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4 February 2025
Former Employee Charged with Defrauding Mt. Diablo Unified School District in Fake Invoices SchemeRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has charged Eric Rego with three counts of mail fraud in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud his former employer, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD), through fake invoices for electronic devices that Rego kept and resold.
According to an indictment unsealed today, Rego, 39, a resident of El Dorado Hills, Calif., committed fraud by using MDUSD funds earmarked for an after-school program to purchase tablet computers and other electronic devices that he then sold for his own profit. Rego was an employee of MDUSD, a public school district in Contra Costa County. The school district had an after-school program that offered to students in transitional kindergarten through twelfth grade academic, recreational, and environmental programming. The after-school program was free to students and funded primarily through state grants designed to benefit high-need population areas. Rego was MDUSD’s after-school program coordinator.
The school district had a contract with a nonprofit (referred to as Nonprofit 1) to run its after-school program. As the program coordinator, Rego worked closely with Nonprofit 1. Beginning around July 2020 and continuing through around May 2024, Rego purchased or caused to be purchased iPads, MacBooks, GoPro cameras, and other electronic devices through Nonprofit 1. Rego allegedly falsely claimed to a Nonprofit 1 employee that the iPads and other devices were needed for students in the after-school program, but instead kept the devices and resold them at a fraction of their cost.
To carry out his scheme, Rego directed a Nonprofit 1 employee to submit monthly invoices containing a line-item expense for subcontracts and supplies and to include the cost of the iPads and other devices in this line-item. Rego reviewed and approved these monthly invoices and caused their submission to MDUSD for processing and payment. In so doing, Rego falsely represented to MDUSD that the invoices were for Nonprofit 1’s expenses incurred from operating the after-school program. In all, the indictment alleges that Rego fraudulently obtained iPads, MacBooks, GoPro cameras, and other devices at a cost of not less than approximately $3.3 million.
The defendant was arrested today and will appear in federal district court in Sacramento on Feb. 5, 2025.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of mail fraud. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Dan Costin made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Rezaei is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Linda Love. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Concord Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI thank the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and Superintendent Adam Clark, Ed.D. for their cooperation with the investigation.
Rego Indictment
Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Roanoke Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – The third man involved in robbing the Carter Bank and Trust on Hershberger Road in Roanoke in June 2023, pled guilty recently in U.S. District Court in Roanoke for his role in the robbery.
Tishawn Simpson, 25, of Roanoke, pled guilty last week to one count of bank robbery.
According to court documents, on June 22, 2023, two masked men, Simpson and Demonte Belcher, entered the Carter Bank and Trust, one carrying a blue bank bag and the other carrying a green plastic bag and presented the teller with a note that stated “[l]ets make everything right you have least (sic) than 30 seconds to give me $50K or die got nothing to lose.” As a result of this threat, the men left the bank with $8,659 in cash, but left the demand note behind. Simpson was identified as a suspect when a DNA analysis revealed that he had contributed to a DNA profile that the FBI Laboratory had developed from one of the robber’s masks that law enforcement recovered.
A third man, Ramel Abrams, did not physically enter the bank, however his fingerprints were found on the demand note and the clothing worn by both robbers was found inside of his apartment. Furthermore, location information obtained from Abrams’ phone records indicates that he was near Carter Bank & Trust just prior to the robbery.
All three men have pled guilty for their roles in the robbery. In August, Belcher was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and in December Abrams was sentenced to 30 months for his role in the robbery Simpson will be sentenced in May.
Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’ s Richmond Division Stanley M. Meador, and Chief of the Roanoke City Police Department Scott Booth made the announcement.
The Roanoke City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case and received assistance from the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Salem Police Department, and the Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Parrella and M. Coleman Adams are prosecuting the case.
Disbarred Queens Attorney Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Defrauding ClientsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, disbarred attorney Hyun W. Lee, also known as “Michael Lee,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to 54 months in prison for wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud his real estate clients and their counterparties of funds held in his attorney escrow account. As part of the sentence, Lee was ordered to pay the government $3.27 million in forfeiture and restitution to the victims in the amount of $3.29 million. Lee pleaded guilty to wire fraud in December 2023.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
“The defendant was disbarred from the practice of law for reprehensible misconduct, but that severe penalty did not deter him from continuing to abuse the trust of clients, so it is my hope that he will get the message after serving a term of imprisonment for his crimes,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “It is particularly egregious that Lee committed these crimes by holding himself out as a trusted lawyer to clients within the Korean-American community in Queens, where many immigrants have little experience with the legal system and place an enormous amount of trust in the hands of individuals like the defendant who profess to represent their interests in legal proceedings.”
Mr. Durham thanked the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this matter.
Lee was an attorney licensed by the State of New York admitted to practice in 2003. He maintained an office in Flushing, Queens, where he represented buyers and sellers in connection with the purchase and sale of real property. On March 11, 2020, Lee was disbarred as a result of charges brought by the Grievance Committee that he had engaged in a pattern and practice of misappropriating client and third-party funds. As a result, Lee was not permitted to accept funds from clients and third parties.
Between February 2018 and May 2023, Lee induced clients and counterparties to entrust funds to him for the purchase of real estate based on misrepresentations that he would release the funds deposited into his escrow account. Instead, Lee misappropriated these funds and used them for his own benefit, which included gambling at casinos and to pay expenses at a restaurant that he was a part-owner. Lee misrepresented that he was an attorney authorized to represent clients in connection with the purchase and sale of real estate, and to receive and hold funds in his escrow account in connection with real estate transactions.
In furtherance of the scheme, Lee misled clients about the status of funds held in his escrow account by fabricating documents leading them to believe their funds were secure. While documentation Lee showed to clients reflected a balance in Lee’s escrow account of nearly $3 million, in reality Lee had depleted the escrow account down to only approximately $25,000. Lee failed to honor requests by clients and their counterparties to release funds from his escrow account, falsely claiming that he was in the process of working out an equitable distribution of funds that remained. In reality, Lee had already spent virtually all of the funds in the account.
Victims who suffered losses as a result of the conduct of Lee, or other New York lawyers who engage in misconduct, may be eligible to receive compensation by filing a claim with the Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection, which may be reached by calling (800) 442-3863 or e-mailing [email protected]
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hiral D. Mehta is in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Special Agent Martin Sullivan.
The Defendant:
HYUN W. LEE (also known as “Michael Lee”)
Age: 51
Closter, New JerseyE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-465 (PKC)
Denton County man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for fatal fentanyl overdoseRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Denton man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a fatal fentanyl overdose in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
Courtney Green, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Green was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on January 30, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant.
Co-defendant Tiffane Chantial Volz, 37, also of Denton, pleaded guilty to the same charge and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Mazzant on February 18, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on April 15, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a reported overdose death on Heatherton Drive in Celina, Texas. Autopsy results determined the victim died of pulmonary congestion and edema due to the toxic effects of fentanyl. An investigation revealed emails and text messages between the victim and Green discussing the distribution of prescription pills. Further investigation determined Volz to be Green’s source of supply.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Public Safety Alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. The Public Safety Alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of a significant nationwide surge in fake pills that are mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate. For more information, please visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
This case was investigated by the Celina Police Department, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Crawford County, Iowa Man Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Brandon Michael Halsey, age 20, from Denison, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea on October 8, 2024, to possession of child pornography.
In a plea agreement, Halsey admitted that between February 5, 2022, and February 1, 2023, he knowingly received, distributed, and possessed visual depictions of child pornography. Evidence in the case showed that on May 6, 2022, a Kik user was reported to have uploaded/shared two videos that depicted child pornography. This activity was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and a CyperTip report was generated. Law enforcement reviewed the two videos and determined that at least one of the videos involved a minor who had not attained the age of 12 years old.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Halsey’s home, and he admitted to possessing approximately 100 files of images and videos depicting child pornography. Additionally, Halsey admitted he also sent images and videos to other Kik users. While Halsey was walking to the agent’s vehicle he attempted to discard two iPhones outside in a nearby snowbank. Law enforcement officers observed this, and the iPhones were seized as evidence. A forensic review of all three phones showed Halsey possessed 263 images and 104 videos of child pornography. The images and videos included depictions of toddlers, bondage, and sadistic and masochistic conduct.
Halsey was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Halsey was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to pay $18,600 in restitution and assessments. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Halsey is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation-Cyber Crime Bureau-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-4043. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Convicted sex offender charged with illegally reentering at southern borderRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 33-year-old Mexican citizen for illegal reentry after a prior removal, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Hector Salvador Lozano-Davila is now in custody and is expected to appear for his arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.
According to the criminal complaint originally filed in the case, on Jan. 11, authorities encountered Lozano-Davila near Roma. He allegedly entered the United States from Mexico that same date. A records check revealed Lozano-Davila was previously convicted of sexual assault of a child in 2019 then subsequently removed to Mexico in November 2021, according to the charges.
If convicted, Lozano-Davila faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Convicted Felon Admits Drug Trafficking Offense and Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An East Orange, New Jersey man today admitted possessing quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine he intended to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.
Ibraheem Muhammad, 41, of East Orange, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an Indictment charging him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Law enforcement investigated Muhammad for his drug distribution from an apartment in East Orange (the “Residence”). On May 9, 2022, Muhammad was arrested on a warrant after law enforcement saw him exit the Residence and engage in a suspected drug transaction. He was caught in possession of numerous envelopes of suspected heroin and keys to the Residence. A subsequent search of the Residence revealed Muhammad to be in possession of controlled substances that subsequently lab tested positive for heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, and various glassine envelopes and other paraphernalia used for packaging drugs. Law enforcement also recovered approximately $14,000 in cash; a Girsan 9mm semi-automatic handgun, loaded with fourteen (14) rounds of 9mm ammunition; and an additional fifteen (15) rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The drug charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charge carries a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 24, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., Newark Field Division; and the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Maurice Boyd.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
muhammad.indictment.pdf
Consent Judgment Entered Against Philadelphia Drone Flyer for Violations of FAA RegulationsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Jacqueline C. Romero, announced today that the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has entered a consent judgment against Michael DiCiurcio of Philadelphia, PA. In its complaint against DiCiurcio, the United States alleges that DiCiurcio operated small unmanned aircraft systems (“sUAS”) – commonly known as drones – unlawfully and unsafely in the Philadelphia area between at least December 2019 to the present, in violation of Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) requirements.
