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16 February 2023
Luzerne County Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of A FirearmRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Dashae Simmons, age 26, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on February 15, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to the charge of making false statements in connection with the purchase of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Simmons admitted to providing false information regarding the purchase of a .22 caliber pistol from Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitter, in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, on June 24, 2020. The firearm was later recovered from another individual during the commission of a crime in Newark, New Jersey.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Newark, New Jersey, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is also 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.
Under federal law, the maximum penalty is up to ten years in prison, a term of supervised release and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Louisiana Doctor Sentenced to Four Years in Prison, Ordered to Pay More Than $800,000 to Victims in Workers’ Comp Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE — Robert Clay Smith, age 61, an Alexandria, La., physician was sentenced yesterday to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $800,000 to workers’ compensation insurers, for his role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, health care fraud, and violations of federal anti-kickback laws. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
According to court documents, from 2013 until 2017, Smith conspired with a Rogers-based company to dispense pain creams and patches to his workers’ compensation patients, for which he received a split of the profits. The company acted as the billing agent for Smith, handling all the paperwork and submitting the claims to both the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, which covers all federal employees, and to private insurers as well. In exchange, Smith admitted, the company paid him 50 to 55 percent of the profits collected from successfully billing insurers, at markups of 15 to 20 times what the medications cost.
In addition to receiving illegal kickbacks, Smith did not have a license to dispense medications from his clinic, required under Louisiana law, but nonetheless dispensed the medications to his workers’ compensation patients from his clinic.
Smith’s role in the scheme was found to have caused $1,476,383.47 in losses to workers’ compensation insurers, and Smith was ordered to repay $827,083.40 to identified victims.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the Louisiana Department of Justice, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, and the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter Bridges and Steven Mohlhenrich prosecuted the case for the United States.
Life After Prison Fraught with Pitfalls for Returning CitizensRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida recently held a Re-Entry Simulation at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce to give community stakeholders a better idea of what former prisoners face when attempting to reintegrate into society.
Each participant was given a folder to review, which gave them an idea of what they’d face after being released from prison. They had to navigate a set-up that included paying utilities, housing, banking, and supervision obligations, among others.
“This will be unlike any training you’ve experienced,” said Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section Chief J.D. Smith. “I went through it twice and it was punishment both times. You’re going to get various types of customer service. Not everyone is going to be helpful.”
Approximately 60 participants filled the auditorium. Training was broken down into four 20-minute sessions with each one representing one week in the life of a returning citizen. By the end of the first session, more than 40 participants were in “jail” for failing to complete certain tasks such as finding a job or a place to live.
“Oh, I see,” said one participant who previously had spent time in prison. “This is intentionally confusing.”
The training is designed to test patience and give attendees an idea of what it’s like to begin anew. It can be frustrating and real life is no different.
Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger, Fort Pierce Office, was an attendee and her assigned situation was particularly hard to navigate.
“I played the role of a young mother previously convicted of trafficking narcotics,” she said. “I had a part-time job and several times I tested positive on my urinalysis. It was frustrating, chaotic, and hopeless at times. I was returned to jail three times before I got it right.”
More than 2 million people are incarcerated in the U.S. According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than eight out of every 10 youth offenders are arrested again within five years and 70 percent of all prisoners released in 2012 were arrested within five years.
“We make returning citizens jump over so many hurdles when they leave prison,” said Smith, “and then we wonder why they reoffend.”
Lack of employment can be a big trigger when it comes to reoffending. However, the easier it is for returning citizens to reintegrate, the more likely they are to become productive. When there’s a dead-end at every turn, it can feel like a “normal” life just isn’t worth it.
Society doesn’t do returning citizens any favors. Many are released from prison without a form of identification, which puts them behind the eight ball. Smith has railed against this for years.
“We preach about these lessons but getting folks to listen is the hard part,” he said. “Every time we hold one of these events people say they are going to change things but it doesn’t happen. Be the change you’d like to see. Make a difference.”
Lack of an ID is just one issue that hinders progress. According to Smith, returning citizens should be equipped with a list of service providers in the community to help them find health care, temporary housing, and other re-entry services.
“By not doing that, we’re doing ourselves a disservice because returning citizens are in our communities,” said Smith. “We should want them to do well. Imagine if a returning citizen in your community reoffends and causes harm to one of your family members. This really happens. We need to remove barriers to success … not put more in place.”
Barbara Galloway, a re-entry program facilitator with a Fort Pierce law office, understands the challenges facing returning citizens. She participated in the event at the counseling station and saw the frustrations participants had when things didn’t go right.
“Those with no experience with this were very upset when negative things—like being five minutes late for an appointment—happened,” she said. “I’d like to see more upper management go through this training … people who can influence change. Many don’t realize how difficult it is to work the system.”
One thing that can help is for organizations to partner with other community service providers to form a larger voice.
“Have meetings with like-minded people in city government, state government, and the judicial branch,” said Smith. “Work as a team to make it happen.”
Until then, Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section staff will continue to bring this training to various areas within the footprint of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This was the first re-entry training held in Fort Pierce.
“It was important to bring this to Fort Pierce so our stakeholders could experience a month in the life of a returning citizen,” said Lineberger. “It exposed the need for more planning and resource coordination before returning citizens are released. It really got the community talking about how best to reform re-entry in a positive way.”
Lebanon Woman Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison in Connection with Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. –United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced that Heather Dubeau, 38, previously of Lebanon, was sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment today following her conviction for participating in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendants were involved in a conspiracy to ship methamphetamine from Arizona to New Hampshire. In May of 2019, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) agents were alerted to suspicious parcels sent from Dubeau and co-defendant Gary Sewell in Arizona to two different addresses in New Hampshire. Investigators obtained a warrant to open the packages and found that one contained over 336 grams of methamphetamine and the other contained over 665 grams of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was intended for further distribution.
All of Dubeau’s co-defendants previously pleaded guilty. Andrew Hutchins pleaded guilty on May 5, 2022, and was sentenced on August 30, 2022. Sewell pleaded guilty on May 5, 2022, and was sentenced on February 7, 2023 to 72 months of imprisonment. Eli Margolis pleaded guilty on May 27, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2023. Chad Rombow pleaded guilty on January 26, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21, 2023. Dylan Miles pleaded guilty on February 15, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2023.
“This investigation demonstrates the efforts we will take to address the public safety issues presented by the distribution of methamphetamine into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who traffic methamphetamine into New Hampshire.”
“As methamphetamine seizures are on the rise, DEA stands committed to keeping this highly addictive drug out of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Ms. Dubeau accountable for her crimes but serves as a warning to those who attempt to bring this poison to the Granite State. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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Lawrence Man Found Guilty of Fentanyl Trafficking by Federal JuryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston of fentanyl trafficking.
Manuel Santana Vizcaino, a/k/a “Dave,” 38, was convicted on Feb. 11, 2023 of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for May 10, 2023. Santana Vizcaino was charged along with his brother, Santo Santana Vizcaino, in October 2020 and the two were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2021.
In September 2020, Manuel Santana Vizcaino arranged for the distribution of more than a half kilogram of fentanyl to an individual. Specifically, on Sept. 3, 2020, Manuel Santana Vizcaino provided the individual with approximately 270 grams of fentanyl concealed inside a guava juice box at his apartment in Lawrence. Later, on Sept. 14, 2020, while outside the United States in the Dominican Republic, Manuel Santana Vizcaino arranged for his brother to sell the individual another 250 grams of fentanyl. Manuel Santana Vizcaino was arrested in December 2020 at Logan Airport upon returning from the Dominican Republic.
In May 2022, Santo Santana Vizcaino was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to the same charges in January 2022.
The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Customs and Border Protection; Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Massachusetts State Police; and the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and Lucy Sun of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
Las Vegas Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas tax preparer pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns.
Maria Magdalena Mendoza (51) pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false income tax returns. U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware scheduled sentencing for May 18, 2023.
According to court documents, from at least 2007 to 2017, Mendoza worked as a tax preparer and owned tax preparation businesses “Taxes & More” and “Taxs y Mas.” She used false or inflated deductions and credits on tax returns filed on behalf of her clients. Additionally, she used her clients’ personal identifying information to falsely obtain a larger refund on her own tax returns. Mendoza prepared more than 700 tax returns that claimed more than $3 million in refunds from the IRS. She caused more than $1.2 million in tax loss.
The maximum statutory penalty is three years in prison per count, a term of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Albert Childress for the IRS Criminal Investigation made the announcement.
The IRS CI and the Treasury Inspector General’s Office for Tax Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Schmale is prosecuting the case.
If you have information about an individual or a business you suspect of tax fraud, you can submit a report to the IRS at: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/how-do-you-report-suspected-tax-fraud-activity.
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Lame Deer man admits sexually abusing girl on Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lame Deer man today admitted to sexually abusing a child in 2015 on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jordan Joseph Backer, 26, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact. Backer faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other sentencing factors. Backer was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged that in 2021, law enforcement received a cybertip from Facebook that indicated an account associated with Backer had an image of suspected sexual abuse of a child, resembling Jane Doe. Law enforcement responded to Backer’s residence but were unable to make any determinations about the child’s identity or what had happened. In September 2022, Jane Doe disclosed that Backer had sexually abused her in 2015, when she was approximately six years old and visiting family on the reservation. When interviewed, Backer admitted to sexually abusing Jane Doe.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno B. Baucus is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Northern Cheyenne Investigative Services.
