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7 June 2023
Jury Convicts St. Louis Man of Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Louis, Mo., man traveling by bus from Los Angeles, Calif., has been convicted in a federal jury trial of possessing methamphetamine to distribute after more than 31 pounds of methamphetamine was found in his luggage at a Kansas City, Mo., bus station.
Cregg L. Matthews, 56, was found guilty on Tuesday, June 6, of one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Matthews has been detained in federal custody without bail since his arrest on March 9, 2019.
Law enforcement officers were conducting drug interdiction activities at a local bus station at about 10:27 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2019. A bus arrived from Los Angeles en route to St. Louis, and a Kansas City, Mo., police detective used a service canine to check the luggage under the bus in the luggage bins. When all the passengers were off the bus, they also checked the luggage in the passenger compartment.
The police service canine alerted to Matthews’s suitcase, which was in the overhead bin above his seat on the bus. Matthews was carrying a black bag when he was contacted to which the police service canine also later alerted.
When investigators searched the black bag Matthews was carrying, they found 10 bundles of methamphetamine that weighed a total of 10 pounds and some marijuana. In the suitcase retrieved from the bus, investigators found 16 bundles of methamphetamine that weighed a total of 21.6 pounds.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., returned a guilty verdict to U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips, ending a trial that began Monday, June 5.
Under federal statutes, Matthews is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 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 Sean T. Foley and John Constance. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri Highway Patrol, and MoWIN (the Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force).
Jefferson Parish Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SHAWN RABATHALY, age 22, of Harvey, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 6, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan to 46 months of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Judge Morgan also imposed RABATHALY’s sentence consecutive to whatever sentence that may arise from a pending case in the 24th Judicial District Court of Louisiana. In that matter, RABATHALY is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On August 5, 2021, Jefferson Parish detectives observed RABATHALY exit his residence, remove an Anderson Model AM-15, 5.56 caliber rifle from his trunk, and placed it in the passenger compartment. Later that day, detectives stopped RABATHALY’S vehicle and discovered the rifle in plain view inside the vehicle. As a convicted felon, it is unlawful for RABATHALY to possess a firearm. Thereafter, detectives arrested RABATHALY.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.
Jackson County Detention Center Employee Indicted for Smuggling K2-Laced Papers to Jail InmatesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An employee of the Jackson County Detention Center, along with three associates of an inmate detained at the center, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to smuggle papers laced with K2 to jail inmates.
Aaron D. Copes, 42, of Grandview, Mo., Deanna K. Clark, also known as “Nina,” 32, and Stephanie McDaniel, 31, both of Kansas City, Mo., and James A. Booker, Jr., 37, of Raytown, Mo., were charged in a single-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on May 31, 2023. That indictment has been unsealed and made public following the arrests of Copes, Clark, and Booker this week.
Copes was employed as a case manager at the Jackson County Detention Center. His duties included interviewing inmates daily, providing counseling and mediation for inmates, and providing training to correctional officers. Clark and Booker were close associates of an inmate at the Jackson County Detention Center, who is identified in court documents as unindicted co-conspirator CC1. McDaniel was the girlfriend of CC1. The indictment also refers to another inmate, identified as unindicted co-conspirator CC2.
Copes, Clark, Booker, and McDaniel are charged with participating in a conspiracy from March 2020 to October 2021 to smuggle contraband into the Jackson County Detention Center.
Copes allegedly took bribe money and sexual favors in exchange for smuggling contraband into the Jackson County Detention Center and delivering it to inmates, including CC1 and CC2. Conspirators allegedly smuggled in K2, a controlled substance, which was soaked onto sheets of paper that were smoked by inmates.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the FBI and the Jackson County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Iowa Woman Sentenced to More than Five Years for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven A. Russell announced on June 7, 2023, that Anne Marie Flynn, age 45, of Luxemburg, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Flynn to 63 months’ imprisonment. She was also ordered to serve a 4-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system.
On August 26, 2021, an officer with the Omaha Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle. In the vehicle officers located five pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms. An investigation revealed that Anne Flynn rented the vehicle and it was used to drive to Colorado to pick up loads of methamphetamine purchased from codefendant Melanie McDonald. Agents corroborated this information through rental receipts showing Flynn rented vehicles used for trips to Colorado. Agents also found Facebook messages between Flynn and McDonald where the two discussed their involvement in the conspiracy. Agents also located a phone call where Flynn admitted renting the car the methamphetamine was found in.
Codefendant McDonald is currently scheduled for trial starting July 18, 2023.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Omaha Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Indianapolis Felon Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Nicholas Karagianis, 38, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, and illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, on October 7, 2021, Drug Enforcement Administration Agents witnessed Karagianis sell 62.2 grams of methamphetamine and 2.9 grams of fentanyl to an individual for $900. On November 1, 2021, Karagianis sold 108.7 grams of methamphetamine and 3 grams of fentanyl to the same individual in a parking lot near East Thompson Road in Indianapolis.
On December 8, 2021, DEA agents executed a search warrant at Karagianis’s home. During the search, agents located a .40 caliber handgun in the nightstand. Agents also found 38.1 grams of fentanyl on Karagianis’s person.
According to the DEA, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. Six out of ten counterfeit pills examined by the DEA in the past year contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.
Karagianis is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions of possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers and Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement.
“Fentanyl is devastating our communities at an unprecedented rate. Illegally armed fentanyl dealers pose an even greater danger to the public,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “We continue to work diligently with the DEA to aggressively address this epidemic and remove armed fentanyl dealers from our neighborhoods.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Karagianis be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department 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.
One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.
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Illinois Man Sentenced to 63 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Alexander Greene, 27 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Greene was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on February 22, 2022, the Indiana State Police responded to a vehicle crash and spoke with Greene. From Greene’s possession, a trooper recovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device attached. The machinegun conversion device made the pistol capable of firing multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger. Greene’s criminal history revealed he has prior felony convictions for aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm and possession of a stolen vehicle, and as such, is prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Indiana State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel L. Mathur and Kevin F. Wolff.
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.
Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Elijah Figg, also known as "Bang," 23, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine, admitting to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO).
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 29, 2020, Figg sold 3 pounds of methamphetamine for $16,500 to an individual in Charleston. Figg admitted to using his mobile device to communicate with the individual to arrange the deal. Figg further admitted that he knew the individual was going to redistribute the methamphetamine.
After the transaction, Figg traveled with four other people to the Beckley area of Raleigh County. Law enforcement officers attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle, and the driver attempted to flee. The pursuit ended when the vehicle struck some utility poles. Officers searched the vehicle and found $18,332 and methamphetamine residue. Figg admitted that the money found included the $16,500 he received from the methamphetamine transaction.
Figg is scheduled to be sentenced on August 31, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Figg participated in a participated in a DTO responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in the Charleston area. A dozen individuals pleaded guilty in connection with this prosecution, the result of an investigation dubbed “Woo Boyz.” During the course of the nearly year-long investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 firearms, including an IMI Industries Uzi fully automatic 9mm submachine gun, and more than $375,000 in cash.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the West Virginia State Police, and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF 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. Today, 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 Nos. 2:21-cr-32 and 2:23-cr-88.
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Houston man pleads guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year old resident of Houston has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Authorities identified Nathan Steward Oct. 4, 2019, as the subject of a suspicious persons call. Law enforcement took him into custody and discovered a stolen firearm in his bag.
Steward admitted he possessed the Sig Sauer .380 caliber pistol.
Previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, federal law prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
“At the core of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) mission to reduce violent crime is investigating and brining to justice prohibited individuals that chose to possess firearms, in violation of federal law,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski. “These guns are disproportionately used to commit additional crimes and often threaten the public safety of our communities.”
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. will impose sentencing Sept. 11. At that time, Steward faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Steward was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shirin Hakimzadeh and Tyler White are prosecuting the case.
Hickory Business Owner and Co-Conspirator Are Sentenced for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Shawn Lamont Hickman, 32, of Newton, N.C., and Amos Lamont Bruen, 47, of Valdese, N.C., to 156 months and 97 months in prison respectively for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison terms imposed, Hickman and Bruen were each ordered to serve four years of supervised release after they are released from prison.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed documents and information presented in court, beginning in December 2021, law enforcement became aware that Bruen was dealing narcotics out of a business he owned in Hickory, N.C., Amos Essential Oils. An undercover officer visited Bruen’s business and arranged to purchase narcotics from Bruen. Between December 2021 and February 2022, the undercover officer met several times with Bruen at his store and conducted several controlled purchases of methamphetamine totaling more than 1.5 kilograms. Court records show that Hickman was present on several occasions while the undercover officer was conducting the controlled purchases, often armed with a firearm.
According to court records, on February 26, 2022, law enforcement observed Hickman engage in narcotics transactions in the parking lot of a pool hall, Corner Pocket. Hickman was arrested and officers recovered a firearm and methamphetamine from Hickman’s vehicle. On March 1, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Bruen’s residence. During the search of Bruen’s home and vehicle, officers seized marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and a firearm. An additional firearm and ammunition were also seized from Bruen’s business.
On November 22, 2022, Bruen pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine. Hickman pleaded guilty on February 14, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The defendants are currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and the Hickory Police Department for their investigation of this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Boykin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Green Bay Felon Indicted for Possessing Firearms and Drug Trafficking ActivityRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 6, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Fabian J. Duarte (age: 32) of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that Duarte, a felon, was in possession of two firearms in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Duarte is also alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 841(a) and 841(b)(1)(C).