The United States alleges that DiCiurcio operated flights at night, in close proximity to the William Penn Statue, PSFS Building, and Liberty One Building, resulting in the sUAS almost striking a church steeple during one flight. The United States alleges that during certain flights DiCiurcio improperly operated the sUAS inside of controlled airspace near the Philadelphia airport, over people and cars, and, in at least one instance, lost control of the sUAS, causing it to fly uncontrolled over Philadelphia.
The FAA warned DiCiurcio in writing and provided him with counseling and education regarding requirements for safe operations of a sUAS under the Federal Aviation Regulations. The United States alleges that DiCiurcio nonetheless has continued to operate sUASs illegally and in a careless or reckless manner that endangers others.
Terms of the Consent Judgment
On January 23, 2025, before Magistrate Judge Jose Arteaga, DiCiurcio agreed to the terms of the consent judgment, including that: DiCiurcio (1) admits that all allegations of his conduct set forth in the Verified Complaint are true and accurate; (2) admits that the conduct as alleged in the Verified Complaint violated FAA regulations and safety guidance as alleged; and (3) accepts the administrative findings of violations and further acknowledges that the FAA will deem those matters as findings of violations that may be considered aggravating factors in any future enforcement proceedings against him.
In addition, DiCiurcio agrees that he will: (1) never operate in any manner any sUAS of any type, size, model, of any kind within the United States, nor will he ever seek any type of certification or license to operate any type or form of sUAS; (2) take down the YouTube channel known as “Philly Drone Life” and no longer operate or resurrect its content or any part in any form; (3) abandon those sUAS and other items he surrendered to the FAA on May 23, 2024, pursuant to the Court’s Order sanctioning DiCiurcio for contempt of the preliminary injunction entered by the Court on February 29, 2024.
On January 29, 2025, Chief Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg signed the consent judgment.
“We work hard to educate people about safely flying their drones, and we don’t hesitate to take strong enforcement action when pilots deliberately flout the rules,” said Deputy FAA Administrator Katie Thomson.
“Failing to adhere to the safety requirements for flying small unmanned aircraft systems endangers people and property,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “All drone flyers have a responsibility to ensure that they observe all applicable regulations and guidance. Our Office is committed to ensuring total compliance with the FAA regulations and we will vigorously enforce violations wherever we find them.”
The allegations regarding unsafe sUAS flights in violation of FAA regulations are described in detail in the complaint. The case is captioned United States of America v. Michael DiCiurcio, Case No. 24-0612 (E.D. Pa.).
The case has been investigated by the FAA’s Flight Standards Division, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Viveca D. Parker.
All civil claims are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability.
Chilean National Charged with Conspiracy and Possessing Property Stolen from Burglary of Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Chilean man, believed to be part of a South American theft group, is charged for his involvement in a conspiracy to break into a jewelry store in New Jersey and possess the stolen property in other states, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.
Gustavo Ignacio Salas Ortega, 33, of Chile, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property that had crossed state lines and one count of receiving stolen property that had crossed state lines. ICE ERO Newark arrested Salas Ortega on October 14, 2024, in Rochelle Park, New Jersey.
“Sophisticated and highly organized burglars that allegedly target businesses do great damage and put the public at risk. The defendant is charged with conspiring to break into a jewelry store in New Jersey to steal expensive wristwatches and jewelry and then taking the valuables to other states. This office is committed to finding the perpetrators of these crimes and preventing them from continuing to harm our businesses.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna
“The Joint Organized Crime Task Force has been working tirelessly to apprehend these alleged criminals, following a labyrinth of conspirators that span multiple states.” FBI-Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly said. “These alleged criminals are part of South American theft groups who have been targeting stores throughout the United States for months. These alleged thieves have worked equally hard to evade law enforcement as they have to infiltrate the very businesses they have ripped off. This charge marks a positive step forward towards dismantling this group.”
“As alleged, the illegal alien offender threatened the public safety of our community by participating in an organized theft group,” said ICE ERO Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris. “These charges against Salas Ortega demonstrate ICE ERO Newark’s commitment to uphold the integrity of our immigration system while promoting the security of New Jersey’s residents.”
“We are incredibly proud of the tireless efforts of our detectives and the collaborative work with federal agencies that led to the identification of these suspects. This case underscores the importance of community and inter-agency cooperation in solving complex crimes,” said Millburn Police Chief Gilfedder. “Our department remains committed to bringing those responsible to justice and ensuring the safety of our residents and businesses.”
Salas Ortega appeared on February 4, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The defendant was part of a group that scouted a jewelry store in a New Jersey mall before committing the burglary. The defendant and his co-conspirators then entered the jewelry store through the ceiling and a hole they cut through an adjacent wall. Law enforcement later found the defendant wearing an expensive wristwatch that had been in the jewelry store at the time of the burglary. Further investigation showed that the defendant had possessed the stolen wristwatch in New York on multiple days after the burglary.
The charge of conspiracy to sell or receive stolen property carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; and the charge of receipt of stolen property carries a maximum potential penalty of ten years in prison. Both charges also carry a maximum potential penalty of up to a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of money involved in the offense, whichever is greater.
Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited the FBI Newark’s Joint Organized Crime Task Force (JOCTF), under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark; Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations, under the direction of Field Office Director John Tsoukaris; the Millburn Police Department under the direction of Chief Brian Gilfedder; and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent of Police Edward T. Cetnar, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Denver Police Department, Paramus Police Department, Fair Lawn Police Department, Edison Police Department, Northbrook (IL) Police Department, Vacaville (CA) Police Department, Nassau County (NY) Police Department, Woodbury (NY) Town Police Department, Town of Greenburgh (NY) Police Department, New York Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FBI Denver, FBI New York, and the FBI Legal Attaché Santiago, Chile.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor A. Chenoweth of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Mary Toscano, Esq., Roseland, New Jersey
salas_ortega.complaint.pdfCaribou Man Faces Lengthy Prison Sentence for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Caribou man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor to possession of child pornography.
According to court records, in April 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip from Kik, a messaging and chat app, that a user had uploaded videos containing child sexual abuse material. The videos captured the sexual abuse of victims as young as 1-3 years old. The account was later traced to Devin Madigan, 29. A forensic investigation of Madigan’s phone revealed images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
Madigan faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 to be followed by five years to life of supervised release. Madigan could also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case with assistance from the Grafton County (NH) Sheriff’s Department and the Brewer Police Department.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt, or production of child sexual abuse material: 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. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Canton Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. –A Canton man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine near the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' Reservation in Neshoba County, Mississippi.
Joe Santakeye Jones, 51, pled guilty on January 29, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2025, and faces a minimum of ten years and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
California Man Sentenced for Selling Unapproved Drugs with Intent to Defraud over the InternetRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on February 3, 2025, Jeremy Brown, 55, of Simi Valley, California, was sentenced for introducing into interstate commerce new drugs not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) with the intent to defraud or mislead. The Honorable Christina Reiss, Chief United States District Judge, sentenced the defendant to one year of supervised release and ordered the defendant to pay $100,000 in forfeiture.
According to court records, between March 2019 and December 2023, Brown operated a company, Warrior Labz SARMs, and accompanying websites through which he sold unapproved versions of prescription drugs and other substances. Specifically, Brown sold Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (“SARMs”), which are substances similar to anabolic steroids; unapproved versions of erectile-dysfunction drugs Viagra and Cialis; and unapproved versions of weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.
Brown falsely claimed on his websites that the drugs offered for sale were for “research purposes only” and “not for human consumption.” Alongside those claims, however, were claims that the drugs would provide various benefits affecting the structure and function of the human body.
Brown obtained the bulk of the drugs he sold from China. Brown did not verify shipping or storage conditions, nor did he use a lab to verify the contents of the drugs he received from China. But he falsely claimed on his websites that his company used only the highest quality pharmaceutical grade ingredients and U.S. manufacturing practices.
After receiving a warning letter from the FDA in June 2023, Brown continued to sell unapproved drugs over the internet. Between August and December 2023, Brown made three sales of unapproved drugs to an undercover law enforcement account in Vermont.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Corinne Smith. Brown is represented by Rick Collins, Esq. and Lisa Shelkrot, Esq.
Birmingham, Alabama Man Charged with Wire Fraud in Connection with Alleged Romance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on January 2, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Cedric Wormely, 58, of Birmingham, Alabama, with ten counts of wire fraud in connection with an alleged romance fraud scheme. Wormely had been previously charged by criminal complaint in September 2024.
Wormely entered a plea of not guilty during an arraignment on February 3, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Wormely be detained during the pendency of this matter.
According to court records, Wormely is alleged to have devised a scheme to defraud a Vermont-based victim by inducing her to send him money by falsely presenting himself as a New England man who lived in the Cumberland, Maine area, who had been employed for decades, and who had a romantic interest in the victim. In or around July 2022, Wormely met the victim online via an online dating website. The two began what the victim believed to be a genuine romantic relationship. Wormely allegedly told the victim that while he had a pension, he was having difficulty accessing it and needed the victim’s financial support for a large construction job that he had taken on in Mississippi. Based on promises that Wormely would repay her, and the victim’s belief that Wormely’s romantic intentions and business opportunities were legitimate, the victim transferred over $100,000 to Wormely via money transfer applications and wire transfers.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Wormely is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Wormely faces up to twenty years’ incarceration and a fine up to $250,000 if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Secret Service.
The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt and Michelle Arra. Wormely is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth.
The United States Secret Service and the United States Attorney’s Office encourage any individual who believes they may have been a victim of similar offenses to contact the United States Secret Service via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (802) 651-4091.
Armed felons sentenced for dual smoke shop robberiesRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Two Donna residents have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions of armed robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Robert Jae Franco, 23, and Alejandro Isaiah Gonzalez, 22, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery Oct. 18 and Nov. 8, 2024, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered both men to serve 48 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the sentencing, the court heard evidence that Franco had previously been convicted of aggravated assault and alien smuggling while Gonzalez had convictions for three separate burglary events.
"The Southern District of Texas is working around-the-clock to take repeat violent offenders off the streets," said Ganjei. "Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, we now have two less criminals out there terrorizing innocent citizens."
On Jan. 27, 2024, Franco and Gonzalez robbed two Smoke Shops in Pharr and Donna at gunpoint. Surveillance video from each location showed the masked and armed men enter the stores and rush the store employees while demanding money from the registers.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation with police departments in Pharr, Donna and McAllen as part of Operation: Knock Down. The initiative began in 2020 as a joint-ATF/U.S. Attorney’s Office program focusing on bringing federal resources to local prosecutions of armed and dangers felons.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Guerra Jr. prosecuted the case.