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Killeen Career School, Director to Pay $9 Million for Defrauding Post-9/11 GI Bill ProgramRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – ELPSS Career Institute LLC, a career school located in Killeen, and its director, Ricky J. Daniels, Jr., were ordered in federal court in Waco on Wednesday, to pay $9,024,886.99 in damages and civil penalties to the United States under the False Claims Act for defrauding the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support to members of the military, veterans, and eligible dependents who enroll in certain education programs. A non-accredited career school such as ELPSS Career Institute must operate for at least two years before it may enroll students receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. This requirement is intended to limit the payment of veterans’ benefits to established courses offered at a reasonable cost by seasoned institutions.
In October 2020, the United States filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas alleging that Daniels had falsely certified to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) that ELPSS Career Institute had been in operation for more than two years in order to obtain approval to enroll Post-9/11 GI Bill students. The United States alleged that Daniels formed ELPSS Career Institute less than a year before applying for approval. According to the United States, Daniels provided student files from an unaffiliated school in El Paso to the TVC when it conducted a site visit to verify the school’s dates of operation.
Following discovery, the United States moved for summary judgment under the False Claims Act, which allows the government to recover three times the amount of funds fraudulently obtained plus a civil penalty for each false claim. A magistrate judge concluded that the undisputed evidence showed that Daniels knowingly made a false certification regarding ELPSS Career Institute’s compliance with the two-year requirement; that the false certification was material to the VA’s decision to allow ELPSS Career Institute to receive tuition reimbursement for veterans receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits; and that the false certification caused the VA to disburse more than $2.3 million to the school. U.S. District Judge Alan D. Albright adopted the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation, granting the government’s motion and awarding it $9,024,886.99.
“Fraud on the Post-9/11 GI Bill threatens the integrity of education benefits provided to military veterans and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “This office is committed to holding accountable anyone who undermines the critical benefit programs that assist those who serve our country.”
“Safeguarding Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit funds reserved for deserving veterans remains a priority,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Patrick Roche of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “This judgment is a testament to the VA OIG’s commitment to working with the United States Attorney’s Office to hold accountable anyone who would defraud VA’s benefits programs.”
The VA Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Parnham represented the United States in the lawsuit, which is captioned United States v. Daniels et al., Civil Action No. 6:20-CV-00986-ADA.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Justice and Commerce Departments Announce Creation of Disruptive Technology Strike ForceRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce are launching the Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Under the leadership of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the strike force will bring together experts throughout government – including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and 14 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in 12 metropolitan regions across the country – to target illicit actors, strengthen supply chains and protect critical technological assets from being acquired or used by nation-state adversaries.
“Today, autocrats seek tactical advantage through the acquisition, use, and abuse of America’s most innovative technology. They use it to enhance their military capabilities, support mass surveillance programs that enable human rights abuses and all together undermine our values,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Using real-time intelligence and 21st century data analytics, the Disruptive Technology Strike Force will bring together the Justice and Commerce Departments’ expertise to strike back against adversaries trying to siphon off our most advanced technology, and to attack tomorrow’s national security threats today.”
“The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security remains steadfast in our coordination with our federal partners at the Department of Justice and vigilant in our enforcement of our export controls,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. “This interagency strike force will further strengthen this shared national security priority.”
“Illegally exporting sensitive technology is not an abstract economic concern — it is a crime with a direct impact on the safety of the American people,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “To be clear, adversaries are directly threatening our national security. These crimes have the potential to de-stabilize American economic security, negatively impact American businesses, and affect employment. The FBI looks forward to amplifying our collective capability to combat the threat through this strike force — a partnership that will serve as a force multiplier to the work involving each participating agency.”
The strike force will be co-led by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security.
When acquired by nation-state adversaries such as the People’s Republic of China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, advanced technologies can be used in new or novel ways to enhance their military capabilities or support mass surveillance programs that enable human rights abuses. End users of national security concern seek technologies, including those related to supercomputing and exascale computing, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing equipment and materials, quantum computing, and biosciences. Although they have important commercial uses, technologies in these fields can threaten U.S. national security when used by adversaries for disruptive purposes, such as improving calculations in weapons design and testing; improving the speed and accuracy of military or intelligence decision-making; and breaking or developing unbreakable encryption algorithms that protect sensitive communications and classified information.
“The Disruptive Technology Strike Force takes aim at those who imperil our national security and the rule of law by illegally transferring sensitive technologies to foreign adversaries,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen. “We must remain vigilant in enforcing export control laws, which defend military readiness, preserve our technological superiority over our adversaries, and help to protect human rights and democratic values.”
“Advances in technology have the potential to alter the world’s balance of power,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “This strike force is designed to protect U.S. national security by preventing those sensitive technologies from being used for malign purposes.”
The strike force’s work will focus on investigating and prosecuting criminal violations of export laws; enhancing administrative enforcement of U.S. export controls; fostering partnerships with the private sector; leveraging international partnerships to coordinate law enforcement actions and disruption strategies; utilizing advanced data analytics and all-source intelligence to develop and build investigations; conducting regular trainings for field offices; and strengthening connectivity between the strike force and the Intelligence Community.
In addition to the National Security Division and the Bureau of Industry and Security, this strike force will be comprised of officials from designated U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“HSI remains committed to our interagency partners and will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the American people to ensure sensitive technologies and proprietary information do not fall into the hands of our adversaries,” said Acting Executive Associate Director Steve Francis of Homeland Security Investigations.
The strike force will operate in 12 metropolitan regions across the United States, with oversight and support from the local U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City (Southern and Eastern Districts of New York), San Jose, California, Phoenix, Portland, Oregon, and the Washington, D.C. region (District of Columbia and the Eastern District of Virginia).
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Alaska School District Concerning Discriminatory Seclusion and Restraint PracticesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with the Anchorage School District in Anchorage, Alaska, to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities. The settlement, which resolves the department’s investigation under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), will protect students with disabilities by eliminating seclusion and prohibiting discriminatory restraints.
The department’s investigation concluded that the district repeatedly and inappropriately secluded and restrained students with disabilities in violation of Title II. Despite state law and the district’s own policy, and contrary to generally accepted practice, the district did not limit its use of restraint and seclusion to emergency situations. Rather, the district used restraint and seclusion to address noncompliant student behavior, resulting in students missing large amounts of instructional time. Additionally, some students subjected to seclusion engaged in self-harm and expressed suicidal ideation.
“When schools use seclusion and improper restraints as the default method of managing the behavior of students with disabilities, they violate the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This agreement will help safeguard the civil rights of students with disabilities and ensure that the district adheres to policies that are equity-focused, child-centered and trauma-informed. The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously investigate allegations of discrimination on the basis of disability in public schools and focus on the practice of seclusion. In districts across the country, we have seen seclusion used against students with disabilities as an improper crisis response and in ways that escalate student behavior and can lead to self-harm.”
The district fully cooperated throughout the investigation, and before the investigation was completed began to re-evaluate its practices. Under the agreement, the district will, among other steps:
- Eliminate the use of seclusion at all district schools before the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year;
- Ensure students are only restrained when their behavior poses an imminent danger of serious physical harm to the student or another person, and properly document all restraints;
- Provide students who are restrained or secluded with required interventions and supports to prevent future incidents requiring such an emergency response;
- Create classroom management plans for specialized programs serving students with disabilities that will promote and reinforce positive behaviors and guide staff in employing appropriate de-escalation techniques, thereby discouraging the use of restraint;
- Ensure parents/guardians are aware they can file a complaint with the district regarding the use of restraint and seclusion;
- Deliver appropriate training to help schools implement the agreement;
- Provide counseling and compensatory education to students who were repeatedly secluded; and
- Appoint an administrator to monitor the district’s restraint practices (and seclusion until that practice is prohibited) to ensure compliance with this agreement and assist district staff in providing required interventions and supports.
Enforcement of Title II of the ADA is a priority of the Civil Rights Division. This agreement is the most recent in a series of division settlements to address and prevent unlawful seclusion and restraint of students with disabilities in public schools. On Dec. 20, 2022, for example, the division reached a settlement with the Okaloosa County School District in Florida to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities. The division reached similar agreements in September 2022 with the Cedar Rapids Community School District in Iowa, in December 2021 with the Frederick Public School District in Maryland and in December 2020 with the North Gibson School Corporation in Indiana.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the Educational Opportunities Section’s work is available at https://www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section. To learn more about the section’s work under the ADA to combat improper seclusion in schools, visit this website: https://www.justice.gov/schoolseclusion.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
Justice Department Announces over $200 Million in Investments in State Crisis InterventionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today 49 awards to states, territories, and the District of Columbia as part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program. This investment of over $231 million will fund state crisis intervention court proceedings, including but not limited to, extreme risk protection order (ERPO) programs that work to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others. This investment in community safety is authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, historic legislation to address and reduce gun violence.
