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Wednesday 11 December 2024
Long Island Medical Doctor Convicted of Illegally Distributing Oxycodone PillsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Central Islip returned a guilty verdict today against Roya Jafari-Hassad, a medical doctor with a practice in Great Neck, Long Island, on eight counts of a second superseding indictment charging her with prescribing oxycodone pills without a legitimate medical purpose. The verdict followed a 10-day trial before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown. When sentenced, Dr. Jafari-Hassad faces up to 20 years in prison on each count. The defendant was acquitted of witness tampering charges.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA) and Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s Office of Investigations, New York Region (HHS-OIG), announced the verdict.
“As proven, Dr. Hassad was a drug dealer who disgracefully dispensed highly addictive oxycodone pills without any regard for the well-being of the patient but with plenty of interest in their cash,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Corrupt doctors like this defendant, who value greed over their oath to do no harm, fuel the opioid epidemic and my Office is committed to holding them accountable for the incalculable harm they have caused.”
“Dr. Roya Jafari-Hassad knowingly prescribed opioids without cause, and with a possible life of addiction. Dr Jafari-Hassad knew the harmful effects opioids could have on and not only jeopardized their health, but the patient’s future as well.” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Tarentino. “Today, the jury recognized her actions of putting profit and greed over her oath to protect the health and safety of her patients, all while exacerbating the opioid crisis.”
“The defendant convicted in this case is a physician who knowingly prescribed controlled substances illegally, which is especially egregious given the ongoing opioid epidemic,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure individuals involved in schemes that threaten patient safety are held accountable.”
Oxycodone is a scheduled controlled substance that may be dispensed by medical professionals only for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of a doctor’s professional practice. It is a powerful and highly addictive drug and is frequently abused because of its potency when crushed into a powder and ingested, leading to a heroin-like euphoria.
As proven at trial, Dr. Hassad charged hundreds of dollars in cash in exchange for a monthly oxycodone prescription which had no legitimate medical purpose. In the spring of 2021, law enforcement opened an investigation into Dr. Hassad’s conduct. Over nine months and 10 appointments that were tape-recorded, Dr. Hassad gave an undercover detective, who claimed he had pain, ten prescriptions for oxycodone totaling hundreds of oxycodone pills for which he paid thousands of dollars in cash. Dr. Hassad typically charged about $350 for a 15-day supply of oxycodone and about $700 for a 30-day supply of oxycodone.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Katherine Onyshko are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder.
The Defendant:
ROYA JAFARI-HASSAD
Age: 58
Bayside, QueensE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-545(S-2) (GRB)
Law enforcement seeks information related to 1989 rapeRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – A Sycamore Township man was arrested by federal agents today and charged with making false statements related to a 1989 rape. Officials ask anyone with information regarding this or any other similar rape to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
It is alleged that Frederick Louis Tanzer, 66, knowingly made a false statement to FBI agents. His home on Kenwood Road and vehicles were searched today, and Tanzer appeared in federal court in Dayton following his arrest.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Tanzer was recently identified as the prime suspect in the cold-case rape. In recent months, agents collected DNA evidence from a Starbucks cup that Tanzer discarded at a local BMV. The DNA extracted from Tanzer’s coffee cup was confirmed by a forensic laboratory as a match to the DNA the rapist had left at the 1989 crime scene.
It is alleged that Tanzer made several materially false statements to federal investigators when approached today, including denying having seen or interacted with the victim on the date she was raped.
Tanzer is a medical doctor who has lived and practiced medicine in Ohio, Kansas and Colorado.
The affidavit details that on Aug. 1, 1989, the victim was violently raped in her condominium on Creighton Place in Cincinnati after arriving home from work.
Federal law enforcement officials ask the public to consider these circumstances of the rape and to contact the FBI with any similar information:
- When the victim arrived home, she noticed an odor that smelled to her like brewed tea or burnt marijuana.
- The rapist was dressed from head to toe in black Lycra, including black gloves and a face mask. He had a black gym bag with him.
- The assailant held a knife to the victim’s throat.
- The rapist used white surgical tape from the gym bag to wrap around the victim’s eyes and head. He used stockings and panty hose from the victim’s dresser to bind her hands and feet to the headboard and footboard of her bed.
- The rapist cut or tore the victim’s clothing and used Vaseline.
- The rapist assaulted the victim vaginally, orally and anally. In between bouts of sexual conduct, the assailant used a cloth to wipe the victim’s mouth and genital areas.
- The rapist said nothing during the entire encounter. He occasionally took breaks from sexually assaulting the victim while the victim remained tied to her bed.
- The rapist listened to and erased answering machine messages. He looked through papers in the victim’s living room and rummaged through her purse. He unplugged and/or disconnected telephones.
- On the handset of the telephone in the bedroom, the rapist taped a piece of newspaper that had been cut from the paper on the couch in the victim’s living room and wrote, “No police or I’ll be back Mis [sic] [name of victim’s employer]”
- The victim described the rapist as white, with dark brown hair, approximately six feet tall with a thin or athletic build.
- The assault took place over the course of more than five and a half hours.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Division; and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge announced the arrest. The IRS-Criminal Investigation Cincinnati Field Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi and Julie D. Garcia are representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Justice Department Agrees to $215 Million Settlement Agreement Related to Assets of Internet Prostitution Ad Service Backpage.comRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department today filed a settlement agreement reached between the parties in the civil forfeiture case involving Backpage.com, a now-shuttered internet forum for prostitution ads that included ads depicting sex work of children, in which $215 million in assets traceable to Backpage’s profits, and previously seized by the government from Backpage and its agents, will be forfeited to the United States.
The forfeited assets – comprised of cash, cryptocurrency, and one parcel of real estate in San Francisco – will be available for a remission process to compensate victims of the crime. Details about the remission process will be announced at a later date. The forfeiture represents more than 80% of the value of the property seized or restrained in the case.
“This settlement agreement marks a significant milestone in a criminal case involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of countless women and children,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The nine-figure dollar amount forfeited in this case will allow for victims to recover and show that individuals who profit from such exploitation and trafficking risk both prison time and financial ruin.”
For most of its 14-year existence, Backpage dominated the online market for illegal sex work advertising in the United States. While Backpage offered many categories of advertisements, in most years, more than 90% of Backpage’s revenue and activity occurred in the adult-related ad sections. Backpage monetized these advertisements by allowing a variety of pay-for options such as posting ads across multiple geographic areas and increased ad promotion. The company’s CEO eventually admitted that most of the website’s adult ads were for prostitution.
In April 2018, several Backpage-related corporate entities, including Backpage LLC, pleaded guilty in Arizona federal court to conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Several Backpage owners and executives also have been convicted in this matter, including Michael Lacey, 76, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, was sentenced to five years in prison; Scott Spear, 74, of Phoenix, was sentenced to 10 years in prison; and John “Jed” Brunst, 72, of Phoenix, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Lacey is free on bail pending appeal.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from September 2010 until its seizure by the United States in April 2018, Backpage was the internet’s leading forum for prostitution ads. The conspirators knowingly promoted prostitution via various marketing strategies. For example, they engaged in a reciprocal link program with an independent web forum that permitted “johns” to post reviews of prostitution acts with specific women. Additionally, the conspirators used an automated filter and human moderators to remove terms known to indicate sex-for-money, while still allowing the ads to be posted. Through this attempt to sanitize the ads, the conspirators sought “plausible deniability” for what the conspirators knew to be ads promoting prostitution. Over the life of the conspiracy, the conspirators earned more than $500 million. To preserve the money earned, Lacey, Spear, and Brunst laundered the money through numerous shell companies they created in multiple foreign countries.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, which prosecuted the underlying criminal cases, provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is prosecuting this case.
The case name and number in this matter are United States of America v. $1,546,076.35 In Bank Funds Seized from Republic Bank of Arizona Account 1889, et al., CV 18-08420 (C.D. Calif.).
Jury Finds Lewiston Man Guilty of Making Violent Threats to Kill Local Prosecutor, Defense Attorney, and Commit Mass MurderRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced that a jury returned a verdict in the trial of Trevor J. Lunney, age 39. Lunney was found guilty of making threats to kill his lawyer, his prosecutor, and members of the public.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial in July of 2022, while on Washington State community custody for a previous conviction involving threats to kill, Lunney texted his state Department of Corrections (DOC) community corrections officer, among other threatening statements, that “. . . in 19 days, mass violence becomes inevitable.” Lunney also discussed with his DOC officer his plan to commit a school shooting at an Asotin County School District School he stated would be “Sandy Hook Part II” and to commit a mass shooting at a parade at the Asotin County Fair. Upon being contacted by DOC officers, on July 18, 2022, Lunney continued to make specific threats regarding his plans to commit a mass shooting and, upon being evaluated by a mental health professional issued additional threats including his five-year-plan to “right injustice” by going to the Asotin County Fair Parade and live streaming his opening fire on a crowd. Lunney also made repeated statements regarding his access to firearms at that time.
Later that same day, July 18, 2022, Lunney was arrested by the Clarkston Police Department for his threats to commit mass shootings and was taken into custody at the Asotin County Jail where he remained in custody on felony charges, brought by the Asotin County Prosecutor’s Office, for his threats.
Over a period of months while in the Asotin County Jail on the charges for the July threats, Lunney made a series of calls and emails and sent letters to family members and others, all of which he was told were being closely monitored at that time by law enforcement. In his monitored in custody communications, Lunney repeatedly expressed his anger towards the criminal justice system in general and the assigned Asotin County deputy prosecutor as well as his own defense attorney in particular. Lunney also repeatedly discussed his plans to obtain an AR-15 and commit mass murder based upon his specific plans to “do pure evil to countless souls.”
On December 5th, 2022, while awaiting trial for the July threats, Lunney’s anger towards the local criminal justice system culminated in an email he sent from the Asotin County Jail where he stated, “I want to have a murder-suicide with my lawyer when I leave here. . .” and “I want to kill my lawyer and the prosecutors when I get out. . .” referencing “attacking a crowd” and that stating that “I can’t even say what I have planned.”
United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice presided over the two-day trial for Lunney, which began December 9, 2024. Sentencing in this matter is set for March 13, 2025, at 10:00 am in Spokane, Washington.
“Mr. Lunney made terrifying threats to commit violence to include murdering his lawyer, the Asotin County Prosecutor, and plans to carry out a mass shooting targeting people at public events and children attending school,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “The verdict announced today will keep Mr. Lunney in prison and will hopefully allow him to get the mental health treatment he needs. I am thankful for the investigators and prosecutors who successfully tried this case and work every day to keep our communities safe and strong.”