Armed Threat of Insurance Inspector Leads to Guilty Plea by Convicted Felon for Unlawful Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Springfield man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court records, in February 2024, a deputy from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that a home inspector from an insurance company had been threatened with a firearm by James Elliott, 66. During a search of Elliott’s home in March 2024, deputies found six firearms, including a loaded .44 magnum lever action rifle. Elliott is precluded from possessing firearms due to two prior felony convictions in the state of Kansas.
Elliott faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 to be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine Warden Service, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency also assisted with the investigation.
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Arizona Mechanic Admits Defrauding Missouri Customer, Others Out of $1.4 MillionRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A purported auto mechanic from Arizona on Tuesday admitted defrauding at least nine victims in Missouri and elsewhere out of more than $1.4 million, including one victim after he was charged.
Andres “Manny” Lopez, 36, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of wire fraud.
Lopez admitted that from November 2019 through July 2023, while running All Performance Tuning and Diesel Repair LLC in Arizona, he committed fraud by accepting money for vehicle upgrades and parts with no intention of performing the work. Lopez used the advance payments for personal expenses. He also damaged some customer vehicles and loaned vehicles to others without the owners’ consent. Several customers paid Lopez to find and purchase vehicles on their behalf. After receiving up-front payments, Lopez falsely told customers that he purchased their requested vehicles. But he actually used the money for personal expenses and provided customers with myriad false excuses as to why the vehicles could not be delivered.
A Missouri victim wired Lopez $45,000 for a Toyota RAV4 that he wanted to buy for his mother. Lopez falsely claimed that he’d bought the vehicle. He then provided a series of excuses about why it was not being delivered. Lopez claimed delivery delays were due to product recalls, even impersonating the general manager of a Florida Toyota dealership in text messages to the client’s mother.
In the guilty plea, Lopez admitted defrauding one victim out of approximately $567,892 after he was indicted in October of 2023 for the other frauds.
Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced May 9.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting case.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Drug Trafficking
Bryan Sanchez, 40, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 44 months of imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in September of 2023, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 3.5 grams of methamphetamine from Sanchez on the Wind River Reservation. Sanchez was indicted on May 16, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Sept. 16, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Jan. 31, in Casper. DCI and the FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00080
Firearm Offenses
Patrick Michael Cowan, 62, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, the defendant came to the attention of law enforcement during a drug investigation. They had been monitoring his actions when officers realized the truck the defendant was driving was reported stolen. Officers conducted a traffic stop on Sept. 2, 2024, and seized a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun and 5.23 grams of methamphetamine. Cowan is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He waived indictment and pled guilty to an Information on Nov. 12, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Jan. 31, in Cheyenne. The Drug Enforcement Administration, DCI, and Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00157
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Jorge Leon-Perez, 36, of Tlaxcala, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on June 10, 2023, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office arrested and booked the defendant into the Teton County Detention Center for failure to appear for a citation issued on April 29, 2023, for possessing a controlled substance. The defendant claimed to be a citizen of Mexico and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Leon-Perez had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in March 2009. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 28, in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00128Eniwer Roblero-Roblero, 25, of Sibinal, San Marcos, Guatemala, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Aug. 2, 2024, an ICE duty officer was assigned to locate and arrest the defendant following an arrest for driving while under the influence on Feb. 5, 2024, in Teton County. Teton County deputies notified ICE at the time of the arrest. After ICE interviewed the defendant, they determined the defendant was a citizen of Guatemala and entered the country illegally in 2019. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 28, in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00138
Eduardo Saldivar-Bernal, 40, of Mexico City, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on June 23, 2024, the defendant was arrested by the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department and booked into the Campbell County Detention Center for driving under the influence with a child passenger, interference with a peace officer, no valid driver’s license, and not stopping before emerging from an alley. The defendant claimed to be a citizen of Mexico and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Saldivar-Bernal had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in October 2002. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 30, in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00107
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
29 Individuals Sentenced to 378 Combined Years in Federal Prison for Running Armed Fentanyl and Meth Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- 29 defendants have been sentenced to a combined 378 years in federal prison for their roles in a large methamphetamine and fentanyl drug trafficking organization that operated in Southern Indiana.
According to court documents, between January 2020 and November 2021, the following 29 individuals conspired together to distribute a total of nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine and over three kilograms of fentanyl. This investigation led to the seizure of over 80 pounds of methamphetamine, over 560 grams of fentanyl, and $240,000 in United States currency.
Jeramey Smith served as the leader of the drug trafficking operation. Smith began obtaining multiple pound quantities of crystal methamphetamine from Julian Green in early 2020 until April of 2021 when he changed his source of supply to a cartel linked individual based in Houston, Texas. In June of 2021, Smith was robbed of a large amount of cash and was unable to pay his supplier for the lost product. Smith resorted back to Green to obtain the crystal methamphetamine.
DeJarnett was one of Smith’s top methamphetamine customers, often purchasing up to 20 pounds at a time. After Smith obtained the methamphetamine from either Green or his Mexican source of supply, he then distributed the methamphetamine to mid -level distributors in Indianapolis and Evansville.
In September 2021, Smith branched out to also begin selling large quantities of fentanyl-laced pills. Smith would obtain fentanyl powder from Markey and/or Moore, who would then press the powder into pills. Smith then used his same distributors to distribute the fentanyl throughout Southern Indiana. Law enforcement seized an automated pill press during the course of the investigation. Smith also used violence and intimidation to further his drug business by having his distributors robbed of their drug proceeds at gun point.
Additionally, several members of the drug trafficking used firearms to protect themselves and their profits. In total, law enforcement officers seized over 30 firearms from the defendants during court-authorized searches at multiple locations in Indianapolis and Evansville.
The charges and sentences are described below:
DefendantCharge(s)Prison SentenceJeramey Smith, 35
Indianapolis, INConspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Obstruction of Commerce by Robbery
240 months (20 years)
5 years supervised release
Julian Green, 36
Indianapolis, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
210 months (17.5 years)
Indianapolis, IN
Hannah Kissel, 28
Indianapolis, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
97 months (8 years)
3 years supervised release
Jordan Wilson, 41
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
216 months (15.7 years)
5 years supervised release
Timothy Rice, 35
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine204 months (17 years)
5 years supervised release
Archilles Johnson, 40
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine180 months (15 years)
5 years supervised release
Deonte Howard, 36
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine180 months (15 years)
5 years supervised release
Julie Hunt, 37
Petersburg, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
60 months (5 years)
3 years supervised release
Torrance Mimms, 34
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine180 months (15 years)
5 years supervised release
Keisha Jewell, 40
Princeton, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
108 months (9 years)
3 years supervised release
Davion Hays, 38
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine144 months (12 years)
5 years supervised release
Jason Mitchell, 43
Henderson, KY
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine204 months (17 years)
5 years supervised release
Denny Taylor, 49
Princeton, IN
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine180 months (15 years)
5 years supervised release
Aaron Hardiman, 42
Princeton, IN
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl120 months (10 years)
5 years supervised release
Roman Wills, 43
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine180 months (15 years)
5 years supervised release
Michael Sanders, 48
Owensboro, KY
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine168 months (14 years)
5 years supervised release
Gregory Snyder, 62
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine36 months (3 years)
4 years supervised release
Joshua Gahagan, 41
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine180 months (15 years)
5 years supervised release
Gregory Markey, 35
Indianapolis, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl168 months (14 years)
5 years supervised release
L.C. Moore, II, 31
Indianapolis, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl120 months (5 years)
5 years supervised release
Dominique Baquet, 31
Indianapolis, IN
Obstruction of Commerce by Robbery57 months (4.7 years)
3 years supervised release
Antonio DeJarnett, 36
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine264 months (22 years)
5 years supervised release
Ryan Pinkston, 42
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Felon in Possession of Ammunition
240 months (20 years)
5 years supervised release
Robert Embry, 46
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine60 months (5 years)
5 years supervised release
Becky Edwards, 39
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine120 months (10 years)
5 years supervised release
Edward Meredith, 59
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine120 months (10 years)
5 years supervised release
Joshua Wilson, 33
Evansville, IN
Use of a Communication Facility with the Intent to Commit or Facilitate the Distribution of Methamphetamine30 months (2.5 years)
No supervised release
Tabitha Seabeck, 32
Henderson, KY
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine180 months (15 years)
5 years supervised release
Zachary Addison, 42
Evansville, IN
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
300 months (25 years)
5 years supervised release
“The members of this conspiracy will spend decades in federal prison for pumping pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl onto our streets,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Drug use devastates so many families and kills hundreds of Hoosiers every year. That’s why we will work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to dismantle armed organizations trafficking in deadly drugs. The sentences imposed in this case demonstrate our continued commitment to protecting the public from these dangerous criminals.”
“Dismantling a major drug trafficking organization that was responsible for distributing multi-hundred-pound quantities of methamphetamine and kilogram quantities of fentanyl onto the streets of Indiana was a big win for law enforcement. Because of the exceptional collaborative efforts by law enforcement, we were able to achieve this remarkable outcome,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon. “This investigation was a wonderful victory for all Hoosiers and sends a crystal-clear message to major drug dealers we will continue working together with our partners to dismantle their illicit operations.”
“This sentencing is a significant victory in the relentless fight against the trafficking of deadly drugs and underscores the FBI’s commitment to pursue those who wreak havoc on our communities through their illegal drug trade,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who endanger public safety and contribute to this crisis are held accountable.”
“I would like to thank the dedicated Evansville Police Officers and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office Deputies as well as our federal partners in the DEA and US Attorney’s Office for their roles in getting these individuals off our streets. The manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl have brought death and destruction to our communities and have done irreversible damage to families in the worst way possible. This community will not tolerate that kind of behavior and illegal activity, and we will use every resource available to us to stop it and put dealers behind bars.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Evansville Resident Office, with the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Evansville Vanderburgh County Joint Task Force, DEA Indianapolis and Indianapolis Metro Drug Task Force providing valuable assistance. The sentenced were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Wheatley and Jeremy Kemper, who prosecuted this case.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage—a tiny amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil. Seven out of ten illegal fentanyl tablets seized from U.S. streets and analyzed by the DEA have been found to contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.
One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.