“The Justice Department is working relentlessly to protect communities from violent crime and the gun violence that often drives it, and the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program is an important part of that effort,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These awards will support the kinds of crisis intervention programs that we know save lives and help protect children, families, and communities across the country from senseless acts of gun violence.”
“The Department of Justice’s strategy to reduce violent crime and gun violence includes prioritizing support for successful, evidence-based programs,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The grants announced today invest in and highlight proven state and local violence prevention and intervention programs, that will make our communities safer.”
“The nearly $8 million dollar grant awarded to the Michigan State Police will help to address the factors that lead to gun violence and protect our communities from being victimized by gun crime, said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “I am delighted to announce this award and remain committed to doing everything we can to reach our goal of preventing gun violence.”
These awards, administered by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), provide funding to states for the creation and implementation of extreme risk protection order programs, state crisis intervention court proceedings, and related gun violence reduction initiatives. Extreme risk protection order programs empower family members, health care providers, school officials and law enforcement officers to petition a court to temporarily prevent a person from accessing firearms if they are found to be a danger to themselves or others. Funds can also support interventions like drug, mental health and veterans’ treatment courts, gun violence recovery courts, behavior health deflection and outpatient treatment centers.
“Protecting communities from gun crime is an urgent public safety challenge and a critical part of the Justice Department’s work to ensure that everyone in this country can live free from the fear of violence,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The resources we are announcing today will give communities the tools they need to prevent firearm violence and deliver support to those who are at risk of committing or being victimized by gun crime.”
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also seeks to ensure that extreme risk protection order laws and programs are implemented in accordance with the Constitution and provide for adequate due process protections. Projects funded under this program will need to demonstrate that they have taken measures to safeguard the constitutional rights of an individual subject to a crisis intervention program or ERPO initiative. The Justice Department has long supported state efforts to increase the use of ERPOs and in 2021 the Department released model legislation to help states create their own extreme risk protection order systems and provide for intervention before warning signs turn into tragedy.
Signed into law by President Biden in June 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is the most significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in almost three decades and comes as a response to recent mass shootings and to the far more common, but no less tragic, incidents of community gun violence. Including the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, the law allocates a total of $1.4 billion to OJP over five years to develop, implement, and sustain meaningful investments in safer communities.
“These awards will help meet two monumental public safety challenges — the alarming proliferation of gun violence in our country and the clear need for front-end interventions to slow the cycle of violence and victimization in our most underserved communities,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “The Bureau of Justice Assistance is proud to make these resources available to states as a critical part of its mission to reduce and prevent crime and to promote a fair and effective criminal justice system.”
For a full list of awards, please visit: https://data.ojp.usdoj.gov/stories/s/O-BJA-2023-171458/b5xz-as5z/. These awards are the latest effort from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs to implement this historic legislation.
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Jury Convicts Kansas Men for Violent Kidnapping in Wyandotte CountyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal jury convicted two Kansas men of kidnapping, drug, and gun charges in connection with the 2019 torture of a victim in Kansas City, Kansas.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, David Carr, 36, of Kansas City, and James Michael Poterbin, 46, of Edwardsville, supplied methamphetamine that was sold in the Kansas City metropolitan area. In April 2019, Carr and Poterbin kidnapped the boyfriend of a woman whom they mistakenly believed had stolen drug money from them.
Carr and Poterbin bound the victim with zip-ties and duct-taped a shirt to his head, pistol-whipped him multiple times, smashed his fingers and beat him with a blunt object, shot him in the legs, and forced a co-conspirator to stab him in the leg. They then wrapped him in plastic and left him alone in the house. During the torture, Carr and Poterbin used the victim’s phone to contact his girlfriend and demand money in exchange for his release.
A few days after the victim was released, Carr ordered a co-conspirator to burn the house to the ground, which he did.
A jury found Carr and Poterbin guilty of kidnapping, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and discharging a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.
Sentencing hearings are scheduled for Carr and Poterbin on May 1, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively, before U.S. District Judge Julie A. Robinson. They each face a maximum of penalty of life imprisonment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department investigated the case. The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department investigated the arson and has provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan J. Huschka and D. Christopher Oakley are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania presented the indictment to a grand jury and prepared the case for trial.
OCDETF Strike Force Cases
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The Kansas City Metro Strike Force’s mission also includes targeting violent street gangs and cartel members operating in and around the metropolitan area that are engaged in violent offenses and firearms offenses.
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Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
According to court documents, Courtney Lamar Forbes, 33, was found in possession of a firearm by a Jackson Police Officer on March 18, 2022. Forbes has multiple prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Forbes to possess any firearm.
On July 6, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Forbes for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Forbes will be sentenced on May 12, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jackson Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Terrill.
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.
Inola Man and Tulsa Man Plead Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Two men pleaded guilty this week in federal court to child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Eli Cooper Cailler, 24, of Inola, pleaded guilty on Feb. 16, 2023, to possession of child pornography and receipt of child pornography. In his plea agreement, Cailler stated that he possessed, accessed and received child sexual abuse material. The material included an extensive number of photographs and videos of minors under the age of 12. He further stated that he possessed the images on his own electronic devices, which no one else had access to and that he received the visual depictions using Google Drive and the dark web. The Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Paisner is prosecuting the case.
Mikaili Diwani Cohn, 25, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty on Feb. 13, 2023, to receipt and distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and failure to register as a sex offender. The investigation was initiated after Cohn failed to update his sex offender registry with his new Tulsa address. When he was located, U.S. Probation officials arrested Cohn and confiscated his phone. Homeland Security Investigations agents later discovered child sexual abuse material on the phone. In his plea agreement, Cohn admitted to possessing and distributing three child pornography videos via Kik from May 26, 2022, through July 12, 2022. At least one of the videos depicted a child under the age of 12. Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Jiang and Valeria G. Luster are prosecuting the case.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing Weapon at FCI BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Matthew Jackson, 27, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley, pleaded guilty today to possession of a weapon by an inmate of a federal prison.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 3, 2022, a FCI Beckley staff member conducted a pat-down search of Jackson and found a handcrafted weapon commonly known as a “shank” in Jackson’s underwear. The shank was a piece of metal, approximately 5 inches long, sharpened at one end and with a cloth handle on the other end fashioned from an institution-issued t-shirt. Jackson admitted to possessing the shank, and further admitted that it was designed and intended to be used as a weapon..
Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 2, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-232.
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Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 292 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Benjamin J. Hicks III, 42 years old, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on his plea of guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Hicks was sentenced to 292 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in May 2019, Hicks agreed with others to buy methamphetamine in California to bring back to the Midwest for distribution. Hicks provided the cash while his co-conspirators flew to California, obtained more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, and loaded it into a car. Hicks stayed in contact with the drivers of the car as they transported the methamphetamine across the country, but the car was stopped by law enforcement in Missouri and the methamphetamine was discovered.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Mishawaka Police Department, the St. Joseph County Drug Investigations Unit, the Indiana State Police, and the Missouri State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
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Hopkins County Company Guilty of Aiding and Abetting Document FraudRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Sulphur Springs company has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
4TMFG, LLC, pleaded guilty to a felony, aiding and abetting document fraud, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson on Feb. 15, 2023.
According to information presented in court, 4T MFG is a company with common ownership and leadership related to trailer manufacturer Load Trail. In 2018, a search warrant executed at Load Trail revealed multiple employees with immigration documentation that was either misleading or fraudulent. During the search, federal agents verified that 4T MFG employed individuals who lacked legal authorization to work in the United States. At least 18 individuals had resident alien cards that had been forged, counterfeited, altered, falsely made, procured by means of false claim or statement, and otherwise unlawfully obtained in violation of federal law.
4TMFG, LLC, along with Load Trail, has agreed to pay forfeiture of $5 million. Two prior CEOs of 4T MFG also are charged with misdemeanors for violating federal law regarding the unlawful employment of aliens. Those individuals, Cornelio Thiessen, 52, of Honey Grove, and Kevin Hiebert, 39, of Honey Grove, face up to six months in federal prison at sentencing.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McClendon.
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Hocking County man sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children as young as 3 years oldRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Logan, Ohio, man was sentenced in federal court here today to 540 months for producing child pornography of a three-year-old child and possessing thousands of images of child sexual abuse, some of which depicted other minor children to whom the defendant had access.
Robert Gemienhardt, 37, was charged federally in April 2022, along with his significant other Carrie Daniels, 41, for their child exploitation offenses. Daniels has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography and awaits sentencing.
“All child exploitation crimes are serious and create lasting effects on the victims and their families. Gemienhardt’s conduct – the grooming and sexual abuse of the minor victims in this case – is particularly heinous,” U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker said. “He earned every bit of his sentence to multiple decades in federal prison.”
More than 1,000 images and 350 videos depicting child sexual abuse were ultimately recovered from Gemienhardt’s digital media devices, some of which depicted minors as young as toddler age engaged in oral sex, masturbation, bestiality and sexual acts with adults.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip from Kik messenger regarding Gemienhardt’s online child exploitation activities. The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office then began investigating the allegations.
