Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Monday 13 January 2025
Erie Resident Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Distribution and Attempted Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $48,000 to seven identified victims on his conviction of distributing and attempting to distribute material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Michael Paul Ambrose, 44, on January 10, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, in and around November 2022, Ambrose distributed and attempted to distribute images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Erie Police Department, and Erie County Detectives Bureau for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ambrose.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un grupo de restaurantes de Minnesota para resolver las reclamaciones por discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia ha anunciado hoy que llegó a un acuerdo con un grupo de restaurantes de Minnesota que opera bajo el nombre de Brick & Bourbon. El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento de que el grupo de restaurantes discriminaba sistemáticamente a los residentes permanentes legales a la hora de verificar su permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos, exigiéndoles más documentos de los necesarios.
“Es ilegal que los empleadores impongan requisitos adicionales o innecesarios a los empleados debido a su estatus de ciudadanía cuando verifican su permiso para trabajar”, dijo la fiscal general auxiliar Kristen Clarke, de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “El trato discriminatorio durante cualquier paso del proceso de empleo perjudica a los trabajadores que participan legalmente en nuestra economía y puede privar a los empleadores de su talento”.
Tras llevar a cabo una investigación, la Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles concluyó que Brick & Bourbon tenía la práctica habitual de exigirles documentación adicional e innecesaria a los residentes permanentes legales, incluso después de que hubieran presentado pruebas suficientes de su permiso para trabajar, debido a su condición de ciudadanía.
A los residentes permanentes legales se les denomina a veces “titulares de la tarjeta verde”, pero pueden demostrar su permiso para trabajar usando distintos tipos de documentación. Como se explica en la hoja informativa para residentes permanentes legales publicada recientemente por el Departamento, la Ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) protege a los residentes permanentes legales de la discriminación cuando un empleador verifica su permiso para trabajar. La INA les prohíbe a los empleadores solicitar documentos específicos o innecesarios debido a la ciudadanía, el estatus migratorio o la nacionalidad de origen del trabajador. Los empleadores deben permitir que los trabajadores presenten cualquier documentación aceptable que elijan y no pueden rechazar documentación válida que parezca razonablemente auténtica y relacionada con el trabajador.
Según los términos del acuerdo, Brick & Bourbon pagará una multa civil de $95,000, capacitará a sus empleados sobre los requisitos de la INA, revisará sus políticas de empleo y se someterá a supervisión departamental.
La IER es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición contra la discriminación de la INA. Esta ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en la contratación, el despido o el reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; las prácticas documentales injustas y las represalias y la intimidación.
El sitio web de la IER tiene más información sobre los derechos de los residentes permanentes legales según la INA y cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación ilegal al verificar el permiso de trabajo de alguien. Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo obtener ayuda a través de este breve video. Los solicitantes o empleados que crean haber sido discriminados por razón de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en la contratación, despido, reclutamiento o durante el proceso de verificación de elegibilidad de empleo (Formulario I-9 y E-Verify), o sometidos a represalias, pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, número de TTY para personas con discapacidad auditiva); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, número de TTY para personas con discapacidad auditiva); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse en un seminario web en vivo; ver una presentación a pedido; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.
Edinburg doctor and son guilty in kickback conspiracyRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 75-year-old Edinburg physician and his 43-year-old son both pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive kickbacks in exchange for referring prescriptions to local pharmacies, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Dr. Tajul Shams Chowdhury, a licensed physician, owned and operated a medical practice in Edinburg called Center for Pain Management. His son, Mohammad Imtiaz Chowdhury, worked as a purported marketer for a local pharmacy.
According to court documents, prescriptions for costly compound drugs were referred from Dr. Chowdhury’s clinic in exchange for kickback payments made from the pharmacy to Mohammad Chowdhury.
In total, Mohammad Chowdhury was paid $6.6 million in kickbacks as part of the scheme.
Both men were permitted to remain on bond pending their sentencing, which is currently scheduled for March 25 before Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane.
At that time, both men face up to five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 possible fine.
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, FBI, Department of Defense – Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Veteran Affairs – OIG, Department of Health and Human Services - OIG and Texas Health and Human Services - OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz is prosecuting the case.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Devontay Brian Johnson, 29, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 3, 2022, Johnson sold approximately 20 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while in a vehicle parked along Wilson Place in Huntington.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin 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. 3:24-cr-24.
###
Corpus Christi man convicted of weapons chargeRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury in Corpus Christi has returned a guilty verdict against a 30-year-old local man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The jury deliberated for 17 minutes following a one-day trial before finding Michael Pulido guilty.
On Feb. 7, 2024, authorities arrived at a local apartment complex following a criminal mischief complaint. The investigation led them to Pulido who had fired four gunshots inside his apartment.
They checked his criminal history and discovered Pulido had been previously convicted of a felony. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.
At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that the gun belonged to someone else. They were not convinced and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 15, at which time Pulido faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Corpus Christi Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmine Tucker and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
Convicted Child Sexual Abuse Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison After Illegally Reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Erbeth Gomez-Delgado, 48, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the country after he was deported.
In November 2024, after a three-day trial, a federal jury found Gomez-Delgado, a convicted child sexual abuse offender, guilty of a sole count of Reentry After Deportation.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Matthew Davies, Acting Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the evidence presented at trial, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol first encountered the defendant on July 29, 2016, as he crossed the U.S. border through the Rio Grande, in Texas. The defendant entered the country without inspection. Gomez-Delgado was then removed from the U.S. and deported to Guatemala on July 29, 2016.
On February 15, 2019, law enforcement became aware that Gomez-Delgado was back in the U.S. after he was arrested and charged with sexually abusing a minor in Prince George’s County. During the reentry trial, the prosecution proved that Gomez-Delgado voluntarily and unlawfully reentered the U.S. prior to February 2019. Gomez-Delgado did not seek or receive permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the U.S.
U.S. Attorney Barron acknowledged the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for their work throughout the investigation and the trial. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney LaShanta Harris and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Shriram Harid who prosecuted this federal case.
Chinese national sentenced in illegal wildlife guide-outfitter schemeRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Chinese national was sentenced today to two years’ supervised release and agreed to turn over to the United States over $73,000 and a luxury vehicle related to an illegal guide-outfitter scheme he ran for over a year.
According to court documents, beginning in August 2021, Jun “Harry” Liang, 41, and his co-conspirator Brian Phelan, 53, of Fairbanks, conspired to provide guide-outfitter services for caribou and brown bear hunts out of Fairbanks. Neither defendant was licensed by the state of Alaska as a big game guide-outfitter.
During the 2022 hunting season, Liang collected $60,000 in advance payments from two undercover agents posing as non-resident hunters in exchange for guide-outfitter services for a brown bear hunt. The money was transferred to Liang’s account through wire transfer and deposited checks.
In furtherance of completing the hunt, in August 2022, Liang and Phelan falsely informed the Alaska Department of Fish and Game that Phelan was the brother-in-law of the two undercover agents, which ultimately led the Department to issue a non-resident brown bear permit and tag based on fraudulent information.
On Sept. 20, 2024, Liang pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act false labeling, and additional violations for failing to obtain a special recreation permit and engaging in business in park areas without a permit in Denali National Park. As part of his sentence for the Lacey Action violation, Liang is also required to pay a $10,000 fine. For guiding without a license on Federal Land, he will pay over $9,000 in restitution to the Bureau of Land Management.
On Dec. 30, 2024, Phelan was sentenced to two and a half years’ probation and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to two counts of violating a regulation for management, use and protection of BLM land, and one count of Lacey Act false labeling.
“Hunting is a vital part of Alaskan communities, and Mr. Liang and Mr. Phelan unjustly enriched themselves through their conspiracy, harming law-abiding guide-outfitters in our state,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their dedication in dismantling Mr. Liang’s illegal operations and upholding our conservation laws. Hopefully this sentence, including the forfeiture of tens of thousands of dollars and goods, will deter others from committing wildlife violations.”
“This sentencing emphasizes our unwavering commitment to safeguarding wildlife and upholding the integrity of our conservation laws,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement will tirelessly pursue anyone exploiting our nation’s wildlife and attempting to make a profit from violating our wildlife laws. Individuals engaging in illegal hunting and guiding activities not only threaten our natural resources but also erode the trust and reputation of dedicated hunters and ethical guides within our communities. The defendants fraudulently secured over $70,000 in payments from hunters through these illegal activities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement will remain vigilant in its efforts to investigate and prosecute those who violate wildlife laws and regulations and related offenses.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Region, with assistance from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation Service, Seattle Field Office, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Vosacek and Steve Skrocki prosecuted the case.
###
Child Sexual Predator Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Glenn Raymond Breeden, 56, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced today to 120 months’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release after planning via cell phone to engage in sexual activity with someone he believed was a minor.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr., comes after Breeden pleaded guilty in June 2024 to coercion and enticement/attempted coercion and enticement.
According to court documents and statements made at Breeden’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, in January 2024, Breeden traveled from Florida to Utah. While in Utah, Breeden communicated via cell phone with an undercover law enforcement officer who he believed was the father of a child under the age of 12. Breeden told the father he planned to engage in sexual activity with the minor. Upon opening the door at a hotel in Salt Lake City to let the father and child into the hotel, Breeden was met by law enforcement and arrested.
The case was investigated by the West Valley Police Department and the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Joey Blanch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Charleston Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Robbery and Weapon ViolationsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Marquine Antonio Benbow, 34, of Charleston, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery affecting interstate commerce and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Benbow committed a series of armed robberies and a carjacking. On Aug. 22, 2017, Benbow carjacked a woman at gunpoint and later drove the vehicle to a Circle K in Summerville. Benbow entered the store where he pointed a weapon at the cashier and demanded money. An hour later, Benbow entered a Circle K in Charleston and again demanded money at gunpoint. Benbow left his DNA behind in the carjacked vehicle and video surveillance at the Summerville and Charleston Circle Ks matched his description.