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3 February 2025
Willimantic Man Who Stole 38 Guns from Newington Store Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KWITZPATRICK DUFFANY, 37, formerly of Willimantic, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to firearm and drug offenses stemming from his theft of 38 firearms from a Newington gun store in 2023.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 27, 2023, during non-business hours, Duffany entered Hoffman’s Gun Store in Newington by climbing onto the balcony over the main entrance, cutting into the siding with a knife, and dropping down from the ceiling. Surveillance footage showed Duffany walking through the store and filling duffel bags with 38 guns. He then exited the store through the same hole. After stealing the guns, Duffany and two other individuals traveled to Hartford where Duffany traded several of the stolen guns for cash and drugs. In the following days, Duffany sold most of the remaining guns in exchange for cash and narcotics, or he provided guns to other individuals to sell.
Duffany was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Ashford in the early morning of June 1, 2023. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showed Duffany hiding a satchel in a soda display case shortly before his arrest. Investigators recovered the satchel and found a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun and drugs inside the bag. The gun had been stolen from Hoffman’s Gun Store.
Duffany pleaded guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a licensee, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Sentencing is scheduled for April 28.
Duffany has been detained since his arrest.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Newington Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Willimantic Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Dearington.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Britain for its cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
White Supremacist Leader Found Guilty of Conspiring to Destroy Regional Power GridRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – After a six-day trial, a federal jury found Brandon Russell, 29, a resident of Orlando, Florida, guilty of conspiracy to damage an energy facility.
Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office announced the jury’s verdict.
“Hate-fueled violence has no place in a civilized society. Brandon Russell went well beyond his First Amendment rights, orchestrating a terrorist plot that would have harmed thousands of innocent people,” Barron said. “It won’t always be popular, but this office will do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason.”
“Brandon Russell, a self-proclaimed National Socialist, conspired to 'lay waste to the city of Baltimore’ through violence and destruction of critical infrastructure. Today's verdict reinforces there is no tolerance for those who seek to harm our communities and use violence to further hate-filled beliefs,” DelBagno said. "I am proud of the tremendous work by the FBI Tampa and Baltimore Joint Terrorism Task Forces which led this investigation. The FBI remains diligent in protecting Marylanders from national security and public safety threats every single day in conjunction with our dedicated law enforcement and private sector partners.”
According to evidence presented at trial, from at least November 2022 to February 3, 2023, Russell conspired to carry out attacks against critical infrastructure, specifically transformers located within electrical substations, in furtherance of Russell’s racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist beliefs. Russell posted links to open-source maps of infrastructure, which included the locations of electrical substations, and he described how a small number of attacks on substations could cause a “cascading failure.” Russell also discussed maximizing the impact of the planned attack by hitting multiple substations at one time.
Russell recruited a Maryland-based woman, Sarah Beth Clendaniel, to carry out the attacks in Baltimore and elsewhere. They planned to damage energy facilities involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity and to cause a significant interruption and impairment of the Baltimore regional power grid. The intended monetary loss associated with the planned attacks would have exceeded $75 million. Clendaniel identified five substations to target, and Russell attempted to secure a weapon for Clendaniel. Clendaniel stated that if they hit a number of substations all in the same day, they “would completely destroy this whole city,” and that a “good four or five shots through the center of them . . . should make that happen.” She further added, “[i]t would probably permanently completely lay this city to waste if we could do that successfully.”
Russell faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to damage an energy facility. Senior United States District Judge James K. Bredar will determine the sentence after accounting for the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for June 17, 2025 at 11 a.m. On September 25, 2024, U.S. District Judge Bredar sentenced Clendaniel, to 18 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for conspiring with Russell to damage or destroy an energy facility in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1366(a), and a concurrent sentence of 15 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and 3 years of supervised release, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the Baltimore and Tampa FBI Field Offices for their outstanding work in the investigation and praised the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces, the Maryland State Police, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Washington and New York Field Offices of the FBI for their valuable assistance. Mr. Barron also thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked the prosecution team for their hard work and diligence in the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. To report a Maryland-based hate crime, contact the FBI Baltimore field office at (410) 265-8080 or www.tips.fbi.gov.
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Virginia gang members sentenced to decades in prison for kidnapping and murderRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Hezekiah Carney, 26, of Norfolk, and Jayquan Jones, 22, of Richmond, were each sentenced today to 38 years in prison for federal charges relating to the kidnapping and murder of a fellow Almighty Black P. Stone gang member. A total of four defendants have now been sentenced as part of the case.
“This act of wanton violence exemplifies the senseless brutality we associate with organized gangs and emphasizes the importance of eradicating them from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The investigation and prosecution that brought these defendants to justice were successful because of the vital partnerships built with our law enforcement partners working together toward our common goal of public safety.”
“The defendants assaulted and kidnapped a 25-year-old mother of two, drove her to a remote location, and murdered her by shooting her eight times,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cold-blooded, senseless gang violence like this affects entire communities. Today’s sentencings underscore that protecting our communities from violent criminals is a top Department priority. I applaud the tremendous work of all our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, who made securing these significant sentences possible.”
“When gang members resort to kidnapping and murder, they leave behind shattered lives and communities in fear,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This sentencing should send a message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding dangerous criminals accountable, protecting innocent lives and ensuring our neighborhoods are safe from violence.”
“Today’s sentencing marks another significant step towards justice for the victim, her family and the community. While no sentence can ever undo the pain caused by this tragic crime, we hope this outcome brings forth an amount of closure” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division. “The ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners as we protect our community and ensure those that commit violent crimes are held accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 6, 2023, Carney, along with co-defendants Jamica Langley, 25, of Richmond; Donnisha Goodman, 27, of Portsmouth; and Acacia Jackson, 20, of New York, traveled to the victim’s residence in Richmond to beat her for a perceived gang infraction.
The group left the apartment after beating the victim. About an hour later, Goodman, Jackson, Carney, and Langley returned to the victim’s apartment with fellow gang member Jones. Some of them were armed and wearing masks.
The defendants forced the victim into a Hyundai Sonata and drove her approximately an hour east of Richmond to a remote area in York County. After forcing the victim from the vehicle, Jones and Goodman executed her by shooting her at least eight times to the head, abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs.
Upon returning to Portsmouth after the murder, Carney, the leader of the gang, directed Goodman, Jackson, and Langley to burn their clothing, stay together, and not to speak with law enforcement.
The day after the murder, on May 7, 2023, the Norfolk Police Department located the Sonata with Jackson, Goodman, and Langley in the car. From the car, police recovered a 9mm cartridge that displayed the same markings as casings found at the murder scene.
On Aug. 29, 2024, Carney, Goodman, and Jones pled guilty to using a firearm causing death, and Langley and Jackson pled guilty to conspiring to commit kidnapping. On Jan. 7, Goodman was sentenced to 35 years in prison and Langley was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13.
The FBI, ATF, and state and local law enforcement partners investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa McKeel and Mack Coleman for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section 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. 4:24-cr-1.
Virginia Gang Members Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Kidnapping and MurderRead the Press Release
Hezekiah Carney, 26, of Norfolk, Virginia, and Jayquan Jones, 22, of Richmond, Virginia, were each sentenced today to 38 years in prison for federal charges relating to the kidnapping and murder of a fellow Almighty Black P. Stone gang member. A total of four defendants have now been sentenced as part of the case.
“The defendants assaulted and kidnapped a 25-year-old mother of two, drove her to a remote location, and murdered her by shooting her eight times,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cold-blooded, senseless gang violence like this affects entire communities. Today’s sentencings underscore that protecting our communities from violent criminals is a top Department priority. I applaud the tremendous work of all our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, who made securing these significant sentences possible.”
“This act of wanton violence exemplifies the senseless brutality we associate with organized gangs and emphasizes the importance of eradicating them from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The investigation and prosecution that brought these defendants to justice were successful because of the vital partnerships built with our law enforcement partners working together toward our common goal of public safety.”
“When gang members resort to kidnapping and murder, they leave behind shattered lives and communities in fear,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “This sentencing should send a message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding dangerous criminals accountable, protecting innocent lives and ensuring our neighborhoods are safe from violence.”
“Today’s sentencing marks another significant step towards justice for the victim, her family and the community. While no sentence can ever undo the pain caused by this tragic crime, we hope this outcome brings forth an amount of closure” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division. “The ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners as we protect our community and ensure those that commit violent crimes are held accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 6, 2023, Carney, along with co-defendants Jamica Langley, 25, of Richmond; Donnisha Goodman, 27, of Portsmouth, Virginia; and Acacia Jackson, 20, of New York, traveled to the victim’s residence in Richmond to beat her for a perceived gang infraction.
The group left the apartment after beating the victim. About an hour later, Goodman, Jackson, Carney, and Langley returned to the victim’s apartment with fellow gang member Jones. Some of them were armed and wearing masks.
The defendants forced the victim into a Hyundai Sonata and drove her approximately an hour east of Richmond to a remote area in York County, Virginia. After forcing the victim from the vehicle, Jones and Goodman executed her by shooting her at least eight times to the head, abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs.
Upon returning to Portsmouth after the murder, Carney, the leader of the gang, directed Goodman, Jackson, and Langley to burn their clothing, stay together, and not to speak with law enforcement.
The day after the murder, on May 7, 2023, the Norfolk Police Department located the Sonata with Jackson, Goodman, and Langley in the car. From the car, police recovered a 9mm cartridge that displayed the same markings as casings found at the murder scene.
On Aug. 29, 2024, Carney, Goodman, and Jones pleaded guilty to using a firearm causing death, and Langley and Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit kidnapping. On Jan. 7, Goodman was sentenced to 35 years in prison and Langley was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13.
The FBI, ATF, and state and local law enforcement partners investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa McKeel and Mack Coleman for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $9.7 Million in Civil, Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2024Read the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore announced today that the Western District of Missouri collected more than $9.7 million in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2024. Of this amount, $8,750,662 was collected in criminal actions and $962,920 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Western District of Missouri worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $7,639,046 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $41,074 was collected in criminal actions and $7,597,971 was collected in civil actions.
“The attorneys and support staff in our Monetary Penalties Unit are committed to ensuring that crime doesn’t pay,” Moore said. “Nearly twice as many dollars were collected in 2024 from criminal actions than in the prior year, representing the profits criminals were forced to hand over when they were convicted of their crimes.
“Victims of crime deserve their court-ordered restitution, and the public deserves those who owe a debt to the government to be held accountable for paying what they owe. These figures reflect our ongoing commitment and successful accomplishment of those goals.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Western District of Missouri, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $6,914,466 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2024. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Indict Two Individuals in Human Trafficking Case Involving Minor Victims Following APD InvestigationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Two individuals are facing federal human trafficking charges for allegedly forcing two minor girls, ages 14 and 15, into prostitution.