Subsequent search warrants executed by the Hocking County Sherriff’s Office, in conjunction with the FBI, revealed that Gemienhardt and Daniels were acting together and produced child pornography through the grooming and sexual abuse of minor victims they had access to between April and June of 2020.
Gemienhardt and Daniels exchanged thousands of illicit text messages detailing their sexual fantasies about the minor victims. Those text messages further revealed both Gemienhardt and Daniels had plans to act out some of the detailed fantasies by sexually abusing the minors. Daniels also distributed images she created of the sexual abuse of minors to Gemienhardt.
Gemienhardt is a registered sex offender from a prior Franklin County conviction in July 2021. He pleaded guilty in his current federal case in September 2022.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Hocking County Sheriff Lanny E. North announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
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Hate-fueled Robbery and Kidnapping Spree Ends in Federal Convictions for Miami ManRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A 21-year-old Miami man who carjacked, kidnapped, and robbed five victims has pled guilty in South Florida federal court to 17 counts of violence. Stevenson Charles faces up to life in prison.
As part of his guilty plea, Charles admitted that from October 23 to November 6, 2022, he targeted gay men on Grindr, a social networking application for gay and bisexual people. In October 2022, Charles invited a man he met online to Charles’s Miami home for sex. After the man arrived, Charles pulled a gun on him. Charles then had the victim drive to two automated teller machines, withdraw over $1,000, and give it to him.
The following month, Charles invited a man he met on Grindr to a Miami location for sex. When the man arrived, Charles pulled a gun on him and demanded his cellular telephone. Charles scrolled through the pictures on the victim’s phone, some of which showed the victim with other men. Charles hit the victim with a gun several times, saying that he would kill everyone like the victim. Then, Charles forced the man to drive him to retail pharmacy stores, where Charles purchased items with the victim’s credit card.
Also, in November 2022, Charles met a different man on Grindr and arranged to meet him in Dania Beach for sex. Once there, Charles pulled a gun on the man and told him that he hated gay people and believed they should be punished. Charles forced the victim to drive to a home in Aventura, where the victim had been living with a couple. When they arrived, Charles pointed a gun at the couple and demanded money from them. Charles then forced the group into the victim’s car and instructed them to drive to automated teller machines, withdraw over $1,500, and give it to him.
Charles had the group drive back to the Aventura home, where he stole the couple’s phones. Charles left with the man he had met on Grindr, instructing the victim to drive to their initial meeting spot in Dania Beach. When they neared a secluded area by some railroad tracks, Charles shot the man several times, including once in the head. Despite the injuries, the victim was able to call 911 and survived. Law enforcement officers located Charles in Georgia and arrested him.
U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck will sentence Charles on April 24, in Miami. Charles faces up to life in prison and may be subject to a hate crime enhancement under the federal sentencing guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and acting Special Agent in Charge Maged Behnam of FBI Miami announced the conviction.
This was a joint investigation between the FBI Miami Field Office, the City of Miami Police Department, the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Aventura Police Department, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elena Smukler and Dayron Silverio of the Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting 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.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-20596.
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Grand Rapids Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing and Selling GunsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced today that Anthony Darnell Patterson, 29, of Grand Rapids was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for illegally possessing and selling guns. Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou also ordered Patterson to spend three years on supervised release following his confinement.
“My office is committed to improving the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We will continue to get guns off of our streets by prosecuting the unlawful possession of firearms and disrupting networks of illegal gun sales.”
On four occasions between October and December 2021, Patterson—a convicted felon with a history of drug and firearm convictions—sold or coordinated the sale of guns, for cash, to a confidential informant working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (“ATF”). Several of those firearms had been reported stolen. The ATF also determined, based on ballistics analyses, that two of the guns Patterson sold were involved in shootings in Grand Rapids in October 2020 and July 2021.
In announcing Patterson’s sentence, Chief Judge Jarbou noted that Patterson’s conduct contributed to an “epidemic of guns.” Chief Judge Jarbou said that the “action of selling guns to people that should not have them quickly and automatically leads to violent incidents.” Chief Judge Jarbou also said that those who sell guns are “perpetrators of the violent acts” that their buyers commit.
“Today’s sentencing is an important component to the reduction in violent firearms related crimes,” said, Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, “We are proud of the collaborative effort with the U.S. Attorney’s office, our federal, state of Michigan, and local partners ultimately protecting our communities from violent threats.”
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
ATF investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Townshend prosecuted it.
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Former Wethersfield Resident Pleads Guilty to Meth, Fentanyl and Cocaine Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and Wethersfield Police Chief Rafael Medina, announced that SHANE J. SAWICKI, 28, formerly of Wethersfield, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that Sawicki was connected to a drug trafficking organization in Illinois that was coordinating the sale and shipment of Xanax and crystal methamphetamine from California, and that he was receiving mailed packages containing Farmapram, which is a Mexican brand of alprazolam (Xanax). In April 2022, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of a package that was mailed from California to Sawicki’s Wethersfield address. The package contained two bottles containing a total of 180 Farmapram pills. Investigators also identified four similar parcels that had been mailed to Sawicki’s address prior to April 2022.
On April 29, 2022, investigators conducted a court authorized search of Sawicki’s apartment and seized thousands counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, a small quantity of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, a distribution quantity of cocaine, numerous other bags and containers of assorted pills of different colors and shapes, a container of MDMA, and three bottles of Farmapram pills. A subsequent search of Sawicki’s cell phone revealed photographs of large quantities of pills, a large amount of U.S. currency, and numerous text message conversations regarding the sale of illicit substances.
Sawicki was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 7, 2022. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea on May 17.
Sawicki is released on a $100,000 bond and residing in Farmington pending sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Wethersfield Police Department. The DEA 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.
Former Oregon Dentist Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Millions in Covid-Relief Funds and Illegally Distributing Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A former Oregon dentist was sentenced to federal prison today for attempting to steal more $170 million in Covid-relief funds and illegally distributing thousands of doses of prescription drugs.
Salwan Wesam Adjaj, 44, of West Linn, Oregon, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay more than $10.5 million in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and multiple private lenders.
“Salwan Adjaj’s crimes showed both his indifference to those enduring the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and his disregard for the health and safety of those to whom he unlawfully dispensed prescription drugs. We appreciate all the investigative agencies that worked diligently to uncover Adjaj’s crimes and build the two criminal cases that brought him to justice,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
“Our investigative efforts will expose criminal activity that spans SBA’s programs,” said Weston King, Western Region Special Agent in Charge of the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG). “This sentence demonstrates that those who defraud the nation’s vital economic programs will be held accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration aggressively pursues those who misuse IRS online systems to further fraudulent schemes and those who fraudulently obtain relief from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and its Paycheck Protection Program,” said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. “We appreciate the efforts of our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure this criminal activity is held to account.”
“Salwan Adjaj executed an elaborate ruse to take advantage of federal emergency assistance in a time when so many businesses were struggling to stay afloat. Even after several fraudulent loan applications were denied, Adjaj’s greed grew. He made up businesses, lied about employees and in the end stole more than 11 million dollars of Covid relief funds,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will continue to find those who commit pandemic-related fraud and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
According to court documents, beginning no later than September 2020 and continuing until at least May 2021, Adjaj submitted dozens of fraudulent loan applications to SBA in an attempt to obtain Economic Impact Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. The EIDL and PPP programs were among several economic relief programs originally authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). They enabled SBA to issue low-interest loans to small businesses adversely impacted by the pandemic and associated mitigation measures.
Adjaj used the names and employer identification numbers (EIN) of fictitious business entities on his fraudulent applications. He further provided false information about the business start dates, number of employees, and locations, and the identities of the purported applicants and business owners. Most of the fraudulent applications were submitted in other peoples’ names, but with Adjaj’s personal residence as the business mailing address. In the spring of 2021, Adjaj purchased a collection of stolen identities online and began using the personally identifiable information acquired to register dozens of straw companies and obtain additional EIN.
After SBA rejected most of Adjaj’s initial EIDL applications, he began focusing primarily on the PPP program as well as on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), a pandemic relief program authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support restaurants, bars, and other food- and drink-related businesses. Adjaj had substantially greater success stealing PPP and RRF funds than he did EIDL. In May 2021, Adjaj submitted three RRF applications for restaurants allegedly located Sarasota, Miami, and Daytona Beach, Florida. Like his fraudulent EIDL and PPP applications, Adjaj’s RRF applications contained false business information and all listed his personal residence as the business mailing address.
In total, Adjaj submitted more than 100 fraudulent Covid-relief program applications, stole the identities of more than 40 victims, and caused the SBA to pay out more than $11.5 million in loans, grants, and associated lender fees. Adjaj used the stolen funds to speculate in stocks and cryptocurrencies through online brokerage accounts. He continued this speculation with stolen funds even after his arrest and purported cooperation with the government.