United States District Judge David C. Norton accepted a negotiated resolution and sentenced Benbow to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
###
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jaron Andrew O'Neal, 38, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, investigators obtained a search warrant for a package addressed to a Barboursville address after a K9 alerted to the package. Investigators opened the package and found it contained approximately 1 kilogram of fentanyl. Investigators replaced the fentanyl with a sham substance and conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the Barboursville address. On January 24, 2023, O'Neal retrieved the package from the address and drove away with it in his vehicle. Investigators conducted a traffic stop of O’Neal’s vehicle and found the package in the vehicle. O’Neal told investigators that he retrieved the package believing that it contained controlled substances.
O'Neal is scheduled to be sentenced on April 28, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
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. 3:24-cr-85.
###
Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Roman Rodriguez, 26, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to receipt and distribution of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, between Feb. 18, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, Rodriguez used an iPhone and the internet to receive and distribute more than 600 images containing visual depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images included depictions of the sexual exploitation of prepubescent minors and at least one toddler.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Art Dealer Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling Bankruptcy Estate of Miracle Mile and Beverly Hills Art GalleryRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An internationally known art dealer was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for embezzling from the bankruptcy estate of Ace Gallery Los Angeles, an art gallery located in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, while acting as the estate’s trustee and custodian.
Douglas J. Chrismas, 80, of the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who also ordered him to pay $12,809,192 in restitution.
At the conclusion of a four-day trial in May 2024, a jury found Chrismas guilty of three counts of embezzlement against a bankruptcy estate.
“Instead of performing his fiduciary duty and properly managing the gallery’s bankruptcy estate, this defendant chose to use funds that belonged to the creditors of the gallery to make them whole, but for his dream of an art museum that never came to be,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Today’s sentence provides a just punishment for these crimes, which were brazenly undertaken by a thief who gamed a system designed to protect those in financial desperation.”
Chrismas was the president and CEO of Art and Architecture Books of the 21st Century, which did business as Ace Gallery and had offices located in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles as well as in Beverly Hills.
In February 2013, Ace Gallery filed a Chapter 11 petition in federal bankruptcy court in Los Angeles and continued to operate while in bankruptcy with Chrismas acting as its fiduciary and trustee.
In late March and early April of 2016, Chrismas embezzled approximately $264,595 that belonged to the Ace Gallery bankruptcy estate, including a $50,000 check that Chrismas signed, was drawn against the estate, and was paid to Ace Museum, a separate non-profit corporation that Chrismas owned and controlled.
Chrismas also embezzled $100,000 owed to Ace Gallery by a third party for the purchase of artwork. Instead, the funds were paid – at his direction – to Ace Museum. Finally, Chrismas embezzled approximately $114,595 owed to the gallery by a third party that purchased artwork, but which Chrismas instead had paid to Ace Museum’s landlord to keep current with its $225,000 monthly rent.
Chrismas funneled money from the bankrupt Ace Gallery for over three years, until April 2016, when the bankruptcy court appointed an independent trustee to run Ace Gallery’s bankruptcy estate and Chrismas was removed.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Valerie L. Makarewicz of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
Army Veteran Sentenced to Federal Prison for over Three-Quarter Million Dollar Benefit FraudRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Kevin Paul McMains, 44, of Milton, Florida, has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of theft of government money and two counts of making false statements to a federal agency. The sentence was announced today by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Our service members, and their families, make incredible sacrifices to defend our country and are deserving of our deepest respect and the disability benefits intended for our injured patriots,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Consequently, the defendant’s fabrication of documents and false claims of service-connected injuries, to include his assertion he was awarded a Purple Heart, is not only criminal, but repugnant. We remain committed to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who defraud government disability programs, stealing benefits earned by our veterans.”
Court documents reflect that for nearly 14 years, McMains received over $779,000 in government disability benefits by providing false information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). McMains submitted fraudulent documentation and made false statements to medical professionals and in his applications claiming that post-traumatic stress was affecting his life to the extent he was unable to work, do normal daily activities, or care for himself, knowing that was not true. In addition, he also falsely claimed he was awarded a Purple Heart as proof of his service-connected injuries. As a result of his fraud, McMains also qualified for and received Social Security disability benefits and Medicare coverage to which he would not have otherwise been entitled.
“This sentence sends a clear message that veterans who defraud VA by exaggerating their disabilities will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov of the VA Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “VA’s programs and services are established to justly compensate deserving veterans and the VA OIG is committed to investigating those who would exploit these programs.”
“Mr. McMains defrauded the Social Security Administration (SSA) of $357,847 with fabricated documents that falsely reported his medical condition. His malicious acts are inexcusable. and this 33-month prison sentence holds him accountable for his crimes,” said Jermaine Jack, Acting Special Agent in Charge, SSA Office of the Inspector General, Atlanta Field Division. “I commend the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General and Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General for their invaluable work in this investigation. Further, I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting this case.”
“Individuals who fraudulently obtain Medicare benefits that they are not entitled to divert taxpayer funds meant to pay for essential health services for legitimate enrollees, including the elderly and disabled,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG remains committed to thoroughly investigating health care fraudsters to hold them accountable for their actions and to send a warning to those considering such fraudulent schemes.”
In addition to a 33-month prison sentence, McMains was ordered to pay restitution of $378,380.82 to the VA, $357,847.80 to the SSA, and $43,451.56 to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. McMains’ prison sentence will be followed by two years of supervised release.
This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Former Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love and Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Forbes prosecuted this case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Friday 10 January 2025
Washington, D.C., Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Assault CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – MacArthur Walker Jr., 58, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on January 8, 2025, to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees involving physical contact.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2024, Walker was driving a vehicle through the New River Gorge National Park area near Sandstone, West Virginia when a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana, and a passenger in Walker’s vehicle told the officer there was approximately 3.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle.
The passenger provided the officer with the marijuana. The officer directed Walker to exit his vehicle and stand by the officer’s vehicle while the officer searched Walker’s vehicle. During the search, the officer found a brown briefcase containing a loaded Rossi .38 Special revolver, a holster, and .38 Special ammunition. After the officer found the firearm, Walker left his ordered position next to the officer’s vehicle and approached the officer. When the officer told him to turn around to be handcuffed, Walker drew back his fist and struck the left side of the officer’s body. The officer deployed a taser to stop Walker.
Walker has a long criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for first-degree theft, multiple controlled substances offenses, and third-offense driving while intoxicated.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Parker Bazzle II and Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-88.
###
Washington, D.C., Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Assault CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – MacArthur Walker Jr., 58, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on January 8, 2025, to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees involving physical contact.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2024, Walker was driving a vehicle through the New River Gorge National Park area near Sandstone, West Virginia when a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana, and a passenger in Walker’s vehicle told the officer there was approximately 3.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle.
The passenger provided the officer with the marijuana. The officer directed Walker to exit his vehicle and stand by the officer’s vehicle while the officer searched Walker’s vehicle. During the search, the officer found a brown briefcase containing a loaded Rossi .38 Special revolver, a holster, and .38 Special ammunition. After the officer found the firearm, Walker left his ordered position next to the officer’s vehicle and approached the officer. When the officer told him to turn around to be handcuffed, Walker drew back his fist and struck the left side of the officer’s body. The officer deployed a taser to stop Walker.
Walker has a long criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for first-degree theft, multiple controlled substances offenses, and third-offense driving while intoxicated.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Parker Bazzle II and Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-88.
###
Virginia Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Sextortion and Production of Sexually Explicit Videos of a MinorRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Virginia man has been sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for using social media to contact and coerce a minor to create sexually explicit material, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between November 2023 and February 2024, Raymond Jung Woo Choi, a.k.a Jason Lee, 42, of Centreville, Virginia, used Instagram and other social media apps to engage in sexually-focused conversations with a 13–14-year-old girl. Often using the alias “Jason Lee,” Choi knowingly enticed and coerced the minor victim to send him sexually explicit images and videos on Instagram. Choi also groomed and enticed the minor victim by providing gifts, which he sent via Amazon or mailed directly via the U.S. Postal Service.
According to court documents, on February 17, 2024, Choi flew from Virginia to Minnesota to attempt to meet the minor victim in person. Because of family and law enforcement intervention, Choi was unsuccessful in his meeting attempt and flew back to Virginia.
Choi pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography on October 2, 2024. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Donovan W. Frank.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Murphy prosecuted the case.
United States Enters into Agreement with Nigeria to Transfer $52.88M in Forfeited Corruption Proceeds for Uses to Benefit the Nigerian PeopleRead the Press Release
Note: View the agreement here.
The Justice Department announced today that the United States entered into an agreement to transfer approximately $52.88 million in forfeited assets to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in recognition of Nigeria’s assistance to the department in an investigation into corruption in the Nigerian oil industry.
“This agreement recognizes the close law enforcement relationship between the United States and Nigeria and Nigeria’s vital assistance that contributed to the successful forfeiture of millions of dollars of corruption proceeds,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Our strong coordination with international partners to trace and recover assets leaves corrupt actors few places to hide their ill-gotten gains. Today’s agreement to return nearly $53 million in forfeited funds to support Nigeria and its people through electrification projects and cross-border efforts to combat terrorism demonstrates forfeiture’s power as a tool to help remediate the harms of corruption and to invest in our global fight against terrorism.”
“The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to the global fight against corruption,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “By ensuring these forfeited funds are repatriated to Nigeria to benefit the Nigerian people through critical projects and counterterrorism efforts, the FBI reaffirms our dedication to promoting transparency and dismantling the systems that enable corruption to thrive.”
