or purchase specialized hardware designed to mitigate the effects of DDoS attacks,” according to the affidavit in support of the seizure warrants filed this week. “The prices of such overprovision or DDoS protection services are usually significantly more expensive than the cost of a given booter service.
In conjunction with the domain seizures, the Justice Department announced today that four defendants charged in Los Angeles late 2022 pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal charges and admitted that they operated or participated in the operation of booter services. Those defendants are:
- Jeremiah Sam Evans Miller, aka “John The Dev,” 23, of San Antonio, Texas, who pleaded guilty on April 6 to conspiracy and violating the computer fraud and abuse act related to the operation of a booter service named RoyalStresser.com (formerly known as Supremesecurityteam.com);
- Angel Manuel Colon Jr., aka “Anonghost720” and “Anonghost1337,” 37, of Belleview, Florida, who pleaded guilty on February 13 to conspiracy and violating the computer fraud and abuse act related to the operation of a booter service named SecurityTeam.io;
- Shamar Shattock, 19, of Margate, Florida, who pleaded guilty on March 22 to conspiracy to violate the computer fraud and abuse act related to the operation of a booter service known as Astrostress.com; and
- Cory Anthony Palmer, 23, of Lauderhill, Florida, who pleaded guilty on February 16 to conspiracy to violate the computer fraud and abuse act related to the operation of a booter service known as Booter.sx.
All four defendants are scheduled to be sentenced this summer.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cameron L. Schroeder, Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, and Aaron Frumkin, also of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, are prosecuting the criminal cases. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the seizure of the domains.
In recent years, booter services have continued to proliferate, as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. These types of DDoS attacks are so named because they result in the “booting” or dropping of the targeted computer from the internet. For additional information on booter and stresser services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks.
The cases announced today are being investigated by the FBI’s Anchorage and Los Angeles field offices.
These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services.
In the first law enforcement action targeting booters in late 2018, the Justice Department charged three defendants who facilitated DDoS-for hire services and seized 15 internet domains associated with DDoS-for-hire services.
Essex County Man Charged in Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain More Than $4 Million from Government ProgramsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was arrested this morning for his involvement in a scheme that obtained more than $4 million in government funds, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Gbenga Akinbode, 33, of Newark, New Jersey, is scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court and was released on $300,000 bail.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Akinbode opened a bank account in December 2020. Within a year, approximately 120 debit cards were used to purchase approximately $500,000 in money orders that were deposited into the account. The investigation revealed that the debit cards had been funded with $4 million in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits, Paycheck Protection Program loans and payments from the IRS.
The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000, twice the gross profits or twice the gross loss suffered to the victims of his offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, Northeast Region, Postal Inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, and Special Agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charge.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
akinbode.complaint.pdfEDVA and FBI Seek Information About Victims of Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – The Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and the FBI’s Norfolk Field office have issued a call for victims of a Virginia Beach-based fraudster to come forward.
According to a criminal complaint filed on April 3, 2023, between approximately July 24, 2020, and August 18, 2020, Dion Lamont Camp, 38, allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud Navy Federal Credit Union. Camp allegedly obtained fraudulent loans for vehicles that were never actually purchased, keeping the proceeds of the loan for himself. He concealed his involvement by using women and business entities to apply for the loans. Camp deceived the women about the purposes of the loans, used their personally identifiable information (PII) without their consent, and used other coercive means such as threats and physical and sexual assault.
Anyone who believes they have information relating to or are a victim of this scheme, are encouraged to fill out the questionnaire at https://forms.fbi.gov/dionlamontcamp. All responses are voluntary and encouraged as they help law enforcement identify and assist potential victims of the fraud scheme. Based on the information provided, respondents may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.
Camp is charged with bank fraud. If convicted, Camp faces maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Gantt and Elizabeth Yusi are prosecuting the case.
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. 2:23-mj-00051.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Criminal Charges Unsealed Against Iranian National for Immigration Fraud and Human Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of an 11-count indictment charging an Iranian national with leading a visa fraud scheme to facilitate the illegal entry of individuals from Iran into the United States.