For at least four years prior to engaging in Covid-relief program fraud, Adjaj also knowingly and intentionally distributed and possessed with intent to distribute thousands of doses of prescription drugs. In August 2020, investigators from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office searched Adjaj’s dental practice and home and found a wide array of Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances, including Tramadol, anabolic steroids, injectable testosterone, Phendimetrazine, Diazepam, Alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam, Carisoprodol (Soma), and Zolpidem.
Further investigation by DEA and the Oregon Board of Dentistry (OBOD) revealed that Adjaj used his position as a dentist and DEA registration numbers to obtain some of the drugs acquired from a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Adjaj obtained additional drugs, including steroids and human growth hormone, from the dark web. All the drugs acquired were distributed by Adjaj without a legitimate medical purpose. Shortly after searching his residence and dental practice, the OBOD issued an emergency order suspending Adjaj’s dental license.
On October 14, 2021, Adjaj was charged by criminal complaint with aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. Later, on July 13, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted him on the same charges.
On June 23, 2022, Adjaj was charged by criminal information with distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Three weeks later, on July 13, 2022, he pleaded guilty to the single drug charge.
On September 13, 2022, Adjaj pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Adjaj’s Covid-relief fraud case was investigated by TIGTA, SBA OIG, FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan W. Bounds. His drug case was investigated by DEA, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, and OBOD and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter D. Sax.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former High School Dean Charged with MurderRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Keechant Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today that a grand jury in Manhattan federal court returned a Superseding Indictment charging ISRAEL GARCIA a/k/a “Shorty Rock,” the former leader of the Get Money Gunnaz set of the Young Gunnaz street gang (the “GMG YGz”) with murder in aid of racketeering and other charges in connection with the October 11, 2010, murder of Alfonso “Joey” McClinton. GARCIA and 12 others had previously been charged in July 2021 with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics and with possessing firearms during that conspiracy in connection with their involvement with the GMG YGz.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a former high school dean, Israel Garcia was trusted with guiding children towards a bright future, but we allege that Garcia himself was participating in the drug trafficking activity that a high school dean should be protecting his students from. In addition, as alleged, the defendant shot and murdered Alfonso McClinton as part of the defendant’s gang membership and drug dealing. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to weed out violent gang activity from every corner of our community.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “This superseding indictment exemplifies law enforcement’s commitment to bringing justice to victims of violent crime. I commend the dedicated agents, detectives, and prosecutors whose dogged work led to murder charges for Israel Garcia, one of the leaders of the Young Gunnaz.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “The NYPD and our law enforcement partners ceaselessly pursue all violent criminals who terrorize our neighborhoods. True to form, our officers were relentless in investigating this murder – despite it occurring more than a decade ago – to ensure that all of those allegedly involved are held responsible. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, and all who sought justice for this victim and his family.”
As alleged in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in federal and New York state court:[1]
For more than a decade, the defendant controlled the sale of narcotics in the vicinity of East 184th Street and Morris Avenue in the Bronx as the leader of the GMG YGz. As part of their narcotics operation, GMG YGz members carried firearms and engaged in back-and-forth shootings with neighboring, rival crews. This violence resulted in, among other acts, the 2010 murder of Alfonso “Joey” McClinton (“McClinton”). The State of New York arrested and prosecuted GMG YGz member Joseph (“Juice”) Johnson for the killing.[2] Ballistics, video evidence, and eyewitness testimony, however, reveal that there was a second shooter involved in Mr. McClinton’s murder. Today’s Indictment charges GARCIA with being that second shooter.
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GARCIA, 32, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with (i) murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; (ii) narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison; (iii) murder while engaged in a narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison; (iv) murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison; (v) firearms use, carrying, and possession in connection with a drug trafficking crime, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed; (vi) witness tampering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and (vii) conspiracy to commit witness tampering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the DEA, the NYPD, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. This prosecution 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.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maggie Lynaugh, Micah Fergenson, Jacob Gutwillig, Matthew Hellman, and Kaylan Lasky are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
[2] Johnson was convicted at trial of second-degree murder in The People of the State of New York v. Joseph Johnson, Index Number 4311/2010. On February 3, 2022, the verdict against Johnson was vacated. Johnson subsequently pled guilty to manslaughter and is serving a 17-year sentence.
Former Direct Support Professional Sentenced for Financial Exploitation of Three District Vulnerable AdultsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Joseph Oluwatobi Adebanwo, 26, of Laurel, Maryland, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today to 90 days in prison, suspended, three years of probation and $1,700 restitution on one misdemeanor count of exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Inspector General for the District of Columbia Daniel W. Lucas.
According to the information presented in court, Adebanwo admitted that on or about July 29, 2021, while employed as a Direct Support Professional for the Community Living Services Program at the National Children’s Center (NCC), he made three separate ATM withdrawals totaling $1,700 dollars from the bank accounts of three vulnerable adults under NCC’s care. The funds in the victims’ bank accounts were intended to support their personal needs. Adebanwo did so without the victims’ knowledge and used the monies for his own benefit. Upon discovery, NCC reimbursed the victims’ bank accounts, leaving it at a financial loss.
Adebanwo entered his guilty plea in the U.S. Superior Court for the District of Columbia and was sentenced by the Honorable Peter Krauthamer.
This matter was initially reported to the District’s Department of Disability Services and subsequently investigated by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated and prosecuted the case from the Office of Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Facci, on detail from the Office of the Inspector General, who prosecuted the case.
Former Correctional Officer Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Accepting A Bribe to Smuggle A Cellphone into Dauphin County PrisonRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Addie Reid, age 27, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Sylvia Rambo for accepting a bribe in exchange for smuggling a cellphone into the Dauphin County Prison.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Reid was a correctional officer at the Dauphin County Prison when caught in an undercover sting operation conducted by local and federal law enforcement. On September 13, 2019, Reid accepted $2,000 in cash from an undercover police officer who was purportedly a family member of an inmate who wanted a cellular telephone smuggled into the prison. After he accepted the cash, police arrested Reid. On April 11, 2022, Reid entered a guilty plea to the federal offense of using a means in interstate communication to commit the crime of bribery.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Consiglio is prosecuting the case.
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Former Beulah Bank President Sentenced to Two Counts of Bank FraudRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on February 15, 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Brady Daniel Torgerson, age 35, from Beulah, North Dakota, to serve 24 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and $200.00 special assessment. On November 4, 2022, law enforcement arrested Torgerson for these offenses and, on August 12, 2022, Torgerson pleaded guilty to two separate counts of bank fraud against financial institutions located in Beulah, North Dakota, namely, First Security Bank-West and the Union Bank.
Between 2019 and 2021, while employed at separate times as the President of First Security Bank-West and as a loan officer at the Union Bank, Torgerson conducted banking transactions, which caused harm to both these banks and the banks’ individual customers. Specifically, while employed at First Security Bank-West, Torgerson funded loans without obtaining: 1) necessary financial information; 2) security interest documents; or 3) promissory notes. Additionally, Torgerson engaged in deceptive banking transactions by entering false information into the bank’s computer system, increasing loans so that they exceeded the original loan amounts, and extending loan maturity dates to conceal his activities. Most notably, while employed at the Union Bank, Torgerson created fraudulent loan obligations in the amounts of $225,487.44 and
$225,487.45 in the names of three separate individuals who neither knew about the creation of these loans nor received the funds described in these obligations.“Bank fraud is a serious crime that harms the honest financial institutions we have in North Dakota,” US Attorney Mac Schneider said. “This sentence is a credit to the skillful efforts of our career prosecutors and partners in law enforcement. It is also a reminder that there is a high price to pay for white-collar crime.”
“The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) continues to investigate allegations of fraud by bank executives and others in order to preserve the integrity of the banking system,” said Justin Bundy, Special Agent in Charge of the FDIC-OIG Kansas City Regional Office. “We are proud to have joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, as well as our law enforcement partners in conducting this investigation.”
“We are committed to investigating allegations of fraud committed against the Federal Home Loan Banks or their members, especially in cases where we find flagrant criminal conduct by officials at member banks,” said Catherine Huber, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Housing Finance Agency-Office of Inspector General’s (FHFA-OIG) Central Region Office. “Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota and our federal partners for helping us bring swift justice in this case.”
Co-Defendants for this investigation received the following sentences:
• Brent D. Torgerson (61 years old from Beulah, ND) received a sentence of time served (1 day in custody), 1-year supervised release, $5,000 fine, and a ban from participating in banking on a charge of Misapplication of Bank Funds
• Kelly Huffman (34 years old, from Beulah, ND) received a sentence of time served (1 day in custody), 1-year supervised release, and a $5,000 fine on a charge of Misapplication of Bank Funds
• Tyler Steven Hofland (35 years old, Rapid City, SD) received a sentence of time served (1 day of processing), 1-year of supervised release, and $98,163.40 in restitution on a charge of Aiding and Abetting Bank FraudThis case was investigated by the FDIC-OIG, the FHFA-OIG, and the Federal Reserve Board-Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek.
