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Thursday 10 March 2022
Worcester Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Ronney Fullard, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Indira Talwani to time served (approximately 14 months in prison) and three years of supervised release. On Oct. 6, 2021, Fullard pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Fullard was indicted in October 2020 with co-defendant Jerrod Lee. On Aug. 7, 2020, during a search of Lee’s Taunton residence, Fullard was found in possession of a loaded Taurus PT 709 9mm pistol with six rounds of ammunition. Fullard is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior convictions punishable by more than one year in prison, including state convictions of assault and battery and unlawful firearm possession.
On Dec. 9, 2021, Lee pleaded guilty to the same charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7, 2022.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long; and Taunton Police Chief Edward James Walsh made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hoefle of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Washington Man Indicted for Marijuana TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that an Olympia, Washington, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Lawrence Allan Swan, age 63, was indicted on January 11, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 8, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years in federal prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine, lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between January 2020 and December 2021, in South Dakota and elsewhere, Swan knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana.
The charge is merely an accusation and Swan is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Corson County Sherriff’s Office, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Swan was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Virginia Man Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Apple Inc.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Teang Liu, 38, of Alexandria, Virginia, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison for participating in a conspiracy to defraud Apple Inc. out of more than $1 million.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and Greg Torbenson, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge for the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Liu pleaded guilty in February 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan ordered Liu to pay $577,780 in restitution and $57,780 in a forfeiture money judgment. Followning his prison term, Liu will be placed on a year of supervised release.
Liu moved to the United States in 2011. In 2014, he obtained his master’s degree in finance from George Washington University. From at least June 2016 to at least June 2018, he actively participated in a conspiracy to defraud Apple. Liu was recruited to join the conspiracy by Haiteng Wu. Wu also recruited Jiahong Cai, Wu’s wife, to participate in the scheme. Like Liu, Wu and Cai are citizens of the People’s Republic of China.
As part of the scheme, conspirators received shipments of inauthentic iPhones from Hong Kong. Those phones contained spoofed IMEI numbers and serial numbers that corresponded with authentic in-warranty iPhones. The conspirators then returned the inauthentic phones to Apple, claiming that the phones were legitimate, in-warranty phones, all in an effort to receive authentic replacement iPhones from Apple. The fraudulently obtained authentic iPhones were then shipped back to conspirators overseas, including in Hong Kong.
Liu’s particular role in the conspiracy included opening dozens of commercial mail agency mailboxes -- mostly at UPS Stores -- using fake identification cards that Wu provided to him, returning fraudulent phones to Apple retail stores, and traveling to the Rocky Mountains and Florida to facilitate the fraud.
The conspirators acknowledged successfully defrauding Apple out of nearly $1 million and intending to defraud the company out of even more money.
Wu, Cai, and Liu were arrested in December 2019. Wu and Cai were detained from the time of their arrests to their sentencings. Each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in May 2020. Cai ultimately ended up spending five months at a D.C. jail as part of her sentence. She also was ordered removed from the United States. Wu was sentenced on Feb. 1, 2021, to time served, approximately 26 months that he spent in custody.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section, and Senior Counsel Ryan K.J. Dickey of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. They were assisted by Paralegal Specialists Michon Tart, Mariela Andrade, Amanda Rohde, and Brian Rickers, former Paralegal Specialists Jessica Mundi, Brittany Phillips, and Angeline Thekkumthala, and Records Examiner Angela De Falco.
U.S. Attorney Announces Anti-Hate Crime InitiativesRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced today her office’s increased resource dedication to civil rights, including its participation in a first of its kind, anti-hate crime outreach program entitled United Against Hate, which seeks to directly connect federal, state, and local law enforcement with traditionally marginalized communities in order to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents.
“I am honored that our office has been chosen to take the lead nationally in the fight against hate crimes with the United Against Hate outreach initiative,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Combatting hate and hate-driven offenses is vital to our mission of building stronger and safer communities for everyone,” added U.S. Attorney Waldref.
In November, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington was chosen as one of three districts, out of 94 districts in the nation, to advance the United Against Hate outreach initiative. United Against Hate is a panel presentation involving subject matter experts from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and local law enforcement partners, who engage in direct discussions with members of marginalized communities and those most vulnerable to hate crimes and hate incidents. Hate crimes are commonly defined as crimes committed because of the perpetrator’s perception of the victim’s race, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, family status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Hate crimes can be prosecuted under Washington state law and can often also be prosecuted under federal laws such as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. By making direct contact with the communities most vulnerable to hate crimes and hate incidents, law enforcement can provide visibility into reporting systems and highlight the importance of reporting hate crimes and hate incidents. Additionally, the United Against Hate outreach initiative provides an opportunity for communities to share their concerns with law enforcement, in order to decrease barriers that prevent hate crimes and hate incidents from being reported. The outreach also provides opportunities to increase communication and collaboration between the communities that are most frequently targeted for hate crimes and incidents and the law enforcement professionals responsible for investigating and preventing them.
The data collected on hate crimes and hate incidents underscores the importance of this outreach initiative. Based on the Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey, between 2010 and 2019 over 55% of hate crimes nationwide were not reported to law enforcement. Applying that non-reporting rate to available FBI Crime Data indicates that in Spokane County alone there is reason to believe that as many as 25 hate crimes went unreported to law enforcement in 2019 and 2020.
“While hate cannot be defeated by law enforcement alone, law enforcement has a vital role to play in protecting the public and marginalized groups from hate-motivated offenses and in communicating our shared values and fostering hope that our communities can be safer, stronger, and more inclusive,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Hate crimes and hate incidents, including hate speech, do not reflect the values of Eastern Washington and have no place in our communities, our law enforcement, or our criminal justice system. In the coming weeks and months, through United Against Hate and our other outreach efforts, we hope to engage in direct dialogue with marginalized community members and invite them to meet personally with some of the law enforcement professionals, at all levels, who are dedicated to combatting hate in Eastern Washington.”
The United States Attorney’s Office also announced increased civil rights enforcement resources and efforts. “Of course it is not enough to engage in outreach alone,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We are increasing our focus on civil rights, including hate crimes, hate incidents, and illegal discrimination, by committing additional Assistant U.S. Attorney and staff resources. We are deploying these increased resources in the area of civil rights - such as vigorously enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Act, as well as veterans and active service members rights, to name just a few,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref.
Finally, the United States Attorney’s Office also announced its new civil rights web page found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/edwa-civil-rights-webpage , which contains many links to important resources and information for people who may have experienced or witnessed a civil rights violation, whether criminal or civil. The web page also provides the public with direct links to online civil rights complaint forms that can be submitted directly to the U.S. Attorney’s Office or the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
“We cannot bring the full force of the people’s power against hate crimes, hate incidents, and other civil rights violations without individuals being given opportunities to come forward. Our office now has a dedicated civil rights email account ([email protected] ) and phone number (509) 835-6306), for the public’s use. I want to thank the Gonzaga University Department of Modern Languages and Literature who donated their expertise to this effort and provided Spanish translation services to allow us to reach a wider audience and facilitate access to these accounts for Spanish speakers. These accounts are monitored frequently and will allow members of my civil rights team to quickly review and promptly respond to submissions and inquiries. We will utilize the information provided by the public regarding suspected civil rights violations in our overall efforts to track and analyze any larger trends that need to be addressed and to determine on a case-by-case basis whether we can investigate the matter, refer it to other appropriate entities, or otherwise assist,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref.
Two-Time Bank Robber Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Middle Georgia resident with a lengthy criminal history, convicted by a federal jury for his second bank robbery offense, was sentenced to serve more than 17 years in prison.
Wesley Sorrow, 50, was sentenced to serve 210 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on March 9, after being convicted of bank robbery following a three-day trial that began on Nov. 15, 2021. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Wesley Sorrow has a long criminal history. Coupled with his decision to hold up a bank within days of arriving at a Macon halfway house for a previous bank robbery, he now has to pay a steep penalty for the criminal choice he made,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Repeat offenders who continually disrupt the peace and the safety of the communities we serve will face the possibility of federal prosecution.”
“Previous federal prison time was apparently not a teaching moment for Sorrow because within a week of being released, he went right back to his bank robbing ways,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “To anyone thinking about robbing a bank, the message from this sentence is clear. You will get caught, and when you do, you will serve a significant amount of time in prison.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sorrow was seven days into his residency at a halfway house after being released from federal prison for a bank robbery conviction in the Middle District of Georgia. On May 21, 2019, Sorrow walked into the American Pride Bank on Forsyth Road in Macon and presented a note to the bank teller demanding money. Sorrow took the cash and left the bank, returning to the halfway house. Sorrow was captured later that day and cash stolen from the bank was recovered from his locker. Sorrow has a lengthy criminal history, which was considered at his sentencing, including a previous bank robbery, robbing a person at gunpoint twice, forgery and multiple drug charges.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joy Odom and Robert McCullers prosecuted the case.
Two Indicted in East Texas Cryptocurrency Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas –A 75-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man have been indicted for their roles in a cryptocurrency money laundering scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston.
Lois Boyd, of Amelia Court House, VA, and Manik Mehtani, of McLean, VA, were named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury, charging them with a violation of the Travel Act, money laundering, and money laundering conspiracy.
According to the indictment, Boyd and Mehtani are alleged to have conspired with others to receive victim money derived from a variety of fraud schemes and launder the proceeds through cryptocurrency. The defendants are alleged to have routinely structured deposits in order to avoid transaction reporting requirements and to conceal the nature and source of the criminal proceeds. The defendants allegedly exchanged the criminal proceeds for cryptocurrency and directed the cryptocurrency to wallets under the control of their foreign co-conspirators. In August 2020, the defendants traveled to Longview, Texas, where they attempted to exchange more than $450,000 for Bitcoin. They were temporarily detained and the money was seized. In the course of their operation, Boyd, Mehtani, and their co-conspirators allegedly laundered more than $750,000.00.