“The repatriation of these funds to Nigeria to benefit the citizens of Nigeria is one of the primary goals of the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “IRS-CI is proud to partner with the global law enforcement community in this initiative to restore these vital resources to the projects and programs that promote Nigeria’s continued prosperity.”
These assets were forfeited as part of an investigation by the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative of the International Unit of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), a dedicated team that seeks to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, repatriate those assets to the countries harmed by corruption for the benefit of their people. According to court documents, from 2011 to 2015, Nigerian businessmen Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore conspired with others to pay bribes to Nigeria’s former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. In return, Alison-Madueke used her influence to steer lucrative oil contracts to companies owned by Aluko and Omokore. Proceeds from the scheme of more than $100 million were then laundered into and through the United States and used to purchase various assets, including luxury real estate in California and New York as well as the Galactica Star, a 65-meter superyacht. The real estate was also used as collateral for loans to Aluko and shell companies he controlled. As part of the forfeiture process, those lien holders were paid. The assets were forfeited as a result of corruption, bribery, money laundering, and other illegal acts in violation of Nigerian and U.S. law. The Federal Repubic of Nigeria provided crucial assistance to the United States leading to the forfeitures, including providing extensive evidentiary and investigative support.
The agreement was signed in Abuja, Nigeria, today by Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN, and U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard M. Mills Jr. Under the agreement, $50 million of the recovered funds will be dedicated to an expansion of the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-Up project, an existing electrification project funded, in part, by the International Development Association and implemented by the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency. This program is intended to increase access to electricity services in Nigeria with renewable energy generation. Approximately $2.88 million of the forfeited funds will be used towards Nigeria’s contribution to the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) and used to support capacity-building for criminal justice sector practitioners and relevant stakeholders in the region, including through activities focused on countering the financing of terrorism, development and implementation of the Counter-Terrorism Academic Curriculum of the IIJ, and institutional support for the IIJ particularly in the North, West, and East Africa regions.
The agreement contains key measures designed to promote transparency and accountability. Under the agreement, the $50 million dedicated to electrification programs will be managed and disbursed through a World Bank trust fund, subject to World Bank oversight controls, auditing, and publication requirements. Similarly, the IIJ counterterrorism and rule of law programs will be subject to external auditing, periodic progress reporting, and public reporting.
These forfeiture actions were prosecuted by MLARS’ International Unit. The FBI and IRS-CI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance.
The Criminal Division, through MLARS’ International Unit, administers the Justice Department’s international asset forfeiture sharing program. Pursuant to federal law, and in coordination with the Departments of the Treasury and State, the Attorney General may share proceeds of successful forfeiture of property with foreign countries that participate in the seizure or forfeiture of the property.
United States Attorney’s Office Hosts Second Annual Human Trafficking Simulation for Human Trafficking Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina (USAO-MDNC), in partnership with The Human Trafficking Resource Center and the Lexington Police Department, hosted a simulation for community members, law enforcement, and service organizations to learn about the warning signs of human trafficking and provide resources for victims.
Each year, the Department of Justice recognizes National Human Trafficking Awareness month in January in an effort to better educate the public about the signs of human trafficking and bring awareness to the victims. This year, the USAO-MDNC hosted its second annual human trafficking simulation to allow law enforcement and service providers a chance to learn more about what it is like to be a victim of human trafficking in order to better serve victims and their families. Despite the forecast winter storm, approximately 35 participants from all around the state took part in this event, including service providers, NGOs, churches, medical providers, law enforcement, analysts, and victims’ services. Participants were also given a chance to speak with prosecutors and law enforcement about the government response to human trafficking and what resources are available.
“The exploitation of human beings for profit and has no place in any society. Whether it’s forced labor, domestic servitude, or sex trafficking of children or adults, human trafficking is happening every day in every state, stripping victims of their dignity and forcing them into a life of fear and servitude,” said United States Attorney Hairston. “The public is law enforcement’s most valuable partner in identifying cases and preventing this heinous crime, and we are proud to host this event to educate members of both the community and law enforcement on the ways to recognize and prevent human trafficking.”
If you or someone you know has experienced human trafficking, help is available. The National Human Trafficking Hotline provides free, confidential help, 24/7. Call: 1-888-373-7888; Text: HELP to 233733 (BEFREE); or Chat: humantraffickinghotline.org/chat. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
###
United States Attorney Kate E. Brubacher announces resignationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – United States Attorney for the District of Kansas Kate E. Brubacher announced that she has submitted her resignation to President Joe Biden effective January 19, 2025. Brubacher was sworn in as the 42nd presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney (USA) for the District of Kansas on March 10, 2023. She was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the first woman to serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District.
“Serving the People in my home state as United States Attorney for the District of Kansas has been a high honor,” said Brubacher. “I am grateful to President Biden for nominating me. I am also grateful to Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall for their support for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and prioritizing the rule of law in Kansas.”
The District of Kansas employs Assistant U.S. Attorneys and support staff who work in three offices associated with the federal courts which are in Kansas City, Kan., Topeka, and Wichita. The jurisdiction covers all 105 counties of Kansas, with a population of approximately 2.9 million.
“I leave this position with overwhelming respect for the career attorneys, professional staff, and the dedicated law enforcement officers who work diligently and in good faith every day to protect the public and uphold our Constitution,” Brubacher said. “Together, we focused on confronting the fentanyl epidemic and keeping Kansans safe from violent crime, including crimes against children, and we paid just amounts when there were just claims against the United States. The people and partnerships in Kansas are unsurpassed, and I look forward to seeing the continued success of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the years ahead.”
The District of Kansas’ mission is to protect citizens from terrorism, enforce federal laws, and advance the interests of the U.S. government. Some accomplishments under Brubacher’s tenure include disrupting international drug trafficking cartels, bringing child pornography offenders to justice, and prosecuting white collar criminal acts. Here are some of the noteworthy cases.
FINANCIAL FRAUD
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 293 months in prison for using his former position as chief executive officer (CEO) of a bank to embezzle tens of millions of dollars in a cryptocurrency scheme which led the bank to fail at a complete loss of equity for investors.
• A federal grand jury in Kansas indicted seven defendants, including five current and former high-level officers of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmith, Forgers and Helpers (Boilermakers Union) for their alleged roles in a 15-year, $20 million embezzlement scheme.CIVIL RIGHTS
• A Kansas jury convicted six members of a religious cult on charges related to compelling forced the labor on victims including multiple minors as young as eight years old.
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 80 months in prison for threatening multiple Black people in and around the Wichita area, and for interfering with the housing rights of a white woman because he believed that she was dating and associating with Black people.NATIONAL SECURITY
• A grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, indicted a North Korean national for his involvement in a conspiracy to hack and extort U.S. hospitals and other health care providers, launder the ransom proceeds, and then use these proceeds to fund additional computer intrusions into defense, technology, and government entities worldwide. The ransomware attacks prevented victim health care providers from providing full and timely care to patients.
• Two U.S. businessmen pleaded guilty to conspiring to circumvent U.S. export laws prohibiting the sale, repair and shipment of U.S.-origin avionics equipment to customers in Russia and in other countries that operate Russian-built aircraft, including the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB).FENTANYL & OTHER NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for giving a man a fentanyl pill which caused his death.
• Indictments charging hundreds of individuals in alleged drug trafficking rings.
o https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/eight-defendants-indicted-drug-trafficking-ring
o https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/man-sentenced-kansas-city-drug-ring-tied-mexican-cartel
o https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/multiple-people-indicted-meth-traffickingKate E. Brubacher
Brubacher is a native of Newton, Kansas. She previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Jackson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Prior to her government service, She was an associate at Cooley LLP and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, both in New York, New York.
Brubacher received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and her law degree from Yale Law School. She also holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School.
###
U.S. Attorney's Office Secures 20-Year Sentence for Repeat Offender in Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison for a series of armed robberies committed in February and March 2022 after he absconded from a federal halfway house.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Xavior Akina, 28, committed the following crimes:
- On February 23, 2022, Akina robbed a Chevron gas station in Los Lunas at gunpoint, stealing money, cigarettes, and an energy drink.
- On February 25, 2022, Akina robbed a Circle K in Los Lunas, again using a silver handgun to demand money from the clerk.
- On March 12, 2022, Akina robbed another Circle K in Albuquerque, shooting and injuring the clerk during the incident.
- On March 13, 2022, Akina committed two more armed robberies in Albuquerque, targeting a DK convenience store and a Sally's Beauty Store.
Prior to his crime spree, Akina had absconded from a federal halfway house. Akina's criminal history includes a prior conviction for armed robbery of a pizza delivery person in 2018, for which he was sentenced to 84 months in prison.
Upon his release from prison, Akina will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado prosecuted the case.
# # #
U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs Announces DepartureRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – United States Attorney Damien M. Diggs has announced that he will resign as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Eastern District of Texas effective 11:59 p.m. on January 21, 2025. U.S. Attorney Diggs was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on February 2, 2023, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 4, 2023. Mr. Diggs was sworn in as U.S. Attorney on May 7, 2023.
“I will forever be grateful to President Biden, Attorney General Garland, and Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz for having confidence in me to serve our nation and the citizens of the Eastern District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Diggs. “This office and our committed local, state, and federal law enforcement partners go above and beyond daily to keep our communities safe, uphold the rule of law, and protect the civil rights of the citizenry. I count it a blessing to have assisted in these efforts.”
In a message to his office and law enforcement partners, U. S. Attorney Diggs said:
It has been an honor and a privilege leading this District for the past two years. I can proudly say that the Eastern District, the state of Texas, and the United States are safer because of the great work being done here. During my tenure as United States Attorney, the work of this Office has reached five continents in the pursuit of justice and has remained a leader in the fight against international criminal organizations, while simultaneously remaining an active and engaged partner in our communities in north- and southeastern Texas.