“Threats of violence have serious consequences as they disrupt lives, incite fear, and post significant risks to the community,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI takes all threats of violence very seriously and will work alongside our partners to keep our communities safe.”
This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Dan Fruchter.
2:23-cr-00083-TOR
Jury Convicts Cedar Rapids Felon for Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was convicted by a jury today after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
David Rafael Walker, age 37, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. The verdict was returned this afternoon following about two hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that on December 14, 2021, at an apartment complex in Cedar Rapids, Walker shot at a woman and her young daughter. Three days later, Walker was driving around Cedar Rapids when he became involved in another shooting. When law enforcement officers located Walker and the car he had been driving, Walker fled. In the car, under Walker’s seat, officers found a firearm and a bag of marijuana. Walker’s DNA was on the firearm. Walker had multiple prior felony convictions, including for delivery of heroin and eluding.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Walker remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Walker faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Nydle, Devra Hake, and Dan Tvedt, and it was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Marion Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-65.
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Indiana Woman Sentenced for Racially Motivated Attack Against a Woman of Chinese DescentRead the Press Release
An Indiana woman was sentenced today to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing a federal hate crime.
On Sept. 17, Billie Davis, 57, pleaded guilty to willfully causing bodily injury to a victim, identified in court papers only by her initials, Z.F., through the use of a dangerous weapon (a knife), because of Z.F.’s actual and perceived race and national origin.
“Racially motivated violence has no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant pulled out a knife and viciously attacked a young woman who was simply riding a public bus to school, seriously injuring her because she was of Chinese descent. The sentence imposed for this heinous hate crime should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable. The Justice Department is committed to protecting every American from hate crimes by investigating and vigorously prosecuting those who carry out such heinous attacks.”
“Every person deserves to feel safe in their own community, and no one should be made to fear violence on their way to school simply because of who they are,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana. “Violent hate should have no safe harbor in Indiana or anywhere in our great country. That’s why our Justice Department has prioritized prosecution of hate crimes and community outreach through our United Against Hate initiative. In recent years we’ve sadly seen an increase of bias crimes targeting people of Asian descent, and the serious federal prison sentence imposed here should demonstrate our commitment to stopping this hate. Anyone who has suffered a potentially hate-based violent incident should call 911 to address immediate safety issues, and then report the event to the Justice Department or FBI. Together we can make our community safer for everyone.”
“The FBI remains committed to protecting the civil rights of all individuals and this case should serve as a reminder that hate fueled actions will not be tolerated,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert “Alex” Middleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and ensure those who perpetrate such acts of hate are held accountable.”
According to documents filed in connection with this case, on Jan. 11, 2023, Z.F., a woman of Chinese descent who was enrolled at Indiana University at Bloomington, was riding a Bloomington Transit bus on her way to school. Davis boarded the bus, sitting behind Z.F. As Z.F. stood to exit the bus at her stop, Davis reached for a folding knife from inside her pocket and stabbed Z.F. in the head approximately seven to 10 times. Davis later admitted to the police that she attacked Z.F. because she was Chinese and because Davis believed Z.F. was the “enemy.” Davis used racist slurs when referring to Z.F.
The FBI Indianapolis Field Office, Bloomington Resident Agency, investigated the case, with assistance from the Bloomington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana, Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Trial Attorney Barry Disney of the Criminal Division’s Mental Health Litigation Unit prosecuted the case.
Hartford Man Sentenced to Nearly 4 Years’ Imprisonment and Ordered to Pay $5M for Operating a Fraudulent Ticket Re-Selling SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Jeffrey Thurn was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Federico A. Moreno to 46 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Thurn was also ordered to pay approximately $5.1 million in restitution after previously pleading guilty to running a fraudulent ticket re-selling scheme.
According to court record, to include the factual proffer in support of the defendant’s guilty plea, Thurn, 39, of Hartford, South Dakota, enticed victims to send him more than $5,000,000 for a purported ticket re-selling business he operated through the fictitious business name Backstage Tickets. Thurn promised to buy tickets using victim funds and then re-sell the tickets for a profit. Thurn made certain representations, including a guarantee that a certain amount of profit needed to be generated before he could earn any fee, and a representation that investor funds would be refunded to the investor in the event that an event was cancelled or changed to a different date. To legitimize prior sales completed by Thurn on behalf of investors, and to entice investors to send additional funds for new events, once a set of event tickets were purportedly re-sold by Thurn, he provided his investors fake and fraudulent receipts from various third-party ticket re-selling outlets as proof that he completed ticket sales. In truth, Thurn fabricated the receipts and the ticket sales never happened.
As agreed to by Thurn in his factual proffer, the $5,000,000 he raised from investors was used for his personal benefit.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, and Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami Field Office investigated this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz.
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 23-cr-20481.
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Grand Jury Returns IndictmentsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
THREE CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY POSSESSING FIREARMS AS FELONS
In separate cases, two Wisconsin men and one Wisconsin woman are charged with illegally possessing firearms as felons.
Terrance Moore III, 27, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a loaded .40 caliber S&W handgun on June 8, 2024.
Dustin T. Cullins, 37, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun and Sellier and Bellot .40 caliber ammunition, on July 1, 2024.
May X. Kong, 41, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a loaded SCCY CPX-2 9mm handgun on July 4, 2024.
If convicted, Moore, Cullins, and Kong each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charge against Moore is the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins is handling the case.
The charge against Cullins is the result of an investigation by the West Central Drug Task Force and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case.
The charge against Kong is the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department, the West Central Drug Taskforce, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins is handling the case.
MADISON MAN CHARGED FOR RECEIVING FIREARM WHILE UNDER INDICTMENT
Deovion Baker, 19, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment for another felony offense. The indictment alleges that Baker received a Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun loaded with .40 caliber ammunition on November 17, 2024.
If convicted, Baker faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
The charge against Baker is the result of investigation by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case.
EAU CLAIRE MAN CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE AND ILLEGALLY POSSESSING FIREARM AND AMMUNITION
John A. Soung, 47, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that Soung possessed the methamphetamine on July 11, 2024. The indictment further alleges that he possessed a Taurus 9mm handgun and Federal 9mm ammunition on July 12, 2024.
If convicted of the methamphetamine charge, Soung faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The firearms charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The charges against Soung are the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire Police Department, the West Central Drug Taskforce, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins is handling the case.
All cases involving firearms are brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Former U.S. Postal Service Employee Sentenced for Federal Mail Crime after Guilty PleaRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Tiffany Isenhart, 31, of Rainelle, pleaded guilty today to theft of government property and was sentenced to one year and six months of federal probation and ordered to pay $3,380 in restitution.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between on or about December 1, 2023, and April 16, 2024, Isenhart stole $3,380 in money orders while employed at the Charmco Post Office and converted them to her own use. Isenhart admitted that she used her position as a United States Postal Service employee to issue the money orders to herself without paying for them or paying the associated fees.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service-Office of Inspector General.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-170.
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Former Pigeon Township Trustee and Co-Conspirator Sentenced for Stealing Thousands of Dollars from Local Taxpayers in Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- Mariama Wilson, 52, and Terrance Hardiman, 34, both of Evansville, have each been sentenced for their roles in a years’ long kickback scheme resulting in a $38,000 loss to taxpayers.
Mariama Wilson, the former Pigeon Township Trustee, has been sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Terrance Hardiman was previously sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Wilson and Hardiman were also ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution, to be split among co-defendants.
A third defendant, William Payne, 51, is scheduled to enter a plea and be sentenced in January 2025.
The Pigeon Township Trustee’s Office, located in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, is responsible for providing emergency financial assistance to residents in need, including help with rent, utilities, and prescriptions. According to court documents, in February 2020, then-Trustee Wilson and Payne, Wilson’s Director of Community Relations, orchestrated a kickback scheme with Hardiman and his company, Hardiman Construction LLC. The scheme involved inflating invoices for remodeling a homeless shelter and developing a food pantry.
Wilson and Payne approved inflated invoices submitted by Hardiman, who then paid them kickbacks totaling approximately $38,000. Hardiman would deposit checks from the Trustee’s Office, withdraw the cash, and hand-deliver it to Wilson or Payne in envelopes. The fraudulent invoices were inflated by $1,000 to $2,000 per project, with Wilson and Payne pocketing the excess funds.
In total, between February 11, 2020, and May 16, 2022, the Trustee’s Office paid Hardiman approximately $215,371 for the homeless shelter and food pantry projects. As a result of the kickback scheme, Wilson and Payne received approximately $38,000 in total, or approximately $19,000 each.
Wilson resigned as Trustee in June 2023, shortly after being charged in this case. See previous release here.
“Large or small, kickback schemes like the one carried out by Ms. Wilson and the other defendants damage public’s confidence in government,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Township officials owe their constituents the same duty of honesty and integrity they have the right to expect from public servants at every level. This prosecution should send a message to all bad actors who seek to line their pockets at the expense of taxpayers. Thanks to our partners at the Evansville Police Department, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Board of Accounts, IRS-CI, FBI, and our federal prosecutor, these criminals have been held accountable for their actions.”
“There are consequences when public officials illegally use public funds for their own personal benefit. In this case, the defendants prioritized their greed over the interests of the citizens they were supposed to serve,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will always work together to investigate allegations such as this and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.”
“We should all expect our public officials to act with integrity,” said Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. “When these officials violate the trust we have placed in them, there should be consequences. IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to support our law enforcement partners in ensuring that public funds are spent in the taxpayers’ best interests.”
“I’m proud that we have honest individuals willing to report corruption when they see it, knowing that silence in the face of misconduct is not an option,” said Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson. “The crimes committed by these officials are a slap in the face to the community in which we live. This corrupt behavior runs counter to the oath they took, and certainly not what was promised to this community.”
The FBI, IRS-CI, Indiana State Board of Accounts, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and the Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.
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Former Maintenance Director Indicted on Charges Alleging Scheme to Defraud Boone County Schools Out of $3.4 MillionRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal grand jury returned an 18-count indictment yesterday charging Michael David Barker, 47, of Foster, with mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and money laundering. The indictment was unsealed today following Barker’s arrest by law enforcement officers.
The indictment alleges that from in or about November 2019 through in or about December 2023, Barker was serving as maintenance director when he entered into a scheme to defraud the Boone County Board of Education out of approximately $3,400,000.
Barker was maintenance director from in or about 2015 through in or about November 2023, and was responsible for ordering supplies necessary for the maintenance of the Boone County schools. Barker falsified documents showing that the Boone County Board of Education was receiving large amounts of janitorial and custodial products including hand soap, trash can liners, and face masks from Rush Enterprises, a Kentucky business with an office in Kenova, West Virginia, when the Boone County Board of Education was only receiving a small amount of those products.