######Former Active-Duty Soldier sentenced to 22 years in prison for child sex trafficking, producing child pornography, and traveling to the Philippines to sexually assault young childrenRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A former Staff Sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 22 years in prison for sex trafficking children, producing images of child sexual abuse, and traveling to sexually abuse children. Moeun Yoeun, 40, of Steilacoom, Washington, pleaded guilty in August 2022, admitting that young girls in the Philippines were threatened with death if they refused his sexual assaults. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle called the crimes “vicious, heinous, and cruel.”
“Mr. Yoeun weaponized his position of trust as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Army, to sexually exploit and cause irreversible trauma to impoverished girls in the Philippines,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “He cruelly threatened their lives if they tried to flee from his violent sexual assaults. This lengthy sentence is necessary to deter Mr. Yoeun and others who prey on children.”
In his plea agreement, Yoeun admitted to, over the course of several years, using adult and child residents of the Philippines to recruit more than a dozen other children to produce pornography. Yoeun further admitted to travelling to the Philippines and engaging in sexual acts with at least 6 children in exchange for nominal amounts of money.
Prosecutors cited numerous studies showing the long-term damage suffered by child sex abuse victims, concluding, ”[f]urther research only confirmed and expanded upon this emerging understanding of these insidious effects of childhood sexual trauma. Studies now tell us that the numerous child victims in this case, as a direct consequence of the Defendant’s violent sexual attacks, will face an elevated risk of alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, sexual promiscuity, and suicide.”
Yoeun will be required to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison and will be on federal supervision for 15 years.
The FBI and U.S. Army CID, with the assistance of the Philippine National Police, investigated this case as part of the South Sound Child Exploitation Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Grady J. Leupold and Matthew P. Hampton.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States 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.justice.gov/psc
Former Account Manager for Two Churches in Belleville Sentenced for Embezzling FundsRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A U.S. District Court judge sentenced a Freeburg woman to 15 months in prison after she admitted to committing bank fraud while employed by St. Teresa and St. Luke Catholic parishes in Belleville.
Michelle N. Miller, 45, pled guilty to one count of falsely obtaining money owned by a financial institution. In addition to her prison sentence, she will receive two years of supervised release and is ordered to pay $153,940.38 in restitution.
“The defendant selfishly chose to put herself and her greed over the needs of the students, parishioners and the religious community at St. Teresa and St. Luke,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “She decided to embezzle more than $150,000 from her employer, friends and neighbors. It’s shameful, and I’m relieved she was brought to justice.”
“The U.S. Secret Service and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying, investigating, and pursuing those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means,” said Stephen Webster, the Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service. “We are proud of our partnerships with the federal, state, and local agencies who work collectively to hold this individual accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, Miller worked from September 2017 to February 2020 as a business manager for St. Teresa Catholic Church as well as St. Luke Catholic Church. During her time as an employee, she was an authorized signatory on both bank accounts and wrote numerous checks payable to herself. In total, she stole an estimated $153,940.38. To conceal her fraud, Miller forged signatures and made false bookkeeping entries.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Belleville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed.
Florida man sentenced for manslaughter, assault on the Laguna PuebloRead 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 Alexis Riego was sentenced to 70 months in prison and a five thousand dollar fine. A federal jury convicted Riego, 50, of Merritt Island, Florida, on Sept. 28, 2022, of four counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury committed in 2019.
According to the indictment and other court records, on Sept. 7, 2019, Riego, a commercial motor vehicle driver, recklessly crashed into a line of stationary traffic in a construction zone on Interstate 40 within the Laguna Pueblo. At the time of the crash, Mr. Riego was speeding and using his cellular telephone. The crash caused a six-car pile-up that killed four people and seriously injured two. The crash caused the closure of interstate 40 for several hours.
“When we take the wheel, we take on a collective responsibility for the families who share our highways,” said United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez. “The consequences for failing in that responsibility are grave and irrevocable. While this sentence will not restore the lives that were lost, it serves as a sobering reminder that a moment on video chat can forever change your life, and end the lives of others.”
“The impact of Mr. Riego’s reckless decisions and actions will remain for a long time,” said Raul Bujanda, FBI Special Agent in Charge. “I would like to commend our partners at the Laguna Police Department, New Mexico State Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for working with us to investigate this crime and bringing justice to the victims and their loved ones.”
Upon his release from prison, Riego will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Police Department and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph M. Spindle, Elisa Dimas and Matthew Nelson are prosecuting the case.
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Five Idaho Men Indicted for Distribution of Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
BOISE – A federal grand jury in Boise returned an eight-count indictment on February 15, 2023, charging five Idaho men with distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to do the same, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
The indictment alleges that:
- Ernesto Antonio Diaz Gaspar, 32, of Boise, distributed fentanyl to another person on four different occasions, distributed methamphetamine to another person on two different occasions, and conspired to do the same;
- Hector Manual Ojeda Aponte, 42, of Meridian, distributed methamphetamine to another person on two different occasions and aided and abetted in its distribution;
- Jose DeJesus Loera, 43, of Caldwell, conspired to distribute methamphetamine to another person;
- Cevin Alfonza Martinez, 29, of Boise, aided and abetted in the distribution of methamphetamine to another person; and
- Wilkin Rolando Martinez Munguia, 30, of Meridian, aided and abetted in the distribution of methamphetamine to another person.
If convicted, each of the defendants will face sentences ranging from a minimum of ten years and up to life in federal prison. Under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, Congress has eliminated parole for defendants convicted of federal crimes committed after November 1, 1987.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Nampa Police Department, and Idaho Department of Correction for the near year-long investigation and applauded the assistance received from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Marshals Service, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Boise Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Meridian Police Department, which led to the arrest of all five individuals.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Fish Hatchery Sentenced to Pay $1 Million in Fine and RestitutionRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Cordova corporation was sentenced today to a $450,000 fine, $550,000 in restitution, and 5 years of probation.
According to court documents, Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation (“PWSAC”) illegally disposed of hazardous waste at one of its hatcheries. On June 27, 2018, the maintenance manager at the Cannery Creek Hatchery instructed an employee to burn several 50-gallon drums containing hazardous waste, causing serious injury to the employee. Cannery Creek and other hatcheries had been accumulating hazardous waste for many years without an appropriate method of storage or disposal.
As part of its probation, PWSAC will follow an environmental compliance plan requiring it to prepare an environmental compliance manual and undergo site visits by a third-party auditor, among other requirements. In handing down the sentence, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason noted it was “regrettable that it took such a serious injury to bring about this change.”
“This crime caused lifelong consequences for the victim, not to mention the harmful impact to the environment,” said S. Lane Tucker, United States Attorney for the District of Alaska. “This office will continue to investigate and prosecute crimes affecting Alaska’s people and environment.”
“The defendant ignored environmental regulations for disposing of hazardous waste, resulting in an explosion on their property and injuries to their employee,” said Scot Adair of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Alaska. “EPA and its law enforcement partners are committed to holding responsible parties accountable for actions that put people’s lives and the environment in danger.”
“The health of Alaska’s National Forests depends on all of us working together to do what is right for the environment and the many who call it home,” said Alaska Region Special Agent in Charge Tim Walther of the U.S. Forest Service. “We appreciate the value our federal, state, and local partners bring to help care for the land and protect the resources our forests provide.”
The EPA Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Forest Service, and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Russell prosecuted the case.
Final Defendant in Anderson and Indianapolis Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, “Operation Glass Box,” Found Guilty on All CountsRead the Press Release
Indianapolis- A federal jury has found Charles House, 40, of Anderson, Indiana, guilty on all twelve counts, including attempting to traffic methamphetamine, trafficking in over 100 kilograms of marijuana, and illegally possessing twelve firearms.
According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, in October 2018, the Madison County Drug Task Force initiated an investigation into Charles House’s drug trafficking organization. House traveled to California to purchase narcotics and then mailed the narcotics to multiple addresses in Anderson, Indiana. The drugs were then redistributed by co-conspirators Sean Brown and Marcus Hayes-Patterson in Anderson. Tommy Compton was House’s Indianapolis source of supply for marijuana. Defendants facilitated their drug trafficking activities through the use of cellular phones and often used code words to try to conceal their illegal activities.
“Armed traffickers of deadly drugs are a menace to our communities and fuel our crisis of substance use disorders,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Anderson and Indianapolis residents are safer today because this drug trafficking organization has been dismantled and its participants are off our streets. I commend our federal and local law enforcement partners for their efforts to hold these drug dealers accountable and get their drugs and guns out of our neighborhoods.”
“Any time large amounts of illegal drugs can be removed from the streets in order to keep our communities safe, it is a win,” said FB Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “This clearly demonstrates that through agencies working together to target those engaged in drug trafficking, criminal organizations such as this can be identified and shut down.”
“Local law enforcement has had many interactions with Charles House stemming back several years,” said Chief Michael Lee of the Anderson Police Department. “We appreciate and value our relationship with the FBI, which has allowed us to remove Charles House and his criminal associates from our Anderson and Madison County communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Anderson Police Department, Madison County Drug Task Force, and Muncie Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsay Karwoski and Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case.
U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker presided over the trial. House faces up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has yet to be determined. A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Previous press release here.
Federal Prisoner in Yazoo City Pleads Guilty to Assault on a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A federal prisoner in the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City pled guilty to assault on a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca.