U.S. Attorney Diggs led an office of nearly 100 employees, including 50 prosecutors, across six fully staffed offices in Beaumont, Lufkin, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana, and Tyler. The district covers 43 counties stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Oklahoma border, covering 29,000 square miles, and is home to roughly 4.5 million people. He focused the office’s efforts on public safety, fighting fraud, waste and abuse, civil rights, and community outreach.
Under U.S. Attorney Diggs’ leadership, the office achieved noteworthy successes in criminal matters, obtaining notable victories in crimes related to gun and gang violence, firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, public corruption, healthcare fraud, white collar, cybercrime, national security issues, child exploitation, and human trafficking issues. U.S. Attorney Diggs also expanded the office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program by creating separate PSN programs in Beaumont, Longview, and Plano; established Operation Purple Ribbon—a domestic violence initiative targeting domestic violence abusers for federal prosecution; surged investigations and prosecutions of commercial robberies; stood up a carjacking task force in the spring of 2024, which has resulted in a significant decrease in carjackings district-wide; and partnered with the other Texas U.S. Attorneys and the ATF in the summer of 2024 in launching Operation Texas Kill Switch—a statewide initiative targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “switches.” The initiative has raised public awareness and resulted in multiple prosecutions.
U.S. Attorney Diggs continued the district’s prioritization of prosecuting large-scale drug trafficking organizations, primarily through DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. With an emphasis on the targeting of international drug cartels, U.S. Attorney Diggs oversaw one of the nation’s most productive extradition practices, particularly with respect to Colombia and Guatemala. U.S. Attorney Diggs’ team obtained a 25-year sentence against a Colombian trafficker who coordinated maritime shipments of cocaine through Central America; extradited the leader of the Los Pochos drug trafficking organization which supplies multi-ton quantities of cocaine to trafficking cells in Guatemala and Mexico; and successfully prosecuted a former senior Republic of Guatemala official whose assistance on behalf of an international drug trafficker resulted in the safe passage of at least 450 kilograms of cocaine through Guatemala for distribution in the United States.
The office’s Civil Division experienced record successes under U.S. Attorney Diggs’ leadership. For instance, the Civil Division negotiated a $97 million settlement with Walgreens to resolve allegations that it billed government payors for prescriptions that were never dispensed. U.S. Attorney Diggs also oversaw a $21.75 million settlement with Medisca, Inc. to resolve allegations that the company submitted false and inflated average wholesale prices for ingredients used in compounded prescriptions. U.S. Attorney Diggs also demonstrated a commitment to holding individuals, not just corporations, responsible for defrauding the government. After obtaining a settlement with the bankrupt fintech company Kabbage, Inc. to receive a total unsubordinated general unsecured claim in the bankruptcy proceeding of up to $120 million, U.S. Attorney Diggs approved the United States’ intervention against three former executives of Kabbage, Inc. Under his leadership, the Civil Division also obtained a settlement with the CEO of a Texas hospital, who paid $5.3 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act involving illegal payments to physicians for laboratory referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
U.S. Attorney Diggs dedicated himself to protecting the civil rights of citizens of the Eastern District of Texas. He oversaw the district’s partnership with the other Texas U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to investigate allegations of civil rights violations at Texas Juvenile Justice Department (“TJJD”) facilities across the state. The investigation found that TJJD violated the rights of children housed in those facilities.
The Appellate Division also had notable victories under U.S. Attorney Diggs’ leadership. For instance, the Appellate Division persuaded the Fifth Circuit to affirm the 90-month sentence of a Colombian lawyer who falsely told drug traffickers that, for a fee, she could prevent their extradition to the United States; successfully defended the federal-programs bribery convictions of a local politician and her spouse—a real estate developer; and urged the Fifth Circuit to uphold the convictions of Aryan Circle prison gang members who were convicted of RICO conspiracy for their participation in various acts of violence and drug distribution.
As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Diggs has prioritized his office’s engagement in the community, particularly when it comes to fentanyl awareness presentations where prosecutors across the district have given One Pill Can Kill presentations to students across the district. U.S. Attorney Diggs, along with the other Texas U.S. Attorneys, met with state education leaders in Austin to provide fentanyl-related information and awareness that could be used in schools state-wide. Additionally, in partnership with the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service, U.S. Attorney Diggs has spearheaded civil rights and hate crimes prevention through United Against Hate presentations across the district designed to raise community awareness about hate crimes, hate incidents and discrimination, and establishes connections between law enforcement and ethnic communities and religious groups, particularly those with members who have been reluctant to contact law enforcement for help.
Beyond leading in the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Diggs was a member of the Attorney General Advisory Subcommittees on Violent Crime, White Collar/Fraud, Cybercrime/Intellectual Property, and Terrorism/National Security. He also served a member of a Working Group dealing with FIRREA whistleblower issues.
Pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin Jr. will succeed Mr. Diggs as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas until a successor is nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate.
Learn more about the district at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx.
Two Men Indicted in $3M Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A 10-count indictment charges two defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States and making false claims for over three million dollars in tax refunds, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between approximately April 2022 and May 2023, Henry Remington Herod, 42, of Minneapolis, and Matthew McDowell, 44, of Port Allen, Louisiana, conspired to defraud the United States by preparing and filing false federal income tax returns for themselves and others. The returns included false employment, income, and tax credit information they knew to be false, and which resulted in large refunds the filing taxpayers were not entitled to.
According to court documents, for tax year 2021, Herod prepared and filed false tax returns claiming refundable sick and family leave tax credits available to certain self-employed individuals unable to work due to COVID-19. For tax year 2022, Herod and McDowell prepared and filed false tax returns claiming refundable tax credits for federal taxes paid on fuel ostensibly used for off-highway business purposes. Collectively, the defendants knowingly and willfully completed and filed 115 fraudulent federal income tax returns, falsely claiming approximately $3,032,839 in tax refunds the filers were not entitled to.
Herod and McDowell are each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, and Herod is charged with nine counts of making false claims. Herod made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on December 12, 2024, and McDowell made his initial appearance on December 26, 2024; both defendants were released upon conditions.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the IRS, Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The City of New York and Queens Borough Public Library Settle Federal Claims That the Hunters Point Branch Failed to Comply with the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today a settlement agreement with the Queens Borough Public Library (QBPL) and the City of New York (the City) to resolve violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) at the Hunters Point Library Branch of the QBPL (the HPL Branch). The ADA applies to QBPL because it is a “public accommodation” as defined by Title III of the ADA and to the City because it is a “public entity.” Title II and Title III of the ADA require that newly constructed public accommodations are accessible to individuals with mobility impairments.
“The design and construction of the Hunters Point Library Branch of the Queens Borough Public Library blatantly violated the ADA’s requirement that individuals with disabilities have equal access to public accommodations,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s settlement agreement ensures that access. My Office will continue to enforce the ADA and its protections against discrimination for people with disabilities.”
The HPL Branch, located at 47-40 Center Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens, was designed by Steven Holl Architects pursuant to a contract with the City. Construction was completed in the fall of 2019. Among the library’s unique architectural features is a two-story high, five-tiered mezzanine area intended to house HPL’s periodical and adult fiction sections. However, only the top and bottom tiers are accessible to individuals with mobility impairments, in violation of the ADA.
The United States conducted an ADA compliance review in December 2019 of the HPL Branch shortly after it opened. That review identified approximately 95 violations of the ADA’s accessibility requirements which the City and QBPL have now agreed to remediate. Among the work that the City and QBPL will perform is construction of a platform lift from the fifth tier to the fourth tier of the Mezzanine area and a skywalk/skybridge to the third tier. The platform lift and skywalk/skybridge will provide stair-free access to the third and fourth tiers. QBPL will not house any portion of the HPL collection on the second tier of the Mezzanine Tiers so long as that tier remains inaccessible to people with mobility disabilities.
Additional remediation will include creating wheelchair accessible spaces in the children’s area and the rooftop terrace. Under the terms of the agreement, all remediation work will be completed within five years.
This matter is being handled by the Office’s Civil Division Civil Rights Chief Michael J. Goldberger.
Tennessee man admits selling unapproved drugs used in bodybuilding through his Kalispell business known as Rat’s ArmyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Tennessee man accused of creating and selling unapproved drugs for use in bodybuilding from his Kalispell business known as Rat’s Army admitted to a federal crime on Jan. 9, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Tyler Jordan Hall, 31, of Greenville, Tennessee, was arraigned on and pleaded guilty to an information charging him with introduction of unapproved drugs into interstate commerce. Hall faces a maximum of three years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for May 15 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hall was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that from June 2020 through March 2022, Hall operated a business in Kalispell known as Rat’s Army, LLC, to import, create, bottle and label drugs. Hall marketed these substances to individuals in the bodybuilding and fitness community to increase muscle mass, reduce body fat and counter the unwanted side effects of using bodybuilding drugs. Hall regularly caused the introduction of unapproved new drugs containing Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) and other active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) into interstate commerce.
Many of these substances were not safe for human use except for under the supervision of a practitioner licensed to administer prescription drugs. Some drugs were of similar composition to Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, which require special boxed warnings in their labeling emphasizing serious potential side effects, including pulmonary embolism.
The government further alleged that Hall obtained proceeds of approximately $3,805,470 from Rat’s Army. This income was, at least in part, from the sale of unapproved drugs, including Raloxifene, Tamoxifen and Pramipexole, in interstate commerce.
Hall knowingly took steps to mislead and defraud United States regulatory agencies, including the FDA, about the true nature of products he was selling on the Rat’s Army website. Hall falsely portrayed his products as “research chemicals” and “not for human consumption,” despite knowing and intending that the products were for human ingestion to affect the structure and function of their bodies. Hall also took steps to mislead and defraud consumers to whom he was offering the sale of these drugs by posting misleading Certificates of Analysis on the website to convince consumers that Rat’s Army was manufacturing products which were legitimate and safe to consume.