Acting in his capacity as maintenance director, Barker submitted fraudulent invoices and purchase orders that caused the Boone County Board of Education to pay for more than $4,000,000 of products from Rush Enterprises. During calendar years 2022 and 2023, for example, Barker submitted invoices to the Boone County Board of Education that caused them to pay Rush Enterprises for 4,993 cases of hand soap when, in fact, the Boone County Board of Education had only received approximately 829 cases. The Boone County Board of Education paid approximately $474,696 for hand soap that was never delivered.
Rush Enterprises was operated by Jesse Marks, who is named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment. Barker and Marks conspired to overbill the Boone County Board of Education for the undelivered products and split the proceeds from the fraudulent scheme. Barker received approximately $2,000,000 as a result of the fraudulent scheme, and then used his share of the proceeds to make extravagant purchases for his personal benefit.
From at least in or about March 2020 through in or about December 2023, Barker, Marks and other persons conspired to commit mail fraud as part of the scheme to defraud the Boone County Board of Education. The fraudulent invoices and purchase orders submitted by Barker caused the Boone County Board of Education to send a series of checks through the United States Mail to Rush Enterprises. Marks deposited those checks into his business account for Rush Enterprises, wrote checks from his business account to himself, cashed those checks at multiple banks, and paid Barker his share of the proceeds from the fraudulent scheme with the cash. Marks delivered cash payments to Barker in person at various locations in Boone County during the time period.
The Boone County Board of Education received federal funds annually in excess of $10,000 during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 fiscal years, and the money fraudulently obtained by Barker through his scheme included federal funds. Barker also laundered proceeds of his fraudulent scheme by purchasing a utility vehicle and making down payments toward the purchase of a track loader and excavator.
Barker is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 11 counts of mail fraud, three counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and three counts of money laundering. If convicted, Barker faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy count and each mail fraud count, and up to 10 years in prison for each theft and money laundering count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“At a time when Boone County Schools faced significant challenges, particularly while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Barker used his position of authority to enrich himself at the expense of the children of Boone County,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Mr. Barker’s scheme siphoned millions of much-needed dollars from our public schools, and the indictment unsealed today seeks to hold him accountable for his criminal actions.”
Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the West Virginia State Police, and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU), and the assistance provided by the West Virginia Department of Education.
“This scheme not only defrauded the public of their money, but it also directly impacted the health, safety, and wellbeing of the most vulnerable in our community: our children,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “Rather than supporting educators and ensuring resources for students were available, this individual instead sought to line his own pockets. The FBI and our partners remain committed to holding those responsible accountable and seeking justice for victims.”
“Today’s action alleges that Mr. Barker not only abused his position of trust for personal gain but did so at the expense of Boone County students. That is unacceptable,” said John Carlo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Eastern Regional Office. "OIG will continue to aggressively pursue those who misappropriate education funds for their own purposes. West Virginia’s students and taxpayers deserve nothing less.”
“Mr. Barker was entrusted with the responsibility of ordering supplies necessary for the maintenance of the Boone County schools. Instead, he allegedly exploited his position at the school to launder millions of dollars to enrich himself", said Kareem Carter, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. "Today’s indictment should serve as an example of IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners commitment to continue to work together to hold accountable and disrupt bad actors like the defendant.”
“Barker isn’t just accused of stealing much needed funds from Boone County schools and its students, he stole from all West Virginians and taxpayers throughout the country,” said West Virginia State Auditor JB McCuskey. “This type of fraud has not been tolerated under my watch in local government through our PIFU and I’m proud of the work we have done to help our partners in the United States Attorney’s Office to root out this behavior and send the message that you will be held accountable.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel Price is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-194.
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Former Employee Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Illinois Nursing and Rehabilitation FacilityRead the Press Release
A former scheduler of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) at an Illinois nursing and rehabilitation facility pleaded guilty in federal court to fraud charges in connection with the hiring and payment of “ghost” employees who never actually worked at the facility.
Alisha Richardson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In pleading guilty, the defendant admitted that, from roughly October 2017 through April 2019, she was employed as a CNA scheduler at a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Forest Park that provided medical benefits and services to patients. While employed at the facility, Richardson planned, organized, and executed a scheme to defraud the facility by making it appear that at least five individuals were employed at the facility when they were not (the “ghost” employees). Richardson submitted false time sheets and other documents, causing the facility to generate paychecks for these “ghost” employees. Richardson then split the proceeds with the “ghost” employees or forged their signatures, signing over the paychecks to herself. As a result of the fraud, the facility paid approximately $103,094.01 for work that was never performed. In the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to the entry of a forfeiture judgment for that amount.
“The defendant in this case stole money that should have been used to provide nursing and rehabilitative care to older Americans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who commit crimes that affect programs that benefit vulnerable Americans.”
“The defendant’s ghost payrolling scheme resulted in a substantial loss for an organization that provides critical services to elderly Americans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois. “We will continue to investigate, prosecute, and hold accountable anyone who attempts to scam their employer out of payroll funds.”
“Financial fraud and abuse take critical resources out of our health care system and defrauds the American public,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office. “This case is the result of successful, multi-agency collaboration into the defendant’s scheme. The FBI and our partners will continue to allocate significant resources to investigate crimes like these and protect the integrity of our federal health care programs.”
“Our agency is committed to ensuring that federal health care programs are protected from all types of fraud, waste and abuse. Providers who submit fraudulent records and bill for “ghost” services damage our federal health care programs and the beneficiaries they serve,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate any similar allegations of fraud.”
Richardson pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso in Chicago, Illinois. A sentencing date will be set by the court. In addition to the forfeiture judgment, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the matter.
Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason A. Julien for the Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case.
For more information about the enforcement efforts of the Consumer Protection Branch visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Former Columbus police officer sentenced to prison for stealing, selling cocaineRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – John Castillo, 32, of Grove City, was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 46 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
According to court documents, Castillo was previously a Columbus police officer assigned to investigate drug crimes. In February 2021, he conspired with another officer to steal and sell approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine. Castillo and the other officer took approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine from a house on North Everett Avenue and did not turn it into evidence. They planted two additional kilograms of cocaine for law enforcement discovery later that day at the house. The 10 kilograms of cocaine were stored in the other officer’s basement before they were given to another individual to sell.
Castillo was arrested in February 2024 and pleaded guilty in June 2024.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Elena Iatarola, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr.
Assistant United States Attorneys Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes special agents and officers from the FBI, Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office and the Columbus Division of Police.
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Former CFO of San Francisco Law Firms Admits to Years-Long Scheme to Steal More Than $1.3 Million from His EmployersRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A Palm Springs man pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering related to a years-long scheme to embezzle more than $1.3 million from his former employers, two San Francisco law firms.
According to court documents, Tony Archuleta-Perkins, 48, formerly of San Francisco, held various roles at the firms, eventually becoming Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As the CFO, Archuleta-Perkins was in a position of trust and had access to the law firms’ payroll systems and end-to-end payments automation platforms. During the course of his employment, Archuleta-Perkins used this access to embezzle funds in various ways.
The primary way that Archuleta-Perkins stole money from the law firms was to cause the firms to make false and fraudulent payments to a non-profit organization he had set up and solely controlled. Archuleta-Perkins admitted to stealing more than $1.1 million using this method. Archuleta-Perkins also embezzled funds from the law firms by falsely adding “one-time reimbursements” to his regular paychecks or special bonus payroll checks through the use of the law firms’ payroll software. He admitted to stealing more than $106,000 using this method. Archuleta-Perkins also admitted that he endorsed a $41,663.69 tax refund check made out to one of the law firms, deposited it into a bank account belonging to the non-profit, and then wrote himself a check for the same amount.
As part of his plea agreement, Archuleta-Perkins admitted that he knew that the principal of one of the law firms was undergoing serious health issues that kept him out of the office, and that the principal’s physical condition made him unusually vulnerable and particularly susceptible to Archuleta-Perkins’s criminal conduct.
In total, Archuleta-Perkins admitted that he was responsible for at least $1,321,752.72 in losses to his victims. Archuleta-Perkins used the stolen money for personal expenses, including payments on a Best Buy credit card.
Archuleta-Perkins pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2) and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (money laundering) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison as to the bank fraud charge and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison as to the money laundering charge. A federal district judge will determine and impose a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
Archuleta-Perkins, who was arrested on June 28, 2024, remains free on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before the Honorable Jacqueline Scott Corley, U.S. District Judge.
U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikhil Bhagat is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Madeline Wachs. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Former CEO of Long Island Public Telecommunications Company Charged with Insider TradingRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, an indictment was unsealed charging Ken Peterman, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (Comtech), a publicly traded company based in Melville, New York, with insider trading and securities fraud. Peterman was arrested this morning in San Diego and is scheduled to make his initial appearance tomorrow in federal court in the Southern District of California. He will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, the defendant exploited for his own personal benefit confidential information, including derogatory news of his own impending termination, that was meant to be available only for corporate purposes,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “In doing so before he was shown the door, Peterman breached the trust and confidence placed in him by his former employer and its shareholders. My Office will vigorously prosecute those, like Peterman, who would seek to enrich themselves at the expense of ordinary investors and the integrity of the securities markets.”
Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office for its work on the case.
“Ken Peterman allegedly acted on non-public information of the company’s confidential fiscal reporting and his pending termination to avoid financial repercussions. This alleged attempt at self-preservation exploited a respected position and disrupted public confidence in future financial leadership. The FBI remains committed to apprehending those who fraudulently prioritize personal wealth over adherence to the regulations of our economic system,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.
As alleged, Peterman was the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Comtech. In his capacity as an officer and director of the company, Peterman obtained material, non-public information concerning the company’s financial performance and internal decision-making. For example, in early March 2024, Peterman received a confidential briefing from Comtech’s Chief Financial Officer, during which Peterman was informed of an upcoming negative earnings release. In addition, around the same time, Peterman was informed that, based on an alleged improper relationship with a subordinate employee, Comtech’s Board had resolved to terminate Peterman for cause. The indictment alleges that on March 12, 2024, shortly after learning of the negative earnings report and his impending ouster, and prior to the public release of such information, Peterman hurriedly sold and/or attempted to sell tens of thousands of shares of Comtech’s stock, which he held in two brokerage accounts.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Peterman faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of securities fraud, and up to 20 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud.
In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes, including frauds affecting the integrity of the markets, such as those Peterman is alleged to have committed.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Bagnuola is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
KEN A. PETERMAN
Age: 67
Encinitas, CaliforniaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-489 (JMA)
24-cr-489_peterman.indictment.pdfFlorida Resident Indicted for Political Fundraising FraudRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., returned an indictment yesterday charging Jason Pallante, 52, of Orlando, Florida, with defrauding political donors by operating numerous political fundraising websites that fraudulently promised to support presidential candidates and instead using the money he raised to enrich himself.