As a convicted felon, Duarte is prohibited from ever possessing a firearm under state and federal law and faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine if convicted of that charge. He faces an additional 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted of the drug charge.
This case was investigated by the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated and prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. The PSN strategy brings together all levels of law enforcement and community resources to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life in all our neighborhoods.
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Grand Jury Indicts Knoxville Woman Previously Arrested in Murder-For-Hire PlotRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On June 7, 2023, a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a one-count indictment against Melody Sasser, 47, of Knoxville, TN, for use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1958. Sasser was arrested on Thursday, May 18, 2023, pursuant to a criminal complaint. The case has been assigned to Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin and District Court Judge Thomas A. Varlan. An arraignment has been scheduled for June 21, 2023 at 1:30pm.
According to documents filed with the court, it is alleged that from December 31, 2022 through April 2023, Sasser contacted a dark web hosted site known as the Online Killers Market for the purpose of hiring a hitman to murder an Alabama resident. In her communications with the site, Sasser provided photographs and location information of the victim. Sasser paid nearly $10,000 in Bitcoin to the site administrators to purchase the services of a hitman.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud and Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard made the announcement.
If convicted, Sasser faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison, $250,000 fine, restitution, and a maximum three-year term of supervised release.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by HSI Knoxville and HSI Birmingham, with the assistance of the Knoxville Police Department and the Prattville Alabama Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne-Marie Svolto will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Further Charges Added Against Detroit Man Held in Murder-For-Hire PlanRead the Press Release
Among Additional Charges, Defendant Allegedly Plotted to Kill a Witness Against Him
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a grand jury has returned a Superseding Indictment against Gerald Bennett, 63, from Detroit, Michigan. In the Superseding Indictment, Bennett is charged with (1) conspiracy to commit murder for hire resulting in death, (2) kidnapping resulting in death, (3) kidnapping of a minor victim, and (4) solicitation to commit a crime of violence. If convicted of count one or two, Bennett will be sentenced to a mandatory sentence of life in prison. A copy of the indictment is attached. A previous press release on this case, with further background, was issued in April 2023.
“The allegations in this case are tragic, grave, and compelling,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “My thoughts are very much with the victim’s family and my office looks forward to presenting the evidence against Mr. Bennett at a fair trial.”
According to the Superseding Indictment, Bennett was hired by a man named Quinn James to kill M.D., a then-16-year-old high school sophomore, who was abducted and killed in January 2018. There were initially concerns about Bennett’s competency to stand trial following his arrest on federal kidnapping charges, but a forensic psychologist from the Bureau of Prisons has determined that Bennett is competent to stand trial. A federal magistrate reviewed the psychologist’s findings and agreed.
The Superseding Indictment alleges that while the competency evaluation was pending, Bennett attempted to engage in a scheme to kill another person; Count 4 alleges that Bennett tried to hire a fellow inmate to murder an expected witness against Bennett. According to the charge, Bennett told the fellow inmate that he would fake incompetency to give the inmate time to be released from custody and complete the killing on Bennett’s behalf.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Mekaru and Austin Hakes and investigated by the Grand Rapids Police Department, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and the FBI in cooperation with the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Click here to view the Indictment.###
Fruitland Man Sentenced to Two Years for Involuntary ManslaughterRead 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 Vern A. Anderson was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Anderson, 40, of Fruitland, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty on May 17, 2022, to involuntary manslaughter.
According to the plea agreement and court records, on Sept. 26, 2021, after hours of drinking together, Anderson got into a physical altercation with his brother, identified as John Doe in court documents, at a residence in Nenahnezad, New Mexico. Anderson stabbed his brother in the back, chest, and head a total of five times. John Doe suffered multiple defensive wounds on his hands and arms in the violent attack and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Upon his release from prison, Anderson faces three years of supervised release.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case.
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Four admit to roles in drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Four Laredo residents have entered guilty pleas for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and launder money, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Cesar Mendiola, 57, Jose Angel Rodriguez, Jr., 60, Rafael Rodriguez, 63, and Jose Angel Rodriguez III, 34, all admitted to the felony charges as related to cocaine distribution and money laundering in Laredo.
Throughout the course of this investigation, authorities seized nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine and over $147,000 in drug proceeds.
The investigation revealed brothers Rodriguez Jr. and Rafael Rodriguez would receive kilograms of cocaine from a source in Mexico and provide that cocaine to Mendiola for further distribution in and around Laredo. Rodriguez III kept records of transactions and drug proceeds for his father, Rodriguez Jr.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Sept. 7. At that time, Mendiola and Rodriguez Jr. face up to life in federal prison. Rafael Rodriguez and Rodriguez III could receive up to 40 and 20 years, respectively.
Mendiola, Rodriguez Jr. and Rafael Rodriguez remain in custody while Rodriguez III was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Webb County District Attorney’s Office, the Webb County Sheriff’s Office and the United Independent School District Police Department. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Former Texas Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Sentenced for Using Unlawful Force on an InmateRead the Press Release
A former Van Zandt County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office jail sergeant was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for violating a jail detainee’s civil rights by using unlawful force against him.
According to court documents, David Yager, 30, previously pleaded guilty and admitted that on or about Feb. 28, 2021, while he was serving in his official capacity, he repeatedly punched detainee M.H. in the chest with a taser with the trigger held down, even though M.H. did not pose a threat to anyone. Yager admitted that the detainee was confined to a restraint chair at the time Yager used unlawful force against him. Yager also admitted that his acts caused bodily injury to the detainee, and that he used force on the detainee despite knowing that there was no legitimate, law enforcement need to use force.
“This defendant abused his authority as a jail sergeant to assault and injure a fully restrained detainee,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable detention officers and others who use unlawful force against detainees.”
“As members of law enforcement, we take an oath to support and defend the Constitution and uphold our nation’s laws,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “A crime like this betrays that sacred duty and the badge with which the defendant was entrusted. When officers violate the civil rights of citizens in the Eastern District of Texas through unreasonable and unjustified violence, they will be prosecuted and held accountable.”
“Law enforcement is bound by an oath to serve all citizens with equal compassion, professionalism, dignity and respect. The defendant failed this oath by using unlawful force against someone entrusted to his custody,” said Special Agent in Charge B. Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Dallas Field Office. “When law enforcement fails to fulfill its duty to protect and serve its citizens, it erodes the trust that citizens have in us. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to hold accountable any official that abuses their authority because no one is above or beyond the law.”
The FBI Dallas Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson for the Eastern District of Texas and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Former Owner of Watauga Recovery Clinics Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – The former owner of a chain of buprenorphine clinics, with locations in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Abingdon on three drug charges.
Dr. Ralph Thomas Reach, 63, of Bristol, Virginia, pleaded guilty in March 2023 to three counts of causing drugs to be misbranded while held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce by inducing various quantities of prescription drugs Subutex (Schedule III), Suboxone (Schedule III), clonazepam (Schedule IV controlled substance) and gabapentin to be dispensed without valid prescriptions by the actions of health care providers at Watauga Recovery Centers.
“Opioid poisoning continues to be a leading cause of death for Virginians of all ages, despite the continued efforts of law enforcement and community groups to warn of the adverse effects of misuse,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When doctors add to this mounting problem by overprescribing these powerful drugs, they must be held accountable, and we will continue to do exactly that.”
“Virginians have suffered at the hands of pharmaceutical corporations and greedy doctors by overprescribing opioids - treating our population like a science experiment. Now, corrupt health care providers are manipulating the sale of drugs designed for opioids abuse recovery. Enough is enough. I'm proud of the role we’re playing in holding accountable bad actors who abuse the system and illegally prioritize profit over recovery,” Attorney General Jason Miyares said today
“Buprenorphine, when properly prescribed, is an important tool in battling the opioid crisis. Medical professionals who abuse their access to and power to prescribe these drugs put profits over patients,” said Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “Our office will continue to pursue and bring to justice those involved in the illegal prescribing and distribution of these drugs.”
Reach, a physician, was the primary owner of Watauga Recovery Centers which operated substance abuse treatment clinics in Virginia and Tennessee. At his clinics, Reach and other medical providers wrote prescriptions for buprenorphine (including Suboxone and Subutex), clonazepam, gabapentin, and other drugs. The prescriptions at issue were not valid because they were dispensed without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional practice.
Senior United States District Judge James P. Jones sentenced Reach to imprisonment for a term of six months to be followed by 18 months of home detention. Upon release from prison, Reach will serve a five year term of probation. In addition, he was ordered to forfeit $50,000 and pay a fine of $100,000.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Office of the Attorney General—Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Reach’s conviction and sentencing was the result of an investigation that previously led to convictions of:
- Matthew Sykes (former Watauga Recovery Centers employee);
- John Paul Linke (former Watauga Recovery Centers employee);
- Michael Dube (owner of screening laboratory used by Watauga Recovery Centers);
- Regan Dube (registered agent of screening laboratory used by Watauga Recovery Centers);
- Michael Olshavsky (sales representative of a Florida confirmation laboratory used by Watauga Recovery Centers); and
- Rakesh Kothuru (owner of a Las Vegas confirmation laboratory).
Over $9.9 million dollars in fines, forfeitures and restitution were ordered as a result of these convictions.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and Virginia Assistant Attorney General Janine M. Myatt and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Pierce and Randy Ramseyer prosecuted Reach and the related cases.