If convicted, Boyd and Mehtani face up to 20 years in federal prison. A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and L. Frank Coan, Jr.
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Two Gastonia Drug Traffickers Are Sentenced to 15+ Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. handed down lengthy prison sentences to two individuals convicted of drug trafficking in Gaston County, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Corey Dusean Edwards, 45, of Gastonia, N.C., was sentenced to 188 months in prison and five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; and possession of a firearm by felon. According to court documents and proceedings in this case, from 2018 to 2020, Edwards was responsible for trafficking more than a kilogram of crack cocaine in Gaston County. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized cocaine and other drugs from Edwards’ residence, as well as a stolen firearm and $1,723 in cash. As a result of Edwards’s multiple prior drug convictions, the Court sentenced him as a career offender.
In a separate case, Caleb O’Brian Kendrick, 31, of Gastonia, was also ordered to serve 188 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; and possession of firearm by a felon. Court documents filed in this case show that, from 2016 to 2019, Kendrick was engaged in drug trafficking activities in Gaston County. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered from Kendrick’s residence narcotics and firearms, and evidence of his membership in the Bloods gang. At today’s hearing, the Court enhanced Kendrick’s term of imprisonment due to his prior convictions for, among other things, drug trafficking, armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
U.S. Attorney King credited today’s outcomes to investigations led by one of the Western District of North Carolina’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which have resulted in the conviction of more than 70 individuals, and the seizure of over 1,625 kilograms of crack cocaine, 561 kilograms of cocaine, more than 1,430 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 210 kilograms of heroin, over 28 kilograms of fentanyl, 89 firearms, and more $290,000 in cash and other property.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Gastonia Police Department for their investigative efforts.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the cases.
Twelfth Defendant Convicted in Dog-Fighting, Drug Distribution RingRead the Press Release
A Georgia resident pleaded guilty to federal charges resulting from a lengthy investigation into a significant multi-state dog fighting and cocaine trafficking network.
Shelley Johnson, aka Gold Mouth, 40, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III. Johnson faces a maximum five years of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for June 7.
According to court documents, law enforcement investigated a criminal organization involved in both cocaine distribution and organized dog fighting based out of Roberta, Georgia, which extended into North Georgia, Florida and Alabama from May 2019 until February 2020. In February 2020, law enforcement executed 15 residential search warrants and seized more than 150 dogs that were being used for organized dog-fighting. A 136-count indictment was unsealed on Jan. 29, 2021, charging 11 individuals with various criminal activities. Three other individuals, including Johnson, were charged by criminal information.
During this time period, Johnson communicated with co-conspirator Jarvis Lockett about fighting and breeding dogs, dogs mauled and killed as a result of fighting, sharpening a dog’s teeth for fighting purposes, cash prizes for fights, and various topics detailing the business and the brutality of dog-fighting. Johnson attended a dog fight and participated as a handler inside the ring during the dog fight. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Johnson’s Macon residence on Feb. 26, 2020, recovering 13 pit bull terrier type dogs with scarring consistent with dog-fighting. In addition, agents found evidence of dog fighting activities including a digital scale, weighted collars, heavy chains, ground stakes and a variety of medical supplies to treat animals for injuries sustained from dog fighting activities.
The following co-conspirators have been convicted and sentenced in this case:
Lekey Davis, aka Kee Boo, 46, of Talbotton, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 210 months of imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base;
Christopher Raines, aka Binky, 51, of Talbotton, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 135 months of imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release and to pay a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base;
Jarvis Lockett, aka J-Rock, 41, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve ten years of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and cocaine distribution;
Derrick Owens, aka Doomie, 38, of Woodland, Georgia, was sentenced to serve ten years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine;
Jason Carter, 39, of Phoenix City, Alabama, was sentenced to serve 97 months of imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine;
Vernon Vegas, 50, of Suwanee, Georgia, was sentenced to serve the maximum five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and pay a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture;
Shaquille Bentley, 27, of Roberta, Georgia, was sentenced to serve four years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to use of a communication facility;
Rodrick Walton, aka Rodrie Walton, 42, of Shiloh, Georgia, was sentenced to serve two years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture;
Reginald Crimes, 39, of Preston, Georgia, was sentenced to serve two years of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture;
Lee Benney, 55, of Reynolds, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 21 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture; and,
Bryanna Holmes, 25, of Fort Valley, Georgia, was sentenced to serve three years of probation after pleading guilty to use of a communication facility.
The case was investigated by the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Merriweather County Sheriff’s Office, the Peach County Sheriff’s Office, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Byron Police Department and the Fort Valley Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.
Three Men Will Serve Time in Prison for Smuggling Drugs into PrisonRead the Press Release
Greenville, MS – Three Puerto Rican men have been sentenced to prison for conspiring to distribute illegal narcotics.
According to court documents, Christian Jose Collazo Torres, 28, of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Neftali Santiago, 28, of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and Jean Carlos Flores Santiago, 32, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, conspired with each other to possess with the intent to distribute illegal narcotics, including Fentanyl, a schedule II controlled substance, for the purpose of smuggling the illegal narcotics and other contraband into CoreCivic Prison in Tutwiler, Mississippi. On April 24, 2021, the three individuals were found in close proximity to CoreCivic Prison in possession of two drones, narcotics, cigarettes and cell phones, packaged in a manner consistent with smuggling items into a prison. Each of the three individuals involved plead guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
On February 2, 2022, Torres was sentenced by Chief U.S District Judge Debra M. Brown of the Northern District of Mississippi to 18 months incarceration followed by 3 years of supervised release. On February 23, Judge Brown sentenced Neftali Santiago to 34 months incarceration followed by 3 years of supervised release. On March 9, Jean Carlos Santiago was sentenced by Judge Brown to24 months incarceration followed by 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi and Don Douglas, Resident Agent in Charge of DEA, made the announcement.
“The prosecution of illegal drug trafficking is a priority in the Northern District of Mississippi, and we work closely with DEA, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and local law enforcement to ensure that those individuals and organizations who traffic and distribute drugs in our District are held accountable,” remarked Joyner. The actions of these individuals and their attempts to smuggle illegal narcotics into a prison facility make them extremely deserving of the prison sentences they received in this case.”
The DEA, Tutwiler Police Department, and Tallahatchie County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Mims prosecuted the case.
Sun Prairie Man Sentenced to 51 Months for Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Marvin Coates, 34, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 51 months in federal prison for illegally possessing ammunition. Coates pleaded guilty to this charge on November 30, 2021.
On June 23, 2019, shortly after 1:00 a.m., deputies from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a fight and shots fired outside of the American Legion in Westport, Wisconsin. When deputies arrived, they secured the area and found seven Winchester .40 caliber shell casings in the parking lot. Surveillance video from an adjacent business confirmed that a fight broke out near the American Legion. The video also showed that Coates retrieved a pistol from his car, walked towards the people who were fighting, and fired seven shots into the air.
During an interview with law enforcement, Coates identified himself in the surveillance video and admitted to being a convicted felon.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson highlighted Coates’s criminal history and the serious nature of his conduct. Judge Peterson also noted that, by firing the gun, Coates brought the threat of violence to an already volatile situation.
The charge against Coates was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma prosecuted this case.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Suffolk Man Sentenced for Straw-Purchasing Firearms ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Suffolk man was sentenced today to 156 months in prison in connection with aiding and abetting the making of a materially false statement during the purchase of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, from approximately August 2018 to July 2020, Darren Walker, 34, and co-conspirators were members of a straw-purchasing conspiracy in which the co-conspirators straw-purchased multiple firearms for Walker, who would then transport the firearms from Hampton Roads to Baltimore, Maryland, among other locations, and resell them for a profit. Walker was attributed with being involved in the trafficking of at least 28 firearms. Four of the straw-purchased firearms were recovered in Baltimore from individuals who were involved in either drug-related arrests, were persons prohibited from possessing firearms, or both, including the recovery of a firearm loaded with an extended magazine containing 27 rounds of ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Al Chandler, Chief of Suffolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Jackson and Amanda Turner prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-89.
Suburban Chicago Man Admits Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge for taking dozens of sexually explicit photographs of a three-year-old child.
MARCOS GERMAN MENDEZ, 34, of Rosemont, Ill., pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of production of child pornography. The conviction is punishable by a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland set sentencing for June 21, 2022.
Mendez admitted in a plea agreement that on two occasions in 2015 he took a total of more than 60 sexually explicit photographs of the child while she was sleeping. Mendez saved the images on his iPhone and iCloud account, and in 2016 he fled to Mexico. He was later arrested and extradited to the United States.
The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Angie Salazar, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Mexico City office; FBI Chicago Field Office; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Postal Service; Cook County, Ill., Sheriff’s Office; and U.S. Marshals Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Misty N. Wright and Ashley A. Chung.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Six men indicted on federal charges for illegal firearms possession, drugsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Six defendants face federal charges including drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession.
The indicted cases, along with six additional cases in the Augusta area, are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally carry guns.
“Our office aggressively prosecutes previously convicted felons who illegally carry firearms,” said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “The safety of our communities is of paramount importance, and we won’t tolerate violent criminal behavior.”
In the past four years, more than 745 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony.