According to the indictment, Pallante operated the America Great PAC, purportedly a Super PAC able to receive unlimited contributions to finance independent expenditures and other independent political activity. During the 2023 — 2024 presidential primary season, Pallante created dozens of websites that claimed to support various specific candidates for president. Pallante allegedly designed these websites to appear affiliated with a particular candidate or campaign, such as by using photos of the candidate, first-person language, and the same font as the candidate’s campaign. Pallante also accepted checks made out directly to presidential candidates or their campaigns. Pallante directed all of the contributions to America Great PAC. According to the indictment, Pallante raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from these websites and did not use any of the money to support the advertised presidential candidates. Instead, Pallante allegedly used contributions to perpetuate the scheme and to pay himself more than $162,000 in 2023 and $334,000 in 2024.
Pallante is charged with three counts of mail fraud and four counts of wire fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia; and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Jacob R. Steiner of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Man Sentenced to 55 Months for Skimming Credit Cards, Identity Theft, and Transporting Stolen Goods in Colorado Springs AreaRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Yamany Guerra-Pena, 36, a Cuban national and Miami, Florida resident, was sentenced to 55 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to multiple victims in the amount of $76,980 after pleading guilty to one count of bank fraud, one count of identity theft, and one count of conspiracy to transport stolen goods and altering motor vehicle identification numbers (VINs).
According to the plea agreement, from 2021 through early 2023, Guerra-Pena and others installed numerous skimmers on gas pumps in the Colorado Springs area, which were used to steal customers’ bank account numbers. Guerra-Pena used that data to manufacture fraudulent clone-cards. Those clone-cards were used to purchase thousands of dollars’ worth of diesel fuel, which was resold on the black market. Guerra-Pena also stole personal vehicles and heavy construction equipment, removed the VINs, and sold the vehicles to unwitting buyers in the Miami area.
“Stopping criminals like Guerra-Pena who prey on innocent Coloradans is a critical priority of our office,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “This case is an excellent example of how local and federal law enforcement work together to protect our communities.”
“This sentencing demonstrates our collective resolve to deter crimes threatening our financial infrastructure,” said Special Agent in Charge Marc DellaSala, U.S. Secret Service, Denver Field Office. “We are dedicated to disrupting all schemes which undermine our nation’s financial security and negatively impact law-abiding Americans. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners at the Colorado Springs Police Department for their dedication to this effort.”
“The Colorado Springs Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit takes these types of crimes seriously because of the significant impact they have on individual community members and local businesses who are the ones truly victimized by these ‘skimming’ crimes,” said Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez. “We are thankful for the impact that we can have on these types of criminal operations with the help of our federal partners.”
United States District Court Judge William J. Martinez presided over the sentencing. The United States Secret Service Denver Field Office, and the Colorado Springs Police Department handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Tim Neff handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 23-cr-00037-WJM
Florida Man Admits Stealing Mail from Missouri and Illinois ChurchesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Florida on Tuesday admitted stealing checks from mailboxes churches in Missouri and Illinois.
Lourdes Mario Anton, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail. He admitted that on Oct. 3, 2024, he and a juvenile were caught on video stealing mail from a Missouri church’s mailbox. The next day, police spotted the white Toyota minivan Anton was driving and stopped it. Anton allowed officers to search the minivan, which contained a tool they used to steal mail and the receipt for a FedEx package that Anton addressed to himself in Hollywood, Florida. Investigators intercepted the package, which containing 27 checks with a total face value of $14,584 that had been sent to or from religious organizations in eastern Missouri and southern Illinois, including a church in St. Peters, Missouri.
Anton is scheduled to be sentenced March 21, 2025. The mail theft charge carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the St. Charles County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the case.
Five Indicted for Alleged Multi-State, Transnational Conspiracy to Obtain Driver's Licenses for Ineligible ApplicantsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An indictment was unsealed yesterday charging five individuals with conspiring to obtain driver’s licenses for ineligible applicants, principally undocumented individuals without legal status residing in the United States (the customers).
The following defendants have been indicted on one count of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents, two counts of possession with intent to use or transfer unlawfully identification documents and one count of furnishing a false passport to another for use:
• Edvan Fernandes Alves De Andrade, 34, formerly of Worcester, currently of Brazil;
• Leonel Texeiera De Souza Junior, 38, formerly of Milford, currently of Brazil;
• Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, 26, of Boston;
• Cesar Agusto Martin Reis, 28, of Waterbury, Conn; and
• Helbert Costa Generoso, 39, of Danbury, Conn.Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and Helbert Costa Generoso were arrested, and appeared in federal court in Worcester for an initial appearance. Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade was ordered detained pending trial. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and Helbert Costa Generoso were ordered detained pending a detention hearing on Dec. 16, 2024.
According to the charging document, the defendants conspired, from in or about November 2020 through in or about September 2024, to fraudulently procure driver’s licenses for customers who resided in states that prohibited undocumented individuals from obtaining driver’s licenses. Prior to July 2023, undocumented individuals residing in Massachusetts were not permitted to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses. Beginning in 2019, undocumented individuals residing in New York became eligible to obtain New York driver’s licenses. The defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently obtain New York driver’s licenses for customers who did not reside in New York, including Massachusetts residents, and after July 2023 they also conspired to fraudulently obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for customers who did not reside in Massachusetts. The defendants allegedly typically charged the customers approximately $1,400 to obtain the driver’s licenses.
In New York, before obtaining a driver’s license, applicants were required to pass a written permit test and complete driver’s education coursework from a New York driving school. The New York Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV) required online permit test-takers to allow the NY DMV to take pictures of the test-takers, with a web camera, during the test. This was to ensure that the test-taker was the applicant, and that there was not a person sitting with and helping the applicant with the test.To avoid the customers having to take the permit tests, the defendants allegedly conspired to obtain, from the customers, several pictures of the customers, sitting down, making it look as if the customers were taking the tests. The defendants then allegedly completed the permit tests for the customers online, and during the tests, when prompted by the NY DMV, caused the pictures that the customers took of themselves to be uploaded, purporting to show that it was the customers who were taking the tests, not the defendants. The defendants also allegedly created fraudulent driver’s education certificates of completion, purportedly from New York driving schools, forged the signatures of driving school staff on the fake certificates, and gave these documents to the customers to provide to the NY DMV.
The NY DMV also required that applicants appear at a NY DMV location and provide documents to prove their identity and residence in New York. The defendants and other co-conspirators allegedly conspired to meet the customers who were Massachusetts residents at locations in Massachusetts, and drove them to NY DMV branch locations, typically several customers at a time. When they arrived at the NY DMV locations, the defendants allegedly gave the customers fraudulent documents falsely purporting to demonstrate that the customers resided in New York. The customers provided these fake records to the NY DMV staff, and the NY DMV relied on the misrepresentations to issue New York driving permits to the customers. The defendants allegedly arranged for the NY DMV to mail the permits to locations in New York that were controlled by the defendants, who then provided the permits in hand to the customers. The defendants allegedly scheduled road driving license tests for the customers with the NY DMV, and drove the customers again to New York, where the customers took the road tests. If the customers passed the tests, the NY DMV mailed the driver’s licenses to addresses in New York, which the defendants allegedly controlled, and the defendants and other co-conspirators then provided the licenses to the customers.
The defendants allegedly conspired to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for out-of-state residents, in generally the same manner as they obtained the New York licenses for Massachusetts residents. In Massachusetts, it is alleged that the defendants conspired to fraudulently obtain purported foreign passports to provide to the customers to use as proof of identity with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (MA RMV), in support of customer driver’s license applications.
Collectively, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently apply for licenses for more than 1,000 customers, obtained licenses for more than 600 of customers and collected at least hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The charges of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents, and possession with intent to use or transfer unlawfully identification documents, carry up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of furnishing a false passport to another for use carries up to up to 10 years in prison, supervised release of up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Kelly Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the NY DMV Division of Field Investigation, the Boston, Danbury (Conn.) and Waterbury Police Departments, the Bridgeport Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and Offices of the New York State Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
24-40030_indictment_-_de_andrade_et_al.pdf
Federal Jury Convicts Wagoner County Resident of Eight Counts of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Richard Leroy Osborn III, age 47, of Wagoner County, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of eight counts of child sexual abuse, including five counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and three counts of Abusive Sexual Contact. Two of the counts of conviction carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
The jury trial began with testimony on December 9, 2024, and concluded on December 11, 2024, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Osborn sexually assaulted three children starting in 2011 and continuing until May of 2022, when one of the children first disclosed the sexual abuse. Additionally, the United States presented evidence that Osborn, already a registered sex offender at the time of the crimes, had previously sexually abused three other victims when they were minors.
The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservations, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Kea W. Riggs, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the trial in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Osborn will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service until sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.
Federal Indictment Charges South Carolina Duo with Conspiracy to Commit Extortion, Cyberstalking, and Wire Fraud for Scheme That Resulted A Victim's DeathRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte has charged Trysten Anthony Cullon, 26, and Jade Ashlynn Stone, 25, both of South Carolina, with conspiracy to commit extortion, cyberstalking, and wire fraud for a scheme to defraud a vulnerable victim and his immediate family members using extortive and threatening text messages, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations in the indictment, from September 5 to September 8, 2024, the defendants conspired to engage in an extortive and threatening text message conspiracy and a cyberstalking conspiracy that targeted a victim identified in court documents as C.T. The indictment alleges that C.T. had an intellectual disability and was classified as Educable Mentally Disabled. Because of his disability, C.T. was extensively supported by his immediate family and did not live on his own. C.T. was also employed at a fast-food restaurant chain in Charlotte.
The indictment alleges that Cullon and Stone used a stolen phone to send C.T.’s family members multiple harassing and intimidating text messages demanding money and threatened to provide derogatory and embarrassing information to C.T.’s employer, including salacious claims that C.T. was a pervert, that he harassed girls, and that he paid girls for sexual pictures, unless they were paid. Further, the indictment also alleges that Cullon and Stone conspired to defraud C.T. by stealing cellular telephones and other personal items and making and attempting to make transfers using C.T.’s CashApp and PayPal accounts.
The indictment alleges that, as a result of the substantial emotional distress caused by the extortive and threatening text messages sent by the defendants, C.T. committed suicide.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit extortion and wire fraud conspiracy, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each offense. They are also charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The charges against Cullon and Stone are allegations, and the defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
FBI Arrests Man Charged with Political Fundraising Fraud Using a Scam PACRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jason Pallante, 52, of Orlando, Florida, was arrested today by special agents with the FBI and other law enforcement partners on charges he operated numerous political fundraising websites and illegally took the money for his own use. Pallante is charged with three counts of mail fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office.