Hall knew the substances he was distributing required prescriptions, but he falsely claimed, “you do not need a doctor to write a prescription” or “access to a pharmacy, or pharmacist” to obtain products through Rat’s Army. He repeatedly held out his company as a “pharmaceutical manufacturing” business, but he was not a pharmacist, nor did he ever employ a licensed pharmacist at Rat’s Army. And Hall never registered Rat’s Army with the FDA as a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility as is required.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FDA conducted the investigation.
XXX
Suffolk man sentenced to 10 years in prison for federal drug trafficking and firearms convictionRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Suffolk man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Sept. 15, 2023, law enforcement intercepted a package containing two pounds of crystal meth that had been shipped from Murrieta, California, to Norfolk through the U.S. Postal Service. Investigators removed all but 33 grams of the meth, repackaged the parcel, and conducted a controlled delivery to the intended address.
After the package was delivered, Dobeir Quam Rudolph, 35, arrived at the address and retrieved the package. An arrest team attempted to detain Rudolph, but he resisted and attempted to flee in his vehicle. Officers observed Rudolph reaching for something and attempting to destroy his cellphone. Rudolph was eventually placed into custody.
During a search of the vehicle, investigators recovered a handgun where Rudolph had been reaching. Rudolph has two prior felony convictions. As a previously convicted felon, Rudolph cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA’s Washington Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-23.
Stillwater Man Convicted for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted Flint Donavan Luster, 36, was convicted of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.
“This investigation shows the collaborative effort of law enforcement working together to keep the citizens in our communities safe by keeping drugs off our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
In September 2023, Luster was pulled over by a Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputy for a traffic violation. The deputy learned the truck was stolen and took Luster into custody. Upon search of the truck, deputies found more than 400 grams of methamphetamine inside.
Evidence presented at trial showed a search warrant was conducted on Luster's home. Law enforcement found cash, scales, firearms, and additional methamphetamine.
Luster will remain in federal custody pending sentencing at a later date.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Payne County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey and Attila Bogdan prosecuted the case.
Spencer Man to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Casey Tuttle, 26, from Spencer, Iowa, was sentenced on January 7, 2025, to 41 months’ imprisonment.
On August 29, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, Tuttle pled guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Tuttle was previously convicted in 2021 in the Iowa District Court of burglary, third degree; possession of methamphetamine, third or subsequent offense; and in 2018 of burglary, second degree. Each of these are felony convictions which prohibit Tuttle from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that in the early morning of April 4, 2024, Spencer Police Department officers stopped Tuttle riding his bike in the dark without taillights or reflectors. It was determined Tuttle had outstanding arrest warrants, so he was placed under arrest. During a search of Tuttle and a backpack he was wearing, law enforcement located a .22 caliber revolver, ammunition, marijuana, knives, 1 gram of methamphetamine, and other drug-use paraphernalia. Tuttle admitted to law enforcement he was a drug user. As a drug user, Tuttle is also prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Tuttle was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Tuttle remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Spencer, Iowa Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-4032. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute more than 40 kilograms of methamphetamine pled guilty January 7, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Celeste Seaton, 40, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing Seaton admitted that for five months in 2023 she and others conspired to distribute over 3 pounds of pure methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area. Specifically, on three occasions in 2023, Seaton distributed over 750 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. Seaton further admitted to methamphetamine trafficking over the last several years in Sioux City and that she obtained and distributed a total of 100 pounds of methamphetamine from her source of supply who was obtaining the methamphetamine from Arizona.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Seaton remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Seaton faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4051. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Seven Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 41+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and NarcoticsRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Seven defendants were sentenced this week in the Monroe Division for illegal possession of firearms and narcotics, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the defendants as follows:
- Adrien Marcel Brown, 44, of St. Joseph, Louisiana was sentenced to 126 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute or possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 14, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of the residence of Brown and Andrea Lenae Bass, Brown’s co-defendant. Agents found methamphetamine inside the home. The suspected narcotics were sent to the crime lab for analysis and confirmed to be over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. Brown pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024.
- Bobby R. Thompson, 45, of Monroe, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On March 21, 2024, Monroe Police Department officers detained Thompson due to an active arrest warrant as well as a battery investigation. Thompson was found to be in possession of a SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol and ammunition. Thompson was a convicted felon and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition and was arrested. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 18, 2024.
- Desmond Copeland, 37, of Monroe, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic complaint involving Copeland on April 6, 2024. Deputies found Copeland to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 9mm pistol and ammunition. As a convicted felon, Copeland was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition. He pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024.
- Shawn M. Robertson, 39, of Monroe, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In August 2023, a Louisiana State Police trooper attempted to stop Robertson’s vehicle for speeding. The trooper lost sight of Robertson for a short time but found him in a nearby driveway. Robertson was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. The trooper found a loaded 9mm magazine on the floorboard of the vehicle. Meanwhile, another trooper was stopped by a passing motorist who stated that he had found an abandoned pistol on the road. Law enforcement officers investigated further and learned that the magazine in Robertson’s vehicle fit the pistol found on the road and learned that Robertson’s girlfriend had purchased the Taurus G2C firearm approximately 85 days before. In addition, their investigation confirmed that Robertson had the firearm in his possession before ejecting it from the vehicle onto the roadway. Robertson pleaded guilty on September 16, 2024, and admitted to knowing he was in possession of the firearm despite being prohibited from doing so.
- Dylan Cueto, 33, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On April 12, 2024, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence of Cueto. Deputies found him in possession of a Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield pistol, a Marlin 12-gauge shotgun, a Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle, and ammunition. Cueto pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024, and admitted to possessing the firearms and ammunition knowing he was prohibited from doing so.
- Dequarius Dequan Bailey, 30, of Monroe, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In December 2023, Monroe Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Bailey’s residence and found a DPMS A-15 223-5.56mm rifle loaded with a high-capacity drum magazine hidden under his bed. Law enforcement officers also found a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol hidden in the bathroom. Bailey was arrested and admitted to possessing the firearms despite the fact that he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing them. Bailey pleaded guilty to the charge on April 19, 2024.
- Dalton W. Knight, 24, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On February 11, 2023, an individual sold a Savage rifle to a pawn shop in West Monroe. An investigation by Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office determined that the firearm had previously been stolen. Deputies interviewed the individual that sold the firearm and learned that he had purchased it from another individual and that had traded with Knight for the firearm on December 31, 2022. Knight admitted to possessing the rifle and trading it. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 24, 2024, and admitted to knowing that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from having any firearm in his possession.
“There is a reason why crime is down in Monroe and the surrounding area,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “In partnering with our local district attorney’s offices and law enforcement agencies, we are highly focused on targeting the right offenders and seeking sentences of imprisonment for those who illegally possess firearms and distribute narcotics in our communities. Our office, the DEA and the ATF will forever appreciate these partnerships which are vital to public safety.”
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, Monroe Police Department and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Cathy Semmes and Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica D. Cassidy, William C. Gaskins, and Mike Shannon prosecuted the cases.
# # #
Serial Fraudster Sentenced AgainRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOHN VOLOSHIN, also known as “Josh Thomas,” 69, formerly of New Haven and Woodbridge, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to approximately 41 months of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release, for fraud and identity theft offenses. Judge Chatigny ordered Voloshin to serve the first six months of supervised release in a halfway house.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2012, Voloshin was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 33 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for operating multiple fraud schemes that caused losses of more than $1.5 million to individuals and lenders. He was released from prison in May 2014. In November 2014, he was sentenced to an additional nine months of imprisonment for violating the terms and conditions of his federal supervised release for repeatedly lying to his supervising probation officer by concocting a bogus job for a real estate concern in London. He was released from prison in June 2015. In the fall of 2015, Voloshin engaged in another fraud scheme by soliciting money from individuals and falsely representing that the money would be fully invested to generate very high returns. In November 2017, he was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment for the offense and for violating his supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $275,000 in restitution, in addition to his restitution obligation from his 2012 conviction. He was released from prison in May 2018.
Between January and April 2019, Voloshin defrauded a company in Bloomfield that provided accounting and tax preparation services to individuals and companies. Voloshin stole blank checks for both the company’s business account and the company owner’s personal account, forged the owner’s name on the checks, and negotiated the checks for his own benefit. Voloshin also stole and negotiated checks and money orders that were written out as payment by third parties to the company. As part of the scheme, Voloshin incorporated an entity in Wyoming with a name very similar to that of the company, opened a bank account in the name of the sham company, deposited misappropriated checks into the account, and used the stolen funds for his own benefit. Through this scheme, Voloshin defrauded victims of $56,548.71.
On September 23, 2020, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Voloshin. He was arrested on July 14, 2021, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and had been detained since his arrest. On May 30, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Judge Chatigny ordered Voloshin to make full restitution.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bloomfield Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Sean P. Mahard.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked Interpol and Brazilian authorities for their assistance in apprehending Voloshin, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for coordinating the extradition proceedings in this matter.
Second Whiteville Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Gunfire that Injured Pregnant WomanRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Whiteville man was sentenced to 71 months in prison for possessing a firearm by a felon. On October 17, 2024, Robert Jamar Avant pled guilty to the charges.
“This reckless shootout, adjacent to t-ball fields where hundreds of kids and parents were playing, left a pregnant woman shot and enduring an emergency c-section to save her baby. It is a miracle the baby survived, and the Whiteville Police Department deserves credit for their swift action on this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We’ve cemented firm partnerships with local law enforcement throughout Eastern North Carolina to shut down senseless violence that degrades communities and puts innocent lives at risk. Those partnerships led to a statutory maximum sentence against one of the shooters. We won’t stop fighting for our communities until every kid lives free from gun violence.”