Defendants named in federal indictments from the March 2022 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Justin Curtis Duke, 29, currently an inmate at Johnson State Prison, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Bobby Lewis Sturkey; 51, of Harlem, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Carlos Middleton, 21, of Savannah, charged with Interference with Commerce by Robbery, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence;
- Robert Alexander DuBose, 40, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Michael Jordan Sharp, 30, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- DeShawn Tisdale, 24, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession:
- David Bryson Murphy, 21, of Thomson, was sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. McDuffie County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Murphy April 25, 2021, after finding him with a pistol during a traffic stop.
- Jamel Albert, 30, of Savannah, was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Albert in possession of a pistol during an April 2021 traffic stop.
- Ashley Nichole Pitts, 30, of Hinesville, Ga., was sentenced to 36 months of home confinement after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Pitts was arrested in January 2019 when Liberty County Sheriff’s deputies responded to her home to investigate a complaint about a man brandishing a firearm. Accompanied by an officer from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, deputies found two pistols in Pitts’ home.
- Tommy Greene, 34, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Eutylone (Bath Salts) and Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The Savannah Police Department Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Greene in October 2020 after he ran from officers and was found with a pistol and a large bag of drugs in his pockets.
- Larry Bennett Jr., 25, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers arrested Bennett in January 2020 when they found him in possession of two pistols during a traffic stop.
- Timothy Mario Mitchell, 24, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers arrested Mitchell in August 2020 after a brief chase when a pistol fell from the waistband of Mitchell’s shorts.
- James Kenneth Merritt, 35, of Waynesboro, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Burke County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Merritt in December 2020 after Merritt drove away and then ran from an attempted traffic stop, dropping a pistol as he fled.
- Barry McCormick, 26, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. McCormick was charged after a pistol fell down his pants leg during a November 2020 traffic stop by Savannah Police officers.
- Kenya Leon Parker, 33, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Savannah Police officers arrested Parker in February 2021 after finding a pistol in his possession during a traffic stop.
- Hunter Cole Reavis, 25, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Reavis was on probation in March 2021 when agents from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision found a pistol during a search of his Savannah hotel room.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Jeremiah L. Johnson, Steven H. Lee, Marcela C. Mateo, Patricia G. Rhodes, and Henry W. Syms Jr., with firearms forfeitures coordinated through the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Reagor Dykes Owner Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Reagor Dykes Auto Group owner Bart Reagor was sentenced today to 14 years in federal prison for lying to a bank about his company's prospects, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
In October 2021, a federal jury found Bart Wade Reagor, 55, guilty of making false statements to a bank insured by the FDIC. Mr. Reagor was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, who ordered him to pay $9,378,817.28 in restitution.
At his sentencing hearing, prosecutors introduced into evidence videos of Mr. Reagor berating his employees for not hitting their sales targets.
“You gotta want to win more than you want to live. I do. I [expletive] die to win. I want to win every [expletive] day. Every [expletive] day, every [expletive] deal,” he says in one meeting. (Clip here.)
“Some of you weren’t there because you didn’t sell 20 units… Boo [expletive] hoo. Cry your way to the weak zone. Cry your way to the loser zone. How many times have ya’ll head me crying? I can’t be crying because I got to take care of a lot of [expletive] crybabies... Somebody’s got to be strong, somebody’s got to be consistent, and somebody’s got to be a [expletive] leader. I chose me,” he said in another “Come on up to the front, come on up to the beast feast, come on up to the millionaire zone, come on up to the jet-flying, private jet-owning, gator-wearing, Rolex-wearing club. Come on up! It’s a choice you gotta make! Or you can cry your way to sleep with all the other [expletive] losers.” (Clip here.)
According to evidence presented at trial, in 2017, Mr. Reagor told International Bank of Commerce (IBC) that the auto group was experiencing tremendous growth and expected to go public. He claimed the company needed a cash infusion to sustain its upward trajectory and maintain a cash cushion for each of the dealerships to operate.
Relying on that information, IBC granted Reagor Dykes a $10 million working capital loan, which was distributed in two tranches: $5,000,000 in July 2017 and another $5,000,000 in February 2018, to be disbursed to the various RDAG entities.
Instead of investing all of the money into the business as he’d said he would, Mr. Reagor diverted more than $1.7 million to his personal account at Prosperity Bank – $766,277 in July 2017, following IBC’s disbursement of the first tranche of money, and $1 million in February 2018, following IBC’s disbursement of the second tranche of money. At trial, Reagor Dykes’ CFO, Shane Smith, testified that Mr. Reagor and his partner, Rick Dykes, routinely drew money out of the business. Over a 10-year-period, Mr. Smith estimated, the pair withdrew more than $25 million.
In videos introduced at sentencing, Mr. Reagor told employees that anyone bringing home a five-digit salary is “broke as [expletive]” and living “a chump life.”
“Don’t have any skeletons. See, I don’t have any -- and if I had any, I already forgot ‘em. I got a selective memory. I remember what I [expletive] want to remember,” he told his employees. “And everything else doesn’t [expletive] matter.” (Clip here.)
Fifteen of Mr. Reagor’s employees previously pleaded guilty to various crimes involving dummy flooring and check kitting at Reagor Dykes, including:
- Shane Andrew Smith, Reagor Dykes’ CEO, who pleaded guilty in June 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Diana Urias, an office manager in Reagor Dykes’ used car mall in Levelland, who pleaded guilty in September 2019 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sheila Miller, an RDAG group controller, who pleaded guilty in September 2019 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Paige Johnston, an office manager in Reagor Dykes’ Chevrolet store in Floydada, who pleaded guilty in October 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Lindsay Williams, and RDAG group accounting manager, who pleaded guilty in October 2019 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sherri Wood, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Ford store in Plainview, who pleaded guilty in October 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Pepper Rickman, an accounting controller at Reagor Dykes’ Toyota store in Plainview, who pleaded guilty in October 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Brad Fansler, an RDAG group administrative director, who pleaded guilty in November 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Ashley Dunn, executive assistant to the CEO, who pleaded guilty in December 2019 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Whitney Maldonado, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Mitsubishi store in Lubbock, who pleaded guilty in December 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Elaina Cabral, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Toyota store in Plainview, who pleaded guilty in December 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Mistry Canady, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Ford store in Lamesa, who pleaded guilty in January 2020 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Andrea Kate Phillips, an office manager at Reagor Dykes’ Ford store in Plainview, who pleaded guilty in February 2020 to misprision of a felony
- Wesley Neel, RDAG Safety & Compliance Manager, who pleaded guilty in March 2020 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Steven Reinhart, RDAG Legal Compliance Director, who pleaded guilty in February 2021 to misprision of a felony
“To Bart Reagor, anyone who isn’t a millionaire is a chump. And Mr. Reagor couldn’t face being a chump. So, instead of doing his best to grow his business honestly, he padded his personal bank account by lying to a federally-insured bank. I imagine he will spend the next 14 years behind bars regretting that decision,” said U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham. “The Justice Department will not tolerate abuse of our nation’s financial institutions.”
“Financial crimes can destroy businesses which in turn causes irreparable damage to our economy. Mr. Reagor’s sentence sends a clear message to any criminal who uses corporate fraud for their own personal gain,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate this behavior. We will vigorously pursue anyone that uses their executive position to defraud a lending institution, investors, or the public.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and Internal Revenue Services - Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Frausto, Jeffrey Haag, and Amy Burch prosecuted the case.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm was sentenced on March 7, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.
Eric Ladeaux, age 35, was sentenced to three seven-year terms in federal prison, to run concurrently. Ladeaux was also sentenced to three three-year terms of supervised release, to run concurrently, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Ladeaux, a person who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was arrested and federally indicted after he came into contact with Pennington County Sheriff’s Office deputies in December 2019, and Rapid City Police Department officers in September 2020, and was found to be in possession of firearms. Ladeaux was also found to be in possession of an unregistered firearm during the September 2020 stop.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case.
Ladeaux was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Randolph County man sentenced for methamphetamine chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Billy Ray Shamblin, II, of Elkins, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 37 months of incarceration for a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Shamblin, 37, pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Shamblin admitted to selling methamphetamine, also known as “crystal meth” and “ice,” in February 2020 in Randolph County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Damaging a Coal MineRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man pleaded guilty to damaging a coal mine.
According to court documents, Ricky Sprouse, 46, of Naoma, admitted damaging a coal mine and stealing specialized equipment from the coal mine.
Sprouse pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the destruction of an energy facility and faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 8, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Robeson 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. 2:22-cr-00045.
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Project Concern International, a Global Health Non-Profit Organization, Agrees to Pay $537,500 to Resolve False Claims Act ActionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Project Concern International (PCI) has agreed to pay the United States $537,500 to resolve allegations that it knowingly submitted false claims to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in PCI’s performance of grants to provide agricultural and other aid to developing countries.
The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Special Agent in Charge Mark Day for the USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG).
“This agreement demonstrates our resolve to hold accountable any organization that mishandles federal funds,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Organizations such as PCI are entrusted to provide vital humanitarian assistance to those in need, and the United States will ensure that a violation of that trust will be investigated and prosecuted.”
“This settlement reflects the consequences for submitting false invoices to USAID for work not actually performed,” said USAID OIG Special Agent in Charge Day. “Organizations receiving USAID funds must establish checks and controls in their accounting systems to ensure that fraud schemes like this are detected and disrupted early on. USAID OIG, through its global investigative activities, will continue to work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable those who, through corruption and fraud, compromise the operations of critical U.S. foreign assistance programs.”