Michael Beasley, 49, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
According to court documents, Beasley assaulted a federal officer who was in the performance of his duties. Beasley was subsequently questioned and admitted to his illegal actions.
Beasley is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2023, and faces a sentence of up to 8 years in prison that can be consecutive to the present federal sentence he is serving. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Bureau of Prisons investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Murray and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael FiggsGanter prosecuted the case.
Federal Prison Inmate Sentenced to 24 Months After Pleading Guilty to Attempting to Obtain ContrabandRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (“FCI”) in Sandstone has been sentenced to an additional 24 months in prison for attempting to obtain contraband in prison, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and court documents, on two separate dates in February and March 2022, Nickolas William Mihelic, 39, an inmate at FCI Sandstone, attempted to obtain methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. In order to bypass security protocols, Mihelic conspired with another individual to mail pieces of paper to him at FCI Sandstone that were saturated with liquid methamphetamine. When the methamphetamine-saturated papers arrived at FCI Sandstone, Bureau of Prisons officials seized the contraband.
Mihelic was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel. Mihelic pleaded guilty on September 26, 2022, to two counts of attempting to obtain contraband in prison.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Federal Bureau of Prisons and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.
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Federal Jury Finds Minneapolis Felon Guilty of Possession of a Machinegun and Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been found guilty by a federal jury of possession of a machinegun and illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a four-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank, Marques Dwell Armstrong Jr, 28, was convicted on one count of possession of a machinegun and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, on October 12, 2021, Armstrong was found in possession of a 9mm-caliber Glock pistol, with an attached loaded high-capacity magazine and equipped with a device commonly known as a “switch” or “auto sear,” enabling it to be fired as a fully automatic machinegun. Because Armstrong has previous federal and state felony convictions, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition at any time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Bejar and Albania Concepcion tried the case.
Federal Jury Finds Convicted Felon Guilty of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – A federal jury convicted a Marshal County man on Wednesday of illegally possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the three-day trial, Charles Derryberry, 46, robbed a victim of a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol in February of 2022, and used the gun to shoot at the victim. Afterwards, Derryberry used this firearm to commit a second robbery. A few days later, on February 27, 2022, deputies with Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle with Derryberry riding in the backseat. Derryberry possessed the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol at the time of the traffic stop and attempted to hide the firearm under his seat. Law enforcement found the gun during a search of the truck and Derryberry was arrested. Records reflect that at the time Derryberry possessed the firearm, he had multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for manslaughter, burglary, and drug trafficking.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 17, 2023. Derryberry faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years imprisonment and up to life imprisonment.
”This office is committed to protecting our community from violent convicted felons like this defendant who illegally possess firearms,” stated US Attorney Clay Joyner. “We are grateful to our state and federal law enforcement partners whose hard work allowed him to be taken off the streets.”
“Investigating and prosecuting repeat offenders is another example of our commitment to fight violence and how the collaborative efforts of the federal, state, and local law enforcement can make our streets safer,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “The conviction today sends a message to individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms that we will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Stringfellow and Julie Addison 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.
Federal Jury Convicts Charleston Man of Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After three days of trial, a federal jury convicted Mark Bolling, 55, of Charleston, today of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of a firearm silencer.
Evidence at trial proved that on September 19, 2020, a law enforcement officer in Fayette County conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Bolling and recovered approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of fentanyl, a pistol magazine containing .45-caliber ammunition, and $7,000 from the vehicle.
On September 21, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bolling’s property on Keystone Drive in Charleston and seized a Rock River Arms, model LAR-15, 5.56mm rifle, a Bryco Arms, model 38, .380-caliber pistol, and a Gemtech, Model HALO, 5.56mm silencer.
The silencer was not registered to Bolling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bolling was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of prior felony convictions including possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine on September 30, 2019, and transferring and receiving stolen property on September 24, 2018, both in Kanawha County Circuit Court.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the jury trial. Bolling is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
“This offender posed a significant risk to the Kanawha County community because of his involvement in both illegal drugs and firearms,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Fayetteville Police Department for their excellent work in this case. I also commend Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles Heinrch and Steve Loew and our trial team.”
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-87.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Federal Grand Jury returned an indictment on February 7, 2023, charging a local man with distributing methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Bennie Thomas, 29, was charged with three counts of distributing methamphetamine. On October 5 and October 20, 2022, Thomas distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. On November 17, 2022, Thomas distributed 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
The defendant made an initial court appearance today before a United States Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Thomas faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh Porter.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Court Imposes Life Sentences on Man who Murdered Two, Shot a Third, and Set Crime Scene AblazeRead the Press Release
The defendant also sentenced for two other home invasion robberies.
ANCHORAGE – A federal district court judge in Alaska sentenced a Palmer man to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment. In August 2022, a federal jury convicted John Smith of 10 felony charges including two counts of murder as well as robbery, drug, and firearm related charges following an eleven-day trial. The charges relate to a series of armed robberies in 2015 and 2016 that culminated in Smith murdering two people, attempting to kill a third, and burning the crime scene.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Pearl Smith, II, 36, developed a plan to rob people he believed were involved in trafficking drugs and carried out these crimes in September 2015, May 2016 and June 2016. He carried and brandished firearms during each of the three robberies.
In 2015, Smith identified a house off Knik Goose Bay Road in Wasilla as the location of a marijuana growing operation. Smith arrived at the house with a rifle, kicked in the door, fired a shot to frighten the resident, and stole drugs, firearms and jewelry.
In May 2016, Smith identified another house in Wasilla as the residence of a drug dealer. Smith forced his way in with a rifle, restrained the occupants with duct tape, and stole valuables including heroin, cash, and a .22 caliber revolver.
In June 2016, Smith traveled to a property on Cloudy Lake in Wasilla that was owned by Ben Gross, who was in a detached garage with Crystal Denardi and a second man. Smith kicked open the door and fired warning shots into the ceiling. When Gross threw a beer bottle at Smith, he shot Gross four times, killing him.
Holding the other victims at gunpoint, Smith searched the garage for drugs or other valuables. Smith then murdered Denardi by shooting her in the back of the head. The third victim was shot in the chest and in the head while trying to escape but managed to paddle a kayak to a nearby home across Cloudy Lake. Smith poured gasoline around the bodies of the victims and set the garage on fire.
Smith was arrested on June 28, 2016. In August, investigators were able to recover the murder weapon from a marshy area off Johnson Road in Wasilla where Smith buried it after the killings.
Investigators also recovered a map to the location of the weapon that Smith had drawn while in prison. A forensic document examiner confirmed that the handwriting on the map was Smith’s.
Smith was convicted of two counts of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to drug trafficking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of attempted interference with commerce by robbery, three counts of attempted possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute, and two counts of brandishing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
“John Pearl Smith’s senseless and selfish choices caused untold harm to his victims and resulted in the tragic loss of two innocent lives.” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “This sentence ensures that Smith will never have the opportunity to harm another innocent person again.”
“This comprehensive investigation and the resulting two consecutive life sentences for Mr. Smith affirm the DEA’s commitment to hold those who traffic illegal narcotics — and use violence to further their illicit schemes—accountable for their actions,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The DEA will work relentlessly with all of our partners to protect our communities against the likes of Mr. Smith.”
“Mr. Smith’s premeditated, compounding crimes were heinous in nature,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “While this sentence will not bring the victims back to their families it is warranted for his vicious actions and will remove a clear danger from the community.”
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with extensive support from the Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Vandergaw, James Klugman, and Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Father and Son Arrested, Charged with Kidnapping Conspiracy in an Attempt to Force Their Daughter/Sister to Marry in YemenRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Khaled Abughanem, 50, and Waleed Abughanem, 32, both of Lackawanna, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to kidnap persons in a foreign country. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Maeve E. Huggins, who are handling the case, stated that according to the criminal complaint, in December 2022, the FBI began investigating the travel of an adult American citizen (Victim), who investigators believe was tricked into traveling from the Buffalo area to Yemen in an attempt to force her into an arranged marriage. The complaint states that defendant Khaled Abughanem, the Victim’s father, and her brother, Waleed Abughanem, discussed killing her if she did not abide by their wishes.
Subsequent investigation determined that in September 2021, without her family’s knowledge, the Victim traveled to Mexico. After learning where she was, the Victim’s family traveled to Mexico and physically forced her, involuntarily, to return to the United States. According to the Victim, her father stated, “she would be traveling outside the United States whether she liked it or not, or he would bury her in the backyard.” The Victim attempted to flee her residence only to find that all doors had been locked. She was also forced to withdraw as a student from the University at Buffalo, lost all access to the internet and social media, and was under constant threat of harm. The Victim was told if she did not comply and agree to an arranged marriage, she would be locked up in her home without contact with the outside world forever and her fiancé, who her family disapproved of, would be killed.