The indictment alleges that from December 29, 2024, to January 3, 2025, Roderick Bill Norseweather, 25, and Tajahnae Johnson, 21, knowingly recruited two minors for commercial sex acts, using force, threats, fraud, and coercion.
Norseweather and Johnson are accused of transporting the minors, both under 18 years old, across state lines with the intent that they engage in prostitution. Specifically, they are charged with two counts each of sex trafficking of minors and transportation of minors for illegal sexual activity.
Norseweather and Johnson will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Norseweather and Johnson each face no less than 15 years and up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Plea from Dulce Man in Domestic Violence CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE - A Dulce man pleaded guilty to two counts of assault of an intimate partner by strangling and suffocating.
According to court documents, Chalmers Dedios, 32, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation Indian Tribe, admitted to assaulting Jane Doe twice in February 2024, including strangling her to unconsciousness.
At sentencing, Dedios faces up to 10 years in prison, followed by three years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Secures 17-Year Sentence in Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Navajo, New Mexico man was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison today for systematically sexually exploiting a minor through text messages and social media communications.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, between February 1, 2021, and April 1, 2021, Dustin Rockmen, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, sent text and Facebook communications to a minor under the age of 18 to persuade her to engage in illegal sexual acts. Rockmen engaged in repeated sexual acts with the victim, threatened her in order to get her to continue engaging in sexual acts with Rockmen, distributed an image of the victim engaged in a sexual act with Rockmen, and sent pornographic material to the victim.
Upon his release from prison, Rockmen will be subject to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Zuni Woman Sentenced to 18 Year Prison Sentence for Fatal KidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni woman was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for her involvement in a 2019 kidnapping that resulted in the victim's death.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, between July 1 and July 16, 2019, Kendra Panteah, 37, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, participated in confining John Doe in the trunk of his own vehicle. She then brought the vehicle and victim to her co-defendant, Gilbert John Jr., and proceeded to drive around the Navajo Nation for over 24 hours with the victim locked in the trunk. They then stopped near Bass Lake, NM. When John Doe attempted to escape, John Jr. repeatedly stabbed him with a machete, resulting in the victim's death.
After the killing, Panteah and John Jr. abandoned the vehicle with the body inside for several days. John Jr. later towed the vehicle to a remote location, doused it with gasoline, and set it on fire to destroy evidence. The victim was only identified through hip replacement devices found in the burned vehicle.
Gilbert John Jr. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison in June of 2024.
Upon her release from prison, Panteah will be subject to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Probasco and Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case.
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Two Hard Money Lenders Charged for Defrauding Investors in Loans Made to Failed Fresno Company Bitwise IndustriesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment on Jan. 30, 2025, that charged David Hardcastle, 61, of Fresno, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and substantive wire fraud for defrauding investors in loans made to the failed Fresno-based startup company Bitwise Industries, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced today.
The indictment was unsealed after Hardcastle’s arrest this morning, and he is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court this afternoon. Andrew Adler, 31, of Greenwich, Connecticut, has been charged by information and entered into a plea agreement with the government where he has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Adler is scheduled to enter his guilty plea in court next month.
According to court documents, from December 2022 through May 2023, Hardcastle and his business partner Adler gave Bitwise approximately $20 million in hard money loans through their special purpose entity Startop Investments LLC. They syndicated the loans to other investors. In doing so, they altered the original loan documents to make it appear that Bitwise was obligated to pay significantly less interest on the loans than was true. They also forged the signature of Bitwise’s Co-CEO, Jake Soberal, on the altered documents. This made the loans appear less risky and therefore more appealing to the investors.
Hardcastle and Adler received tens of thousands of dollars in origination fees for the loans and stood to make millions more in secret profits from the higher, undisclosed interest rates had the loans been fully repaid. Moreover, one of the loans to Bitwise included a secure interest reserve of approximately $700,000. The investors were unaware of this reserve. Hardcastle and Adler then used these reserve funds to make an unrelated investment in another company that they operated without the investors’ authorization, and the money was not available to repay the investors when Bitwise collapsed in May 2023. Generally speaking, secure interest reserves are disclosed to loan investors and are supposed to help protect the investors in the event the borrower does not repay the loan on schedule.
Bitwise did not repay the loans before collapsing. As a result, the investors in the loans lost nearly all of their money.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton, Henry Carbajal III, and Cody Chapple are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Hardcastle and Adler each face maximum statutory penalties of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge. Hardcastle also faces another 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the substantive wire fraud charges. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two Chinese Chemical Company Executives Convicted and Multiple Websites and Cryptocurrency Accounts Seized in Connection with Fentanyl Precursor Importation and Money Laundering SchemesRead the Press Release
Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Derek S. Maltz, the Acting Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced that a jury returned a guilty verdict against QINGZHOU WANG, a/k/a “Bruce” (“WANG”), and YIYI CHEN, a/k/a “Chiron” (“CHEN”), on fentanyl precursor importation and money laundering charges. WANG was also convicted of importing a methamphetamine precursor. WANG and CHEN, both nationals of China, were found guilty following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.
U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon and Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz also announced today the seizure of domain names for seven websites and four cryptocurrency accounts, totaling approximately $900,000 worth of digital funds, tied to the illicit precursor chemical business of WANG and CHEN’s company, HUBEI AMARVEL BIOTECH CO., LTD., a/k/a “AmarvelBio,” (“AMARVEL BIOTECH”), its related entities, and its executives and employees. Five additional websites tied to AMARVEL BIOTECH, including its principal website, were previously seized in June 2023.
U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “Qingzhou Wang and Yiyi Chen conspired to import massive amounts of fentanyl precursors from China into the United States. They did so with callous disregard for the effect that such deadly chemicals would ultimately have here in the United States. Now, they stand convicted in an American courtroom and face a substantial term of imprisonment for their crimes. And we are not done. The seizures announced today continue the ongoing fight against the fentanyl supply chain. The message should be clear: we are watching, and we will continue to dismantle these fentanyl precursor operations, and bring the individuals responsible to justice.”
Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz said: “I have personally seen the devastation that illicit fentanyl has had on American families. I have looked into the eyes of hundreds of mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers, who would give anything to have one more moment with their loved one. The DEA’s top priority is protecting the safety of the American people. These convictions, and the seizures of these websites and accounts, show that no matter where you live in the world or where you operate in the fentanyl supply chain, the DEA will utilize all of our resources to bring you to justice. I’m incredibly proud of the men and women of DEA, alongside our law enforcement partners, who worked tirelessly on this investigation and the unrelenting fight against illicit fentanyl.”
As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
AMARVEL BIOTECH was a chemical manufacturer based in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei province, China, that exported vast quantities of the precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl and its analogues. A synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin, fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49. Fentanyl analogues, similar in chemical makeup and effect to fentanyl, can be even more potent and lethal than fentanyl. Fentanyl and its analogues have devastated communities across the U.S. and are fueling the ongoing opioid epidemic, which killed at least 105,263 Americans between February 2022 and January 2023 alone.
During the course of an undercover investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), AMARVEL BIOTECH and its principal executive, WANG, its marketing manager, CHEN, and a sales representative, FNU LNU, a/k/a “Er Yang,” a/k/a “Anita” (“YANG”), shipped more than 200 kilograms from China to the United States of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl and its analogues. AMARVEL BIOTECH, WANG, CHEN, and YANG shipped the precursors to the U.S. after being told that the chemicals would be used to produce fentanyl in New York, and they agreed to supply multi-ton shipments of fentanyl precursors despite being told that Americans had died after consuming fentanyl made from the chemicals that the defendants had sold.
For example, on or about November 17, 2022, a DEA confidential source (“CS-1”) wrote to YANG using an encrypted messaging application, “You know I making fentanyl,” and “Is not safe.” YANG replied, “i know.” On or about December 1, 2022, YANG wrote to CS-1, promising that CS-1 would be “happy with our product” and noting that CS-1 would “be able to synthesize fentanyl.” In exchange for payment in cryptocurrency, AMARVEL BIOTECH thereafter shipped from China to New York approximately 999.7 grams of the fentanyl precursor 1-boc-4-AP, approximately 1,002.6 grams of the fentanyl precursor 1-boc-4-piperidone, and approximately 893.6 grams of the methamphetamine precursor methylamine.
In or about March 2023, WANG and CHEN traveled from China to Bangkok, Thailand, to meet with an individual whom CS-1 represented was CS-1’s boss, but was in fact another DEA confidential source (“CS-2”). During the meeting, WANG and CHEN discussed AMARVEL BIOTECH’s ability to supply ton-quantities of fentanyl precursors to New York for CS-1 and CS-2’s fentanyl manufacturing operation. After CS-2 stated that CS-2 wanted a different formula for manufacturing fentanyl and that several of CS-2’s American customers had purportedly died, WANG and CHEN advised they had “a lot of customers in America and Mexico” who could provide technical assistance with fentanyl production.
After the March 2023 meeting in Bangkok, AMARVEL BIOTECH, WANG, CHEN, and YANG agreed to sell CS-1 and CS-2 approximately 210 kilograms of fentanyl precursors in exchange for payment in cryptocurrency. During an April 10, 2023 video call with WANG and CHEN, CS-2 stated that the approximately 210 kilograms of fentanyl precursors would be used to manufacture approximately 50 to 55 kilograms of fentanyl—an amount that could contain approximately 25 million deadly doses.
In or about May 2023, AMARVEL BIOTECH, WANG, CHEN, and YANG sent to the U.S. the shipment ordered by CS-1 and CS-2. On or about May 5, 2023, the DEA retrieved the precursor shipment from a warehouse near Los Angeles, California. Lab testing confirmed the presence of a precursor chemical for a fentanyl analogue. In an encrypted messaging group chat with CS-1, CS-2, WANG, and CHEN, YANG explained that “New York, the United States, has been strict in checking the precursors of the ‘final product’ some time ago, so for the sake of safety, this time it is sent to California.”
In or about June 2023, WANG and CHEN traveled from China to meet again with CS-2. During the meeting, WANG and CHEN discussed with CS-2 a multi-ton order of fentanyl precursor chemicals. WANG and CHEN also discussed the need to take additional measures to protect themselves from detection and interdiction of their shipments “because recently American government . . . seized some Mexican group and they followed the routes to China,” where the U.S. Government found “our competitor in China”—an apparent reference to fentanyl-related charges filed in the Southern District of New York and announced in April 2023 against, among others, leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel and certain China-based precursor chemical company executives.