According to court records and evidence presented to the court, Robert Avant, 33, and his co-defendant, Dashaud Maultsby, opened fire on a group of men at the Sandy Ridge Apartment Complex in Whiteville on May 13, 2021. The incident began when Maultsby got into an argument with his girlfriend while at the apartment complex. After leaving the area, he returned with Avant and they began firing AR-15 rifles at an unidentified group of men, who then returned fire. Avant retreated to his vehicle while Maultsby continued shooting as he also moved towards the vehicle. In the process, Maultsby attempted to shoot with one hand as he got into the vehicle, but his rifle fell and discharged accidentally, hitting Avant in the head.
The Whiteville Police Department (WPD) responded swiftly to the scene and found Avant injured from the gunshot wound while sitting in his vehicle. As officers tended to Avant, they noticed and secured his AR-15 rifle and a pistol that were located near his leg. Avant was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Avant was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Additionally, a pregnant woman was shot in the torso during the incident, which necessitated an emergency cesarean section to save her child's life. Following the events, WPD officers apprehended Maultsby and Avant.
On June 6, 2024, Maultsby was sentenced to 10 years, the maximum sentence allowed by statute. His criminal history includes a prior conviction for attempted trafficking of opium.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Whiteville Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaren E. Kelly is prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for the case number 7:23-cr-00087.
Sarasota Doctor Indicted for Coercion and Enticement of Sexual Activity by A Minor and Production of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Pete Supan (35, Bradenton) with coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and production of child sex abuse material. If convicted on all counts, Supan faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Supan coerced and enticed an individual under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. He also persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Roanoke Man Charged with Robbing Truist Banks Makes Court AppearanceRead the Press Release
Roanoke, Va. – A local man indicted by a federal grand jury last month on bank robbery charges, made his initial court appearance yesterday in federal court.
Michael Anthony McCoy, 67, of Roanoke, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Roanoke on one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of bank robbery (one of which includes the use of a dangerous weapon), and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. McCoy was arrested late last year in Newport News, Virginia, on other charges.
A second defendant, Dawn Davis, previously pleaded guilty to related charges.
According to the indictment, on October 26, 2022, McCoy directed Davis to write a threatening note to use in a bank robbery. After Davis wrote the note as directed, McCoy entered the Truist Bank location on NW Melrose Avenue in the City of Roanoke and handed the note to a bank teller. After McCoy handed the note to the teller, he approached a second teller and brandished a firearm.
McCoy and Davis stole approximately $6,485 from the Truist Bank location.
Two days later, McCoy then robbed another Truist Bank, stealing nearly $6,000 from that bank as well.
Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Beamer, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Queens, New York Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Human SmugglingRead the Press Release
Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on January 9, 2025, Luis Fernando Barragan-Palacios, 29, of Queens, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 18 months’ imprisonment. The Court did not impose supervised release because Barragan-Palacios, originally of Oaxaca, Mexico, is expected to be deported after imprisonment. Barragan-Palacios previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to transport people who had entered the United States illegally.
According to court records, Barragan-Palacios completed approximately 30 smuggling trips, shuttling nearly 100 migrants who entered the country illegally from the Canadian border into Vermont, to the New York City area between August 2023 and January 2024, receiving approximately $500,000 in proceeds. In January 2024, authorities arrested Barragan-Palacios after he failed to yield to a marked Border Patrol vehicle and initiated a high-speed pursuit in wintry road conditions along the Canadian border, reaching speeds up to 85 mph, with six migrants lying down in the bed of his rented pickup truck or seated unbelted in the truck’s cab.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Lasher and Colin Owyang. Barragan-Palacios was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Barclay Johnson.
Pulaski Woman Convicted of Bank Fraud and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Wanda Gilpin, age 71, of Pulaski, New York, pled guilty to six counts of bank fraud and two counts of misuse of a social security number, United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), New York Field Office announced.
At the change of plea, Gilpin admitted to applying for multiple credit cards and loans using the personally identifiable information of other individuals, including a deceased relative. After Gilpin received the credit cards, she used the cards for personal expenses and incurred balances on each credit card that reached the credit limit assigned to that card. Gilpin also obtained an automobile loan and personal loan. In total, Gilpin was able to obtain lines of credit and loans totaling $24,909.68 from six different financial institutions.
Gilpin is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior United States Judge David N. Hurd on May 7, 2025. She faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the bank fraud charges and a maximum sentence of 5 years and a fine of up to $250,000 for the social security fraud charges. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by the judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The SSA-OIG is investigating the case, and the case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle.
Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Charles Marshall, age 64, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 12, 2024, Marshall pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. According to investigators, on November 15, 2023, Marshall knowingly possessed one Ruger .45ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol, one Ruger .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm caliber semi-automatic rifle, one Browning .270 Weatherby Magnum caliber semi-automatic rifle, along with six rounds of .45ACP caliber ammunition, two rounds of Aguila branded ammunition, four rounds of Winchester branded ammunition, and thirteen rounds of Remington branded .308 Winchester caliber ammunition. Marshall possessed the firearm and ammunition despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Marshall will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Bove represented the United States.
Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Drew Sullivan, age 34, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 100 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Krebs Police Department.
On July 15, 2024, Sullivan pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 3, 2024, officers conducting a routine traffic stop discovered Sullivan in possession of two cell phones, a scale, and two baggies containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Sullivan will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Pitt County Man Who Brandished Gun at State Trooper After High-Speed Chase Sentenced to Nearly Nine Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Pitt County man was sentenced to 107 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On September 30, 2024, Kenneth Charles Kinard, age 35, pled guilty to the charge.
“North Carolina’s State Troopers are some of the best trained law enforcement personnel in the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “They make split second decisions that save lives – keeping our families safe on the highways, rescuing stranded motorists, and recovering victims of human trafficking. Their jobs are dangerous enough as it is. When anyone draws, levels, or fires a gun at law enforcement, we’ll take swift action to hold felons accountable.”
“This case highlights the ever-present dangers our troopers face as they go about their mission to protect the people of North Carolina,” said Commander of the State Highway Patrol, Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. “I am so very thankful that our members training, and quick thinking led to a positive outcome that day and the great work by our partners at the Department of Justice in the months since have brought about a conviction and this sentencing.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol attempted to stop Kinard for driving 90-mph in a 70-mph zone on I-587 in Pitt County. Kinard refused to stop and accelerated leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase. The chase ended in Farmville when Kinard abruptly stopped his car and fled on foot. As Kinard was fleeing, a Trooper observed Kinard carrying a handgun. During the pursuit, Kinard turned toward the Trooper brandishing the firearm. The Trooper repeatedly ordered Kinard to drop his weapon. Kinard refused to comply, and the Trooper ultimately discharged his firearm at Kinard, striking him in the leg and causing Kinard to fall to the ground and dropping the firearm, a Ruger 9mm handgun.
Kinard was previously convicted of multiple counts of grand larceny and a felony-controlled substance violation in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF); Pitt County Sheriff’s Office; Greenville Police Department; North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; and North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Lori Warlick prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-37-BO-RJ.
PAC Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Scheme to Defraud PAC DonorsRead the Press Release
Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROBERT PIARO, the treasurer of multiple political action committees (“PACs”), pled guilty today to committing telemarketing wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud donors to his PACs through false and misleading statements. PIARO pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Robert Piaro deceived hundreds of thousands of donors through false statements and misrepresentations about how contributions to his PACs would be spent. Piaro’s fraudulent actions not only undermined the trust of donors but also exploited their interest in supporting certain causes for his own personal gain. Today’s plea highlights this Office’s dedication to holding accountable those who misuse political organizations to defraud and mislead the public.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:
PACs are entities registered with the Federal Election Commission that may be tax-exempt and collect money to advocate on behalf of or against certain causes and political candidates.
From at least in or about 2017 up to and including at least in or about December 2022, PIARO was the treasurer and operator of four PACs: Americans for the Cure of Breast Cancer, the Association for Emergency Responders & Firefighters, the US Veterans Assistance Foundation, and Standing By Veterans (the “PIARO PACs”). PIARO raised millions of dollars from hundreds of thousands of donors nationwide through false statements and misrepresentations about how contributions to the PIARO PACs would be spent. For example, at PIARO’s direction, the PIARO PACs misrepresented to donors that donations would be used to advance specific legislation, educate lawmakers, and conduct and fund research, when PIARO did not and did not intend to follow through on those representations.
If you believe you are a victim of fraud perpetrated by PIARO, please contact [email protected] or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov, and find more information here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/united-states-v-robert-piaro.
* * *
PIARO, 74, of Fredonia, Wisconsin, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. PIARO is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Subramanian on April 14, 2025.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca T. Dell and Jane Kim are in charge of the prosecution.
Operators of Cryptocurrency Mixers Charged with Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment on Jan. 7 charging three Russian nationals for their involvement in operating the cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io. Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko and Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik were arrested on Dec. 1, 2024, roughly a year after Sinbad.io’s online infrastructure was seized as part of a coordinated law enforcement action among the Netherlands’ Financial Intelligence and Investigative Service, Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI. The third defendant, Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov, remains at large.
“According to the indictment, the defendants operated cryptocurrency ‘mixers’ that served as safe havens for laundering criminally derived funds, including the proceeds of ransomware and wire fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. “By allegedly operating these mixers, the defendants made it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups and other cybercriminals to profit from offenses that jeopardized both public safety and national security. The indictment and arrests announced today, which follow the earlier takedown of the defendants’ criminal infrastructure, yet again demonstrate the value of our international partnerships in countering the global threat from cybercrime.”