PCI is a global health non-profit organization headquartered in San Diego, California, and operates a second office in Washington, D.C. Based on information from a whistleblower, a review of PCI internal communications and financial records by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the USAID OIG for the period 2014 to 2016 determined that PCI was improperly shifting costs between projects, and sometimes using USAID grant funds to cover for privately-funded projects.
Specifically, once grant funding for one assistance project was depleted, PCI supervisors would instruct its employees to bill their time or other costs to separate and unrelated USAID grant projects that had money remaining in their accounts, even though those employees did not work on that project. PCI then certified to USAID that it used the grant funds only as allowed under each project.
PCI through its legal counsel, cooperated with the investigation and agreed to settle the matter prior to a determination of liability in the civil case. Under the settlement agreement, PCI agreed to reimburse USAID $215,000, the estimated amount of mis-charged costs, and an additional multiplier penalty under the False Claims Act of $322,500, for a total of $537,500. PCI also agreed to pay the reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the whistleblower.
The investigation in this matter was conducted by USAID OIG and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
The case is captioned United States. ex rel. Seims v. Project Concern International, Inc., No. 1-20-cv-0389 (D.D.C.)
Previously Convicted Felon from Philadelphia Sentenced to over 14 Years After Second Federal Drug Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Jose Manuel Figueroa, 52, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to 14 years and seven months in prison, and six years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Petrese B. Tucker for numerous narcotics and firearms offenses.
In September 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty to eight counts of distribution of heroin and one count each of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges stemmed from an investigation in which the defendant sold heroin packaged for street-level distribution on numerous occasions between May 2018 and July 2018. In September 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and seized more heroin and two firearms stashed near the drugs. The defendant committed these offenses after having been previously convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and federal drug trafficking charges in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
“Drugs and firearms are a very dangerous combination, especially in Philadelphia where the violent crime rate has reached record levels,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Today’s sentence should serve as an example to others who have previously been convicted of felony offenses and are considering carrying firearms or committing other illegal acts: our ‘All Hands on Deck’ initiative uses every law enforcement tool at our disposal to find and stop you. We will continue our coordination with the Philadelphia Police Department and federal agencies to make the community safer by removing these criminals from the streets.”
“Figueroa’s continued criminal behavior is emblematic of the potential for violence associated with the illegal drug trade,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “His illegal possession of multiple guns, packaged heroin for distribution, and prior felony convictions on federal drug charges and voluntary manslaughter are indicative of the threat he posed to our community.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Pennsylvania State Police; and Phoenixville Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Francis A. Weber and Derek E. Hines.
Port Clinton Physician Sentenced to Prison for Prescribing Controlled Substances Without Medical Necessity and Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that William Bauer, 85, of Port Clinton, Ohio, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary to 5 years in prison and was ordered to pay $464,099.14 in restitution, of which $253,300.55 will be paid to Medicare and $210,798.59 to Medicaid. In addition, Judge Zouhary ordered Bauer to pay $100,000 in community restitution. The community restitution will be distributed 65% to the Ohio Attorney General, Crime Victim Services Section, and 35% to the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services. The Court strongly recommended that the community restitution amount go to the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties.
Judge Zouhary pronounced the sentence after Bauer was convicted at trial of 76 counts of distribution of controlled substances and 25 counts of health care fraud.
“This defendant unnecessarily distributed dangerous and highly addictive controlled substances and repeatedly ignored warning signs that his actions were causing detrimental harm to his patients and the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “No matter your title, those who flood the streets with dangerous drugs and prey upon vulnerable individuals will answer for their actions.”
“Criminal misconduct within the healthcare system is harmful and destructive,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “Not only does healthcare fraud impact insurers through monetary loss, but also to physicians, hospitals, and taxpayers who were unwitting participants to the deceitful actions. We will continue to work diligently to uncover fraudulent schemes that risk public health.”
“The sentencing of William Bauer demonstrates our commitment to stopping those who fuel the opioid epidemic,” said Kent R. Kleinschmidt, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Detroit Field Division. “Medical professionals who disregard their oath and instead seek to profit at the expense of their patients and community will be brought to justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2007 and 2019, Bauer, at his practice in Bellevue, Ohio, repeatedly prescribed medically unnecessary controlled substances, including Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Morphine and Tramadol, outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.
During the trial, prosecutors showed that Bauer prescribed high doses of opioids and other controlled substances to patients without regard to any improvement in pain level, function, or quality of life; prescribed dangerous drug combinations; failed to consider a patient’s state of addiction and ignored warning signs of abuse and diversion such as patients’ stealing medications, frequently requesting early refills, losing medications and other actions.
The case focused on Bauer’s treatment of 14 patients. Throughout the trial, prosecutors showed that these patients suffered a loss of employment, fractured families and experienced deteriorating mental health conditions as a result of their drug dependency. In one instance, court documents state that in 2015 a patient of Dr. Bauer died from an accidental overdose.
In addition to his conviction for distributing controlled substances, Bauer was also convicted of health care fraud. As part of the health care fraud scheme, Bauer billed insurers after prescribing medically unnecessary controlled substances and administered needless epidural and trigger point injections that failed to meet certain procedural requirements. Because these injections failed to meet the procedural requirements, they were rendered ineffective and fraudulently billed to insurers.
“This doctor contributed to the tidal wave of opioid overdoses that flooded our communities,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “I am proud of the state and federal partnerships that continue to work to stem the tide of addiction.”
“Providers sow distrust in our nation’s health care system when they participate in health care fraud and activities that endanger their patients,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Along with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to hold accountable those who threaten the safety of beneficiaries through overprescribing and engaging in health care fraud.”
Court documents state that the total loss amount to Medicare and Medicaid due to the fraudulent billing practices was $464,099.14.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ava R. Dustin, Michael A. Sullivan, Robert N. Melching and Payum Doroodian.
Porcupine Man Pleads Not Guilty to Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Porcupine, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Involuntary Manslaughter and False Statements.
Cassian Richards, age 19, was indicted on March 1, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on March 7, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is eight years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Richards killing another person in February 2022. The charges are merely accusations and Richards is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Sazama is prosecuting the case.
Richards was released from custody pending trial. A trial date has been set for May 10, 2022.
Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Heroin Distribution SchemeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 70 months’ imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release on his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV imposed the sentence on Donald Lyles, Jr., 28.
According to information presented to the court, in 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating a heroin trafficking organization of which Lyles was a member. Beginning in February of 2019 and continuing through September of 2019, the FBI received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Lyles was intercepted orchestrating and directing the movement of heroin from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh for distribution throughout Pittsburgh by various members of the organization. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized heroin, firearms, and bulk United States Currency from members of the organization, including Lyles. Judge Stickman referenced the seriousness of the offense as well as Lyles’ criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Office of the Attorney General, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, the North Versailles Police Department, the Allegheny County Port Authority Police Department, the Munhall Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lyles.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Philipsburg Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Philipsburg, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 21 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Timothy Ferguson, 34.
According to information presented to the court, on or about July 2019 through in and around June 2020, Ferguson did conspire to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Ms. Chung commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Ferguson. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Peoria Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Burglary from Bloomington Firearms DealerRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, DaJuan Edwards-Melton, 20, of the 2100 block of W. Antoinette Street, pleaded guilty today to burglary of a federally licensed firearms dealer and possession of stolen firearms. Sentencing for Edwards-Melton has been scheduled for June 16, 2022, at the federal courthouse in Peoria.
In court today, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley, Edwards-Melton admitted to burglarizing Smiley’s Sports Shop in Bloomington, Illinois, early in the morning on December 12, 2021. According to court documents, Edwards-Melton was assisted by two juvenile males who entered the store with him to commit the burglary, as well a juvenile female who acted as a getaway driver.
During the change-of-plea hearing, the government stated that Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives agents’ investigation led them to a yard just off an alley in the 2200 block of N. University Street. Agents were able to locate two Smiley’s Sport Shop gun tags. Further investigation led agents to Edwards-Melton, who was found to in possession of a 9mm pistol during a traffic stop in Peoria. The gun possessed by Edwards-Melton was identified as one of the twenty-five firearms stolen from Smiley’s Sports Shop.
Edwards-Melton remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service, pending sentencing.
Edwards-Melton faces statutory penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and maximum three-year terms of supervised release for each count.
The case investigation was conducted by the Bloomington and Peoria Police Departments and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna is representing the government in the prosecution.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Traveling to the New York Intending to Engage in Sexual Conduct with Two ChildrenRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - James Obelkevich, age 52, of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 121 months (10 years and 1 month) for traveling to New York from Pennsylvania for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with two children. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Obelkevich admitted that from the summer of 2019 until the spring of 2020 he exchanged multiple sexually explicit messages via an online social networking application with an undercover officer posing as the mother of 9-year-old and 13-year-old girls. In these messages, Obelkevich expressed a desire to engage in sexually explicit conduct with both children. Obelkevich further admitted that on March 11, 2020, he traveled from Pennsylvania to New York in order to meet with the children and engage in sexual conduct with them at a location in the Binghamton area.
Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy also imposed a 15-year term of supervised release, which will start after Obelkevich is released from prison. Obelkevich will also be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 81 Months Imprisonment for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that REYNAUD KENDRELL VARISTE (“VARISTE”), age 32, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced to 81 months imprisonment and a $200.00 mandatory special assessment fee after pleading guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A) and possession with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Upon release from imprisonment, VARISTE will be placed on supervised release for 3 years.
On July 12, 2018, VARISTE was charged in a three-count indictment by a federal grand jury with possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is 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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn M. McHugh prosecuted the case.
New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to the July 2021 robbery of a Bristol County Savings Bank branch in Dartmouth. At the time of the robbery, the defendant was on supervised release for a 2014 federal bank robbery conviction.