According to the federal indictment, returned on December 10th and unsealed today, Pallante operated the America Great PAC purportedly as a Super PAC. During the presidential primary season, Pallante created dozens of websites that claimed to support various specific candidates for President, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pallante allegedly designed these websites to appear affiliated with a particular candidate or campaign, such as by using photos of the candidate, first-person language, and the same font as the campaign. Pallante also accepted checks made out directly to presidential candidates or their campaigns. Unbeknownst to the contributors, all of this money was directed to America Great PAC. Pallante did not use the money raised from these websites to support the advertised presidential candidates. Instead, Pallante allegedly used contributions to perpetuate the scheme and pay himself more than $162,000 in 2023 and $334,000 in 2024.
“Campaign finance scams – like the one alleged here – harm victims twice over, stealing their money and preventing them from using that money to support the causes and candidates of their choice,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “The Department and our Office will follow all the evidence and, with our law enforcement partners, prosecute these scams.”
“Pallante allegedly defrauded voters who believed they were donating to presidential candidates, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for himself,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Sundberg. “As his indictment demonstrates, the FBI will pursue charges against fraudsters who seek to line their pockets by exploiting donors' participation in the political process.”
If convicted, Pallante faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorney Jacob R. Steiner of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Erie Resident Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Leading Large-Scale Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 252 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on John Christopher Bisbee, 44.
According to information presented to the Court in connection with the defendant’s guilty plea, between July 2019 and June 2020, Bisbee participated in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Specifically, Bisbee led and directed a drug trafficking organization that operated in Erie and surrounding areas, including across the border with New York, and obtained kilogram quantities of methamphetamine that he distributed to others. Through a source of supply in Atlanta, Bisbee imported dozens of kilograms of methamphetamine at a time, packaged it for final distribution, and provided it to a network of co-conspirators below him to sell and collect proceeds from the drugs.
During the execution of a search warrant at Bisbee’s residence, law enforcement agents seized two handguns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Under federal law, Bisbee is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition based on previous felony convictions for drug trafficking. Bisbee further admitted that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of the instant federal drug trafficking crime.
In addition to the methamphetamine conspiracy, Bisbee also admitted to conspiring to commit money laundering by using cash proceeds from drug sales to purchase real estate in the Erie area. In connection with Bisbee’s plea, the defendant further agreed to forfeit over $305,000 in cash and jewelry that was seized during the investigation.
Bisbee’s sentencing follows that of co-defendant Alexis Brolin Jr. in September 2024, who was sentenced to 204 months in prison. Brolin directed the drug trafficking organization’s activity in Clearfield and surrounding areas.
“John Bisbee was a major methamphetamine trafficker in the Erie area whose network stretched across northwestern and central Pennsylvania and into New York,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Drugs and firearms are too often a deadly combination in our communities, and today’s 21-year sentence—along with Alexis Brolin’s recent 17-year sentence—reflect our collective resolve at all levels of law enforcement to pursue the most dangerous offenders in this district with the full weight of federal law.”
“Bisbee received a severe sentence in federal prison for leading a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Philadelphia Field Division. “This investigation exemplifies how collaboration with our law enforcement partners safeguards our communities against criminal organizations.”
“The Pennsylvania State Police thank Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon, with whom we have a longstanding relationship, for the exceptional prosecution of both these individuals,” said Lieutenant Scott A. Bauer, Criminal Investigation Section Commander for the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop C. “These sentences are the result of a tremendous amount of effort put forth by members of our Troop C, G, and A Vice Units, along with the DEA, and I would like to commend and recognize the hard work of all of the troopers, agents, and task force officers who played a role during this significant investigation. The coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies and their members made the results of this investigation possible.”
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Bisbee. Additional agencies participating in this investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; United States Postal Inspection Service; Homeland Security Investigations; Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office; Erie County District Attorney’s Office; Millcreek Police Department; Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Edward Keith Perkins, 31, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 19, 2024, Perkins shipped a box containing approximately 4.43 kilograms of methamphetamine from California to a Virginia Street address on the West Side of Charleston, West Virginia. On August 22, 2024, Perkins drove to the Virginia Street address. Law enforcement approached the vehicle Perkins was driving after a passenger in the vehicle retrieved the package from the porch of the residence and placed it in the vehicle’s trunk. Perkins fled the vehicle when the officers approached but was later apprehended. Perkins admitted that the package contained approximately 50 grams of fentanyl in addition to the 4.43 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Perkins is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys JC MacCallum and Alexander A. Redmon are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-158.
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Delaware County Woman Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking in South PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Nateirah Ortiz, 25, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 96 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment by United States District Court Judge Chad F. Kenney, for one count of carjacking; one count of carrying and using a firearm during, and in relation to, the commission of a crime of violence; and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Ortiz was indicted on those violations in April of this year. She pleaded guilty in August, admitting to carjacking a man at approximately 7 p.m. on January 31, 2024, in South Philadelphia. As part of her plea, the defendant also admitted to carrying and using a firearm to commit this offense.
According to the publicly filed documents in this case, the victim reported being carjacked on the 1100 block of Washington Avenue. He relayed that, while walking to his vehicle, a silver 2018 Toyota RAV4, the defendant demanded his car keys and pointed a gun at him. The victim complied, giving the defendant his key, and ran to a nearby business for assistance calling 911. The defendant entered the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene.
Information about the incident was soon broadcast via police radio citywide. At approximately 9:17 p.m., 24th District police officers on patrol observed the carjacked vehicle traveling on the 3100 block of Kensington Avenue and attempted to conduct a vehicle investigation. The officers stopped their vehicle in front of the RAV4 and another police unit stopped behind it. After waiting for the officers to get out of their car and approach her, Ortiz fled at a high rate of speed, nearly striking their police vehicle in the process. The officers immediately went over the air requesting assistance, and units in the area began searching for the carjacked vehicle.
As police officers drove down Richmond Street, they observed that a RAV4 fitting that description had crashed into several cars parked on the 3700 block of Richmond. The officers saw the defendant walking away from the scene and apprehended her, with police recovering a loaded handgun from underneath a parked van a few feet away.
“Gunpoint carjackings are terrifying for victims and unsettling for the entire community,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “That’s why this office will continue to work hand-in-hand with the Philadelphia Police Department and ATF to prosecute these violent offenders. As Nateirah Ortiz’s sentence shows, committing a carjacking in our city is a life-changing decision. A crime that took just moments will land you in prison for years.”
“Nateirah Ortiz is going back to prison for a senseless and dangerous crime — carjacking a man at gunpoint, endangering the neighborhood and police as she sped away, and wrecking multiple cars,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “Working together with the Philadelphia Police Department in the Carjacking Task Force, we will continue to hold carjackers accountable and help keep Philadelphia’s streets safe.”
“Today’s sentencing is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when law enforcement agencies stand shoulder-to-shoulder,” said Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “Through constant collaboration with our federal partners — particularly the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the ATF — we’ve sent a clear message that violent crime will be met with swift, decisive action. By working together, we ensure that those who endanger our communities are held fully accountable, and we reinforce our shared commitment to keeping every Philadelphian safe.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony J. Carissimi and Robert E. Eckert.
Dean of Pittsfield High School and One Other Charged with Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Pittsfield men, including the Dean of Pittsfield High School, have been arrested and charged today for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.
Lavante Wiggins, 30, of Pittsfield and Theodore Warren, a/k/a “Monty,” 42, also of Pittsfield, were charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The defendants were arrested this morning and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield this afternoon.
According to the charging documents, Wiggins, the Dean of Students at Pittsfield High School, operated a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large amounts of cocaine in and around the Pittsfield area. It is alleged that Warren is a trusted member of the DTO who serves as a runner for Wiggins. According to the charging documents, in August 2024, Wiggins expressed concern that he was under investigation and that he would send Warren to complete drug sales and deliver cocaine. It is alleged that one of Wiggins’ customers amassed a debt of more than $34,000 for cocaine that Wiggins provided on credit. It is further alleged that Wiggins and Warren then went about collecting on that debt while continuing to supply large amounts of cocaine to that customer. Specifically, Wiggins allegedly directed Warren to distribute cocaine to that customer on four separate occasions between September and December 2024: approximately 91 grams of cocaine on Sept. 10, 2024; approximately 100 grams of cocaine on Oct. 14, 2024; 125 grams of cocaine on Oct. 31, 2024; and 150 grams of cocaine on Dec. 10, 2024.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Holyoke, Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield, Easthampton and Pittsfield Police Departments; Berkshire, Hampden and Franklin County Sherriff’s Offices; Massachusetts State Police; and the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches, Chief of the Springfield Branch Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
DOJ Byrne Grants to Washington State Police Departments pay for a variety of crime fighting toolsRead the Press Release
Seattle – Some 13 different law enforcement entities are receiving more than $2.6 million in federal Byrne grants to pay for a wide variety of law enforcement programs, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The projects are proposed by each jurisdiction and DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance evaluates them and determines funding.
“The proposals being funded this cycle range from high tech items for officer safety such as drones, robots and ballistic vests, to officer recruitment programs and school resource officers,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “There is even a grant for something called “The Grappler” which assists officers with safely stopping a fleeing vehicle in a high-speed chase.”
The Seattle Police Department received two large grants – the biggest, $750,012 is for Seattle and surrounding jurisdictions using the city as the fiscal agent. The grant is for Seattle and its suburbs to use for a variety of programs that reduce crime. The programs can be for law enforcement training and overtime, for victim services and community-based programs.
The second large grant to Seattle supports innovation in the 9-1-1 dispatch system. SPD is partnering with the National Policing Institute to implement and evaluate the Intelligent Risk Management system (IRM) for emergency calls. The system is used to evaluate calls to see if alternative dispatch, such as mental health specialists is appropriate. The program will undergo rigorous testing and evaluation. Seattle hopes the program can improve police capacity and enhance public trust. The system will also be evaluated for replication in other jurisdictions across the country.
These are the other police departments receiving grants:
- Tacoma & Pierce County - $339,235 – for support of youth violence reduction strategies and a sex offender records management system.
- Snohomish County - $448,000 to support use of Rapid DNA system for use in solving crimes and identifying victims of crime or natural disasters.
- Clark County and Vancouver - $121,258 – the two law enforcement agencies will share the funds and enhance public safety with equipment purchases.
- Bellingham - $40,170 – the funds support adding more bicycle officers, and de-escalation equipment as well as ensuring each officer has a ballistic vest.