“Blender.io and Sinbad.io were allegedly used by criminals across the world to launder funds stolen from victims of ransomware, virtual currency thefts, and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “This indictment demonstrates our continued commitment to dismantling infrastructure used by cybercriminals to steal from Americans and hide their ill-gotten gains.”
“Last year, with the assistance of our international partners, we successfully dismantled Sinbad.io,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “However, we did not rest with this initial success. We maintained our focus on identifying the individuals responsible for its development and ensuring their accountability. These indictments serve as a testament to the power of international cooperation.”
According to court documents and publicly available information, Blender.io and Sinbad.io were cryptocurrency mixers that allowed their users, for a fee, to send cryptocurrency to designated recipients in a manner designed to hide the source of the cryptocurrency. Blender.io and Sinbad.io were available for use by the public via the internet and used by criminals looking to distance themselves from the fact that their funds came from cryptocurrency thefts, ransomware attacks, and other crimes.
Blender.io operated from approximately 2018 to 2022. The service was advertised on a popular internet forum as having a “No Logs Policy” and deleting any traces of user transactions. Additionally, in the advertisement, Blender was described as not requiring users to sign up, register, or “provide any kind of detail except the receiving address!” The advertisement asserted that, “[a]s there are no personal details asked for, there’s no way your identity is compromised, or can be linked back to, because as far as blender.io goes they don’t know who you are.” After Blender.io shut down, Sinbad.io began operating a few months later. Like Blender.io, Sinbad.io provided users with Bitcoin concealment services. And, on November 27, 2023, Sinbad.io was taken down through law enforcement action.
Both Blender.io and Sinbad.io have been sanctioned by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). On May 6, 2022, OFAC sanctioned Blender.io, citing its use by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launder stolen virtual currency. OFAC’s public sanctions announcement also explained that Blender.io laundered funds for multiple ransomware groups. On Nov. 29, 2023, OFAC sanctioned Sinbad.io, publicly citing its use by a DPRK state-sponsored hacking group and cybercriminals to obfuscate transactions linked to other criminal offenses.
Ostapenko, 55, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Oleynik, 44, and Tarasov, 32, are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy count and five years in prison for each unlicensed money transmitting business count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service and Fiscal Information and Investigative Service made significant contributions to the case, including to the disruption of the Sinbad mixer, and provided other valuable assistance. Significant support was also provided by the Australian Federal Police and Attorney-General’s Department, and Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, who is a member of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll for the Central District of California provided significant assistance.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Operators of Cryptocurrency Mixers Charged with Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ATLANTA –Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their involvement in operating the cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io.
“Blender.io and Sinbad.io were allegedly used by criminals across the world to launder funds stolen from victims of ransomware, virtual currency thefts, and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This indictment demonstrates our continued commitment to dismantling infrastructure used by cybercriminals to steal from Americans and hide their ill-gotten gains.”
“According to the indictment, the defendants operated cryptocurrency ‘mixers’ that served as safe havens for laundering criminally derived funds, including the proceeds of ransomware and wire fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. “By allegedly operating these mixers, the defendants made it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups and other cybercriminals to profit from offenses that jeopardized both public safety and national security. The indictment and arrests announced today, which follow the earlier takedown of the defendants’ criminal infrastructure, yet again demonstrate the value of our international partnerships in countering the global threat from cybercrime.”
“Last year, with the assistance of our international partners, we successfully dismantled Sinbad.io. However, we did not rest with this initial success. We maintained our focus on identifying the individuals responsible for its development and ensuring their accountability,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These indictments serve as a testament to the power of international cooperation.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and publicly available information: Blender.io and Sinbad.io were cryptocurrency mixers that allowed their users, for a fee, to send cryptocurrency to designated recipients in a manner designed to hide the source of the cryptocurrency. Blender.io and Sinbad.io were available for use by the public via the internet and used by criminals looking to distance themselves from the fact that their funds came from cryptocurrency thefts, ransomware attacks, and other crimes.
Blender.io operated from approximately 2018 to 2022. The service was advertised on a popular internet forum as having a “No Logs Policy” and deleting any traces of user transactions. Additionally, in the advertisement, Blender was described as not requiring users to sign up, register, or “provide any kind of detail except the receiving address!” The advertisement asserted that, “[a]s there are no personal details asked for, there’s no way your identity is compromised, or can be linked back to, because as far as blender.io goes they don’t know who you are.” After Blender.io shut down, Sinbad.io began operating a few months later. Like Blender.io, Sinbad.io provided users with Bitcoin concealment services. And, on November 27, 2023, Sinbad.io was taken down through law enforcement action.
Both Blender.io and Sinbad.io have been sanctioned by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). On May 6, 2022, OFAC sanctioned Blender.io, citing its use by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launder stolen virtual currency. OFAC’s public sanctions announcement also explained that Blender.io laundered funds for multiple ransomware groups. On November 29, 2023, OFAC sanctioned Sinbad.io, publicly citing its use by a DPRK state-sponsored hacking group and cybercriminals to obfuscate transactions linked to other criminal offenses.
Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, 55, of Russia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, 44, of Russia, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov, 32, of Russia, are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Ostapenko and Oleynik were arrested on December 1, 2024, roughly a year after Sinbad.io’s online infrastructure was seized as part of a coordinated law enforcement action, while Tarasov remains at large.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service and Fiscal Information and Investigative Service made significant contributions to the case, including to the disruption of the Sinbad.io mixer, and provided other valuable assistance. Significant support was also provided by the Australian Federal Police and Attorney-General’s Department, and Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal, Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and member of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team are prosecuting the case. Significant assistance was also provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll of the Central District of California.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Omaha Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Aleah Meyer, age 27, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on January 10, 2025, in federal court in Omaha after having pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Meyer to 84 months’ imprisonment and to forfeit $7,613. There is no parole in the federal system. After Meyer’s release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
On March 30, 2023, and April 11, 2023, law enforcement utilized a confidential source to purchase 1-pound of meth from a Mexico-based source of supply. The drug transactions were arranged through text messages with the source and codefendant, Leonires Perez-Gonzales, both coordinating with the Mexico-based source of supply.
During the April 11, 2023, transaction, the source met with codefendant Perez-Gonzales at an Omaha location where the drug transaction took place inside of the codefendant’s vehicle. The codefendant was driving while Aleah Meyer was in the front passenger seat when the codefendant sold 1 pound of meth to the source for $2,500.
On April 18, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at Meyer’s Omaha apartment. Officers found the codefendant packing a vehicle in front of the apartment. During the search warrant, officers located: a semi-automatic black Sccy Industries 9 mm handgun, semi-automatic Glock 48 9mm handgun, another Glock 48 9mm handgun, a semi-automatic F1 firearms 5.56 rifle, a F.N. Model Scar 17 .762 Caliber rifle, a safe containing 900.4 grams of meth, $7,613 U.S. currency in drug proceeds, a drug ledger, another bag with 234.7 grams of meth, a digital scale, and various amounts of ammunition. Testing established that the codefendant’s and Meyer’s DNA were on multiple firearms seized in this case. By pleading guilty, Meyer gave up any right or claim to the money and firearms seized in this case.
Codefendant Perez-Gonzales had previously pled to drug and gun charges and was sentenced to 248 months’ imprisonment on May 10, 2024.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Corbin Rhine, age 33, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced January 10, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for distribution of fentanyl. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Rhine to 188 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rhine is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On June 14, 2023, Rhine distributed fentanyl to an individual at the Candlewood Suites hotel. The individual overdosed and passed away after ingesting the fentanyl distributed by Rhine. Video from the hotel and the download of the victim’s phone and Facebook account confirmed Rhine went to the hotel to distribute two M30 fentanyl pills.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration.
Oklahoma City Pilot Pleads Guilty to Transporting Firearm in Aircraft from Mexico to OklahomaRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, AIMAN SOBHY ELKHATIB, 31, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to engaging in interstate transportation of a firearm while under indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On June 17, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a two-count Superseding Indictment against Elkhatib, charging him with transportation of a firearm while under indictment and bringing in certain aliens. According to public record, on April 25, 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information that an aircraft had unlawfully entered the United States from Mexico and failed to stop for a customs inspection. Agents encountered the aircraft at Sundance Airport in Yukon, Oklahoma, where it was occupied by Elkhatib and another individual. Upon searching the aircraft, agents found and seized a firearm. At the time of the incident, Elkhatib was under criminal indictment in Oklahoma County District Court, where he previously pleaded guilty to larceny of an automobile, second degree burglary, and possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony in case number CF-2023-940.
Yesterday, Elkhatib pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Superseding Indictment, and admitted he flew from Mexico through Texas to Yukon, Oklahoma, in an aircraft he knew contained a firearm.
At sentencing, Elkhatib faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by HSI, Customs and Border Protection, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Air and Marine Operations Center. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bow Bottomly is prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
North Louisiana Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Production of Child Pornography Involving Children in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Richard Dean Hicks, 68, of Pioneer, Louisiana, has been convicted by a jury in Monroe following a three-day trial. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the trial.
Hicks was charged in a superseding indictment September 27, 2023, with attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, one count of promotion and solicitation of child pornography and five counts of attempted production of child pornography. The charges in the indictment stemmed from a nationwide investigation that began in 2012 into individuals who were soliciting child sex traffickers in the Philippines to share child sexual abusive material (CSAM) via live stream video. The individuals under investigation paid money for the child sex traffickers in the Philippines to sexually abuse children, while they watched and directed the sex trafficker’s sexual abuse of the children.