Former Luzerne County Constable Sentenced to 18 Months’ Imprisonment for Possessing Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sydney Snelling, Jr., age 49, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani to 18 months of imprisonment, for the unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Snelling pleaded guilty to possessing an assault rifle bearing a modified barrel of under 16” on April 7, 2022, without possessing the requisite tax stamp to possess such a firearm. At the time of the offense, Snelling was a Luzerne County Constable, but has since been removed from his position. In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, Judge Mariani ordered Snelling to forfeit the modified firearm, and imposed a two-year term of supervised release, to commence upon his release from imprisonment.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Former Cincinnati city councilman pleads guilty to accepting bribesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A former Cincinnati city councilman pleaded guilty in federal court here today to honest services wire fraud.
Jeffrey Pastor, 39, of Cincinnati, admitted he deprived the citizens of Cincinnati of their right to honest services by a public official by accepting bribes in exchange for official action.
According to his plea agreement, between June 2018 and January 2019, Pastor accepted and agreed to accept things of value in exchange for favorable official action by Pastor relating to two development projects in the city.
For example, in September 2018 Pastor and his associate flew to Miami, Florida, on a private plane to meet with investors regarding a real estate development project. Pastor never paid for or disclosed the trip. During the trip, Pastor explained he would ensure favorable action on behalf of the city for the project and could receive money through his associate’s non-profit entity (which had been incorporated two weeks prior). Pastor discussed “compensation” and agreed to accept $15,000 for helping with the project. He said the purpose of his associate’s entity was to “sanitize” the money.
After flying back to Cincinnati, Pastor called the investor to “negotiate a monthly retainer” and said that $15,000 would be the retainer fee for providing official action.
On Oct. 4, 2018, Pastor accepted $15,000 in cash. After receiving the money, Pastor continued to solicit additional payment from the investor and others.
Pastor and Tyran Marshall were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2020. Charges remain pending against Marshall, including conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, bribery, attempted extortion and money laundering.
Pastor’s plea agreement would allow for a prison sentence of up to 24 months.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer are representing the United States in this case.
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Former Car Dealership Manager Gets 2 Years in Prison, Must Pay $448,000 RestitutionRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—A Cave Springs man and former general manager at several Northwest Arkansas car dealerships was sentenced Monday to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay more than $448,000 in restitution for evading federal income taxes for seven years. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which followed the January 23, 2023, guilty plea entered by defendant Jonathan M. Wichman, 36, to a criminal information charging him with tax evasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Wichman worked from 2014 through 2020, mainly as a general manager at car dealerships in Northwest Arkansas. During these years, Wichman earned more than $2.3 million in wages. However, Wichman did not file timely tax returns with the IRS for any of those years despite receiving correspondence from the IRS asking why he had not filed his tax returns. In May 2019, the IRS issued assessments for Wichman’s 2014 and 2016 taxes, which he did not pay. In 2019, Wichman filed his tax returns for tax years 2014 through 2018, but did not make any payments. Also, in October 2018, Wichman accessed his employer’s online payroll system and caused the dealership to not withhold any federal income taxes or employment taxes from his 2019 and 2020 wages, and he again did not file returns in 2019 and 2020.
Wichman told investigating agents that he knew he owed past due taxes to the IRS. Wichman said he prepared his taxes using commercial software, and each year, the program showed he owed a large amount of taxes. Wichman claimed he did not have the money to pay his taxes, so he did not file his tax returns. However, the investigation revealed that Wichman did have money available to pay his taxes. From 2018 through 2021, Wichman made cash transactions at various casinos and banks totaling more than one million dollars. In addition, from 2014 through 2022, Wichman spent more than $513,000 on luxury vehicles, a travel trailer, and a Florida vacation
In total, Wichman evaded $276,244 in income taxes – $263,615 owed to the IRS, and $12,628 owed to the state of Arkansas. Judge Brooks ordered Wichman to pay $448,592 in restitution, which included penalties and interest – $445,715 to the U.S. Treasury and $12,997 to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation investigated the case, with assistance from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Mohlhenrich prosecuted the case for the United States.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Former Bureau of Prisons Employee Pleads Guilty to Workers’ Compensation FraudRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jonathan Mellone, the Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that ELIZABETH TORRES pled guilty today to a workers’ compensation fraud scheme. TORRES duped the DOL into paying her hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal disability benefits by falsely claiming that she had a debilitating knee injury and, therefore, essentially could not work, but in fact, TORRES was employed full-time for several years during her scheme. TORRES surrendered today and pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein, to whom her case is assigned.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The federal workers’ compensation program protects qualifying federal employees who suffer legitimate work injuries. But some individuals take advantage of this disability benefit program. As she admitted today, Elizabeth Torres was one such individual. Torres exploited the program for years by lying, in various respects, in order to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in disability benefits. For her crime, Torres now faces potential prison time.”
DOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone said: “Elizabeth Torres defrauded the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs of hundreds of thousands of dollars by exaggerating the extent of any work-related injury. She compounded this fraud by failing to inform OWCP for many years about her paid employment. Protecting the integrity of worker compensation programs administered by the Department of Labor is an important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations.”
According to the allegations in the Information, court filings, and statements made in court:
Over the course of several years, ELIZABETH TORRES sought and received compensation under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (“FECA”). FECA provides benefits to civilian federal employees who sustain injuries as a result of their employment. FECA benefits are administered by the DOL’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (“OWCP”). In order to receive FECA benefits, a claimant must prove that she is disabled by furnishing medical documentation and other evidence with her claim.
Until approximately 2006, TORRES worked as a Corrections Officer for the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”). BOP employees are eligible to receive FECA benefits. For a number of years, TORRES submitted annual forms to OWCP seeking such benefits. In these forms, TORRES lied in various respects, including by claiming that: (i) she was significantly disabled; (ii) a dependent was living with her for various years; (iii) she was not receiving any pay for various years; and (iv) she was not working or performing volunteer work. More specifically, TORRES claimed in substance and in part that she had a debilitating knee injury and was essentially incapable of performing any work because she experienced pain and swelling within 30 minutes of sitting or standing. But in fact, TORRES was employed full-time from approximately 2015 through 2019 at a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center (the “Clinic”) in New York City, where she served as the Program Director for several years. On one occasion in 2019, TORRES was caught on video dancing in high-heeled boots, with ease, on the sidewalk outside of the Clinic. Finally, to conceal her Clinic employment from OWCP, TORRES was paid indirectly through an entity, and her salary payments were disguised as “rent.”
On the basis of TORRES’s false representations to OWCP, TORRES received benefit payments of more than $4,000 per month over the course of several years.
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TORRES, 56, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of federal workers’ compensation fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. TORRES is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Stein on September 7, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the DOL-OIG and FBI.
This matter is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Neff and Danielle M. Kudla are in charge of the prosecution.
U.S. v. Torres InformationFCI Schuylkill Inmate Indicted for Assaulting Corrections OfficerRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Lawrence Anthony Christie, age 32, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on a charge of assaulting certain officers or employees.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on May 14, 2021, Christie struck and caused physical contact with a corrections officer resulting in bodily injury.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Everett, Washington, man convicted of cyberstalking and making interstate threatsRead the Press Release
Seattle –A 42-year-old Everett, Washington, man was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle of cyberstalking and making interstate threats following a three-day jury trial, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The jury deliberated about two hours before finding Christopher Scott Crawford guilty of an unrelenting campaign of online cyberstalking, threats, and harassment against a former romantic partner. Crawford was arrested on a criminal complaint on June 2, 2022. Crawford faces up to five years in federal prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge James L. Robart on August 29, 2023.
According to records filed in the case, Crawford has repeatedly violated court ordered restraining orders by sending threats by text, email, social media messages, and phone calls. Crawford has sent threatening communications to various people associated with the victim in this case, such as parents, coworkers, siblings, and court-mandated professionals. The harassment included posting intimate pictures of the victim on a website and circulating private information about the victim to others.
Crawford repeatedly stated to the victim and others that he wanted to make her life so miserable that she would take her own life.
Crawford has been detained since his arrest on June 2, 2022, at the Federal Detention Center (FDC) at SeaTac, Washington.
The matter was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cecelia Gregson and Elyne Vaught.
Denton County Financial Advisor Guilty of Federal ViolationsRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas– A Trophy Club man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Doug McKelvey, 58, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson on June 6, 2023.
According to information presented in court, from 2009 to 2022, McKelvey, a vice-president and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, misappropriated at least $1.5 million of investor funds held in brokerage accounts. The funds were supposed to be invested on behalf of his clients. Instead, McKelvey used the funds to pay for personal trips, cruises, restaurants, salons, and other personal expenses.
McKelvey faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing 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 U.S. Probation Office.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anand Varadarajan.
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Cumberland County Woman Gets Maximum Penalty for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Cumberland County woman was sentenced today to 360 months imprisonment followed by lifetime of supervised release for producing child pornography. She was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Amy Banks Huddleston, 50, was investigated by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in July 2021 after a child with whom she had contact was found to be a victim of child sexual exploitation.
The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received three CyberTips from the Kik social media platform that one of its users had uploaded child sexual abuse material on multiple days. The IP address used to upload the images belonged to Joshua Glardon who lived in Fayetteville. Two of the images in the CyberTip appeared to be homemade images. Pursuant to a search warrant, Glardon’s digital devices were seized. After a forensic analysis was complete, law enforcement found thousands of images of child sexual abuse material on his phone. Included in those files were images of the child that appeared to be homemade images that were a part of the CyberTips.