AMARVEL BIOTECH openly advertised online its sale of precursor chemicals for use in manufacturing fentanyl. Through its website and a host of other storefront sites, AMARVEL BIOTECH targeted precursor chemical customers in Mexico, where drug cartels operate clandestine laboratories and distribute finished fentanyl into and throughout the United States, including by advertising fentanyl precursors as a “Mexico hot sale,” guaranteeing “100% stealth shipping” abroad, and posting to its websites documentation of AMARVEL BIOTECH shipping chemicals to Culiacan, the home city of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the dominant drug trafficking organizations in the Western Hemisphere and which is largely responsible for the massive influx of fentanyl into the U.S. in recent years. Below is a screenshot of one of AMARVEL BIOTECH’s store pages for a fentanyl precursor:
AMARVEL BIOTECH also endeavored to thwart law enforcement interdiction of its precursor chemical shipments. AMARVEL BIOTECH advertised online the business’s ability to use deceptive packaging—such as packaging indicating the contents are dog food, nuts, or motor oil—to ensure “safe” delivery of the illicit contents such shipments. An example of one of AMARVEL BIOTECH’s online advertisements are shown below:
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WANG, 36, of China, and CHEN, 32, of China, were each convicted of: one count of conspiracy to import the fentanyl precursor chemical 1-boc-4-AP, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe it will be used to manufacture fentanyl, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. WANG was also convicted of: one count of importation of the fentanyl precursor chemical 1-boc-4-AP, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe it will be used to manufacture fentanyl, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of importation of the methamphetamine precursor chemical methylamine, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. WANG and CHEN were each acquitted of one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and a fentanyl-related substance.
The maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
A table listing the websites for which the domain names have been seized pursuant Title 21, U.S. Code, Sections 853 and 970 is set forth below:
Website
Time of Seizure
https://www.whwingroup.com/July 2024
https://www.14-butanediol.com/July 2024
https://www.110-63-4.com/July 2024
https://www.bdo110634.com/July 2024
https://www.ghbbdo.com/July 2024
https://www.pmk28578.com/July 2024
https://www.whrchem.com/July 2024
https://www.amarvelbio.com/June 2023
https://www.14bdo-gbl.com/June 2023
https://www.5449-12-7.com/June 2023
https://www.pmk-piperidine.com/June 2023
https://www.buypmk28578-16-7.com/June 2023
Internet users attempting to access the seized domains now see the following:
Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit. Ms. Sassoon also thanked the DEA Bangkok Country Office, DEA Wellington Country Office, DEA Beijing Country Office, DEA Honolulu District Office, DEA New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) Strike Force, DEA Riverside District Office, DEA Special Testing Laboratory, the DEA Southwest Laboratory, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the Royal Thai Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the Fiji Police Force Narcotic Bureau, the Fiji Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Li and Kevin Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Sabrina Jim Munoz.
Tax Preparer Sentenced for Including False Information on Federal Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On January 31, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 47-year-old Natoshia Lashawn Crawford to 30 months in prison for making false tax returns and assisting in the filing of false tax returns, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman with IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to her plea agreement and other court records, from 2018 through 2022, Crawford owned and operated On Time Professional Tax Service, LLC, in Montgomery, Alabama. There, Crawford prepared and filed federal income tax returns for clients. In her plea agreement, Crawford admitted that she included false information in tax returns filed on behalf of herself and others. Doing so caused Crawford and some of her clients to receive greater refunds than they were entitled to receive.
In one example, Crawford reported a total income of $23,116 in her 2020 tax return. When Crawford pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024, she admitted that she knowingly excluded other income she received from her business. The false reporting of Crawford’s income for 2020 resulted in a lower amount of tax due and an underpayment to the IRS in the amount of $32,867. Crawford also admitted that she filed a 2019 return for a client claiming a business loss of $90,171 for a janitorial services business which did not exist. In her plea agreement, Crawford further agreed that the multiple false returns she filed for herself and others during the 2017 – 2021 tax years caused a total loss of $1,721,047.45 to the IRS. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also ordered that Crawford pay restitution to the IRS for losses from returns filed by her for the 2017 – 2021 tax years.
“For far too long, opportunistic tax return preparers like Ms. Crawford have viewed the IRS as a piggybank,” stated Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “As was the case here, preparers attempt to get larger refunds for themselves and their clients by putting false information on the tax returns they prepare. Hopefully, Ms. Crawford’s sentence will cause anyone who has considered cheating the system like this to honestly and accurately prepare tax returns.”
“The sentence Natoshia Crawford received is an example of the expected outcome others could face should they willfully defraud the government by submitting false and inaccurate tax returns,” said Special Agent in Charge Hardeman. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will investigate and turn over to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution those who commit tax crimes.”
For additional guidance, see the IRS fact sheet on their website at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/fs-08-10.pdf.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted.
Tampa Man Agrees to Pay U.S. Government $2 Million for His Role in Medical Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Mihir Taneja has agreed to pay the United States $2 million to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of claims for compounded medicated pain and scar creams related to prescriptions tainted by a kickback arrangement.
The conduct covered by the settlement agreement relates to allegations that Taneja conspired with Larry Smith, the owner of Z Stat Medical, LLC d/b/a Oldsmar Pharmacy, to enter into a kickback arrangement with a marketing company, Centurion Compounding, Inc., which led to millions of dollars in TRICARE reimbursement for compound prescriptions. Specifically, the settlement resolves allegations that Taneja and Smith negotiated an arrangement with Centurion that paid Centurion a percentage of profits from TRICARE claims it referred to Oldsmar Pharmacy. As a result, from November 2014 to February 2015, Oldsmar Pharmacy submitted thousands of claims for reimbursement to TRICARE for compounded drugs that were tainted by kickbacks and, therefore, were false.
The actions of Taneja and his co-conspirator played out against a larger trend of fraud against TRICARE involving compounded prescriptions. TRICARE’s costs for compounded drugs skyrocketed during this period, rising from $5 million in 2004 to $514 million in 2014, before reaching a high-water mark of $1.75 billion in fiscal year 2015. To date, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has diligently pursued fraud associated with compounding pharmacy claims, resulting in over $60 million in recoveries.
“Kickback arrangements threaten the quality-of-care patients receive and undermine the integrity of our healthcare system,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “My office will aggressively investigate and hold accountable those who seek to profit from such illegal arrangements.”
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the TRICARE program, the healthcare system for military members and their families,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jason J. Sargenski, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “I applaud the hard work of our agents and the United States Attorney’s Offices that led to today’s settlement.”
The lawsuit was filed under the False Claims Act, which makes a person liable to the United States if he presents, or causes another to present, false or fraudulent claims for payments. The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits anyone from offering or paying remuneration in order to induce or reward referrals for services paid for under federal healthcare systems.
The case is captioned United States v. Mihir Taneja, Case No. 8:21-cv-102. The claims asserted by the government are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The United States previously filed suit against Smith and Oldsmar Pharmacy arising out of the same conduct. That case was captioned U.S. ex rel. Silva, et al. v. Z Stat Medical, LLC, et al., No. 8:15-cv-00444-T-33TGW (M.D. Fla.). Smith previously agreed separately to pay $600,000, based on his ability to pay, for this as well as other conduct. In addition, Oldsmar Pharmacy returned over $19 million to TRICARE after law enforcement discovered the scheme.
The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Kenneth and Charles T. Harden of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance of the Department of Defense - Office of Inspector General.
Spencer, Iowa Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Meth and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Oscar Navarro-Zepeda, 43, from Spencer, Iowa, was sentenced on January 31, 2025, to 204 months’ imprisonment. Navarro-Zepeda was convicted by a jury on August 22, 2024, after a 3 ½ day trial in federal court in Sioux City. Navarro-Zepeda was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearm by prohibited person; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence at the trial showed that between April 2021 and April 2023, in the Northern District of Iowa and elsewhere Navarro-Zepeda was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 31 kilograms of methamphetamine. Evidence also showed that on April 18, 2023, during a search warrant at Navarro-Zepeda’s residence in Spencer, Iowa, law enforcement seized approximately 33 pounds of methamphetamine in separate one-pound packages, which he intended to distribute to others in the Spencer, Iowa, area. Officers also seized $17,932; an AR-15 style .223 caliber rifle, two loaded magazines, other .223 ammunition, as well as various items of drug distribution and use paraphernalia. Navarro-Zepeda was prohibited from possessing firearms and possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking, to protect himself, his drugs and drug proceeds from others.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Navarro-Zepeda was sentenced to 204 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of five years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Navarro-Zepeda remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by 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 Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4029. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Shakopee Woman Pleads Guilty in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Shakopee woman pleaded guilty for her role in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, at times between October 2020 and January 2022, Mekfira Hussein knowingly and willfully conspired with others to participate in a fraudulent scheme to obtain and misappropriate millions in federal child nutrition funds. Specifically, Hussein and her husband, Abduljabar Hussein, fraudulently obtained millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds by falsely claiming to have served meals to thousands of children per day.
According to court documents, in October 2020, the defendant enrolled her non-profit, Shamsia Hopes, in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future, at the direction of one of its employees, Abdikerm Eidleh. The defendant submitted her application to Aimee Bock, Feeding Our Future’s executive director. In December 2020, and also at the direction of Abdikerm Eidleh, the defendant’s husband registered his company, Oromia Feeds LLC, with the State of Minnesota as a food vendor. Abduljabar Hussein’s company, Oromia Feeds, had a contract to prepare meals to be served by Shamsia Hopes sites run by Mekfira Hussein.
According to the plea agreement entered today, Hussein submitted fraudulently inflated invoices for reimbursement—including inflated meal counts and false attendance rosters. As part of their scheme, the defendant and her husband paid at least $140,000 in kickbacks to Eidleh and least $12,000 in kickbacks to Aimee Bock. In some instances, these kickback payments were disguised as “consulting fees,” when, in fact, neither Eidleh nor Aimee Bock provided any service to justify these payments. In other instances, Feeding Our Future billed hundreds of thousands of dollars in Federal Child Nutrition Program claims under the name of the defendant’s organization, Shamsia Hopes, without the defendant’s knowledge or authorization, and Feeding Our Future siphoned those funds to others involved in the conspiracy.
Throughout the fraudulent conspiracy, the Husseins obtained up to $8.8 million in federal child nutrition program funds some of which they used to pay for personal expenditures unrelated to feeing children. For instance, the defendant and her husband used $173,438 of their proceeds to pay off the mortgage on their home in Shakopee, Minnesota, and also purchased a 2021 Porsche for $93,250, a 2022 GMC truck for $61,722.