- Kitsap County - $39,423 to purchase ballistic vests capable of deflecting high caliber rifle shots.
- Lakewood - $39,064 – for the purchase of a tactical robot to allow officers to evaluate a situation without putting officers in harm’s way.
- Everett - $34,720 – to enhance recruitment efforts for qualified law enforcement officers using various digital strategies. Reducing the officer vacancies from 28 down to less than 5.
- Thurston County -$19,809 – for purchase of two “Grappler Police Bumper Pursuit” technology systems – a net and tether system used to safely stop a vehicle in a car chase.
- Bremerton - $14,524 – for crime prevention strategies in its downtown core.
- Marysville - $11,426 – for an Unmanned Aerial System (drone) for flyovers during warrant service or other law enforcement purposes involving threats, missing persons, barricaded subjects or hostage situations.
- Lynnwood - $10,209 – equipment purchases for officer safety.
- Longview -$10,098 – to continue the school resource officer program in Longview and Cowlitz County.
The Byrne Grants are named in honor of New York City Police Officer Edward R. Byrne, who was killed in the line of duty on February 26, 1988. Officer Byrne was just 22 years old.
Crew Member Sentenced to 19 Years for East Coast Gun-Point Robberies of Six South Asian Jewelers That Netted MillionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – William Hunter, 28, of Washington D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 228 months in federal prison for participating in a multi-state string of violent gun-point robberies of South Asian jewelry stores that netted millions of dollars in cash and gold for the 15-member crew, allegedly led by Trevor Wright, aka rapper “Taliban Glizzy.”
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony A. Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office; FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado of the Newark Field Office; U.S. Marshal Peter Marketos of the United States Marshals Service; and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Hunter, aka “Ill Will,” pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024 to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery) and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. In his plea, Hunter accepted responsibility for six robberies across Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania that not only stole millions of dollars in jewelry, but terrorized multiple victims and left behind a wake of destruction and financial loss. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Hunter to serve 48 months of supervised release.
According to court documents, over the course of 18 months, Hunter and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to rob multiple South Asian jewelry stores of heavy gold jewelry of high purity. The conspiracy began in January 2022 and continued until August 2023 when several of the co-conspirators had been charged and arrested.
Each robbery was carefully coordinated in advance of its commission and employed a similar modus operandi, one that the co-conspirators seemed to hone and perfect over time and with each new criminal act. The co-conspirators researched stores to select their targets before meeting in Washington, D.C. and traveling in one or more getaway vehicles to the stores. To evade law enforcement detection, some of the suspect vehicles were stolen or outfitted with stolen tags. At least one of the vehicles was carjacked by Hunter and others at gunpoint on September 11, 2022, and later used in a robbery on September 20, 2022.
The co-conspirators often cased the stores in advance of the robbery and gained access by a variety of means, including using sledgehammers to shatter a store’s door or windows before storming in. The co-conspirators employed a show of force to gain compliance from their victims, with at least one co-conspirator armed with a firearm in each instance. They used hammers to smash the glass display cases, filling bags with gold jewelry and resulting in significant damage throughout the stores. In every single instance, however, Hunter and his co-conspirators terrorized the store’s owners, employees, and customers by engaging in an armed takeover of the store and then ransacking it before fleeing.
Often, following the robberies, the stolen gold would be melted to bars and ultimately converted to cash. Hunter and his co-conspirators would then flaunt their ill-gotten gains on social media.
On March 6, 2023, in Washington, D.C., law enforcement arrested Hunter on an outstanding arrest warrant issued out of Maryland arising from an October 22, 2022, armed carjacking. At the time of his arrest, Hunter had a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number in his waistband. That same day, law enforcement executed a residential warrant at Hunter’s D.C. residence and recovered, among other items, 135 live rounds of assorted ammunition, four rifle magazines, one speed loader, and an AR-15 rifle drum magazine. They also recovered clothing that appeared consistent with some worn by Hunter during the commission of robberies, along with a crowbar and a hammer.
In April 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Hunter and Trevor Wright, aka rapper “Taliban Glizzy,” in connection with the armed robbery of Paradise Jewelry Store. On August 17, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a 19-count Superseding Indictment, charging Hunter and his co-conspirators in connection with nine armed robberies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Virginia, with substantial planning and coordination occurring in D.C. On March 12, 2024, a Second Superseding Indictment was filed, adding charges related to two additional robberies, including one in D.C., as well as charges related to the recovery of firearms and narcotics from multiple residences associated with the various co-conspirators.
According to his plea agreement, Hunter accepted responsibility for his roles in: (1) the January 7, 2022, armed robbery of Yasini Jewelers in Falls Church, Virginia; (2) the September 20, 2022, armed robbery of Sonia Jewelers and Boutique in Springfield, Virginia; (3) the October 25, 2022, armed robbery of Paradise Jewelry in Paterson, New Jersey; (4) the November 10, 2022, armed robbery of Baral Jewelers and Gift Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; (5) the November 27, 2022, armed robbery of Sara Emporium Jewelry in Jersey City, New Jersey; and (6) the January 27, 2023, armed robbery of Princess Diamonds in Falls Church, Virginia.
This case was investigated by the ATF, Metropolitan Police Department, and FBI Newark and Washington Field Offices. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and Andrea Duvall.
DEFENDANT
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CHARGES/SENTENCETrevor Wright, 33Taliban GlizzyWashington DCInterfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; possessing a firearm during a crime of violence; money laundering; conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity.William Hunter, 28Ill WillWashington DCSentenced to 228 months on Dec. 11, 2024, after pleading guilty to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.Avery Fuller, 29
Deavry Cordell Fuller, Fully AceWashington DCPending sentencing after pleading guilty in the Middle District of Florida to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.Franklin Hunter, 30GinoWashington DCInterfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence; conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity.Davon Johnson, 31
YBWashington DCSentenced to 111 months on November 20, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.Decarlos Hill, 30LosMarylandSentenced to 57 months on November 6, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery.Lamont Marable, 28 Washington DCSentenced to 93 months on November 11, 2024, for interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.Keith McDuffie, 27 CaliforniaInterfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.Jameise Christian, 33
Safety, Safe, Safe PlayWashington DCPending sentencing after pleading guilty in the Middle District of Florida to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.Andrew Smith, 30
Drewso, DrewMarylandSentenced to 138 months in prison on October 17, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.Robert Sheffield, 33
Real LifaaWashington DCInterfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; possessing a firearm during a crime of violence; felon in possession of a firearm.Jaylaun Brown, 22Lil LaunyWashington DCConspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery).Timothy Conrad, 33
TwinWashington DCSentenced to 168 months on October 1, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and for possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.Antonio Tate, 21 Washington DCSentenced to 120 months for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.Delonte Martin, 35 Washington DCSentenced to 108 months for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.Photo introduced into evidence depicts the robbery of $250,000 in jewelry from Princess Diamonds in Falls Church, Virginia
Surveillance photo depicts William Hunter walking with a tray of jewelry in one hand and a gun in the other during the January 7, 2022, armed robbery of Yasini Jewelers.
Images posted on October 29 and November 1, 2022, to Hunter’s Instagram account depict him with stacks of cash, a firearm, and a wristwatch.
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Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Kidnap and Assault U.S. Army Soldiers in ColombiaRead the Press Release
MIAMI - A Colombian national pleaded guilty today to his role in kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military who were on temporary duty in Bogotá, Colombia.
According to court documents, Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, 47, of Bogotá, and his co-defendants targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogotá. The two victims, who were serving on orders in Colombia, went to an entertainment district in Bogotá to watch a soccer game on the evening of March 5, 2020. They went to a pub, where one of Silva Ochoa’s co-conspirators incapacitated the victims by putting drugs, including benzodiazepines, in their drinks. Silva Ochoa’s co-conspirators then escorted the victims into a waiting car driven by Silva Ochoa, kidnapped them, and took their wallets, debit cards, credit cards, and cell phones. Silva Ochoa and his co-conspirators used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money. The two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Silva Ochoa pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Silva Ochoa was extradited in May from Chile to the United States, and he is the second co-defendant to plead guilty in this criminal scheme. Co-defendant Arango Castellanos was extradited in May 2023 from Colombia to the United States, pleaded guilty in January to the charges in the indictment, and was sentenced in May to 48 years and nine months in prison. Co-defendant Uribe Chiran was extradited in September from Colombia to the United States; she is currently scheduled for trial in February 2025.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole A. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Miami Field Office’s Extraterritorial Squad investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, and FBI’s Office of the Legal Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile, provided significant assistance. The Justice Department also thanks Colombian and Chilean law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
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Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Kidnap and Assault U.S. Army Soldiers in ColombiaRead the Press Release
A Colombian national pleaded guilty today to his role in kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military who were on temporary duty in Bogotá, Colombia.
According to court documents, Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, 47, of Bogotá, and his co-defendants targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogotá. The two victims, who were serving on orders in Colombia, went to an entertainment district in Bogotá to watch a soccer game on the evening of March 5, 2020. They went to a pub, where one of Silva Ochoa’s co-conspirators incapacitated the victims by putting drugs, including benzodiazepines, in their drinks. Silva Ochoa’s co-conspirators then escorted the victims into a waiting car driven by Silva Ochoa, kidnapped them, and took their wallets, debit cards, credit cards, and cell phones. Silva Ochoa and his co-conspirators used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money. The two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Silva Ochoa pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Silva Ochoa was extradited in May from Chile to the United States, and he is the second co-defendant to plead guilty in this criminal scheme. Co-defendant Arango Castellanos was extradited in May 2023 from Colombia to the United States, pleaded guilty in January to the charges in the indictment, and was sentenced in May to 48 years and nine months in prison. Co-defendant Uribe Chiran was extradited in September from Colombia to the United States; she is currently scheduled for trial in February 2025.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole A. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Miami Field Office’s Extraterritorial Squad investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, and FBI’s Office of the Legal Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile, provided significant assistance. The Justice Department also thanks Colombian and Chilean law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.
Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Chicago Man Charged in Federal Court with Trafficking Dozens of Firearms to West AfricaRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been charged with federal firearm violations for allegedly trafficking dozens of firearms from the United States to the West African nation of Ghana.
A criminal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges ANTHONY NEE AMOO, 54, with willfully exporting firearms in violation of U.S. laws and regulations. Nee Amoo was arrested on Monday and remains in federal custody. A detention hearing is set for Thursday at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole.