Through this investigation, agents with Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at a residence in Philadelphia. As a result of evidence obtained, agents were able to identify an individual in the Philippines who was selling the sexually explicit live webcam shows of female adults engaging in the sexual abuse of underage children. Further investigation led to the identification of an individual in Louisiana, later identified as Hicks, who had been communicating with multiple females in the Philippines. From December 2017 through July 2020, Hicks and the females in the Philippines shared approximately 500 text messages and live video Skype calls wherein Hicks would pay the Philippine females to sexually abuse children as young as 5 years of age while he watched and told the women the type of sexual abuse he wanted them to perform on the children.
Evidence was introduced at trial proving that Hicks had communicated with these females in the Philippines via text messages and Skype video calls and paid money through Western Union on numerous occasions to view these individuals performing sexually explicit acts with underage children. The payments ranged from $25 to $120.
On May 31, 2022, agents obtained a federal search warrant for Hicks’ residence in Pioneer, Louisiana, and seized all of his computers and other electronic equipment used to participate in watching these sex shows in exchange for money.
The jury took just 2½ hours to reach their verdict of guilty on all counts in the indictment. Hicks was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service immediately following the verdict. Hicks faces a sentence not less than 15 years and up to life in prison, followed by up to lifetime supervised release, and a fine of up to $ 250,000. His sentencing will be set at a later date.
“This case involves some of the most heinous forms of child abuse that we have seen,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “It is because of the determination and hard work of the agents with Homeland Security Investigations that this international investigation led to north Louisiana and the home of this defendant. Children should never be exposed to this kind of abuse and it is our calling to continue fighting to stop this kind of illegal activity by defendants like Hicks.”
"This type of abuse is uniquely insidious. Criminal buyers like Hicks pay to direct adults to sexually abuse children in other countries on livestreams that are challenging for investigators to find and disrupt. Despite the complexity of this case the jury saw the magnitude of the crime and their verdict sends the message those who victimize children will be held accountable. HSI will never cease in our efforts to dismantle these abuse networks and seek justice for the children they victimize,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune for Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans.
The defendant who was arrested in Philadelphia was sentenced to 228 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. The female subjects in the Philippines are still the subject of a joint ongoing investigation with the Philippines and U.S. law enforcement. Numerous other females have been arrested. Pursuant to this investigation, there have been over 300 children rescued to date.
The case was investigated by HSI New Orleans with assistance from HSI New England, divisions of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey N. Richmond and J. Luke Walker.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.
# # #
New Orleans Man Sentenced to Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARRION YOUNG, age 40, of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long to 207 months incarceration for pleading guilty to Counts 1 through Count 6 of the Indictment. Judge Long ordered that YOUNG shall be on supervised release for a term of four (4) years following his release from imprisonment. BANKS was also ordered to pay a $600 mandatory special assessment fee.
Count One charged YOUNG with carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1). Count Two charged YOUNG with brandishing, using, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). Count Three charged YOUNG with distribution of a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Count Four charged YOUNG with possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Count Five charged YOUNG with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Count Six charged YOUNG with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, On January 13, 2022, at approximately 9:40 PM, NOPD responded to a corner store near 1527 Saint Phillip Street for a reported carjacking. There, NOPD spoke with the victim, who stated that YOUNG had forcefully put a gun to her and took her vehicle, a Ford Fusion. YOUNG intended to cause death or seriously bodily harm when he took the vehicle. The vehicle was not manufactured in the state of Louisiana and thus had been transported in interstate commerce prior to the carjacking. January 14, 2022, YOUNG was observed parked in the 1800 block of Touro in a Ford Fusion. Agents captured a still photo of the vehicle from the pole camera and showed it to the carjacking victim, who positively identified it as the vehicle YOUNG carjacked.
FBI agents proceeded to the 1800 block of Touro Street and set up physical surveillance on the vehicle. Soon after, agents observed YOUNG get into the vehicle and drive away. Agents followed the vehicle to Stephen Girard Street and Montegut Drive, where they conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. There were two males inside the car, YOUNG was the driver. The vehicle was searched and these items were found One black Smith & Wesson SD40VE model, .40 caliber handgun, bearing serial number FWX8936 (driver’s seat), 2.5 grams of cocaine (in bag near center console), 6.7 grams of fentanyl (in bag near center console), and 71 MDMA pills (in bag near center console).
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun track violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Orleans Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit and Mike Trummel of the Violent Crimes Unit.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun and and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DERICK GETTRIDGE, age 27, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on December 17, 2024, by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long, after previously pleading guilty to Counts 1 and 2 of an indictment. The indictment charged GETTRIDGE with possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D) (Count 1); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(a)(A) (Count 2).
GETTRIDGE was sentenced to a total of 63 months in prison, comprising of 3 months for Count 1 and 60 months for Count 2, to be served consecutively. Additionally, Judge Long ordered a 4-year term of supervised release and imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.
According to court documents, New Orleans Police Department officers stopped GETTRIDGE for traffic violations. During a search of his vehicle, the officers found three digital scales, sandwich baggies, and two Glock pistols, which GETTRIDGE admitted that he possessed in the furtherance of his narcotics trafficking. Police officers also discovered $892.00 in U.S. currency in GETTRIDGE’s pocket.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Violating Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCUS THEODORE (“THEODORE”), age 33, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on January 10, 2025, before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion, to violating the Federal Gun Control Act and the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, law enforcement learned that THEODORE was distributing narcotics around the former Calliope Projects. The FBI developed confidential sources who then made a series of controlled purchases of heroin/fentanyl from THEODORE and his drug trafficking associates starting in mid-2022 and continuing through early 2023. As a result, the FBI initiated Title III intercepts of two of THEODORE’s phones in February 2023.
During the wires, the FBI confirmed that THEODORE had been distributing anywhere from small user amounts to several ounces of narcotics daily, and sometimes larger quantities, for several months. In conjunction with the wires coming down in March 2023, the FBI obtained several federal search warrants related to THEODORE. On March 15, 2023, FBI agents stopped THEODORE as he was driving. In THEODORE’s waistband, agents discovered a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun, bearing serial number BKZX752, with a round in the chamber. In THEODORE’s coat pocket, agents recovered approximately 50.4 grams of a substance, packaged in clear plastic baggies, suspected to be a heroin/fentanyl mixture. During the execution of a search warrants, agents located approximately 165.8 grams of fentanyl, as well as the accoutrement of drug processing.
THEODORE was previously convicted in state court of attempted possession with the intent to distribute heroin, manslaughter and attempted manslaughter, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and, as such, was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
THEODORE was charged federally with conspiring to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Because his prior manslaughter conviction counts as a serious violent felony, THEODORE was also charged with a recidivist enhancement that increased the potential penalty for the drug crimes.
On January 10, 2025, THEODORE pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also conceded that the recidivist enhancement based on his prior manslaughter conviction applied.
Judge Papillion set sentencing for April 22, 2025. The maximum penalties THEODORE facesare as follows. For possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, imprisonment of at least ten years up to life in prison, up to a $8,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release. For possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a term of he faces imprisonment of at least five years up to life in prison that must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. For being a felon in possession of a firearm, a term of he faces imprisonment of up to fifteen years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. In total, THEODORE faces a mandatory minimum of at least 15 years up to a maximum of life imprisonment. As to each count to which THEODORE pled guilty, he also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Federal Drug and Weapons ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SHANE BOLDEN (“BOLDEN”), age 25, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on January 8, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D), and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) executed a search warrant at BOLDEN’s residence on April 8, 2024. NOPD recovered over a pound of marijuana that BOLDEN intended to sell, and eight firearms that belonged to BOLDEN: a Glock Model 33, .357 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 15 armor-piercing rounds; a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 22 hollow point rounds; a Zastava Arms Model PAP M85 NP, 5.56 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Stag Arms Model Stag-15, multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Romarm/Cugir Model Mini Draco, 7.62 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 30 rounds; a Glock Model 19x, 9 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 16 red-tip hollow point rounds; a Diamondback Arms Model DB380, .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with eight rounds; and a stolen Glock Model 22, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. BOLDEN is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions, including a conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. NOPD also recovered over $108,000 in cash belonging to BOLDEN. BOLDEN has agreed to forfeit all of the firearms and cash to the United States government.
As to his conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, BOLDEN faces up to five years in prison and a minimum of two years of supervised release. As to his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, he faces up to 15 years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
Mount Vernon Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Depriving an Individual of His Constitutional RightsRead the Press Release
Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MARIO STEWART, a Sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department (“MVPD”), pled guilty today to using excessive force against an individual (the “Victim”) while in Mount Vernon, New York, in violation of the Victim’s rights under the U.S. Constitution. STEWART pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Mario Stewart betrayed his duty as a Sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department. Stewart was called to the scene to aid a person in emotional distress. But instead of rendering aid, he deployed his taser on the individual seven times in the span of roughly two minutes, while the individual was helpless, and while several other MVPD officers were on scene to assist. This Office will fiercely protect constitutional rights and hold accountable those who abuse their authority to violate those rights.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in court:
On or about March 26, 2019, STEWART was employed as a Sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department. STEWART was assigned to the MVPD’s Emergency Services Unit, which is responsible for, among other things, responding to individuals who are experiencing mental health crises. On that day, STEWART and six other MVPD officers received a call to assist the Victim in Mount Vernon, New York, as the Victim was experiencing a mental health crisis.
At the scene, STEWART and the other MVPD officers restrained the Victim, handcuffing his hands behind his back and securing his legs in a restraint bag in preparation to transport the Victim for medical assistance. When the MVPD officers were unable to pull the restraint bag over the Victim’s chest because the Victim was holding onto one of the bag’s straps, STEWART directed the Victim to release the strap. While STEWART deployed his taser all seven times, the Victim remained laying on the ground, handcuffed with his hands behind his back and his legs secured in the restraint bag. STEWART’s actions caused bodily injury to the Victim, including extreme pain.
* * *
STEWART, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the Mount Vernon Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg and Jared Hoffman are in charge of the prosecution.