Hussein pleaded guilty last Friday in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Joseph H. Thompson, and Harry M. Jacobs are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Serial Fraudster Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Stealing Nearly $3 Million and Five Indianapolis HomesRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE— James Henley, 35, of Greenwood, Indiana, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit access device fraud, two counts of money laundering, and eight counts of wire fraud. Henley has also been ordered to pay $1,887,426.63 in restitution.
According to court documents, over the course of three years, Henley orchestrated multiple large and complex fraud schemes, resulting in a total loss of $2,927,758.95 to individual homeowners, an Indiana attorney, a bank, and ten state governments. As part of his fraud schemes, Henley registered five fake businesses (OnTrack Real Estate Solutions, LDI Investments Corp, Lucario Investments, 317 Traffic, and Henley Real Estate Solutions) with the states of Indiana and Kentucky, claiming to serve as the Chief Executive Officer for most of them. None of the businesses were legitimate. Instead, Henley used the businesses to mask his identity, make his schemes appear more credible, and launder the stolen money.
Henley’s schemes are broken down as follows:
COVID-19 Fraud:
Between May 2020 and March 2021, James Henley, his wife Jameka Henley, and his associate Jimmie Bickers used the stolen personally identifiable information of 76 real individuals to submit 120 unemployment insurance applications to ten states during the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the applications were approved, the trio used 65 unemployment insurance debit cards to make purchases at retailers and withdraw cash at ATMs in the Evansville and Indianapolis areas. The states paid a total of $1,119,426.63 in unemployment benefits in connection with the group’s fraudulent applications. In July 2020, Henley used funds withdrawn from ATMs to buy a Chevrolet Camaro for $22,801.
Bickers and Jameka Henley have been formally charged for their roles in this scheme but have not pleaded guilty.
Home Title Fraud:
Between December 2021 and May 2023, Henley stole five homes in Indianapolis by filing fraudulent deeds with the Marion County Recorder’s Office. Through the filings, Henley claimed that the homeowners had sold their homes to his fake businesses, but, in reality, he had never even spoken with the homeowners. Unbeknownst to the victims, Henley filed these fraudulent deeds and then sold the homes for significantly less than their market value, pocketing more than $260,000 in profits.
Henley also attempted to steal and sell an additional 14 homes in Indianapolis and Evansville. With one exception, the individuals who bought the homes from Henley took possession and ultimately kept the homes.
For one homeowner, the property Henley stole was her childhood home. She purchased the home while her mother was in the hospital with the hope that, when her mother’s condition improved, her mother would be able to live out her remaining years in the house.
Mortgage Fraud:
In November 2021, an associate of Henley’s purchased a home in Indianapolis, using a mortgage loan from a bank. In April 2022, Henley filed a fraudulent document with the Marion County Recorder’s Office to make it seem as if the mortgage loan had been paid off, when it had not been paid. Henley then filed a deed naming himself a joint owner of the home. Henley and his associate subsequently sold the property for $255,000, pocketing all the proceeds, even though the bank should have received the majority of the funds.
Auto Loan Fraud:
In March 2023, Henley purchased a Dodge Durango in Indianapolis for $71,479, using an auto loan from Everwise Credit Union. A few months later, in June 2023, Henley purchased a Chevrolet Silverado in Plainfield for $54,270, using a second loan from Everwise Credit Union.
In October 2023, Henley connected a JPMorgan Chase bank account to his auto loans, via Everwise’s online payment portal. Henley falsely represented that the Chase account belonged to Jimmie Bickers, and that he had authority to make payments on his loans using funds from the Chase account.
The Chase account was actually an Indiana attorney’s Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA), which is a highly regulated bank account used by lawyers to hold client funds. The interest earned on IOLTA accounts is used to fund grants for nonprofit groups that promote pro bono and access to justice programs. Henley did not have the attorney’s permission to access or withdraw funds from the IOLTA account.
Between October and November 2023, Henley used the IOLTA account to make two payments, totaling $98,000, toward his auto loans.
Henley has prior felony convictions for financial crimes, including theft, forgery, and fraud.
“James Henley went to great lengths to coordinate exceptionally greedy, complex schemes that exploited hard-working families and state government programs,” said John E. Childress, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Undeterred by prior felony convictions for the same conduct, this defendant stole over a million dollars, wreaking financial and logistical havoc on hundreds of victims. The Department of Justice will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of fraud and seek prosecution as appropriate.”
"James Henley filed fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims in the names of identity theft victims in order to receive UI benefits to which he was not entitled. He enriched himself by defrauding a program that was intended to assist struggling American workers during an unprecedented global pandemic," said Megan Howell, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. "We and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the integrity of the UI system from those who seek to exploit this critical benefit program."
“This lengthy prison sentence sends a clear message: individuals who attempt to exploit and commit financial crime and identity theft will be brought to justice,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation and our fellow law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the integrity of our financial institutions and will continue to hold criminals like James Henley accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
"This case should serve as a powerful reminder that individuals with a history of financial crimes will face significant consequences when they demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law and continue to exploit and deceive others for personal gain,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to hold those who perpetuate such offenses accountable and protect the public from those who manipulate the system for their own benefit.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General, and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office Homeowner Protection Unit investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew B. Brookman.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Miller, who prosecuted this case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID‑19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID‑19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
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Second Defendant to Federal Prison for Webster County Firearm TheftsRead the Press Release
A woman who stole firearms during two burglaries she committed with a wanted fugitive was sentenced on January 31, 2025, to more than four years in federal prison.
Madison Diane Kidd, age 26, from Stratford, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 16, 2024 guilty plea to possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person.
Information from a plea agreement showed that in late 2022 and early 2023, Kidd harbored Michael Ackerson, a federal fugitive who had a warrant for his arrest, at her residence in Stratford. On January 11, and January 13, 2023, Kidd and Ackerson burglarized two homes on Brushy Creek Road in Webster County, Iowa. During these burglaries, they stole five firearms, a safe containing coins and jewelry, and a compound bow, among other items. Kidd hid four of the stolen firearms and the stolen bow in a crawl space in her residence in Stratford. On January 25, 2023, law enforcement officers searched Kidd’s home. During the search, they located and arrested Ackerson. They also found the firearms, the bow, other property stolen during the burglaries, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.
In January 2023, Kidd was a methamphetamine user who had at least three prior felony convictions. After Ackerson’s arrest, Kidd and Ackerson discussed who would take responsibility for the firearms on recorded jail calls. Ackerson gave Kidd login information for a Google account, and Kidd logged into the account, changed the password, and deleted information from the account to conceal evidence of their crimes. On December 6, 2023, Ackerson was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment after he pled guilty to escape from custody and possession of firearms by a felon.
Kidd was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Kidd was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $865.34 in restitution to the victims. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. 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.
Kidd is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the United States Marshals Service, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-3021.
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Search warrant yields unexpected arrestsRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old Laredo resident and two Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States have been charged with various federal firearm offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jose Hernandez-Garza, 25, an illegal alien residing in Laredo, has made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos who ordered him detained pending further criminal proceedings. Fernando Patino Jr., Laredo, and Alberto Garcia-Guajardo, 32, also an illegal alien residing in Laredo are set to appear Feb. 4.
Over the course of a month-long investigation, Patino and Garcia-Guarjardo allegedly sold several machine guns to undercover authorities as well as other controlled substances, such as cocaine.
On Jan. 31, authorities executed a search warrant on the 3000 block of Monterrey Street in Laredo, according to the charges. At the location were Garcia-Guajardo and Hernandez-Garza. Law enforcement allegedly discovered several firearms, narcotics and a scale and immediately took the two men into custody.
Garcia-Guajardo and Patino face up to 10 years in federal prison for possession of a machine gun, while Hernandez-Garza faces up to 15 years if convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Both could also be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, Border Patrol Tactical Unit, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tory R. Sailer is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Scranton Man Sentenced to 252 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Richard Potter, age 29, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on January 30, 2025, by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani to 252 months’ imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute fentanyl resulting in death.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Potter was involved in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances throughout Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties beginning in January 2022 until the time of his arrest on February 28, 2023. The investigation revealed that the conspiracy’s source of supply for fentanyl was located in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Potter and at least one other co-conspirator would travel from Scranton to Hazleton multiple times each week during the conspiracy to reup with the Hazleton source and return to Scranton with upwards of 60 to 80 bricks (3,000 to 4,000 bags) of fentanyl for further distribution. On December 19, 2022, a 26-year-old Dunmore male purchased a quantity of fentanyl from a member of the conspiracy, ingested the fentanyl, overdosed, and died. Subsequent autopsy and toxicology confirmed a fentanyl overdose death. The male’s cell phone located next to his body led investigators to Potter, and two others involved in the distribution that resulted in death.
Potter was indicted by a grand jury in Scranton on April 4, 2023, along with Santino Bellucci, age 29, and Kaylee Ann Widmer, age 25. Potter appeared in federal court in Scranton on September 23, 2024, and plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death.
Bellucci and Widmer have both entered guilty pleas for conspiring to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Their sentences are scheduled for March 2025.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Scranton - Safe Streets Task Force, and the Dunmore Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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San Jose Man Charged with Robbery and Assault of U.S. Postal Service Letter CarrierRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury has indicted Robert Cordova, also known as Robert Cordona, with one count of robbery of a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier and one count of assaulting a federal employee. Cordova was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal district court today.
Cordova, 49, of San Jose, was initially charged by complaint on Jan. 15, 2025, and subsequently indicted on Jan. 23, 2025. The complaint describes how, on Nov. 22, 2024, a USPS letter carrier was sorting parcels for delivery at the rear of his mail truck near the intersection of Taylor Street and 13th Street in San Jose when he felt the truck move. The letter carrier looked around the right rear corner of the truck and saw a man – later identified as Cordova – with his whole upper body in the truck. The letter carrier walked up to Cordova and asked what he was doing. Cordova allegedly got out of the truck, turned, and punched the letter carrier in the face. Cordova then allegedly took the letter carrier to the ground, punched the letter carrier in the face and head repeatedly, and attempted to gouge the letter carrier’s eyes. The letter carrier was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken nose and a fractured left orbital socket.
San Jose Police Department (SJPD) officers found Cordova in the backyard of a house close to where the alleged robbery occurred. According to the complaint, after SJPD officers arrested Cordova, the letter carrier identified Cordova as the assailant.
Cordova is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 6, 2025, for a detention hearing.
United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) made the announcement.