David A. Frates, 43, pleaded guilty one count of bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for July 13, 2022. Frates was charged on Oct. 7, 2021.
On July 19, 2021, an individual – later determined to be Frates – entered a Bristol County Savings Bank branch in Dartmouth. Once inside the bank, Frates approached a teller, demanded $20,000 and threatened to stab a second teller if his demands were not met. Frates then produced a long-handled knife and repeatedly struck the knife on the teller’s counter, while repeating he was going to stab the teller. The teller handed Frates $20,000 from the bank’s vault and Frates exited the bank. An investigation by local law enforcement identified Frates as the robber and arrested him on July 21, 2021. At the time of his arrest, Frates was in possession of over $9,000 in cash.
Frates was subsequently charged by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office with the robbery and later transferred into federal custody.
Frates was previously convicted in 2014 on federal bank robbery charges for the armed robbery of a St. Anne’s Credit Union branch in New Bedford and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. In May 2020, that sentence was reduced to 81 months in prison based in part on changes in the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Dartmouth Police Chief Brian P. Levesque made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Monongalia County man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert Woody, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Woody, 42, pleaded guilty today to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Woody admitted to distributing methamphetamine in April 2020 in Monongalia County.
Woody faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zelda E. Wesley and Sarah E. Wagner are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI's Northern West Virginia Drug Task Force in partnership with the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The Task Forces have members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Monongalia County Sheriff's Office; and, the Morgantown, WVU, Granville and Star City Police Departments. The investigation was also assisted by the following law enforcement partners: the Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI in Houston, Texas; the Houston Police Department's Multi Agency Gang Initiative; the United States Postal Inspection Service in Houston; and, the FBI and DEA in Los Angeles, California.
This case 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.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Moline Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Meet a Minor for Sex and Soliciting Obscene Photos of a MinorRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Moline, Illinois, man, Mark Eugene Downing, 44, of the 1200 Block of 15th Street, pleaded guilty on March 9, 2022, to attempted enticement of a minor and soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor. Sentencing for Downing has been scheduled for July 19, 2022, at the U.S. Courthouse in Davenport, Iowa.
In court before Chief U.S. District Judge Darrow, Downing admitted that he planned to engage in sexual activity with an eleven-year-old child and had solicited nude photos of the child. During the hearing, the government stated that Downing was arrested after he attempted to meet the child for sexual activity while in possession of methamphetamine and alcohol. Downing had previously solicited nude photos and videos of the minor through the internet.
Downing remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Downing faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, at least five years and up to a life term of supervised release, and up to a $500,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Moline Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and arose via a tip from the Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Mathew is representing the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Missouri Woman Convicted for International Advance-Fee SchemeRead the Press Release
A Missouri woman was convicted by a federal jury for her role in a multimillion-dollar international advance-fee scheme orchestrated from Nigeria.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Osa Martin, 76, of Carthage, traveled internationally on nine occasions between August 2015 and August 2016 while claiming to represent BB&T Corporation. On these trips, she met with victims of the scheme, who had been led to believe by co-conspirators based in Nigeria that they had multimillion-dollar investment agreements with BB&T. Martin signed the investment agreements, purportedly on behalf of BB&T, and then made sham visits to U.S. embassies to make the victims believe that the U.S. Department of State was notarizing and sponsoring the investment agreements. On each trip, Martin collected $7,500 or more in cash from the victims under the false pretense that the cash payment was a fee charged by the U.S. embassy. After her sham visits, Martin coordinated with co-conspirators to ensure victims received fake receipts and documents bearing State Department seals. The victims were then induced by Nigerian co-conspirators to make large wire payments to bank accounts in the United States on the false belief they were necessary fees before BB&T would release their investment funding.
Martin was convicted on Tuesday of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to wrongfully use government seals. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 19, and faces up to 20 years in prison for the first count and up to five years in prison for the second count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery for the Southern District of Texas; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent-in-Charge James Smith of the FBI’s Houston Field Office; and Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Speckhardt of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Inspector General (DOS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and DOS-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant Chief William Johnston and Trial Attorney Philip Trout of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady of the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
Minnesota Concrete Company and its CEO Indicted for Rigging Bids for Public ContractsRead the Press Release
Note: The defendants in this case, Steven Dornsbach and Kamida Inc., were acquitted by a jury of the charges alleged in the indictment described in the press release below.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Kamida Inc., a Minnesota-based concrete repair and construction corporation, and its CEO, Steven Dornsbach, with participating in a conspiracy to rig bids for public concrete repair and construction contracts in the state of Minnesota.
According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Dornsbach and Kamida conspired to rig bids on concrete repair and construction contracts submitted to at least four municipalities in the state of Minnesota, including local governments and school districts in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, from at least as early as September 2012 and continuing through at least July 2017. Last year, Minnesota concrete contractor Clarence Olson pleaded guilty for his involvement in the conspiracy.
“Bid-rigging schemes that target local government contracts cheat taxpayers out of the benefits of competition,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This indictment affirms the division’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the government procurement process at all levels of government.”
“For years, the defendants allegedly cheated their own communities by conspiring to rig bids on concrete repair and construction contracts for local governments and school districts,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Bid rigging is not a victimless crime; it reduces competition and charges taxpayers the difference. This indictment shows that the FBI and our partners are committed to investigating those who try to cheat the system for their own gain.”
The defendants are each charged with a violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals, and a $100 million fine for corporations. The maximum fine for a Sherman Act charge may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office is prosecuting the case, which was investigated with the assistance of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office.
In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
Mexican National Sentenced to over 8 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in Tehama CountyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Maria Cervantes-Echevarria, 35, a Mexican national living in Los Molinos, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley, to eight years and nine months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Cervantes-Echevarria pleaded guilty in May 2019. According to court records, federal agents began investigating Cervantes-Echevarria and co-defendant Miguel Cervantes in 2017 for suspected methamphetamine trafficking in Shasta and Tehama Counties. In August and September 2018, an undercover agent purchased over 3 pounds of methamphetamine from Cervantes during three controlled buys. In addition, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cervantes-Echevarria’s and co-defendant Marta Jiminez Lopez’s home in September 2018, they seized approximately 34 pounds of methamphetamine, 3 pounds of heroin, three firearms, and over $44,000 in cash.
Cervantes and Lopez, both Mexican nationals living in Los Molinos, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Cervantes was sentenced to nine years in prison in February 2020. Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced in May 2022.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the Tehama Interagency Drug Enforcement (TIDE) task force, and the Siskiyou Unified Major Investigations Team (SUMIT), with special assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Man Pleads Guilty to and is Sentenced for Immigration CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Mexican national man pleaded guilty to the felony offense of reentry of a removed alien. Enoc Lopez-Garcia, 29, was found guilty by the Court and sentenced to “time served,” having spent approximately four months in federal custody. Lopez-Garcia was subsequently remanded to ICE custody for possible removal proceedings from the United States.
According to court documents and statements made during the hearing, on November 9, 2021, Lopez-Garcia was found in Parkersburg by members of ICE who had identified him during the course of an investigation. ICE agents spoke to the defendant to confirm his identity. Lopez-Garcia had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States, and he was placed under arrest.
Fingerprinting matched Lopez-Garcia to three prior administrative removals from the United States, one in 2014 and two in 2019. Lopez-Garcia has misdemeanor convictions in Jackson County for battery and brandishing deadly weapons. Lopez-Garcia never obtained permission to legally enter the United States and had not sought legal status or citizenship. Lopez-Garcia is a citizen of Mexico.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Street Crimes Unit of the Parkersburg Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and Erik S. Goes handled the prosecution.
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-00248.
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Member of Brockton-Based Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 19 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The member of a violent Brockton-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a heroin trafficking conspiracy.
Lutherson Bonheur, a/k/a “Boogs,” 29, of Brockton, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 19 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2020, Bonheur pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin; two counts of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and cocaine; two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense resulting in death.
Bonheur was arrested and charged in November 2015 along with four co-conspirators as part of a coordinated enforcement operation dubbed “Operation Heroin Highway.” The investigation identified co-conspirator Marvin Antoine to be the leader of a DTO involved in drug and sex trafficking in the Brockton area. Eventually, 10 defendants were charged and convicted in this case.
Bonheur was Antoine’s trusted right-hand man and lived at the DTO’s stash house which maintained heroin, cocaine, and firearms. The stash location also housed women who Bonheur and Antoine trafficked for commercial sex acts and were used by Bonheur and Antoine to test new batches of heroin before selling to customers. On a daily basis, Bonheur and his co-conspirators packaged and delivered drugs to a wide customer base between Brockton and the South Shore.
In addition to selling drugs, Bonheur collected drug debts owed to the DTO and at times used violence to do so. In September 2015, approximately three weeks after being released on bail for possession of heroin, Bonheur lured a heroin customer to a location in Hyde Park, under the guise that Bonheur needed the victim to conduct counter-surveillance while he purchased heroin. When they arrived in Hyde Park, Bonheur shot and killed the victim with a handgun. Bonheur subsequently drove to Antoine’s residence where they arranged a sale of the murder weapon. The handgun was later intercepted by investigators.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Barnstable Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department and the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah B. Foley and Stephen W. Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit 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.
Member of "Boogaloo Bois" Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to HamasRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Michael Robert Solomon, 31, of New Brighton, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to provide material support and resources, to Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization, for use against Israeli and U.S. military personnel overseas.
According to court documents, in late May of 2020, the FBI initiated an investigation into Solomon and co-defendant Benjamin Ryan Teeter, two members of the “Boogaloo Bois,” and a sub-group called the “Boojahideen.” The Boogaloo Bois are a group of individuals who espouse violent anti-government sentiments.