According to the complaint, Nee Amoo purchased 71 firearms in northern Illinois from 2006 to 2024 and exported them to Ghana by either personally traveling with the guns or shipping them in vehicles or barrels. The complaint alleges that Nee Amoo did not declare the firearms or inform the shippers about them. He also lacked a U.S. license to export the guns, the complaint states. For each of the 29 firearms Nee Amoo purchased since October 2020, he signed a federal form warning him that exporting a firearm without proper authorization from the U.S. government subjects him to a fine or imprisonment, the charges allege.
The complaint was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys LeighAnn M. Thomas and Michael Maione.
The investigation is being conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement hub that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. The CGIC is an interagency collaboration that brings together - under one roof - federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and intelligence analysts to move quickly to investigate and prosecute violent crimes.
Disrupting illegal firearms trafficking is a centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s cross-jurisdictional strike force aimed at reducing gun violence. As part of the Chicago firearms trafficking strike force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborates with the FBI, ATF, Chicago Police Department, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in the Northern District of Illinois and across the country to help stem the supply of illegally trafficked firearms and identify patterns, leads, and potential suspects in violent gun crimes.
Holding firearm offenders accountable through federal prosecution is also a focus of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) – the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney's Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The charge in the complaint is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.
nee_amoo_complaint.pdfChicago Attorney Convicted of Tax Fraud and Witness Tampering ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a Chicago attorney of committing tax fraud, attempting to tamper with a witness, and violating a court order.
MICHAEL ABRAMSON, 75, of Wilmette Ill., was convicted Tuesday on all 15 tax fraud, witness tampering, and violation of court order charges against him. The jury returned the verdicts after a week-long trial in federal court in Chicago. U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah set sentencing for May 1, 2024.
Abramson was an attorney in Chicago when he filed and caused to be filed false individual tax returns for himself and false corporate returns for a company in which he held an ownership interest – Illinois-based Leasing Employment Services Co., Inc. Evidence at trial revealed that Abramson provided more than $1 million for personal expenses to a woman with whom he was romantically involved. He then took deductions on what were falsely characterized as commissions or loans and included the fraudulent loans as an asset on the company’s tax returns. The expenses Abramson characterized as purported loans included funds expended on behalf of the woman related to a condo in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, several luxury automobiles, and payments for travel, shopping, and restaurants.
Following the indictment in this case, the Court ordered Abramson not to have any contact with witnesses, including Abramson’s bookkeeper, whom Abramson knew would be an important witness at trial. Weeks before trial was initially set to begin on Feb. 5, 2024, Abramson gave the bookkeeper a copy of her previous court testimony, on which he had made handwritten notes changing, supplementing, or otherwise scripting her answers, and told her to review it before trial. Although Abramson told the bookkeeper not to bring the notes to a meeting with law enforcement, the bookkeeper nonetheless turned the scripted transcript over to law enforcement.
The jury convictions were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Rothblatt and Edward A. Liva, Jr.
California CEO Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A California man pleaded guilty today to not paying employment taxes to the IRS.
According to court documents and statements made in court, John Comeau, of Santa Clara, was the CEO of Vivid Inc., a company that provided metal coating services across various industries in Campbell, California, and elsewhere. From at least the first quarter of 2010 through the end of 2019, Vivid withheld Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from the wages paid to its employees. However, Comeau, who was responsible for ensuring those funds were reported and paid to the IRS, did not do so.
In total, Comeau caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $1,150,000.
Comeau is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilham Hosseini for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.
Businessman Indicted for Manipulating Five Publicly Traded Companies and Defrauding Investors of over $200MRead the Press Release
Note: A copy of the indictment can be found here.
A federal grand jury in Dallas, Texas, returned an indictment yesterday charging a Texas businessman for his role in a yearslong scheme involving at least five publicly traded companies.
According to court documents, Philip Verges, 59, of Dallas, controlled five publicly traded companies, which he used to engage in an investment fraud scheme from approximately January 2017 through August 2022. As part of the alleged scheme, Verges concealed his involvement in these five companies from the investing public by appointing trusted friends to serve as nominees. Verges then allegedly entered into sham consulting agreements with the companies that allowed the companies to execute convertible notes, which could be converted to shares at a steep discount from their fair market value. Verges allegedly artificially inflated the price and trading volume of shares by, among other things, issuing false public press releases and financial statements. As further alleged, Verges then sold his convertible notes to intermediaries who converted the notes into shares at below-market prices, sold the shares into the market for a profit, and shared the proceeds from the sales with Verges. In total, the alleged scheme resulted in approximately $211 million in losses to the public.
Verges is charged with one count of securities fraud and two counts of money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the securities fraud count and 10 years in prison on each money laundering count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Gregory D. Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Brockton Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Illegally Receiving a Firearm, Distributing Fentanyl and Possessing CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston to firearm, cocaine, fentanyl and conspiracy offenses.
Antonio Denziah Fernandes, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 78 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In September 2024, Fernandes pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment, two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In September 2023, Fernandes was indicted by a federal grand jury and on Sept. 11, 2024, additional charges were brought in a Superseding Information.
In late 2021, law enforcement learned that Fernandes was trafficking firearms and narcotics in the Brockton area, including large quantities of fentanyl. In January 2022, while under indictment in state court for trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl, Fernandes received and sold a Glock Model 48, 9mm pistol for $1,700 in the Taunton area. In each of two subsequent transactions in January and February 2022, Fernandes distributed and possessed with intent to distribute approximately 50 grams of fentanyl, for a total of approximately 100 grams. These two transactions took place in the vicinity of Fernandes’s Brockton residence.
Fernandes and a co-conspirator were storing and packaging narcotics in an abandoned van parked outside Fernandes residence and distributing them with a different vehicle. Fernandes was arrested in the passenger seat of the latter vehicle, and a loaded firearm was found wedged against his seat. Fernandes had 2.8g of fentanyl and $1,215 in cash on his person.
During a search of the abandoned vehicle, large quantity of drugs was found inside including approximately 174.7 grams of Fentanyl, 51.5 grams of cocaine, 18.2 grams of Percocet pills and eight grams of mushrooms. Twenty-seven rounds of 9mm ammunition was also recovered. The van also contained various packaging materials for narcotics, such as plastic baggies, corner cut bags, a trash bag full of various used drug packaging materials with white residue, mixing bowls with white residue and latex gloves.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office; the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office; and the Brockton, Taunton, Whitman, West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater and Bridgewater State University Police Departments; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Meghan C. Cleary of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, 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.
Bonners Ferry Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Involvement in a Fentanyl Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – Twyla Dawn Basil, 46, of Bonners Ferry, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury and death. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Basil pay restitution to the family of the victim. Upon completion of her prison sentence, Basil will also be required to serve an additional three years of supervised release.
According to court records, on October 28, 2022, an inmate at the Boundary County Jail was found unconscious in her cell. Despite attempts to revive her by medical personnel, the victim ultimately died. A toxicology report and autopsy showed that the victim had a lethal dose of fentanyl in her system at the time of her death. The coroner ultimately determined that she died of a fentanyl overdose.
Local, state, and federal officers began an immediate investigation into the victim’s death. Jail staff learned that shortly before the victim was found dead, Basil, who was in custody with her, had provided the victim with fentanyl she had smuggled into the facility. Basil had been arrested the day before for driving while under the influence of fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for severe pain management and prescribed in the form of transdermal patches or lozenges. While prescription fentanyl can be diverted for misuse, most cases of fentanyl-related overdoses in the U.S. are linked to illegally made fentanyl that is sold through illicit drug markets for its heroin-like effect.
Idaho has seen a massive influx of these pills in the last several years. Often, the pills are mass-produced by criminal drug networks and falsely marketed as legitimate prescription pills. The pills are made to look like prescription opioids such as oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and alprazolam (Xanax); or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall). Criminal drug trafficking networks also increasingly distribute illicit fentanyl in powder form. In addition to cases in which fentanyl powder is consumed on its own, authorities have found fentanyl powder mixed with other street drugs.
“No matter the location or the circumstances, any fentanyl-caused death is an intolerable tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We have re-doubled our efforts to train law enforcement to help us investigate and prosecute fentanyl deaths. While we are seeing some signs of progress, we will continue the battle against fentanyl for as long as it takes.”
“The Idaho State Police remains steadfast in our commitment to protect our communities from the devastating impact of fentanyl and other illicit drugs,” said Captain Paul Berger with ISP District 1. “This case underscores the tragic consequences of fentanyl trafficking and highlights the critical need for ongoing collaboration between agencies. Together, we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who bring this deadly substance into our state, holding them accountable for the harm they cause. We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and reaffirm our dedication to preventing further tragedies caused by this dangerous drug.”
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Idaho State Police and the and the North Idaho Narcotics Enforcement (NINE) Taskforce for their thorough investigation on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryce Ellsworth prosecuted the case.
The NINE Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional group of law enforcement officers working together to target drug trafficking in North Idaho. The task force is comprised of agents and officers from the Idaho State Police, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Border Patrol, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the National Guard Counter Drug Program.
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Bloomington Woman Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Racially Motivated Stabbing of 18-Year-old IU Student of Asian DescentRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Billie Davis, 57, of Bloomington, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for committing a federal hate crime. The sentence comes after Davis pleaded guilty to willfully causing bodily injury to a victim with a knife, because the victim was of Chinese descent.
According to court documents, on January 11, 2023, an 18-year-old woman of Chinese descent enrolled at Indiana University at Bloomington, was riding a Bloomington Transit bus. Davis boarded the bus and sat behind the student. As the student stood to exit the bus, Davis reached for a folding knife from inside her pocket and stabbed the student in the head approximately seven to ten times. The victim exited the bus screaming in pain. Davis’ attack against the victim caused multiple stab wounds and cuts, requiring medical attention including sutures and staples.
After the attack, Davis sat back down on the bus, where she remained until other passengers confronted her. When Davis exited the bus, another passenger followed and confronted her about the stabbing. Davis used racist slurs when referring to the victim and claimed the victim posed a threat to the bus because she was Asian. Davis was arrested by Bloomington Police. Davis described the victim to police as “some Asian f*cking c*unt” and said she attacked the victim because she was of Chinese descent and so that there was “one less enemy.”
“Racially motivated violence has no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant targeted a young woman, who was simply riding a public bus to school, solely because she was Chinese. The sentence imposed for these vicious hate crimes should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable. The Justice Department is steadfast in its commitment to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes wherever they occur in our country.”
“Every person deserves to feel safe in their own community, and no one should be made to fear violence on their way to school simply because of who they are,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Violent hate should have no safe harbor in Indiana or anywhere in our great country. That’s why our Department of Justice has prioritized prosecution of hate crimes and community outreach through our United Against Hate initiative. In recent years we’ve sadly seen an increase of bias crimes targeting people of Asian descent, and the serious federal prison sentence imposed here should demonstrate our commitment to stopping this hate. Anyone who has suffered a potentially hate-based violent incident should call 911 to address immediate safety issues, and then report the event to the Department of Justice or FBI. Together we can make our community safer for everyone.”