On September 17, 2021, the Victim’s fiancé called the Lackawanna Police Department stating he had not been able to contact the Victim for over a week. Lackawanna Police responded to the Abughanem residence and advised the family to contact the Victim’s fiancé. Subsequently, The Abughanem family, with the Victim, left Lackawanna and traveled to Sanaa, Yemen, where the Victim is currently being held by family. According to the Victim, her father stated that “you are no longer in the West, you are in the Middle East, women like you are killed.” The Victim stated that her father proposed a marriage for which he would be paid $500,000, but she refused, and as a result was physically assaulted. The Victim’s fiancé continued to call the Lackawanna Police, who responded to the Abughanem residence but were told the Victim is fine and to stop making welfare checks. In April 2022, some members of the family left Yemen and returned to the United States, leaving the Victim in Yemen, under the supervision of two of her brothers.
The defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and are being held pending a detention hearing on February 17, 2023.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Darren Cox, Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy. Additional assistance was provided by CPB in Boston, Massachusetts, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Detroit Man Who Threatened to “Shoot up” the Detroit Job Corps Center Pleads Guilty to Making ThreatsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit man who made phone calls threatening to kill students at the Detroit Job Corps Center pleaded guilty today to making threats in interstate commerce, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).
Elroy Knott, 24, pleaded guilty to threatening the Detroit Job Corps Center before United States District Judge Denise Page Hood. The Detroit Job Corps Center (“DJCC”) is a United States Department of Labor program that provides job training to individuals between the ages of 16-24. Besides providing free tuition, the DJCC offers room and board to students, with the majority of students residing at the campus. The DJCC houses approximately 300 students.
On April 24, and 26, 2022, Knott made multiple telephone calls to the DJCC during which he threatened to “shoot up” the place and to kill residents. He also threatened to shoot one employee in the back of the head. Following the threats on April 26, 2022, the DJCC campus was locked down for forty-eight hours, and its activities were substantially disrupted. Knott was in a relationship with one of the students at the DJCC, and he had previously made threats and been in the possession of firearms.
Knott faces a maximum of five years in prison for making the threats.
“The defendant terrorized students and staff at the Detroit Job Corps Center,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “We will not tolerate such conduct, and we will do everything in our power to protect schools from the threat of violence.”
“Threats to terrorize the safety of our community will never be acceptable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, “ATF will remain vigilant in our commitment to public safety, whether by threat or actions, we will collaborate with the U.S. Attorney’s office, our federal, state, and local partners to bring those responsible to justice.”
“Elroy Knott threatened to harm Job Corps students and staff. His conduct caused significant disruption to learning at the Detroit Job Corps. Ensuring that Job Corps students can learn in a safe environment is a high priority for the Department of Labor. The Office of Inspector General will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who threaten DOL students, employees, and contractors,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, DOL-OIG.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the Detroit Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosemary Wummel Gardey.
Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Eddie E. Kellom, also known as “Ace,” 23, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kellom admitted to selling quantities of fentanyl to confidential informants in Raleigh County on four separate occasions between May 21, 2021, and November 1, 2021.
On January 11, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Kellom in Putnam County. The officers found approximately 250 grams of fentanyl in the vehicle. Kellom admitted that he had traveled from Michigan with the fentanyl and planned to distribute it in the Southern District of West Virginia.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted 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 No. 5:22-cr-31.
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Customer Service Rep Charged with Stealing over $1.1 Million from Bank CustomersRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury has returned a sixteen-count indictment charging Ashley Miller, 36, of Akron, Ohio, with four counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and four counts of aggravated identity theft related to her involvement in a scheme to steal approximately $1.1 million from U.S. Bank customers.
According to court records, from May 2021 to October 2021, the defendant was employed as a customer service agent for Dial American, a third-party vendor for U.S. Bank contracted to do various customer service duties over the telephone.
Court documents state that during this timeframe, Miller allegedly devised a scheme to obtain funds from U.S. Bank customers by changing an account holder’s original mailing address for debit cards issued by U.S. Bank, causing debit cards to be mailed to a residential address in Akron owned by the defendant.
It is alleged that the defendant then used these debit cards for personal use by making fraudulent withdrawals from various ATMs. In total, court documents state that Miller compromised approximately 299 accounts for about $1,118,391.82.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service (USSS) and the Fairlawn (OH) Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryson N. Gillard.
Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dana Michael Russell, also known as “Anthony Roberts,” 36, of Griffithsville, Lincoln County, pleaded guilty today to possession of prepubescent child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 20, 2021, Russell possessed two images of child pornography on his cell phone depicting prepubescent minor females subjected to sexually explicit conduct. Russell admitted that one of the images depicted a known child victim.
Russell further admitted to using his cell phone on June 25, 2020, to distribute and attempt to distribute an image containing child pornography using the Snapchat social media platform. Russell also admitted to distributing images containing child pornography using multiple Snapchat and Facebook accounts in June, August and December 2020. One of the Facebook accounts that Russell used had “Anthony Roberts” as the account username.
Russell faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Russell is a registered sex offender as a result of his conviction for distribution and exhibiting of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in Kanawha County Circuit Court on February 19, 2015.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-25.
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Conehatta Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Conehatta man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court records, Adrian Farmer, 37, possessed two shotguns in July of 2021. Farmer had been previously convicted of a felony in Neshoba County Circuit Court and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
In March of 2022, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Farmer for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Farmer subsequently pled guilty to the charge.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
Clarksville Man Sentenced to over 23 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
FORT SMITH – A Clarksville man has been sentenced to federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The Honorable Judge P.K. Holmes, III, presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.
Over the course of a period spanning all of 2021 and until April of 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted an investigation regarding drug trafficking in the Clarksville, Arkansas area. The investigation revealed that multiple co-defendants were being supplied methamphetamine and cocaine from the organization’s leader, Victor Leon-Moya. During the investigation, DEA was able to conduct multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine and cocaine from the organization. After identifying multiple stash houses, DEA executed search warrants resulting in the location and seizure of approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 3 kilograms of methamphetamine, over 60 firearms and $48,844 in cash derived from the sale of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Victor Leon-Moya, age 46, of Clarksville, Arkansas, was sentenced yesterday to 280 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, State of Arkansas 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Fort Smith Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Conway Police Department, Greenwood Police Department, and the Crawford County, Logan County & Sebastian County Sheriff’s Departments investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Carter prosecuted the case.
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.
Chicopee Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chicopee man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to creating and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Michael Geoffroy, 36, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for June 8, 2023. Geoffroy was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2021.
In December 2020, Geoffroy used a minor to create two videos and two images of CSAM. Geoffroy then distributed the videos and images in a chat group that same day. Geoffroy was arrested the following day and, during a search of his cellphone, was found in possession of more than 100 videos and images that depicting CSAM.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chicopee Police Chief Patrick Major made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Unit 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.
Canton Gambling Business Co-Owner Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Canton woman was sentenced to 24 months in prison on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty to conspiring to defraud the IRS in connection with her ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses in the Canton, Ohio area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 through 2018, Rebecca Kachner, along with other co-conspirators, owned and operated two illegal gambling businesses in the Canton area, namely Skilled Shamrock and Redemption.
As part of the guilty plea, Kachner admitted to conspiring with the other owners to defraud the IRS by filing false tax returns that omitted cash income she received from the operation of the illegal gambling businesses. Kachner also admitted to attempting to hide substantial portions of her unreported cash income. Court documents say that in January 2018, Kachner rented a locker at a local YMCA and stored $241,266 of her illegal gambling proceeds. Law enforcement authorities seized that currency during the investigation.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Nugent ordered Kachner to forfeit the $241,266 recovered from the locker and to pay $1,184,668.37 in restitution to the IRS for individual income taxes and interest owed between tax years 2012 and 2017.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and the Ohio Casino Control Commission. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and an Investigator from the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office provided substantial assistance in the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Patton, David Toepfer, and Aaron Howell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, along with Trial Attorneys Richard Rolwing and Sam Bean of the Department of Justice Tax Division.
Bowling Green Federal Grand Jury Returns Two Indictments Charging Franklin, KY and Nashville, TN Men with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
-Drug Trafficking Offenses Involve Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Heroin
-One Man Also Indicted for Illegally Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonBowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned two indictments yesterday separately charging two men with drug trafficking. One of the men was also charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Sheriff Jere Dee Hopson of the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
According to court records:
Dameon Rigsby, age 41, of Franklin, Kentucky, was charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Rigsby had previously been convicted of the felony offense of trafficking in a controlled substance – first degree – first offense, in case number 09-CR-00080 in the Simpson Kentucky Circuit Court. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Bennett Christian, age 37, of Nashville, Tennessee, was charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cases.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office.
These cases are 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Barrington Tax Return Preparer Charged with Falsifying Clients’ Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Chicago returned an indictment on Feb. 16, charging an Illinois man with assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.
According to the indictment, from 2016 to 2018, Gary Sandiego of Barrington owned a tax return preparation business, G. Sandiego and Associates, and prepared and filed false returns for his clients. The false returns allegedly reported fictitious or inflated unreimbursed employment-related expenses and false residential energy credits, which resulted in a significant reduction of Sandiego’s clients’ total tax liability.
Sandiego will appear for his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Andrew Kameros and Trial Attorney Sara Henderson of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.