According to court documents, on June 10, 2020, Solomon and Teeter met with a confidential human source (“CHS”), whom the defendants believed to be a member of Hamas. During this meeting, Solomon and Teeter proposed assisting Hamas as a means of furthering the goals of the Boogaloo Bois. Throughout the course of the conspiracy, Solomon used encrypted messaging applications to communicate with Teeter and the CHS about various aspects of the conspiracy.
On June 28, 2020, Solomon, Teeter, and the CHS, met an undercover employee of the FBI (“UCE”) that Solomon believed was a member of Hamas. During this meeting, Solomon and Teeter proposed manufacturing suppressors, untraceable firearms, and fully automatic firearms for Hamas.
On July 6, 2020, Solomon and Teeter purchased a drill press for the purpose of manufacturing suppressors for Hamas. Solomon admits that he and Teeter had planned to use the drill press to also manufacture suppressors for members of the Boogaloo Bois. Solomon and Teeter brought the drill press to Solomon’s home and later used the drill press to manufacture five suppressors.
On July 30, 2020, Solomon and Teeter delivered the suppressors to the CHS and UCE believing those devices would be used by the militant wing of Hamas. During that meeting, the defendants agreed to manufacture additional suppressors for Hamas believing that the next batch of suppressors would be used against Israeli and U.S. military personnel overseas.
Solomon admitted that he and Teeter again met the UCE on August 29, 2020. During this meeting, the defendants gave the UCE a 3-D printed “auto sear” believing that the auto sear would be used by Hamas to convert semi-automatic rifles into fully automatic rifles. At this time, Solomon and Teeter agreed to obtain, and did obtain, another order of auto sears for the CHS and the UCE.
On May 4, 2021, Solomon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats for the District of Minnesota; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis sentenced the defendant. In sentencing the defendant, the Court recognized the extensive assistance to multiple investigations that Solomon provided to the FBI following his arrest.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter and Trial Attorney Jessica Fender of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Medical Assistant Admits Health Care Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A former medical assistant today admitted defrauding New Jersey state and local health benefits programs and other insurers of more than $1 million by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced.
Aaron Jones, 27, of Willingboro, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Jones previously worked for a medical practice in Stratford, New Jersey, owned by Dr. Michael Goldis. Jones was paid by a pharmaceutical sales representative, Richard Zappala, to identify patients at the medical practice who had insurance plans that would cover compounded prescription medications. Jones forged Goldis’ signature on numerous compounded medication prescriptions, including on prescriptions for individuals who were not Goldis’ patients. Jones also arranged for Goldis to sign prescriptions for the compounded medications, regardless of whether or not the individuals receiving the prescriptions had a medical necessity for them. Jones received approximately $10,000 in cash for his role in the scheme.
Jones was previously indicted for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and other offenses, along with Goldis, Steven Monaco, and Dr. Daniel Oswari. Oswari pleaded guilty in December 2019 to fraud and kickback charges. Goldis pleaded guilty in June 2020 to four counts of making false statements relating to health care matters. Zappala pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in September 2017. The charges remain pending against Monaco, who is scheduled for trial before Judge Kugler in Camden federal court on April 4, 2022.
Jones faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for July 12, 2022.
Attorney for the United States Khanna credited agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez in Newark; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. David Walk, Jr. and Christina O. Hud of the Criminal Division.
The charges and allegations against Monaco are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Martinsburg man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Damian Lovett, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Lovett, 39, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine Base and Cocaine Hydrochloride.” Lovett admitted to working with others to distribute cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and cocaine hydrochloride, also known as “coke,” from November 2020 to March 2021 in Berkeley County and elsewhere.
Lovett faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; the United States Marshals Service; the Department of Homeland Security; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; and the Washington County, Maryland, Narcotics Task Force investigated.
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.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Martinsburg man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Ryan Ramney, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Ramney, 38, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride.” Ramney admitted to having cocaine hydrochloride, also known as “coke,” in July 2021 in Berkeley County.
Ramney faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor F. Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Department of Homeland Security investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Maple Valley, Washington, man sentenced to 10 years in prison for dealing drugs and illegally possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A Maple Valley, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin. Daryl Brandon Dennis, 33, was arrested in July 2021, following a 6-month investigation by the King County Sheriff’s Office. At today’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones noted the harm Dennis’ drug dealing did to the community saying, “the large volume of drugs” he possessed has an “impact on a large number of lives” and that Dennis has no idea who is harmed once he “put the drugs into the stream.”
“Sadly, fentanyl-involved deaths more than doubled in King County from 2020 to 2021. That troubling statistic highlights the importance of stopping the trafficking of these deadly drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Mr. Dennis’ storage trailer contained thousands of fentanyl pills, heroin, meth and cocaine, as well as a dozen firearms – four of them stolen. A dangerous combination for our community.”
According to records filed in the case, Dennis’ drug dealing came to the attention of King County Sheriff’s deputies in January 2021. For the next few months, detectives surveilled Dennis and arranged some undercover purchases. On July 2, 2021, investigators searched his home and car. Just prior to the court authorized search officers noticed Dennis loading duffel bags into the car – inside investigators found guns and drugs. Dennis led police to his storage trailer in Kent, Washington. Where they found 12 more guns, 2 grenades, and drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, mushrooms, MDMA and prescription narcotics such as Xanax.
“Illegal drugs have touched too many lives in King County,” said Interim Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. “I could not be more proud to lead the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office. Together, we share a commitment to make communities throughout our region safer.”
Dennis was indicted federally in September 2021. He pleaded guilty in November 2021.
The case was investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
King County Sheriff's Office Drugs and guns seized in U.S. v. DennisManchester Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Patrick R. Baker, 32, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 23, 2020, Hooksett police officers were surveilling a local motel generally associated with drug use and distribution. After an encounter with Baker, additional investigation revealed that Baker’s girlfriend was the subject of several outstanding warrants and was likely inside the motel with Baker. Officers went to the motel room and located Baker and his girlfriend. Baker was located in the bathroom where officers observed evidence of drug use in plain view. The room was secured and officers obtained a search warrant. While executing the warrant, officers seized Baker’s wallet and ID as well as a backpack belonging to Baker which contained a ledger consistent with drug activity, $1,951 in cash, a loaded 9mm handgun, and various baggies containing 112 grams of methamphetamine.
Baker is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2022. In addition to his sentence, Baker will forfeit $1,951 in cash and the handgun.
“Armed drug traffickers pose a substantial threat to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Farley. “By selling a dangerous and addictive drug while armed, this defendant’s actions endangered public health and safety. We are working closely with our law enforcement partners to prevent violent crime by holding armed drug dealers responsible for their dangerous and illegal conduct.”
This matter was investigated by the Hooksett Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth. The forfeiture portion of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rabuck.
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Man Sentenced for Hurling Molotov Cocktail at Newark Planned ParenthoodRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that 20-year-old Samuel Gulick, of Middletown, was sentenced in federal court yesterday for crimes associated with fire-bombing a Planned Parenthood facility in Newark, Delaware in January 2020. U.S. District Judge Leonard P. Stark imposed a sentence of 26 months in prison, to be followed by three (3) years of supervised release. While under court supervision, the defendant will participate in a structured mental-health treatment plan in a controlled environment. This sentence was a joint request from the parties, and is based on a threat assessment performed by the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU).
According to court documents and statements made in open court, at approximately 2:16 a.m., on January 3, 2020, Samuel Gulick drove to the Planned Parenthood facility in Newark, Delaware. Video surveillance captured Gulick standing on the front porch of the building and spray-painting the phrase “Deus Vult” – Latin for “God Wills” – in red letters. Gulick then stepped off the front porch, lit an object and threw it at the front window. The object, a Molotov Cocktail, exploded and Gulick ran away. The fire burned for approximately one minute before self-extinguishing; the front window and porch of the building were damaged.
Law enforcement arrested Gulick the following day. At the time, Gulick was still in high school. Shortly after his arrest, the FBI’s BAU performed a comprehensive threat assessment of the defendant. This included a review of his prior psychological and medical records, an independent diagnosis by a clinical forensic psychologist, and an extended in-person interview. Based on this data, BAU opined that an extended period of incarceration could entrench the defendant’s mindset, without providing him with the skills needed to change his life.
Thereafter, the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with the BAU, defense counsel, U.S. Probation, and a nationally-renowned behavioral analyst to craft a long-term treatment plan to address the defendant’s medical, developmental, and behavioral needs. The defendant will adhere to this plan for three years and be under court supervision. For the first year, the defendant will be housed at a Residential Reentry Center – a facility that will enable him to participate in therapy sessions in a secure environment. Thereafter, if he makes appropriate progress, Gulick will be released to a less restrictive setting.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “This was an egregious crime. I applaud the investigative efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement who worked quickly to identify and bring Mr. Gulick to justice. But this was a team effort in more ways than one. I also want to thank the mental health and behavioral science professionals – including those in FBI’s BAU – for the hard work and many hours they devoted to this case.”
“My appreciation goes out to the multiple law enforcement agencies who quickly worked together to identify and arrest Mr. Gulick. In only a few hours following his attack, investigative operations were successful, ensuring Mr. Gulick would not pose a further threat to the citizens of Delaware.” said SAC Thomas J. Sobocinski. “Today’s sentencing should serve as a deterrence to others who use violence to discourage women from receiving lawful services those facilities provide.”