According to the indictment, from approximately September 2013 to October 2015, Hesam Fatehi Peykani, 38, allegedly organized, led, and worked with others in his Iranian-based smuggling network to facilitate the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses. Peykani allegedly carried out his scheme by charging Iranian citizens between $1,000 to $30,000 to submit or cause to be submitted tourist visa applications with false information on their behalf at a nearby U.S. consulate or embassy. The purportedly false information made the Iranian citizens appear to have strong ties to Iran to increase the likelihood of receiving a U.S. tourist visa, even when the applicants intended to remain in the United States permanently. Peykani allegedly coached the applicants to repeat the lies on their tourist visa application during their visa interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy. On one or more occasions, Peykani allegedly provided fraudulent documents to the Iranian citizens to support the lies in their visa application during their visa interview. Peykani is believed to reside in Sweden and remains at large
“Peykani allegedly exploited individuals and the U.S. immigration system through his visa scheme, trading on lies and fake documents to facilitate the illegal entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are committed to holding accountable those who seek personal monetary gain by compromising and undermining the integrity of the immigration process.”
“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is alleged to have fraudulently facilitated the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States when they were not entitled to otherwise do so – enriching himself in the process, by charging large fees for his services,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this case demonstrates, the department continues to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to profit from conduct that undermines our system of legal immigration.”
“This case represents the finest efforts of cooperative law enforcement,” said Supervisory Special Agent Gregory Batman of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “DSS pursued investigative leads which led to disrupting and dismantling human smuggling operations. These crimes threaten the national security of the United States and the trustworthiness of our visa process.”
“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is allegedly part of a larger Iranian smuggling network that purportedly lined their own pockets by cheating Iranian citizens out of thousands of dollars and lying to the U.S. government,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. Field Office. “They allegedly enabled Iranians to enter the U.S. under fictitious pretenses. HSI Washington cannot allow such breaches of security to happen without consequences. We are constantly looking to reinforce our nation’s security in order to provide safety for the American people.”
Peykani is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit visa fraud, visa fraud, conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to come to the United States for profit, and encouraging and inducing an alien to come to the United States for profit.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Criminal Fraud Investigations Branch, with assistance from HSI Washington D.C., and is supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza K. Ty and Trial Attorney Clayton O’Connor of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Crime Victims Assistance Awards Ceremony to be Held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at the West Virginia State CapitolRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will preside over the 2023 Annual Victim Assistance Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the West Virginia State Capitol.
The ceremony is part of Operation Reach Out and follows up on National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme is “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change,” which calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and commit to creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported.
Several individuals and organizations will be honored for their service, support and advocacy on behalf of crime victims and survivors. The ceremony’s featured speakers include Kanawha County Circuit Judge Tera Salango, whose brother was murdered when she was 16, and Angie Conn, a human trafficking survivor, victim advocate and founder of SheWhoDares Consulting LLC.
Operation Reach Out is sponsored by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of West Virginia in partnership with the Operation Reach Out Committee. Operation Reach Out is a collaborative effort involving local advocacy programs that raise awareness of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and of the various organizations that provide services to crime victims.
WHAT: 2023 Annual Victim Assistance Awards Ceremony
WHEN: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: West Virginia State Capitol, outside the Senate Chamber.
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.
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Court Sentences Dominican Drug Smuggler Caught with 50 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
On May 5, 2023, United States District Court Judge, Kristi K. DuBose, sentenced Justo Ariel Hurtado Gonzalez, a Dominican national, to 96 months imprisonment for smuggling 510 kilograms of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea. Hurtado Gonzalez had previously plead guilty to the drug smuggling offense.
Documents filed with the Court established that On March 4, 2022, while on routine patrol, a U.S. Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected a suspect vessel operating in international waters, approximately 52 nautical miles south of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The HNLMS Friesland, a Dutch ship working in conjunction with the United States Coast Guard, (USCG) diverted to intercept the drug smuggling vessel. As HNLMS Friesland closed in on the suspect vessel, it launched a smaller boat with a USCG boarding team to board the drug smuggling vessel. After boarding by the USCG, Hurtado Gonzalez made a claim of Dominican registry of the vessel.
The USCG communicated with the Dominican Republic, which denied the nationality of the vessel. Consequently, the vessel was considered a “Vessel Without Nationality” because was the claim of registry that was denied by the nation whose registry was claimed.
The USCG boarding team found approximately 510 kilograms of cocaine on the vessel.