Law enforcement officers were able to identify the child through chat messages Glardon had with Amy Huddleston. When law enforcement learned Huddleston had access to this child, a search warrant was executed on Huddleston’s residence. In an interview, Huddleston confessed to allowing Glardon to sexually assault this child. She admitted she would take images and videos of the child, including videos of her performing sexual acts on the child, and send them to Glardon. A forensic analysis of Huddleston’s digital devices revealed chat conversations wherein Glardon and Huddleston discussed the sexual abuse of the child.
Glardon was also federally indicted and has entered pleas of guilty to Distribution, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography. He is awaiting sentencing.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded. U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan
presided over the sentencing. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and
the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR98-2FL.
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Crescenta Valley Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $3 Million in COVID Relief FundsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Sunland man who fraudulently obtained almost $3 million in COVID-19 business loans and jobless benefits has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, the Justice Department announced today.
Arman Grigoryan, 42, was sentenced late Tuesday afternoon by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee, who also ordered him to pay $2,880,259 in restitution.
Grigoryan pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He has been in federal custody since July 2022 after a court determined he had violated the terms of his pretrial release.
During 2020 and continuing through late September of that year, Grigoryan and used other people’s identities to apply for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits through California’s Employment Development Department (EDD). Once EDD approved the false and fraudulent UI applications, a bank issued to Grigoryan and his accomplices debit cards containing the funds intended for the false identities. Grigoryan and others then used the fraudulently obtained debit cards to withdraw cash.
Grigoryan and others also used other people’s identities and shell companies to apply for loans intended to help businesses weather the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. They did so by submitted falsified payroll information and attaching forged tax forms as support.
Once the banks approved the business loans, Grigoryan and his accomplices then rapidly withdrew the COVID business relief funds by writing checks to co-conspirators and shell companies, and by withdrawing the funds in cash.
In total, Grigoryan caused at least $2,880,259 in actual losses through this conspiracy.
“When confronted with the COVID pandemic that has claimed the lives of almost 7 million persons worldwide to date, [Grigoryan] instead saw an opportunity to bilk taxpayers out of the emergency funds their government generously made available to ameliorate job losses,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “Such criminal opportunism during a global health and economic emergency is egregious.”
Homeland Security Investigations, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the California Employment Development Department investigated this matter as part of the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
Anyone with general information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Colombian National Charged with Reentry of Removed AliensRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Edgar Ferney Penagos-Porras, age 34, a native of Colombia, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury with reentry of removed aliens.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Penagos-Porras was previously removed from the United States on or about February 26, 2018, and it is alleged that he reentered the United States without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The indictment also alleges that on May 23, 2023, Penagos-Porras was encountered in Monroe County, by the Pennsylvania State Police, on an outstanding warrant from Georgia.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Coeur d’Alene Physician Indicted for Participating in Telemarketing Medicare Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Spokane and Yakima, Washington – Today, Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a grand jury returned an Indictment charging David Antonio Becerril, M.D., age 67, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and formerly of Selah, Washington, with sixteen counts of conspiracy, fraud, and false statements in connection with Dr. Becerril’s participation in a telemarketing health care fraud scheme.
According to the Indictment returned today, between February 2018 and September 2019, Dr. Becerril, a licensed Washington physician, participated in a scheme and conspiracy to obtain millions of dollars by falsely billing Medicare for medically-unnecessary genetic tests and durable medical equipment, including back, knee, shoulder, and ankle braces. The Indictment alleges that Dr. Becerril signed false and fraudulent orders for genetic tests and braces for elderly Medicare beneficiaries that Dr. Becerril was not treating, and with whom he never spoke or interacted. The Indictment alleges that, instead, telemarketers associated with a company known as Real Time Physicians, LLC (Real Time) contacted the elderly Medicare beneficiaries and obtained their personal information and beneficiary numbers. The Indictment alleges that Dr. Becerril, using an internet portal provided by Real Time, placed false and fraudulent orders for braces and genetic tests for the beneficiaries, signing orders and other documents prepared by Real Time that contained false medical information and made it appear that he was treating the beneficiaries. According to the Indictment, Real Time then sold the orders to genetic testing labs and durable medical equipment companies, who then billed Medicare, sharing the proceeds with Real Time. The Indictment alleges that Real Time paid Dr. Becerril a $20 kickback for each beneficiary for which he placed a Medicare order.
According to the Indictment, Dr. Becerril reviewed these orders for as little as 11 seconds before signing them and falsely attesting to their medical necessity, and never once declined to sign an order. The Indictment alleges that Medicare was billed $4.1 million for fraudulent orders signed by Dr. Becerril, who never once spoke to, treated, or interacted with a patient, and paid out more than $1.5 million before the fraud was uncovered.
In June 2022, the Department of Justice announced that Marc Sporn, 59, of Delray Beach, Florida, the former owner of Real Time and other similar companies, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy to fraudulently bill Medicare.
“For far too long, elderly members of our communities have faced abuse, neglect and exploitation,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Studies show that one in ten elders report experiencing elder mistreatment each year. We take these crimes seriously, and our office is committed to investigating and prosecuting financial fraud scams, especially those that impact elderly members of our community.”
The charges against Becerril carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison. Special Assistant United States Attorney Allie S. Jensen and Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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 v. Becerril, 1:23-cr-02029-SAB
Charleston Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for ArsonRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Shabazz Akeem Isiah Watson, 27, of Saint Stephen, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to arson during the protests and riots that occurred in Downtown Charleston on May 30 and 31, 2020.
Evidence presented to the court showed that at 10:33 pm on May 30, 2020, during a protest that turned violent following the death of George Floyd, Watson entered a wine bar on King Street. Watson took several paper menus from the counter, set them on fire with a lighter, and placed them under a wooden barstool. Watson repeated this process multiple times until the fire grew. There were multiple individuals inside the business, but Watson was solely responsible for starting the fire.
Watson moved on, and at 11:09 pm, he entered a retail clothing store on King Street. Watson ran to the back of the store and lit merchandise and clothing on fire. Watson then quickly exited. Before the fires grew out of control, another individual entered the store and used a fire extinguisher to put the fires out.
At 11:55 pm, Watson entered a paint store on Meeting Street. He lit a cardboard display on fire and quickly exited the store.
Finally, on May 31, 2020, at 12:55 am, Watson entered a retail store on Meeting Street. Watson approached a row of merchandise and lit several items on fire. Watson then walked to the paper towel/toilet paper row and lit several more items on fire. The fires grew rapidly and eventually burned the entire building and everything inside, resulting in the business remaining closed for several months during repairs.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will defend the right of every South Carolinian to peacefully protest and to protest without threats to their physical safety,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “Those who use protests as cover for violent acts that endanger our community will be held accountable. We are grateful to ATF, the Charleston Police Department, and the Charleston Fire Department, whose thorough and professional investigations brought this arsonist to justice.”
“It was unfortunate to see individuals take advantage of the protests occurring at the time to cause harm and major damage to the community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Through a determined and collaborative effort, we are seeing those individuals face the consequences of their dangerous actions.”
“In pursuing such an extraordinarily complex case, this successful investigation truly came from collaboration among law enforcement partners. The exceptional work done by the dedicated detectives, analysts, and officers from the Charleston Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Attorney’s Office to garner this indictment against someone who terrorized our city is nothing short of remarkable,” said Charleston Police Department Deputy Chief Jack Weiss. “I want to thank everyone who was involved in this case and who dedicated their time, energy, and expertise every single day. They reviewed countless hours of video from citizens and business owners, shared information, and followed up on innumerable leads, ultimately culminating in a successful investigation and conviction. I’d also like to thank the community, the Mayor, and our city council for their continued and unwavering support. Finally, I’d like to thank the Charleston Fire Department whose members stood by law enforcement and ensured everyone’s safety.”
United States District Judge Richard Gergel sentenced Watson to 5 years in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. All told, Watson caused $2,415,510.75 in damage to the four businesses. Watson was ordered to pay restitution in that full amount as part of his sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charleston Police Department, and Charleston Fire Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.
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Cedar Rapids Man Convicted of November 2020 Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
A seven-time convicted felon who robbed or attempted to rob employees of Cedar Rapids businesses at gunpoint seven times in a twelve-day period in November 2020 was convicted by a jury on June 6, 2023, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Cardel Demetrius Redmond, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of six counts of interference with commerce by robbery, six counts of using and possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of those robberies, one count of attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The verdict was returned yesterday afternoon following about six hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that on November 17, 2020, Redmond robbed the Subway restaurant on Gateway Place SW in Cedar Rapids by displaying a firearm to the employees and demanding the cash from the register. On November 19, 2020, Redmond robbed a cashier at gunpoint in the Wine and Spirits area of the Hy-Vee grocery store on Oakland Road NE in Cedar Rapids. On November 25, 2020, Redmond robbed the Perkins Restaurant & Bakery on Southgate Court SW in Cedar Rapids by pointing a firearm at one of the employees of the business. On the night of November 27, 2020, Redmond used a firearm to rob an employee at the Hy-Vee grocery store on Mount Vernon Road SE in Cedar Rapids. Minutes later, Redmond robbed two employees at gunpoint at the Little Caesar’s Pizza on Mount Vernon Road SE. Less than twenty-four hours later, on November 28, 2020, Redmond attempted to rob two employees at the Hy-Vee Drugstore on 6th Street SW by brandishing a firearm. One of the employees told him there was a police officer in an unmarked car in the parking lot, and Redmond fled. The following night, November 29, 2020, Redmond robbed the same Subway restaurant on Gateway Place SW by pointing a firearm at an employee. Redmond was arrested on burglary charges later that night.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Redmond will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Redmond faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 42 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $ 3,500,000 fine, and not more than 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyndra Lundquist and Tony Morfitt and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-0085.