“Attacking and terrorizing law-abiding citizens to achieve personal political goals is a heinous act, one which ATF and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C Cheeks, Jr. “We are grateful that no one was injured as a result of this defendant’s criminal actions and that the hard work of investigators’ efforts has resulted in him being held accountable for them.”
The FBI Baltimore Division's Wilmington Resident Agency investigated the matter with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Delaware State Police, Newark Police Department, Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office, New Castle County Police Department and University of Delaware Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn A. Weede and Ruth Mandelbaum prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 21-cr-01.
Man Charged with Federal Gun Crime in Connection with Death of ChildRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Yesterday, Joshua Christopher Ramirez, 32, of San Antonio was arrested in San Antonio on criminal charges related to allegations that a gun he possessed was used to kill a two-year-old child.
According to court documents, on February 18, 2022, San Antonio police officers responded to a 911 call regarding the shooting of a two-year-old female. Officers found the child with a single gunshot to the head. The child was transported to the hospital where she eventually died. During the investigation, it was reported the child had shot herself with a gun owned by Ramirez who was the boyfriend of the victim’s mother. During a search of Ramirez’ residence, a duffel bag was found that contained a Glock Model 35, .40 caliber handgun. Ramirez had a previous felony conviction and cannot legally possess a firearm.
Ramirez is charged by a federal criminal complaint with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. If convicted, Ramirez faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Fred J. Milanowski, Houston Division, made the announcement.
The ATF is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Nowinski is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mahoning County Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Joseph Andrew Garchar, 36, of Lowellville, Ohio, with sexual exploitation of a child.
According to the indictment, in April and October of 2021, the defendant is accused of engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a minor for the purpose of producing child pornography.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler and FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith made the announcement.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The case was investigated by the Youngstown Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.
Luzerne County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Thomas Evanchik, age 41, formerly of Kingston, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on March 9, 2022, before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to the charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Evanchik admitted to conspiring with other individuals to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, between 160 and 280 grams of fentanyl in the Luzerne County area in 2020. Judge Mariani ordered that a presentence report be completed for Evanchik. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Evanchik faces a mandatory minimum 5-year imprisonment term. The maximum sentence under federal law is up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Louisiana Man Convicted of Traveling Across State Line to Engage in Sex with a MinorRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – A federal jury convicted a Louisiana man this week of traveling from one state to another with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with a minor.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ronald Joseph Latiolais, III, age 26, met a Mississippi teen online and drove from Louisiana to Mississippi to meet the 13-year old in April of 2019. Despite knowing she was underage, Latiolais went to the teen’s house during the night, cut the screen on the minor’s bedroom window, and escaped with the teen. Latiolais admitted to committing sexual acts on the minor during a stop on the drive from Mississippi to Louisiana. The jury considered the testimony of the minor and her parents, as well as a Special Agent from the FBI and a Special Agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Latiolais was found guilty of transporting a minor in interstate commerce with the intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity. He will be sentenced by Judge Michael P. Mills in June of 2022.
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby made the announcement concerning the jury’s guilty verdict.
The FBI and MBI investigated the case with assistance from local law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Parker Kline and Julie Addison are prosecuting the case.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Enrique Steven Abarca, 26, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 27 years for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture with two prior serious drug felonies by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Following his release from prison, Abarca will serve 10 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Abarca was convicted of the conspiracy charge by a federal jury in December of 2021 after a four-day trial. He was held responsible for the distribution of more than 10 kilograms (11 pounds) of methamphetamine mixture in the Lincoln area between May and August of 2019.
Abarca had prior felony convictions for delivery of methamphetamine for which he received a sentence of one to three years from Platte County, Nebraska in 2016 and conspiracy to deliver cocaine for which he was sentenced to two years in prison from Dodge County, Nebraska in 2017. As a result of these two prior convictions for serious drug felonies, he faced a statutory minimum sentence of 25 years.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force with assistance from the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.
Leader of Violent Gang on Staten Island Indicted for Murder in-Aid-of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
A superseding indictment was filed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging John Pena, also known as “Tragedy,” “Don Tragg,” “Last Don” and “Money Baggz,” with murder in-aid-of-racketeering for the March 10, 2021 murder of Mark Bajandas on Staten Island. The superseding indictment also charges Pena with causing death through use of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and crack cocaine. Pena was previously arrested in June 2021 on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition related to Bajandas’s murder and he was ordered detained in federal custody pending trial. Pena will be arraigned at a later date.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.
“As alleged, the defendant, a leader of a violent street gang, unleashed a barrage of gunfire on a public street, killing the victim and placing our community in grave danger,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office, working closely with our federal and local law enforcement partners, is relentlessly pursuing gang members who terrorize our neighborhoods with senseless acts of gun violence, and we will not rest until this threat is neutralized.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance on the investigation.
“As alleged, Pena murdered a perceived rival, who sustained 18 gunshot wounds in the attack,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. “His apparent lack of respect for the sanctity of human life will now be met with appropriate consequences imposed by the federal criminal justice system. Along with our NYPD partners, we will continue to be relentless in addressing the scourge of gang and gun violence that plagues our city.”
“The elimination of violent streets gangs is an absolute precondition to the sustainable prosperity and justice that New Yorkers deserve,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “Everyone has a right to live in peace and safety. But gang activity – particularly the carrying and indiscriminate shooting of illegal guns on our streets – injects fear into the daily lives of people in our communities. The NYPD, in close partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, will continue to use every tool at our disposal to identify, arrest, and hold accountable these criminals.”
As alleged in the superseding indictment, the Gorilla Stone Mafia (or “GSM”) is a subgroup of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation, which is a faction of the nationwide Bloods street gang comprised primarily of individuals residing in and around the Stapleton neighborhood of Staten Island. Members of GSM use intimidation, threats of violence and acts of violence, including murder, robbery and assault, to preserve and protect GSM’s power, territory, and criminal ventures, and to expand the GSM’s criminal operations. They use drug trafficking, gun trafficking, robbery, fraud and trafficking in stolen identities as means of obtaining money.
According to court filings, Pena was the leader of the Gorilla Stone Mafia. In the early morning hours of March 10, 2021, Pena fired multiple gunshots from close range at Bajandas, a former GSM associate and perceived rival, killing him. Bajandas suffered at least 18 gunshot wounds to his upper torso and extremities. The murder occurred after Pena and Bajandas had attended a memorial earlier in the evening to commemorate the death of Avanti Brock, a former GSM member who was murdered approximately one year earlier.
If convicted, Pena faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorney’s Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Saritha Komatireddy, Matthew R. Galeotti, Tara B. McGrath, and Garen Marshall are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
JOHN PENA
Age: 31
Staten Island, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-176 (S-1) (AMD)
Law Enforcement Operation Results in 25 Arrests for Drug-trafficking Conspiracy, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An investigation into an armed and violent drug-trafficking organization led to the arrests of 25 Kansas City, Missouri, area residents this week in an operation that involved more than 200 law enforcement officers from multiple local and federal agencies.
“This operation removed a large number of armed and dangerous drug dealers from the streets of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “After a nearly year-long investigation, our law enforcement partners worked together to take down a significant drug-trafficking organization and reduce the threat of violent crime in our neighborhoods.”
The operation resulted in 21 arrests on Wednesday, March 9, and four arrests on Tuesday, March 8. Officers seized 27 firearms, 1,877 rounds of ammunition, more than 11.1 kilograms of marijuana, 300.9 grams of cocaine, 278.91 grams of other illegal drugs, and $34,439 in cash. Additional seizures are still in the process of being logged into evidence.
More than 200 law enforcement officers were involved in the operation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Independence, Mo., Police Department.
“This operation sends a very clear message to those using firearms in crime, selling narcotics and terrorizing our neighborhoods,” said Frederic Winston, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division. “Law enforcement is working together at every level, to hold you accountable for the crimes you commit and the havoc you have brought to our community.”
“We know that violence and drug trafficking go hand in hand,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley, supervisor of DEA operations in Western Missouri. “Working with our federal and local partners in operations like the one yesterday, DEA is one step closer toward reversing the devastating trends of overdoses and drug-related violence threatening Kansas City.”
Kevin C. Cokes, also known as “Big K” and “Uncle,” 60, Mercedez M. Gardner, also known as “Twin,” 36, November D. Gardner, also known as “October” and “Nuttie,” 23, Idella Gardner, also known as “Lupi,” 34, Delmar L. Hatcher, 51, Nathaniel B. Chapple, 24, Treandre R. Walker, 24, Hazel M. Berymon, 64, Carlton L. Burns, also known as “Pooder,” 24, Christopher J. Hicks-Berry, 35, Kyeir C. Theus, 35, Tony L. Davis, 52, Michael R. Parks, 62, Brian T. Boxly, 45, Parris J. Walker, 27, Jachobette J. Gardner, 42, Reginald L. Mitchem, 42, Eliot E. Cox, 32, Martell C. Cratch, 30, Anthony D. Stuckey, 66, Matthew Rogers, 59, Gloria Hutchinson, 37, Eddie L. Nicholson, Jr., also known as “Junior,” 54, Toneisha R. Blackmon, 29, and Shania N. Bailey, 23, all of Kansas City, Mo., and Deone D. Gardner, also known as “Twin,” 28, of Belton, Mo., were charged in an 86-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on March 1, 2022.
The federal indictment alleges that all 26 defendants have participated in a conspiracy since Jan. 28, 2019, to distribute crack cocaine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in Jackson County. That indictment was unsealed and made public yesterday following the arrests of most of the defendants.
According to court documents, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began investigating an armed drug trafficking organization operating primarily in east Kansas City, Mo., in April 2021. Members are known to sell marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, purported ecstasy pills, purported Percocet pills (believed to be counterfeit pills made with fentanyl), purported OxyContin pills, carry firearms, and commit acts of violence.