A complaint or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, defendant faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a five-year term of supervised release on the count of robbery of a United States mail carrier under 18 U.S.C. § 2114(a), and 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year term of supervised release on the count of assaulting a federal employee under 18 U.S.C. §111(a) and (b).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal C. Hong is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lynette Dixon. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by USPIS and the SJPD. Anyone with information about mail theft, mail robbery, or other crimes against USPS letter carriers can report it by contacting USPIS at www.uspis.gov or 877-876-2455.
Cordova Complaint
Cordova Indictment
Russian and Uzbek Nationals Charged with Conspiracy to File False Voter Registration ApplicationsRead the Press Release
A Russian national and an Uzbek national, both residing in Florida, were arrested for their alleged participation in a scheme to submit false and fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County, Florida, Supervisor of Elections.
According to court filings, Dmitry Shushlebin, 45, a citizen of Russia living in Miami Beach, and Sanjar Jamilov, 33, a citizen of Uzbekistan living in St. Petersburg, conspired to submit 132 fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections in February and March 2023. These applications were submitted in names other than their own, in envelopes with return and address labels that were identically formatted, including containing the same typographical error, and bore various indicia of fraud including, among other things, repeating dates of birth and addresses and nearly sequential social security numbers. Change of address forms were also submitted to the U.S. Postal Service to route mail to the names and addresses on the fraudulent applications to three locations that Shushlebin and Jamilov allegedly controlled.
Shushlebin and Jamilov are each charged with one count of conspiring to submit fraudulent voter registration applications and give false information in registering to vote. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida, Acting Inspector in Charge Steven Hodges of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew W. Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
USPIS, FBI, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the case. This case began after a referral from the Florida Department of State, Office of Election Crime and Security.
Trial Attorney Leo J. Wise of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Marcet for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Russellton Resident Charged with Sexual Exploitation of MinorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Russellton, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal law regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Michael Rearick, 43, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, from April 21, 2023, until April 23, 2023, Rearick traveled and transported a minor from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Canada, with the intent that the minor engage in criminal activity and illicit sexual activity.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations-Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and the West Deer Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Romanian Men Indicted for Access Device FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ANDREI FAGARAS (“FAGARAS”), age 35, and TAMAS KOLOZSVARI (“KOLOZSVARI “), age 30, Romanian nationals, were indicted on January 31, 2025 on three counts of access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(4).
According to court documents, on November 13, 2024 and November 14, 2024, FAGARAS and KOLOZSVARI possessed device-making equipment, namely credit/debit card skimmers, at three locations in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
If convicted, FAGARAS and KOLOZSVARI face up to fifteen years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100, as to each count.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by Special Agents of the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office; and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christine M. Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is handling the prosecution.
Rock Island Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Federal Prison for Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Rock Island man was sentenced on Thursday, January 30, 2025 to 151 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Adrian Warren Neeley, 38, led officers on a high-speed chase from Rock Island, Illinois, over the Centennial Bridge, into Iowa on October 9, 2022. Officers in Rock Island received reports of a reckless driver, saw Neeley’s vehicle, and heard gunshots and observed muzzle flash from the area where the vehicle had turned. Neeley failed to obey traffic devices and signs and traveled at over 80 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone. Neeley’s vehicle eventually became disabled and Neeley ran from the driver’s seat on foot. During the foot chase, Neeley dropped a firearm which was recovered after Neeley was apprehended.
Cartridge casings and a bullet recovered from a shooting near the Moline Police Department on August 21, 2022, were examined and determined to have been fired from the gun Neeley drop as he was attempting to flee from police. At sentencing, the Court found that Neeley shot at his significant other from a vehicle on August 21, 2022. Neeley has prior felony convictions, including a 2008 conviction in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Neeley will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department, the Rock Island Police Department, the Moline Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering in Feeding Our Future SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Rochester woman pleaded guilty for her role in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, from approximately December 2020 through January 2022, Ayan Jama, 45, knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud a federal child nutrition program designed to provide free meals to children in need. Rather than feed children, the defendants took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic—and the resulting program changes—to enrich themselves by fraudulently misappropriating millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds.
According to court documents, Jama was one of the principals of Brava Rochester in Rochester, Minnesota. In September 2020, Jama’s Brava Restaurant and Aimee Bock applied for enrollment in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Bock’s non-profit, Feeding Our Future. A co-conspirator enrolled Brava Restaurant in the Federal Child Nutrition Program after the co-conspirator first prepared application paperwork at the direction of Salim Said, the co-owner of Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, which was another business involved in the scheme to defraud the food program.
From late 2020 through 2021, Jama and other conspirators claimed Brava Restaurant was serving approximately 2,000 to 3,000 daily breakfasts and lunches to children, for which they fraudulently claimed and received millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds. To accomplish his scheme, Jama and her co-conspirators submitted fake attendance rosters purporting to list the names of children who purportedly received their food at sites. These rosters were fraudulent in that the names on them were fake or did not correctly reflect the number of children that were fed.
According to her plea agreement entered today, Jama claimed Brava Restaurant had served more than 1.7 million meals in Rochester as part of the Federal Child Nutrition Program in a little over one year, a number substantially higher than the actual number of meals served. Based on these fraudulent claims, Feeding Our Future paid out over $5.3 million in federal child nutrition program reimbursements for meals purportedly served to children by the defendant and her co-conspirators. Jama knew her receipt of such funds was fraudulent because she and other conspirators intentionally submitted inflated meal counts. Jama’s Brava Restaurant ultimately received $4.3 million directly from Feeding Our Future and over $900,000 from Safari Restaurant, co-owned by Salim Said.
As part of their scheme, Jama and her conspirators coordinated the establishment of shell companies through which they received and dispersed funds from the federal child nutrition program. Specifically, on January 7, 2021, Salim Said paid to register six different shell companies with the state of Minnesota for Jama and others. For Jama, Salim Said paid to register East Africa LLC. In 2021, Jama deposited at least $407,070 in misappropriated Federal Child Nutrition Program funds into her East Africa LLC bank accounts.
Jama used the federal child nutrition funds to pay for personal expenditures unrelated to feeding children, including $254,041 to purchase a home located in Rochester, Minnesota, $168,000 to purchase a home located in Columbus, Ohio, and $356,795 to purchase property on the Mediterranean Coast in Alanya, Turkey.
Jama pleaded guilty last Friday in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Her sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Joseph H. Thompson, and Harry M. Jacobs are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Reading Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carlos Rodriguez, age 31, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on January 14, 2025, to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on August 16, 2022, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to arrange for Rodriguez to bring a re-supply of methamphetamine to him. Rodriguez was stopped in Northumberland by law enforcement and approximately 480 grams of methamphetamine was recovered from his vehicle.
This case was investigated by the Clinton County Drug Task Force, Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, the Pine Creek Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Paving Contractor Sentenced for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The owner of a paving company doing business north of Boston was sentenced on Jan. 30, 2025 for a multi-year income tax evasion scheme.
Richard Cooper, 71, of Billerica, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to six months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Cooper was also ordered to pay $989,819 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. In October 2024, Cooper pleaded guilty to four counts of tax evasion.
From 2017 to 2020, in addition to depositing customer payments into bank accounts in the name of his company, Rick Cooper Paving, Cooper also cashed more than $5.1 million in customer checks. When Cooper had his taxes prepared, he did not tell his preparer about the checks he was cashing, resulting in his tax returns underreporting the business’ gross receipts by millions. As a result, Cooper kept over $1.1 million that he should have paid in federal and state income taxes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Palm Beach County drug dealer sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing fentanylRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On Jan. 30, a federal district judge in West Palm Beach, Florida sentenced Anthony Raul Del Valle, 29, of Lake Worth Beach, Florida, to 120 months in federal prison. The sentence comes after a federal jury found Del Valle guilty of distributing acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in November 2024.
On April 8, 2024, Del Valle distributed pills that appeared to be oxycodone, but in fact were fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, to three family members in Lantana, Florida. All three family members immediately ingested the pills after the distribution. Two of the family members died less than two hours after the distribution.
On April 10, 2024, law enforcement agents identified and arrested Del Valle as the source of the pills after conducting a controlled purchase from Del Valle. Law enforcement agents recovered a loaded firearm from Del Valle during the arrest.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, announced the sentence.
The DEA, Miami Field Division investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, Lantana Police Department, Boynton Beach Police Department and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Shannon O’Shea Darsch and Alexandra Chase prosecuted it.
According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment, synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, are poisoning our nation. Fentanyl has proven to be a deadly poison that does not discriminate. Its victims include every gender, race, age, and economic background, and its debilitating effects are the same across all demographics. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly. Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. As little as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The State of Florida has also seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl. In 2022, more than 5,622 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in Florida.
For more information visit: https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MEC/Publications-and-Forms/Documents/Drugs-in-Deceased-Persons/2022-Annual-Drug-Report-FINAL-(1).aspx; https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html#; and https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-80062.
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Oviedo Man Sentenced to over Five Years for Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Carl Vecchione (62, Oviedo) to five years and nine months in federal prison for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Vecchione pleaded guilty on August 12, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, on June 9, 2022, HSI executed a search warrant at Vecchione’s home after determining that the residence’s IP address was sharing CSAM online. Agents located more than 900 images and videos of CSAM on Vecchione’s laptop.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff.
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.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Stephan G. Ward, 32, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced today to 100 months in federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Ward, also known as “YG,” was delivering methamphetamine to others for distribution in Marshall County. Ward has prior drug and firearms convictions.
Ward will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Norwood, Colorado Man Convicted of Threatening Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Bryan Cornwell, 41, formerly of Norwood, Colorado, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. The jury found Cornwell not guilty of a third count of the same charge.
According to the facts established at trial, from late August through later October 2023, Cornwell knowingly sent over 80 emails containing graphic and threatening messages to a law enforcement official. The messages included threats to kill and seriously injure the official, such as repeated statements that “I AM GOING TO KILL YOU.” At the time that Cornwell sent the threatening messages, he was pending sentencing on a prior case where he admitted to threatening to blow up the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office.
Cornwell will be sentenced on April 2, 2025, in Durango, Colorado.
United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the trial. The Federal Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Graves handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00047-GPG-JMC
Nicaraguan Man Sentenced for Making False Statement on Passport ApplicationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SILVIO MENDOZA SANCHEZ (“SANCHEZ”), age 45, a citizen of Nicaragua, sentenced on January 27, 2025, after having previously pled guilty to making a false statement on a passport application, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1542.
According to the court documents, SANCHEZ applied for a United States passport using the name, date of birth, and social security number of a Puerto Rican man.
SANCHEZ was sentenced by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey to (6) six months of probation.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.