Hurtado Gonzales was with another Dominican national on the drug smuggling boat, Jose Alberto Garcia, who also pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing before Judge DuBose.
United States Attorney Sean P. Costello praised the outstanding work of the United States Coast Guard and federal investigators in interdicting and bringing these international drug smugglers to justice. Costello stated that the wholesale value of the cocaine seized in this case is conservatively valued at approximately 15 million dollars.
The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Conyers man indicted for selling “tranq dope” mixture of fentanyl and xylazine that killed one and injured anotherRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Masi Lenard Fears has been arraigned on federal charges of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury or Death, stemming from his sale of a lethal combination of fentanyl and xylazine (commonly referred to as “tranq”).
“The use of illicit fentanyl is already deadly and now drug dealers seek to increase their unlawful profits by mixing fentanyl with xylazine – a powerful sedative used by veterinarians,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The emergence of ‘tranq’ or ‘tranq dope’ in our community is beyond alarming and so our office is committed to partnering with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and community stakeholders to help educate the public about this significant threat.”
“Adding xylazine to an already dangerous drug like illicit fentanyl illustrates the ruthlessness of drug dealers’ pursuit of higher profits,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division. “But the DEA remains relentless in bringing drug dealers to justice.”
“The reckless disregard for life by drug dealers can wreak havoc in any community,” said Conyers Deputy Chief of Police Kim Lucas. “It will not be tolerated in our city, and we are grateful for the partnership with the DEA and the work by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold such persons accountable.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In March 2021, Masi Fears allegedly sold two men a $20 amount of a powdery substance at a gas station in Conyers, Georgia. The men believed they were buying cocaine or heroin, but the powder Fears sold them was actually a deadly combination of fentanyl and xylazine (commonly referred to as “tranq”). The men used some of Fears’ fentanyl/xylazine powder, which quickly killed one of the men and caused serious injury to the other.
The Conyers Police Department (CPD) investigated the incident and identified Fears as the dealer of the narcotics. Fears was in possession of a loaded handgun when CPD officers later arrested him.
Masi Lenard Fears, 36, of Conyers, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins III. Fears was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 11, 2023. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains 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.
According to a recent DEA Public Safety Alert, “DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 States. The DEA Laboratory System is reporting that in 2022 approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine.” The full Public Safety Alert is available at https://www.dea.gov/alert/dea-reports-widespread-threat-fentanyl-mixed-xylazine.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Conyers Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Forsyth is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Colombia’s “Prince of Semi-Submersibles” Sentenced to over 20 Years in Federal Prison for Smuggling Thousands of Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Oscar Adriano Quintero Rengifo, a/k/a “Guatala,” (35, Colombia) to 20 years and 10 months in federal prison for smuggling cocaine into the United States of America. Referred to in the Colombian media as the “Prince of Semi-Submersibles,” Quintero Rengifo was arrested in Colombia at the request of the United States on January 29, 2021, and extradited to the United States on January 26, 2022. He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2022.
According to the plea agreement filed in this case, Quintero Rengifo was part of a transnational criminal organization that smuggled cocaine from South America to Central America for ultimate importation into the United States. The organization primarily sent vessels such as self-propelled semi-submersible vessels to Guatemala, where the cocaine was then smuggled over the Guatemala/Mexican border and then into the United States. A former mayor in Guatemala, who controlled drug routes in northern Guatemala into Mexico, oversaw the smuggling of cocaine to Mexican cartel members. Quintero Rengifo progressed within the group, from organizing smuggling operations, to ultimately investing in shipments and securing investors.
From at least as early as January 2015 through September 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted at least four vessels, including two semi-submersible vessels, directly linked to the defendant’s organization, and involving more than 13,000 kilograms of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) Judicial Attachés in Bogotá, Colombia substantially assisted in in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant to the United States. The Government of Colombia and the Colombian Office of the Attorney General provided significant assistance and support. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
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 at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.
Bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and illegal possession of firearm send man to prison for more than eight yearsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A felon who admitted to passing stolen checks at a bank and to illegally possessing a gun during a standoff with law enforcement before his arrest was sentenced today to eight years and five months in prison and to five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jesse Lee Hopkins, 38, a transient, pleaded guilty in February, to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and prohibited person in possession a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that Hopkins defrauded Stockman Bank by passing stolen and forged checks at branch offices to obtain money. Hopkins forged the signature of John Doe 1, a real person whom Hopkins knew was a real person. Hopkins cashed one of the stolen checks for $600 in March 2022. In August 2022, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, who had an arrest warrant for Hopkins, tracked him to a residence in Billings. Hopkins refused to come out and told officers he would shoot himself or force them to shoot him. After a while, Hopkins surrendered. Officers searched the residence and found a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a room where Hopkins was located during the standoff. Hopkins has multiple state and federal felony convictions, including armed robbery, felon in possession of a firearm and burglary, and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations and the Billings Police Department investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Alabama Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with a ChildRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Whitehorse Ducharme, a/k/a Stanley Ducharme, age 51, of Huntsville, Alabama, formerly residing in Belcourt, North Dakota, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, this week and was sentenced to life in federal prison for abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 12. Ducharme pleaded guilty to this offense on November 1, 2021.
“The Court reasonably sentenced this individual to life in prison based upon the facts, and that sentence ensures he will never abuse another child,” Schneider said. “This result is a testament to the courage of those who stepped forward to put an end to this abuse. It is also a credit to the professionalism of our law enforcement partners and career prosecutors who helped obtain a measure of justice in this case.”
"The FBI is fully committed to combating the sexual abuse and exploitation of children,” said Michal Krause, Acting Special Agent in Charge with the FBI. “This life sentence sends a clear message to those who target kids - we will find you and hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
As charged by the United States Attorney’s Office, Ducharme engaged in sexual abuse of a Native American child under the age of 12 from about 2008 until approximately 2016. An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that Ducharme sexually abused a child from the ages of 3 to 11. The child was interviewed by the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center during the investigative process.
The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorneys Dawn M. Deitz and Lori H. Conroy assigned to the case.
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Saturday 6 May 2023
Convicted Health Care Fraud defendant fails to report to prison; warrant out for his arrestRead the Press Release
Seattle – The former co-owner of a defunct medical testing company failed to report to prison as directed last week, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Richard Reid, 53, was convicted in March 2022, of five federal felonies connected to his scheme to profit from illegal kickbacks in the medical testing industry. In January 2023 he was sentenced to two years in prison.
Reid has repeatedly petitioned the judge to delay his prison reporting date, claiming to have COVID-19 and then long COVID. Judge John C. Coughenour refused to delay the date past the end of April.
Law enforcement has been working to locate Reid so that he can begin serving his sentence. Reid had been living in Astoria, Oregon but could not be located at his address. Law enforcement has learned Reid may be carrying a firearm and asks that the public contact the Seattle office of the FBI, at 206-622-0460, if they have information on his whereabouts.
The activities of Bellevue-based Northwest Physicians Laboratory (NWPL) have been the subject of extensive civil and criminal litigation. Richard Reid was one of the owners and the Vice President of Sales for NWPL. Reid helped NWPL obtain more than $3.7 million in kickback payments by steering urine drug test specimens to two labs that could bill the government for testing.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Dion
reid_fbi_wanted_poster.pdfColorado Springs Man Indicted for Covid Relief Program FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces the indictment of Charles James Lacona, Jr., age 65, of Colorado Springs for his alleged role in a scheme to defraud Covid Relief Programs.
On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which provided emergency assistance to small business owners suffering adverse economic effects caused by the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and expanded existing programs, including programs created or administered by the SBA. Two sources of funding for small businesses were the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) program.
According to allegations in the indictment, beginning in April 2020, the defendant obtained more than $500,000 in PPP loans on behalf of his company, National Financial Services. The defendant allegedly obtained the loans by inflating payroll costs and gross receipts, and submitting fabricated tax documents and payroll reports. The indictment also alleges the defendant drew a check of $67,704.13 from the loan proceeds to purchase a 2019 Cadillac from a Colorado Springs dealership.
The defendant made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Maritza Dominguez Braswell in Federal Court in Denver on May 4, 2023.
The case was investigated by IRS-CI. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Fansler is handling the prosecution.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The charges in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case No. 23-cr-00104-DDD
Friday 5 May 2023
Zuni Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead 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 Rodney Waikaniwa made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country. Waikaniwa, 51 years old, and an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for May 9.