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Cass County Man Charged with Bank and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On June 6, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Travis Murphy, 40, of Chandlerville, Illinois, with four counts of bank fraud alleging over $8.4 million in fraud and one count of bankruptcy fraud.
The indictment alleges that Murphy, through the business Murphy Farms, devised a scheme to defraud a FDIC insured bank and obtain its funds by making materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. According to the indictment, Murphy obtained loans totaling over $8.4 million after submitting documents that misrepresented his property values, crop holdings, and income. After obtaining the loans and defaulting on payment, Murphy later sold collateral, being crops, outside of the agreement. Further, Murphy reiterated the inflated value of his property on his petition when he filed for bankruptcy.
Murphy has been issued a summons to appear before the United States Magistrate Judge in Springfield, but the exact date for his appearance has not yet been finalized.
If convicted, Murphy faces a penalty of up to thirty years in prison and five years of supervised release on each bank fraud count and a penalty of up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release on the bankruptcy fraud count. The charges also carry maximum fines of up to $1,000,000 for each count of bank fraud and up to $250,000 for the bankruptcy fraud count.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. The bankruptcy fraud charge was referred for criminal prosecution by the Office of the United States Bankruptcy Trustee for Region 10. The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with additional offices in South Bend, Indiana, and Peoria, Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A California man pleaded guilty in federal court today to smuggling more than 33,000 counterfeit pills that contained nearly four kilograms of fentanyl aboard a bus traveling through Kansas City, Mo., from Los Angeles, Calif.
Matthew J. Gomez, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
Members of the Missouri Western Interdiction Task Force (MoWIN) watched Gomez at a local bus terminal on March 16, 2023, as he got off a bus traveling through Kansas City from Los Angeles. Gomez was wearing a backpack and carrying a large duffel bag. He walked out the front doors of the bus terminal and paced back and forth on the sidewalk while making a call on his cell phone.
The detective asked Gomez if he would consent to a search of his luggage. Gomez placed his duffel bag on the ground and was in the process of removing his backpack when he quickly stepped away from the detective in an attempt to flee. A struggle ensued, and Gomez was eventually placed under arrest and escorted into the terminal.
Officers searched Gomez’s backpack and found three large, heat-sealed packages that contained numerous blue M30 pills. The Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory subsequently confirmed that the recovered pills contain fentanyl. The number of pills totaled 33,497 for an approximate weight of 3,684.97 grams, or 8.12 pounds.
Under federal statutes, Gomez is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years 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. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the Kansas City Mo., Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Ballston Spa Felon Sentenced to More Than 10 Years on Drug Conspiracy and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Maxwell Leiser, age 36, of Ballston Spa, New York, was sentenced today to 130 months in prison for his role in a Schenectady-based drug trafficking organization and his unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition as a felon.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement.
In connection with his previously entered plea, Leiser admitted that between December 2020 and April 2021, he conspired with Terell M. Patrick aka “Lite,” the leader of a Bloods-affiliated Schenectady-based drug trafficking organization, to distribute approximately 465 grams of cocaine base and 198 grams of heroin sourced from New York City to redistributors and users in Saratoga County. Leiser further admitted that he unlawfully possessed three firearms and ammunition as a felon.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered that Leiser serve a 4-year term of supervised release following his release from prison
The following defendants have also pled guilty in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy, and were sentenced as follows:
Name
Age
Prison Term
Supervised Release Term
Donovan Milhouse
25
60 months
4 years
Gregory Sherills, Jr.
40
60 months
4 years
Dequenton Slade
30
18 months
3 years
The following defendants have also pled guilty in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy, and face the following minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment:
Name
Age
Minimum
Maximum
Terell M. Patrick aka “Lite”
38
10 years
Life
Alexis Bernadt
28
5 years
40 years
The FBI and NYSP investigated this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon.
Atoka Resident Sentenced for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bobby Joe Fulsom, Jr., age 47, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
On June 8, 2022, Fulsom pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography. According to investigators, in August of 2021, Fulsom solicited and received pornographic images from a minor through Facebook. Facebook sent a cybertip to the NCMEC after identifying online images of child pornography on its platform. The NCMEC alerted the FBI, and after an investigation, agents located and arrested Fulsom.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Fulsom will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless and Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “Resources.”
If you have information about the physical or online exploitation of children, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. You can also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE–LOST (1-800-843-5678) or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.
22 Defendants Charged in Connection with Manchester Drug Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – 21 defendants have been indicted and an additional defendant has been charged in connection with an organized drug trafficking ring operating out of Manchester and Boston, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Over the past day and a half, law enforcement arrested 12 of these defendants on conspiracy to distribute controlled substance charges. During these arrests, law enforcement seized approximately 1.6 kilograms of suspected cocaine, 150 grams of suspected cocaine case, 250 grams of suspected fentanyl, 100 bags of suspected controlled substances packaged for sale, $26,000 in cash, and four firearms. The defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court at various times this week.
The following defendants have been charged in federal court:
- Juan Ramon Soto Baez aka “Ricky,” aka “Nicolas Lopez Rosado”, 53, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Soto Baez is in custody. He is scheduled for a detention hearing in federal court in Concord on June 8, 2023 at 2:00pm.
- Osvaldo David Soto Jimenez aka “Tony”, 29, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Soto Jimenez is in custody.
- Flemin Soto Baez aka “Carlos” aka “Joel Rodriguez”, 38, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Soto Baez is in custody.
- Antonio Aguasvivas aka “Toni”, 27, of Providence, Rhode Island. Aguasvivas is in custody.
- Melissa Rey Ramos aka “Ralphie”, 34, of Peabody, Massachusetts. Rey Ramos is in custody.
- Angel Leonel Fuentes Pizarro, 42, of Boston, Massachusetts. Pizarro is in custody. He is scheduled for a detention hearing in federal court in Concord on June 9. 2023 at 11:30am.
- Alejandro Reyes Rosado, 29, of UNKNOWN.
- Maria Camacho aka “Christina”, 43, of Manchester, New Hampshire.
- Luis Maldonado aka “Tony”, 48, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Maldonado is in custody. He is scheduled for a detention hearing in federal court in Concord on June 8, 2023 at 10:00am.
- Yefris Cruz Andujar, 23, of Providence, Rhode Island.
- Hidequell Gonzalez Viscaino, 22, of Waterbury, Connecticut.
- Katie Girgus, 29, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Girgus is in custody.
- Nickolas Starkey, 34, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Starkey is in custody.
- Daniel Beldin, 33, of Manchester, New Hampshire.
- Dari Rafael Baez Martinez aka “Chino”, 32, of Boston, Massachusetts. Baez Martinez is in custody.
- Leander Jose Rivera Soto, 28, of Boston, Massachusetts.
- Gabriel Hernandez, 30, of Boston, Massachusetts. Hernandez is in custody.
- Jose Cordero Ortiz, 37, of Boston, Massachusetts.
- Victor Arias Mejia, 38, of Manchester, New Hampshire.
- Jhonattan Jimenez, 36, of Boston, Massachusetts.
- Alesha Neault, 37, of Manchester, New Hampshire.
- Brandon Rivera, 21, of Boston, Massachusetts. Rivera is in custody.
According to court records, this drug trafficking ring, led by Juan Ramon Soto Baez (also known by various aliases, including “Ricky”) and his associates, has allegedly been supplying the Manchester area with fentanyl and crack cocaine for at least the past 4 years. These individuals trafficked large quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. They utilized a business model indicative of a sophisticated drug trafficking operation, which included using dispatch telephone numbers that customers would call to order drugs. Drug runners would drive vehicles to meet customers at predetermined locations to sell them drugs, often inside the runners’ vehicles.
The charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshal Service, the New Hampshire State Police, the Nashua Police Department, the Boston Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, Probation & Parole. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes, OCDETF Coordinator, are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.
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14 defendants convicted and sentenced for trafficking over 600 kilograms of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Two Georgia Department of Corrections inmates, Carmelo Reyes-Lozano and Bautista Toledo-Ramirez, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine.
“Keeping our citizens safe by combatting illegal distribution of dangerous drugs within and outside prisons is a top priority of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “These defendants and their 12 conspirators trafficked a staggering amount of illegal narcotics. Their prison sentences reflect the seriousness of their conduct and the grave danger posed to communities impacted by their drug trafficking.”
“Regardless of how sophisticated these criminal organizations think they are, they’re no match for the professionalism and dedication of the DEA,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division. “This case brought 14 people to justice and cut off a significant supply chain for methamphetamine.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: During a federal wiretap investigation in the summer of 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intercepted several inmates in Dooley State Prison and Washington State Prison using contraband cell phones to discuss narcotics deals. In response, the DEA in February through April 2020, extended the investigation and discovered that Carmelo Reyes-Lozano and Bautista Toledo-Ramirez served as leaders of a drug trafficking organization and were directing a series of drug transactions in the Atlanta area from their prison cells.