In a motion seeking his detention in federal custody without bond, the government alleges that Cokes is the main supplier for the organization. The motion cites several instances in which various defendants have been stopped by law enforcement officers, while they were in possession of illegal drugs and firearms. In some instances, defendants attempted to flee from officers.
Among the incidents cited in the government’s detention motion are shootings that occurred at 208 Westport Road in Kansas City, Mo., on April 17, 2021, and in the area of 24th Street and Van Brunt in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 26, 2019. Three victims were wounded in the early afternoon shooting at Westport, and witnesses described two shooters with AK-style weapons. Numerous shots were fired at the 24th Street shooting but no injuries were reported. A Nissan Pathfinder rental vehicle, which was parked at that location, was struck by gunfire.
In addition to the conspiracy, various defendants are charged in 16 drug-trafficking counts and 57 counts of illegally using a telephone to facilitate the conspiracy.
November Gardner and Deone Gardner were also charged together in one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes.
November Gardner was also charged in two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and two counts of being a user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms.
Cokes and Walker were also charged together in one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Deone Gardner and Theus were also charged in separate counts with being felons in possession of firearms.
November Gardner and Hicks-Berry were charged in one count of aiding and abetting each other in the destruction of a motor vehicle with the intent to endanger the safety of another person and with reckless disregard for the safety of human life. The indictment alleges they destroyed a parked Nissan Pathfinder rental vehicle on Nov. 26, 2021. They are also charged with one count of aiding and abetting each other to use a firearm in relation to that crime.
November Gardner and Burns are also charged together in one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Additional Defendants
Two additional defendants were arrested as part of the investigation, but charged separately in federal indictments that also were unsealed yesterday.
John E. Johnson, 29, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. John Johnson allegedly was in possession of a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun on Feb. 8, 2022.
Arron L. Hall, 42, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged with three counts of distributing methamphetamine and marijuana from May 5 to June 10, 2021.
The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, who Eddie L. Nicholson, Jr., also known as “Junior,” 54, se duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie C. Bradshaw. They were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Buchanan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Johnson County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department and the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department.
KC Metro Strike Force
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces 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 against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. 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.
Law Enforcement Cooperation Between United States and Mexico Leads to Mexican Takedown of Significant Human SmugglersRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced today that extensive bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico resulted in Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office, Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), conducting a significant enforcement operation last week to dismantle a prolific transnational human smuggling organization operating in Nogales, Sonora, along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The targeted human smuggling organization is alleged to be responsible for illegally smuggling large numbers of individuals from Mexico, Central America, and South America into the District of Arizona and other locations throughout the United States. The enforcement operation on March 2, 2022 included the execution of six arrest warrants in Mexico for smuggling coordinators: Arturo Tienda-Garcia, aka “Tuercas,” Jose Guadalupe Tienda-Garcia, aka “Pantera,” Gilberto Escalante-Osuna, aka “Mochomo,” Uriel Cruz-Tienda, aka “Quiqui,” Cristal Tolentino-Hernandez, and Alfonso Sotelo-Contreras, aka “Pajaro.”
United States authorities provided assistance to Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office through coordination under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime.
To date, the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, has prosecuted U.S.-based coordinators and operators with alleged ties to the same smuggling organization including Benjamin Gallegos, Amalia Gonzalez-Lara, Sergio Vazquez-Flores, Macario Ulises Barragan-Cisneros, Jaziel Tienda-Ibarra, Daniel Garcia-Salgado, Cesar Bermeo-Diaz, Isamar Chaparro-Vizcarra, and Oswaldo Tienda-Castro. These nine individuals have been convicted of Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit. Additional alleged coordinators for the organization have been indicted by a federal grand jury on alien smuggling charges including Enrique Villalobos-Lopez and Ian Esteban Serrano.
“The Attorney General established Joint Task Force Alpha to address the threat posed by transnational human smuggling networks, and this operation is a prime example of its impact,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “JTFA marshals the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department, and its law enforcement partners, to target human smugglers and enhances coordination in transnational law enforcement efforts to better combat these criminal organizations.”
“Border security is less about erecting barriers between nations, and more about increasing cooperation among neighbors,” said Gary Restaino, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “This operation is a stellar example of what can be accomplished when U.S. and Mexican authorities work together across the border. For years, these individuals have violated the laws of the United States and Mexico with impunity, and their apprehension will make citizens of both countries safer.”
“HSI-Phoenix is grateful for its collaboration with HSI Mexico City and their partnership with the Government of Mexico. These joint efforts demonstrate the commitment of both of our nations to not let borders be barriers when it comes to confronting the transnational criminal organizations that negatively impact both of our nations,” said Scott Brown, Special Agent in Charge for HSI-Phoenix.
HSI-Nogales led the investigation in the United States, working in concert with United States Border Patrol. Support by HSI-Mexico City, with the assistance of HSI's Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU)-Mexico, was critical in providing coordination between United States and Mexican law enforcement agencies. The Department of Justice, including the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona in Tucson, the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and the Office of International Affairs, provided significant assistance in this matter.
CASE NUMBERS: CR-21-1322-TUC-SHR-BGM (Gallegos)
CR-21-0613-TUC-RCC-JR (Gonzalez-Lara/Vazquez-Flores)
CR-21-2672-TUC-SHR-MSA (Barragan-Cisneros)
CR-21-1882-TUC-JAS-MSA (Tienda-Ibarra)
CR-21-1615-TUC-JAS-MSA (Garcia-Salgado)
CR-21-1245-TUC-JCH-BGM (Bermeo-Diaz)
CR-21-0869-TUC-RCC-BGM (Chaparro-Vizcarra/Serrano)
CR-21-1038-TUC-SHR-LCK (Tienda-Castro)
CR-21-1323-TUC-RM-LCK (Villalobos-Lopez)RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-022_Pollos Hermanos
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Law Enforcement Cooperation Between United States and Mexico Leads to Mexican Takedown of Significant Human SmugglersRead the Press Release
Extensive bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico resulted in the Mexico Attorney General’s Office’s “Fiscalía General de la República” (FGR) conducting a significant enforcement operation to dismantle a prolific transnational human smuggling organization operating in Nogales, Sonora, along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The targeted human smuggling organization is alleged to be responsible for illegally smuggling large numbers of individuals from Mexico, Central America and South America into Arizona and other locations throughout the United States. The enforcement operation included the execution of six arrest warrants in Mexico for smuggling coordinators: Arturo Tienda-Garcia aka Tuercas, Jose Guadalupe Tienda-Garcia aka Pantera, Gilberto Escalante-Osuna aka Mochomo, Uriel Cruz-Tienda aka Quiqui, Cristal Tolentino-Hernandez, and Alfonso Sotelo-Contreras aka Pajaro.
“The Attorney General established Joint Task Force Alpha to address the threat posed by transnational human smuggling networks, and this operation is a prime example of its impact,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “JTFA marshals the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the department, and its law enforcement partners, to target human smugglers and enhances coordination in transnational law enforcement efforts to better combat these criminal organizations.”
“Border security is less about erecting barriers between nations, and more about increasing cooperation among neighbors,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “This operation is a stellar example of what can be accomplished when U.S. and Mexican authorities work together across the border. For years, these individuals have violated the laws of the United States and Mexico with impunity, and their apprehension will make citizens of both countries safer.”
“HSI-Phoenix is grateful for its collaboration with HSI Mexico City and their partnership with the Government of Mexico,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of HSI-Phoenix. “These joint efforts demonstrate the commitment of both of our nations to not let borders be barriers when it comes to confronting the transnational criminal organizations that negatively impact both of our nations.”
U.S. authorities provided assistance to the Mexico Attorney General’s Office through coordination under Joint Task Force Alpha, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The task force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit and endanger migrants, pose national security threats or are involved in organized crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has also prosecuted other U.S.-based coordinators and operators with ties to the smuggling organization, including Benjamin Gallegos, Amalia Gonzalez-Lara, Sergio Vazquez-Flores, Macario Ulises Barragan-Cisneros, Jaziel Tienda-Ibarra, Daniel Garcia-Salgado, Cesar Bermeo-Diaz, Isamar Chaparro-Vizcarra and Oswaldo Tienda-Castro. These nine individuals have been convicted of conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens for profit. Additional alleged coordinators for the organization have been indicted by a federal grand jury on alien smuggling charges including Enrique Villalobos-Lopez and Ian Esteban Serrano. For more information on individual cases, see the below case numbers:
CR-21-1322-TUC-SHR-BGM (Gallegos)
CR-21-0613-TUC-RCC-JR (Gonzalez-Lara/Vazquez-Flores)
CR-21-2672-TUC-SHR-MSA (Barragan-Cisneros)
CR-21-1882-TUC-JAS-MSA (Tienda-Ibarra)
CR-21-1615-TUC-JAS-MSA (Garcia-Salgado)
CR-21-1245-TUC-JCH-BGM (Bermeo-Diaz)
CR-21-0869-TUC-RCC-BGM (Chaparro-Vizcarra/Serrano)
CR-21-1038-TUC-SHR-LCK (Tienda-Castro)
CR-21-1323-TUC-RM-LCK (Villalobos-Lopez)
HSI-Nogales led the investigation in the United States, working in concert with the U.S. Border Patrol. Support from HSI-Mexico City, with the assistance of HSI’s Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU)-Mexico, was critical in providing coordination between American and Mexican law enforcement agencies. The Justice Department, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona in Tucson, the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and the Office of International Affairs, provided significant assistance in this matter.