According to the complaint, on or about February 10, 2023, the Zuni Police Department learned of allegations of sexual abuse against Waikaniwa. The investigation was referred to the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, which conducted interviews with two victims. Following interviews with the victims, agents interviewed Waikaniwa at his home and he admitted to sexually abusing both victims. The incidents of abuse occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Pueblo of Zuni.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Waikaniwa faces a minimum of 30 years in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
Walker Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Federal Prison for Counterfeit ManufacturingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Thor Teal, age 32, of Walker, Louisiana, to 36 months in federal prison following his convictions for manufacturing and possessing counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes. The Court further sentenced Teal to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered all instrumentalities used in the commission of this crime to be forfeited.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Teal made and possessed over 48 counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) in the Middle District of Louisiana. Specifically, on October 27, 2021, while investigating a burglary, law enforcement recovered from his vehicle and home over $4,800 in counterfeit $100 FRNs, and items used to manufacture counterfeit FRNs including six sheets of counterfeit security strips (found in $100 FRNs), two printers (one with marks to assist with making FRNs), boxes of linen paper, several printer cartridges, a paper cutter, and spray starch. When questioned about the contraband, Teal admitted to law enforcement he had been making the counterfeit FRNs for several months and went on to describe how he made it.
This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M.P. Thornhill.
United States Attorney’s Office Joins in Recognizing Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced today that she will join with Federal, State, Local, and Tribal leaders in recognizing May 5, 2023, as Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. In doing so, U.S. Attorney Waldref called on all citizens and residents in Eastern Washington to support Tribal governments and Tribal communities’ efforts to increase awareness of missing or murdered Indigenous People.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington fully supports efforts to reduce violence and bring awareness to this important issue. “Recognizing and honoring missing or murdered Indigenous people is a top priority for the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington,” U.S. Attorney Waldref stated. “It remains unacceptable that Native Americans experience some of the highest rates of violence in the country, a situation that is all the more tragic in light of the generations of trauma already suffered by Indigenous people. We will continue the important work of prosecuting those who perpetrate violence on Tribal land and who victimize those who reside on our District’s four Reservations.”
“The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to address the causes and symptoms of this difficult problem.” U.S. Attorney Waldref added, “During the past several years, the Department has sought the help and input from Tribal leaders and Tribal communities to develop sustainable protocols to help our communities respond when a tribal member is reported missing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office supports these efforts, and we are fully committed to working closely with Tribal leaders, law enforcement partners, and community stakeholders to further implement these initiatives, as we strive to keep Eastern Washington communities safe and strong for everyone.”
“While each case is unique, what all MMIP cases have in common is the hole left in a community when a member goes missing.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “As the principal law enforcement agency charged with investigating violent crimes on our state’s reservations, I want to stress the importance the FBI places on bringing those who target our indigenous populations to justice.”
“The Office of Justice Services, Missing and Murdered Unit is committed to confronting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis head-on. Relying on strong federal, tribal, state and local partnerships, we are more now than ever able to ensure cases are thoroughly investigated so those responsible for these horrific crimes are brought to justice,” said Justin Hooper, BIA Office of Justice Services Regional Agent in Charge, Missing and Murdered Unit.
If you or someone you know has information about a missing or murdered Indigenous person, please contact the FBI Seattle Field Office by calling (206) 622-0460 or by visiting tips.fbi.gov.
U.S. Attorney's Office Joins in Recognizing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, May 5, 2023Read the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023, as National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Responding to unacceptable levels of violence that have caused a crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice.
“The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”
The department’s response to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort taking many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission with the mission of reducing violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. Later this year, the commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and Secretary Haaland.
“Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.”
“The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.”
In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reaffirming the department’s commitment to addressing the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives and the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. For more information about the Justice Department’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website.
In early 2022, the District of Oregon established an MMIP Working Group to increase multi-agency communication and collaboration in support of and response to Oregon-connected MMIP cases. The working group includes at least one representative from each of the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior Regional Solicitor’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, and Oregon State Police.
If you have questions about the U.S. Attorney’s Office MMIP program, please contact MMIP program coordinator Cedar Wilkie Gillette by emailing [email protected] or by calling (503) 727-1000.