On February 15, 2020, agents intercepted communications between Reyes-Lozano and co-defendant Luis Carlos Vite-Garcia discussing a large drug shipment that arrived in the Atlanta area. Federal agents were then able to identify an address in Rex, Georgia being used as a “stash house” for narcotics. Agents searched the stash house pursuant to a warrant and discovered approximately 588 kilograms of methamphetamine (crystal and powder form), approximately 100 gallons of liquid methamphetamine in the process of being converted to a crystal form, a drug ledger, and a Mossberg 500 shotgun. Investigators saw siblings Hector Hugo Miranda-Fernandez (“Miranda”) and Jessie Miranda-Fernandez (“Fernandez”), who conspired with Reyes-Lozano and Toledo-Ramirez, at the residence and arrested Fernandez later that evening.
The next day, agents intercepted a conversation between Reyes-Lozano and Miranda, during which Miranda stated that he was fleeing to Mexico due to the DEA’s discovery of the stash house and his brother’s arrest. On February 20, 2020, agents learned that Miranda was in Texas and traveling to the border. That afternoon, officers with the Encinal Police Department in Texas located and arrested Miranda.
On February 28, 2020, the DEA intercepted another set of communications, this time between Toledo-Ramirez and co-defendant Delshawn Morrow. During the calls, the men discussed plans to smuggle methamphetamine into Washington State Prison. Utilizing intel from these intercepts, investigators arrested co-defendant Bertha Daniels the following day as she entered the prison with approximately 180 grams of methamphetamine hidden on her person. The investigation revealed a video recording of co-defendant Jhojana Pujol delivering the drugs to Daniels in a motel parking lot near the prison on behalf of Toledo-Ramirez.
On March 23, 2020, the DEA intercepted additional communications indicating that Toledo-Ramirez and Reyes-Lozano were coordinating a multi-kilogram methamphetamine deal with co-defendant Jason Lloyd Barnum using co-defendant Jean Pierre as an intermediary. Investigators learned that Pierre was a prolific marijuana trafficker who had supplied several of Toledo-Ramirez’s customers in the past. The following day, co-defendants Vite-Garcia, Carlos Andres-Vite, and Ramon Mora-Montalvo delivered approximately four kilograms of methamphetamine to Barnum. The drugs had been stored at Vite-Garcia’s stash house in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Barnum was arrested with those drugs after he traveled from Florida to the Atlanta area in a vehicle that Pierre owned.
On March 30, 2020, DEA agents intercepted more telephonic communications in which co-defendant Lourdes Ayala-Cruz called Reyes-Lozano to coordinate the purchase of a kilogram of methamphetamine for co-defendant Jose Paralta-Sanchez. Ayala-Cruz and Paralta-Sanchez drove from North Carolina to the Atlanta area to complete the deal. The transaction occurred on April 1, 2020, in the parking lot of a hardware store in Atlanta, and the drugs were delivered to Paralta-Sanchez by Mora-Montalvo. The Gaston County, North Carolina, Police Department arrested Ayala-Cruz with the drugs as she drove back to her home in North Carolina.
On April 6, 2020, investigators arrested Vite-Garcia, Andres-Vite, and Mora-Montalvo en route from Decatur, Georgia to the stash house in Lawrenceville with approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine. The DEA searched the Lawrenceville residence that day pursuant to a warrant. During the search, federal agents seized more methamphetamine, approximately two kilograms of heroin, a digital scale, two firearms, and over $22,000 in U.S. currency.
For his role in the conspiracy, Reyes-Lozano, 34, of Jalisco, Mexico, received a sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg of 17 years, six months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Reyes-Lozano was convicted on October 19, 2021, after he pleaded guilty.
Bautista-Toledo, 42, of Michoacán, Mexico, received a sentence of 23 years in prison, followed by 12 years of supervised release. Bautista-Toledo was convicted on August 10, 2022, after pleading guilty just days before his trial was set to begin. Reyes-Lozano’s and Bautista-Toledo’s federal sentences will run consecutive to the state prison sentences the men are already serving.
The defendants’ 12 conspirators previously entered guilty pleas for their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy and received the following sentences imposed by Judge Grimberg:
- Hector Hugo Miranda-Fernandez, 36, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced to eleven years and one month in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Jessie Miranda-Fernandez, 23, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Luis Carlos Vite-Garcia, 39, of Reynoso, Mexico, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.
- Ramon Mora-Montalvo, 29, of Reynoso, Mexico, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Carlos Andres-Vite, 23, of Reynoso, Mexico, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Jhojana Pujol, 26, of Boston, Massachusetts, was sentenced to time served in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Delshawn Morrow, 45, of Thomasville, Georgia, was sentenced to 14 years in prison to run consecutive to any sentence he is currently serving, followed by four years of supervised release.
- Bertha Mae-Daniels, 47, of Thomasville, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Jason Lloyd Barnum, 42, of Irvington, New Jersey, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Jose Paralta-Sanchez, 53, of Michoacán, Mexico, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Lourdes Suyapa Ayala-Cruz, 44, of Choloma Cortez, Honduras, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Jean Pierre, 46, of Irvington, New Jersey, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol, Gaston County, North Carolina, Police Department and Encinal, Texas, Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebeca M. Ojeda and C. Brock Brockington, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miguel R. Acosta and Scott McAfee, prosecuted the case.
This effort was 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.
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.
6 June 2023
司法部宣布已就休斯顿市非法倾倒垃圾的环境正义调查达成协议Read the Press Release
司法部今日宣布，针对休斯顿市在黑人和拉丁裔社区非法倾倒问题上的环境正义调查，已达成一项和解协议。该协议基于休斯顿市最近宣布的 One Clean Houston（休斯顿整洁行动）倡议。这是一个全面计划，旨在解决广泛存在的非法倾倒垃圾问题，改善对休斯顿居民健康、安全和生活质量的不良影响。今日达成的协议正式记录了休斯顿市与司法部的合作，它将推动实施一系列新措施来打击非法倾倒，并为全体休斯顿市居民开发改进的废物管理服务。
司法部民权司 (Civil Rights Division, CRT) 助理检察长 Kristen Clarke 说：“休斯顿非法垃圾场的存在导致了水土污染、害虫滋生，对全市资源匮乏的社区造成了严重影响。我非常钦佩 Turner 市长在解决这些问题上展现的领导才能和对推动 One Clean Houston 倡议的坚定决心。该协议将确保休斯顿全面解决长期以来存在的非法垃圾倾倒问题，提供充分的废物管理服务，并改善有色人种社区居民的生活质量。司法部将持续推进环境正义，确保全国范围内的有色人种社区拥有安全、清洁和健康的居住环境。”
德克萨斯州南区的美国检察官 Alamdar S. Hamdani 说：“任何人都不应被迫生活在充斥着废弃轮胎、成袋的垃圾、腐烂的动物尸体且土壤和地下水受到污染的地方，而这些问题都是由非法倾倒造成的。长久以来，休斯顿的弱势和低收入社区一直承担着因他人无所作为和不当行为而带来的健康负担。我希望这项决议能成为纠正这些错误的重要一步。”
2022 年 7 月，司法部在收到一份代表休斯顿居民的民权投诉后启动了调查，投诉声称休斯顿市违反了 Civil Rights Act of 1964 （1964 年的《民权法案》）Title VI（第六章）的规定，对位于休斯顿东北部的 Trinity/Houston Gardens 社区的黑人和拉丁裔居民进行了歧视。Title VI 禁止接受联邦资助的机构在联邦资助的项目和活动中，以种族、肤色或国籍为由进行歧视。
司法部展开了长达十个月的调查，重点审查了休斯顿市在解决非法倾倒问题方面的工作。非法倾倒是休斯顿市长期存在且普遍发生的问题，尤其在该市的黑人和拉丁裔社区中更为频繁。2023 年 3 月，休斯顿市推出了 One Clean Houston 倡议。One Clean Houston 的重点是迅速清理、强化执法、预防和教育工作。除了确认休斯顿市对 One Clean Houston 的承诺之外，该协议还设立了为期三年的联邦监测期，数据报告义务，加强与受影响社区的沟通，包括与英语能力有限的居民互动，考虑采取额外行动打击商业非法倾倒行为，减少居民使用废物处理设施的限制，并为特定市政府员工提供联邦民权培训计划。
民权司的 Federal Coordination and Compliance Section（联邦协调与合规科）在德克萨斯州南部地区美国检察官办公室的协助下开展了这项调查。
通过执行国家民权法律消除歧视性的环境与健康影响，是民权司的一项首要任务。今天宣布达成的协议是根据联邦民权法规达成的第二项环境正义和解协议。上个月，民权司宣布对阿拉巴马州卫生局和阿拉巴马州朗兹县卫生局的环境正义调查已得到解决。2022 年 4月，司法部设立了环境正义办公室，并制定了全面的环境正义执法战略。
任何人如果认为自身的民权遭到侵犯或担心环境公正问题，可在 www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ 向民权司提出投诉。
司法部宣佈已就休斯頓市非法傾倒垃圾的環境正義調查達成協議Read the Press Release
司法部今日宣佈，針對休斯頓市在黑人和拉丁裔社區非法傾倒問題上的環境正義調查，已達成一項和解協議。該協議基於休斯頓市最近宣佈的 One Clean Houston（休斯頓整潔行動）倡議。這是一個全面計畫，旨在解決廣泛存在的非法傾倒垃圾問題，改善對休斯頓居民健康、安全和生活品質的不良影響。今日達成的協議正式記錄了休斯頓市與司法部的合作，它將推動實施一系列新措施來打擊非法傾倒，並為全體休斯頓市居民開發改進的廢物管理服務。
司法部民權司 (Civil Rights Division, CRT) 助理檢察長 Kristen Clarke 說：「休斯頓非法垃圾場的存在導致了水土污染、害蟲滋生，對全市資源匱乏的社區造成了嚴重影響。我非常欽佩 Turner 市長在解決這些問題上展現的領導才能和對推動 One Clean Houston 倡議的堅定決心。該協議將確保休斯頓全面解決長期以來存在的非法垃圾傾倒問題，提供充分的廢物管理服務，並改善有色人種社區居民的生活品質。司法部將持續推進環境正義，確保全國範圍內的有色人種社區擁有安全、清潔和健康的居住環境。」
德克薩斯州南區的美國檢察官 Alamdar S. Hamdani 說：「任何人都不應被迫生活在充斥著廢棄輪胎、成袋的垃圾、腐爛的動物屍體且土壤和地下水受到污染的地方，而這些問題都是由非法傾倒造成的。長久以來，休斯頓的弱勢和低收入社區一直承擔著因他人無所作為和不當行為而帶來的健康負擔。我希望這項決議能成為糾正這些錯誤的重要一步。」
2022 年 7 月，司法部在收到一份代表休斯頓居民的民權投訴後啟動了調查，投訴聲稱休斯頓市違反了 Civil Rights Act of 1964 （1964 年的《民權法案》）Title VI（第六章）的規定，對位於休斯頓東北部的 Trinity/Houston Gardens 社區的黑人和拉丁裔居民進行了歧視。Title VI 禁止接受聯邦資助的機構在聯邦資助的專案和活動中，以種族、膚色或國籍為由進行歧視。
司法部展開了長達十個月的調查，重點審查了休斯頓市在解決非法傾倒問題方面的工作。非法傾倒是休斯頓市長期存在且普遍發生的問題，尤其在該市的黑人和拉丁裔社區中更為頻繁。2023 年 3 月，休斯頓市推出了 One Clean Houston 倡議。One Clean Houston 的重點是迅速清理、強化執法、預防和教育工作。除了確認休斯頓市對 One Clean Houston 的承諾之外，該協議還設立了為期三年的聯邦監測期，資料包告義務，加強與受影響社區的溝通，包括與英語能力有限的居民互動，考慮採取額外行動打擊商業非法傾倒行為，減少居民使用廢物處理設施的限制，並為特定市政府員工提供聯邦民權培訓計畫。
民權司的 Federal Coordination and Compliance Section（聯邦協調與合規科）在德克薩斯州南部地區美國檢察官辦公室的協助下開展了這項調查。
通過執行國家民權法律消除歧視性的環境與健康影響，是民權司的一項首要任務。今天宣佈達成的協議是根據聯邦民權法規達成的第二項環境正義和解協定。上個月，民權司宣佈對阿拉巴馬州衛生局和阿拉巴馬州朗茲縣衛生局的環境正義調查已解決了。2022 年 4月，司法部設立了環境正義辦公室，並制定了全面的環境正義執法戰略。
任何人如果認為自身的民權遭到侵犯或擔心環境公正問題，可在 www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ 向民權司提出投訴。
Youth Wrestling Coach and Referee from Ocean County Admits Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man today admitted distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Alec Donovan, 26, of Brick, New Jersey, a youth wrestling coach and referee, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From January 2021 through March 2021, Donovan used an internet-based application to exchange multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse, including depictions involving pre-pubescent children. Donovan also used the web-based messaging application to solicit and engage in conversations with minors, including requesting nude photographs from the minors and sending nude photographs to them.
The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 10, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Ecker of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
donovan.information.pdfWatauga Man Is Sentenced to Seven Years for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Luis Eduardo Nunez, 27, of Sugar Grove, N.C., was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for transporting child pornography, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell also ordered Nunez to serve 30 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NC SBI), and Chief Andy LeBeau of the Boone Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, beginning in May 2021, an undercover agent with HSI observed that Kik Messenger user “thatguy246011,” later identified as Nunez, was participating in private group chats dedicated to the distribution of child pornography. On multiple occasions, Nunez also used Kik Messenger to post images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Court documents show that the undercover agent made contact with Nunez via Kik Messenger. Over the course of the exchanges, Nunez expressed his interest in viewing and trading child pornography and sent the undercover agent child pornography. In July 2021, HSI also received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning the same Kik messenger username, indicating that the user had uploaded 30 files through the app, most of which depicted child pornography.
On August 31, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Nunez’s residence. Over the course of the search, law enforcement seized Nunez’s cell phone. A forensic analysis of the phone’s contents identified at least 154 images and 18 videos of child pornography on the device. Court records indicate that investigators also spoke with Nunez at his residence. In a voluntary interview, Nunez admitted that he used Kik Messenger to transport child pornography. Nunez also admitted that he set up a new account on the app and used it to transport child pornography after his old one was shut down.
On October 7, 2022, Nunez pleaded guilty to transporting child pornography. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The case was investigated by HSI, NC SBI, and the Boone Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark T. Odulio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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’s Office Concludes Investigation into Fatal Shooting Inside of Metro StationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation who was involved in the fatal shooting, on December 7, 2022, of Troy N. Bullock.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) conducted a comprehensive review of the incident. This included a review of law enforcement and civilian eyewitness accounts, surveillance footage from inside of the Metro station, physical evidence, recorded cell phone footage, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, and the autopsy report.
According to the evidence, on December 7, 2022, at approximately 6:11p.m., an FBI Special Agent was standing on the platform at the Metro Center station. The agent, who was off duty at the time, observed Mr. Bullock attempting to initiate a physical confrontation with an individual who was also standing on the platform by challenging him to a fight. To defuse the situation, the agent indicated to Mr. Bullock that he should leave the individual alone. Mr. Bullock then became physically aggressive toward the agent by grabbing the agent and pushing him over a utility wall. The wall is approximately three feet high. The agent fell backward over the utility wall, and Mr. Bullock fell over the wall with him – a fall of over eight feet. Below, Mr. Bullock resumed his attack on the agent, who sustained an injury in the fall, drew his service weapon, and shot Mr. Bullock. Despite life-saving efforts, Mr. Bullock was pronounced dead at the scene.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the agent used excessive force under the circumstances.
Use-of-force investigations generally
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. To prove civil rights violations, prosecutors must typically be able to prove that the involved officers willfully used more force than was reasonably necessary. Proving “willfulness” is a heavy burden. Prosecutors must not only prove that the force used was excessive, but must also prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer acted with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
- Two Norman Residents Sentenced to Serve Seven Years Collectively in Federal Prison for Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft
Two Indicted in Nationwide Controlled Substance ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two individuals have been charged in a superseding indictment in connection with a nationwide conspiracy to traffic controlled substances from Arizona into Massachusetts. More than 16 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 700 grams of fentanyl pills were seized during the investigation.
Denise Guyette, 30, of Woonsocket, R.I. and Gerardo Garza, a/k/a “Oso,” 47, of Yuma, Ariz., were indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The superseding indictment alleges that 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine were attributable to Guyette.
Guyette and Garza were originally charged along with co-defendant Nathan Boddie with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 7, 2023. Boddie pleaded guilty on May 19, 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10, 2023 before United States District Judge Indira Talwani.
According to court documents, in or about April 2022, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Guyette. It is alleged that Guyette conspired with Garza, Boddie and others to traffic various controlled substances – including methamphetamine, fentanyl pills and cocaine – in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and elsewhere. It is further alleged that the DTO routinely used the mail to ship drugs from Arizona to Massachusetts, often hiding the drugs within packages containing children’s items such as toy trucks, Halloween decorations and Disney items. Between May and October 2022, investigators seized seven packages containing a total of over 900 grams of methamphetamine, as well as thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.
At the time of Guyette’s arrest on Feb. 8, 2023, approximately 14 pounds of pure methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills weighing over 300 grams were located in a safe in her bedroom. A digital scale as well as multiple Rhode Island and Massachusetts driver’s licenses, Social Security cards and credit cards in the names of other individuals were also found during a search of Guyette’s residence.
In total, over 16 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 700 grams of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl was seized over the course of the investigation.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum of life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and Hudson Police Chief Richard DiPersio made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Imperial County Resident Agency and Yuma Resident Agency; United States Postal Service; Massachusetts State Police; and the Woonsocket (R.I.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Charles Dell’Anno of Levy’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case 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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Texas man sent to prison after leading officers on high-speed chaseRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 36-year-old San Benito man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of smuggling eight non-U.S. citizens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Rogelio Garcia pleaded guilty March 15.
Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Ruiz to serve 37 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Garcia led officers on a high-speed chase through the town of Sinton, putting the smuggled individuals and surrounding motorists in danger. In discussing the factors impacting the sentence, the court remarked on the danger to which Garcia exposed both the aliens and other motorists and noted the serious nature of his conduct.
On Jan. 23, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Garcia was driving and did not yield to them. He then led officers on a 10-mile chase, reaching speeds up to 90 miles per hour. The chase led into the town of Sinton, where Garcia ran stop signs and forced other vehicles to pull to the side of the road to avoid his vehicle.
Ultimately, Garcia lost control and veered off the roadway onto railroad tracks. At that time, approximately eight people fled into the nearby brush, three of whom authorities located and placed in custody.
Garcia has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.
Texas and Louisiana Men Plead Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LARRY TRICHE, age 51, a resident of Norco, Louisiana, and RANDY HARROD, age 43, a resident of Trinity, Texas, each pled guilty on May 31, 2023 to a one-count superseding bill of information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of amixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, between May 25, 2020, and July 2, 2020, TRICHE traveled four times with co-conspirator 1 from Louisiana to the Houston, Texas area to purchase kilogram quantities of methamphetamine from a Houston-based narcotics trafficker. On each occasion, TRICHE obtained a hotel room outside of Houston while co-conspirator 1 drove to Houston and met with HARROD and co-conspirator 2, the supplier, to purchase the methamphetamine. TRICHE and co-conspirator 1 then returned to Louisiana, sometimes in separate vehicles, with TRICHE carrying the methamphetamine in his vehicle. Upon their return to the Eastern District of Louisiana, co-conspirator 1 took possession of the methamphetamine from TRICHE and distributed it to customers in the area.
For the conspiracy count, TRICHE and HARROD each face a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, a term of supervised release of at least three years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Tenderloin Dealer Who Sold Fentanyl That Killed One and Injured Another Sentenced to Six Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Celin David Doblado-Canaca was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for selling fentanyl, including fentanyl that caused the death of one victim and injured another, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge.
Doblado-Canaca, 40, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty, without a written agreement, on April 4, 2023, to the charge of distributing fentanyl. In pleading guilty, Doblado-Canaca admitted he sold drugs in the San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. On May 18, 2020, Doblado-Canaca sold drugs to a buyer that he had sold to before. He later learned that the buyer then provided the drugs to two other individuals in San Bruno, Calif., referred to in court documents as Victim 1 and Victim 2. Both Victim 1 and Victim 2 snorted the drugs, believing they were taking cocaine, when in fact they ingested fentanyl. Both Victim 1 and Victim 2 overdosed; Victim 1 died, and Victim 2 survived the ordeal.
Court documents demonstrate Doblado-Canaca was arrested after he continued to sell drugs in the Tenderloin. Specifically, on May 20, 2020, the same buyer Doblado-Canaca sold to on May 18 called him to set up another buy, this one on Hyde Street in the Tenderloin. In the early evening, Doblado-Canaca met the buyer and another person, who was an undercover police officer. Doblado-Canaca sold three baggies of what he knew was fentanyl and was arrested shortly thereafter. At the time of his arrest, Doblado-Canaca possessed eight more baggies of fentanyl and 13 baggies of heroin, respectively.
On October 28, 2021, Doblado-Canaca was charged by Information with one count of distributing fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Doblado-Canaca pleaded guilty to the charge.
In addition to the six year prison term, U.S. District Judge Donato ordered Doblado-Canaca to serve three years of supervision following release from federal prison, and to pay restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Weingarten prosecuted the case with the assistance of Linda Love and Margoth Turcios. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA and the San Bruno Police Department.
One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fentanyl is used because it’s cheap. Small variations in the quantity or quality of fentanyl in a fake prescription pill can accidentally create a lethal dosage. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug poisoning deaths in the United States. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies, like Percocet and Xanax. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These particular pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.
Tallahassee Police Officer Recognized by the Department of Justice for the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients of the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 15 jurisdictions across the country.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn rank-and-file officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing. This year, the Department received nominations for almost 200 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. Nominations came from 49 states, representing state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.
Tallahassee Police Department Officer Henni Hamby received an award for Community Policing. Officer Hamby is devoted to public safety for people of all ages. She operates programs including a personal safety and empowerment program for elementary school children, as well as a car seat check program for parents. Officer Hamby is also an advocate of senior programs – she recognizes that older adults are more vulnerable than most when it comes to theft, abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and other crimes. Officer Hamby is the department’s Citizen Police Academy Coordinator and has developed an outstanding partnership with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization. Officer Hamby works tirelessly to serve her community.
I couldn’t be prouder of Officer Henni Hamby and our partners at the Tallahassee Police Department,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern of Florida. “Community policing is more than just walking the beat – law enforcement and communities’ working together can cultivate creative solutions to all manner of challenges, thereby furthering public safety.”
A list of award winners can be found here. Complete information on the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found here.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing is made possible through the Department’s work with national law enforcement stakeholder groups, who play a vital role in the review process. The various components throughout the Department also play a critical role, providing the review process with a depth of knowledge and experience that is inherent across the Department. The result is this annual awards program, which allows the Department to highlight a group of officers whose commitment to their communities is obvious through their exceptional efforts.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html
Suffield Man Sentenced to Nearly 8 Years in Prison for Trafficking Cocaine While on Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SERGIO HORTA-MOLINA, 47, of Suffield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 94 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior narcotics trafficking conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking organization, with ties to a Mexican drug cartel, operating in the area of Enfield, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts. The organization was believed to be trafficking multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, as well as heroin. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases and seizures of narcotics, revealed that Horta-Molina arranged the shipment of cocaine and other narcotics to Connecticut, and then distributed the drugs to other members of the organization who, in turn, sold the drugs to street-level traffickers and drug customers.
During the investigation, Horta-Molina arranged the shipment of a package from California to Juan Sanchez-Razon’s residence in Enfield. On April 27, 2022, Sanchez-Razon delivered the package to another individual. Law enforcement subsequently stopped that individual as he was attempting to deliver the package to Horta-Molina. A search of the package revealed a kilogram of cocaine.
Horta-Molina was previously convicted in the District of New Jersey of conspiring to distribute cocaine and heroin. He was charged with the offense after a search of his Suffield residence in September 2017 revealed approximately 23 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin. In November 2019, Horta-Molina was sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for that offense. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was released from prison early in May 2020, and he was on federal supervised release at the time of his criminal conduct in this case.
Horta-Molina has been detained since his arrest on May 5, 2021. On March 10, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Judge Dooley sentenced Horta-Molina to 70 months of imprisonment for the cocaine offense, and a consecutive 24 month of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
Sanchez-Razon pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and the Enfield Police Department. The Task Force 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 A. Reed Durham 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.
Six Defendants Charged in $14.7 Million Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Pandemic Relief LoansRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging GLENROY WALKER, HOWARD LEVY, SHERRIL BAEZ, NORMA GETTEN, DONNAT POWELL, and GARY WHEELER with conspiring to commit wire fraud by submitting fraudulent applications for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”). WALKER and LEVY are also charged with aggravated identity theft. The defendants were arrested this morning and were presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants schemed to steal millions of dollars from a program Congress created to help struggling small businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic. As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, this Office will pursue and prosecute the fraudsters that took advantage of a global emergency to greedily line their own pockets.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, the defendants conspired to fraudulently obtain more than $14 million from the Paycheck Protection Program through applications containing sham documents. This unfortunately is another example of individuals attempting to scam a program that was designed to help Americans during unprecedented upheaval. Ensuring that fraudsters who abused the Paycheck Protection Program are brought to justice remains a priority for the FBI.”
According to the Complaint unsealed today:[1]
Between at least July 2020 and February 2022, GLENROY WALKER and HOWARD LEVY operated a scheme to submit fraudulent applications for loans from the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program. The PPP was created by Congress to provide billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to fund payroll and certain other qualifying business expenses because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP was overseen by the SBA, which guaranteed loans issued, in the first instance, by commercial lenders. WALKER and LEVY submitted more than 100 fraudulent PPP loan applications to various financial institutions. Among other fraudulent misrepresentations, the PPP applications WALKER and LEVY submitted frequently contained phony bank statements and tax documents. SHERRIL BAEZ, NORMA GETTEN, DONNAT POWELL, and GARY WHEELER all participated in this scheme with WALKER and LEVY by, among other things, participating in the submission of fraudulent applications for their own purported businesses and recruiting other prospective fraudulent PPP applicants into the scheme. WALKER and LEVY received significant kickbacks from the applicants, including BAEZ, GETTEN, POWELL, and WHEELER, and shared portions of their kickbacks with recruiters, including some of the defendants.
The fraudulent applications submitted by the six defendants collectively sought more than $14.7 million in loans and resulted in the disbursement of more than $4.6 million from various financial institutions, all guaranteed by the SBA.
* * *
WALKER, 65, of New Rochelle, New York, LEVY, 60, of the Bronx, New York, BAEZ, 50, of Freeport, New York, GETTEN, 62, of the Bronx, New York, POWELL, 48, of Paterson, New Jersey, and WHEELER, 46, of Mount Vernon, New York, are each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. That charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. WALKER and LEVY are also charged with a single count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Hoffman and Derek Wikstrom are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
u.s._v._walker_et_al_complaint.pdfSioux Falls Man Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man for two counts of Production of Child Pornography.
Marc Jones, age 29, was indicted in May of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on June 1, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on March 23, 2023, Jones knowingly employed, used persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced two minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct and knowing that such visual depictions would be transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
The charges are merely accusations and Jones is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Jones was remanded to the custody of the State pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Shasta County Man Sentenced for Black Market Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Brian Scheckla, 65, of Burney, was sentenced today to two years in prison for unlawful dealing in firearms, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Scheckla traveled to gun shows buying guns only to turn around and sell them for a price markup on the black market. In 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives served Scheckla with a cease-and-desist letter, advising him that he was unlawfully selling guns without a license. Nevertheless, Scheckla continued to travel to 20 gun shows a year to sell guns in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. Between March 2016 and February 2019, Scheckla purchased at least 77 guns from federally licensed firearms dealers. Ten of those firearms that have been recovered by law enforcement as part of criminal investigations in Manteca, Sacramento, Modesto, Vallejo, Elk Grove, Anderson, Ontario, and Rancho Cordova.
This case was the product of an investigation by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the 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.