“The FBI remains committed to protecting the civil rights of all individuals and this case should serve as a reminder that hate fueled actions will not be tolerated,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert “Alex” Middleton. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and ensure those who perpetrate such acts of hate are held accountable.”
The FBI Indianapolis Field Office and Bloomington Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Bloomington Police Department. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett, Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, and Trial Attorney Barry Disney of the Criminal Division’s Mental Health Litigation Unit, who prosecuted the case.
If you have concerns regarding Civil Rights violations in the Southern District of Indiana, you can now report them to our office via email [email protected] or using our online form.
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Billings meth trafficker sentenced to more than 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine as part of multi-state drug organization was sentenced today to 10 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Anthony Enemyhunter, 37, pleaded guilty in August to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. Attorney Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that Enemyhunter was among a group of individuals involved in a multi-state drug trafficking organization that operated from a residence on Sugar Avenue in Billings. A group of males from Washington brought pounds of meth into Montana and used these individuals to distribute meth and fentanyl. Enemyhunter was identified as selling meth from a Billings hotel. A probation search of his hotel room resulted in the seizure of a firearm, ammunition and a small amount of meth. Enemyhunter also sold meth to a confidential source on two occasions. In February, the Montana Highway Patrol stopped his vehicle and found Enemyhunter to be in possession of meth and several firearms, including one that was stolen.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
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.
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Bay Area CEO Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A California man pleaded guilty today to not paying employment taxes to the IRS.
According to court documents and statements made in court, John Comeau, of Santa Clara, was the CEO of Vivid, Inc., a company that provided metal coating services across various industries in Campbell and elsewhere. From at least the first quarter of 2010 through the end of 2019, Vivid withheld Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes from the wages paid to its employees. However, Comeau, who was responsible for ensuring those funds were reported and paid to the IRS, did not do so.
In total, Comeau caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $1,150,000.
Comeau is scheduled to be sentenced on Apr. 30, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.
IRS-CI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilham Hosseini and Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Barbour County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Edward Matthew Wiseman, 37, of Belington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 57 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Wiseman was selling methamphetamine in Elkins. A search of his home resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine, two firearms, and $4802. Wiseman has a criminal history that includes assault, multiple DUIs, reckless driving, a drug conviction, as well as protective orders for domestic violence.
Wiseman will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on FBI Director Christopher Wray’s Resignation AnnouncementRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following FBI Director Christopher Wray’s resignation announcement:
“Chris Wray has served our country honorably and with integrity for decades, including for seven years as the Director of the FBI under presidents of both parties.
In a heightened threat environment, Director Wray has worked tirelessly to protect the American people and to lead an agency of 38,000 dedicated public servants, many of whom put their lives on the line every day to serve their communities.
Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.
He has led the FBI’s efforts to aggressively confront the broad range of threats facing our country — from nation-state adversaries and foreign and domestic terrorism to violent crime, cybercrime, and financial crime.
There are few leadership positions more central to keeping the American people safe than the Director of the FBI.
The Director of the FBI is responsible for leading employees located across the country and around the world who dedicate themselves each day to disrupting complex plots and preventing horrific tragedies before they can occur.
The Director of the FBI is responsible for leading the federal law enforcement agency that serves as the connective tissue among the intelligence community, state and local law enforcement agencies across the country, and our international law enforcement partners.
And the Director of the FBI is responsible for protecting the independence of the FBI from inappropriate influence in its criminal investigations. That independence is central to preserving the rule of law and to protecting the freedoms we as Americans hold dear.
Director Wray has done that job with integrity and skill. He has my gratitude, the gratitude of the FBI agents and employees whose respect and admiration he has earned, and the gratitude of the American people.”
Athens Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – An Athens resident received the statutory maximum prison sentence allowed under federal guidelines for the sexual exploitation of a 7-year-old child resulting from a Project Safe Childhood investigation.
Chris Adam Valentine, 37, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release and $90,000 restitution by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III on Dec. 10. In addition, Valentine will have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. Valentine previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child on May 28. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our office is determined to identify and remove child predators from our communities and hold them fully accountable for their heinous crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Protecting the most vulnerable citizens from harm is a priority for law enforcement at every level.”
“Thanks to the diligent efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and its law enforcement partners, this predator will now spend three decades behind bars for his appalling actions,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama. “This investigation underscores our commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and pursuing justice for those who seek to exploit and harm children.”
"Cases like these exemplify the value of partnerships between local, state and federal agencies,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “These heinous crimes will not be tolerated in our community. We will continue to work with our partners to protect the children of this community and will pursue those who prey on them."
According to the plea agreement, Valentine admitted that between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022, he used his cellular phone to film a 7-year-old child engage in sexual conduct with an adult male.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach prosecuted the case for the Government.
Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Daryl Cromartie, 32, of Wilmington, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by felon and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and phencyclidine (PCP). On February 27, 2024, Cromartie pled guilty to the charges.
According to court records and evidence presented in court, in February 2023, the Wilmington Police Department (WPD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Daryl Cromartie. From February 23, 2023, to July 14, 2023, law enforcement utilized confidential informants (CIs) to purchase narcotics from Cromartie. Most of the controlled buys occurred outside of Cromartie’s residence in Wilmington. Prior to the transactions, Cromartie and the CIs communicated via cellphone.
On July 17, 2023, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Cromartie’s residence in Wilmington. Cromartie was present during the search and acknowledged there were various controlled substances, a handgun, and U.S. currency in the home. Officers seized 8.01 grams of cocaine, 42.8 grams of crack cocaine, 55.2 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 37.2 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, $4,360 in U.S. currency and a loaded 9mm handgun from a safe in the master bedroom.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The FBI, WPD, and NHCSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-CR-00094-M.
Alon Alexander, Oren Alexander, and Tal Alexander Charged in Manhattan Federal Court with Sex Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, announced the return today of a three-count Indictment charging ALON ALEXANDER, OREN ALEXANDER, and TAL ALEXANDER (the “ALEXANDER BROTHERS”), with sex trafficking offenses. The defendants were arrested this morning in the Southern District of Florida and will be presented in federal court in Miami, Florida. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the Indictment, for more than a decade, the Alexander Brothers, alone and together, repeatedly and violently sexually assaulted and raped dozens of female victims. Today, the defendants are charged with multiple sex trafficking offenses. Our investigation is far from over. If you have been a victim of the alleged sexual violence perpetrated by Alon Alexander, Oren Alexander, or Tal Alexander – or if you know anything about their alleged crimes – we urge you to come forward.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “The Alexander brothers allegedly conspired using their wealth and status to prey on innocent women, coercing them into engaging in sexual acts. We will not allow this type of alleged behavior to go unimpeded. Predators forcefully coercing victims into sexual acts cannot and will not be tolerated. The FBI’s investigations into these types of cases are only possible because of the bravery victims show in coming forward. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to investigating sex trafficking and ensuring anyone attempting to engage in it is held accountable in the criminal justice system.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “The charges outlined in this indictment reflect some of the most heinous and dehumanizing crimes of sexual exploitation that our NYPD detectives investigate. I applaud all the members of our joint FBI-NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force for their unwavering dedication to identifying, investigating, and holding accountable those who allegedly prey on vulnerable individuals in such despicable ways.”
According to the Indictment, Superseding Indictment, and other documents and statements in the public record:
From at least in or about 2010, up to and including at least in or about 2021, the ALEXANDER BROTHERS worked together and with others to engage in sex trafficking, including by repeatedly drugging, sexually assaulting, and raping dozens of female victims. The ALEXANDER BROTHERS, who reside primarily in New York and Miami, Florida, have considerable social and financial connections, including through OREN ALEXANDER and TAL ALEXANDER’s positions as prominent real estate agents focused on ultra-luxury markets. The ALEXANDER BROTHERS used their wealth and prominent positions in real estate to create and facilitate opportunities to sexually assault women.
To carry out and facilitate their sex trafficking scheme, the ALEXANDER BROTHERS used deception, fraud, and coercion to cause victims to travel with them or meet them in private locations for various trips and events. The ALEXANDER BROTHERS and others identified women to invite to these events through, among other things, social media, dating applications, in person encounters, or through the use of party promoters who would recruit women for these events.
The ALEXANDER BROTHERS used the promise of luxury experiences, travel, and accommodations to lure and entice women to these events, and then—on multiple occasions—forcibly raped and sexually assaulted women who attended. At times, multiple men, including one or more of the ALEXANDER BROTHERS, participated in these assaults. In some instances, the defendants physically restrained and held down their victims during the rapes and sexual assaults and ignored screams and explicit requests to stop.
In advance of the events, the ALEXANDER BROTHERS and others procured drugs that they agreed to provide to the women, including, among other things, cocaine, mushrooms, and GHB. On multiple occasions during these events and trips, the ALEXANDER BROTHERS and others surreptitiously drugged women’s drinks. Some of the victims experienced symptoms of impaired physical and mental capacity, including limitations of movement and speech and incomplete memories of events. This prevented the victims from being able to fight back or escape during the rapes and sexual assaults.
The agreement between the ALEXANDER BROTHERS encompassed numerous other acts of sexual violence in addition to the sexual assaults during planned trips and events. On numerous occasions, one or more of the ALEXANDER BROTHERS drugged and raped or sexually assaulted women they encountered by chance, including women they met at bars and nightclubs, social events, and on dating applications.
If you have been victimized by the ALEXANDER BROTHERS in any way or have any additional information about their alleged illegal behavior, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or reach out to us at [email protected].
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ALON ALEXANDER, 37, OREN ALEXANDER, 37, and TAL ALEXANDER, 38, all of Miami, Florida, are each charged with one count of engaging in a sex trafficking conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. TAL ALEXANDER is additionally charged with a second count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The statutory maximum and mandatory penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI-NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in New York, as well as the assistance of FBI Miami, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, and the Miami Beach Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaiya Arroyo, Elizabeth A. Espinosa, and Andrew W. Jones are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._alexander_brothers_superseding_indictment_may_2025.pdf u.s._v._alexander_et_al_superseding_indictment.pdfActivity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Child Sexual Assault Material
Justin Michael Lamb, 29, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison with 15 years of supervised release to follow, for the production of child pornography. According to court documents, in May of 2023, a Wyoming probation agent was supervising the defendant after he was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender. Lamb failed to report to probation and update his offender registration, as required. Around the same time, a tip came in that Lamb was dating a minor. Casper Police Department officers and detectives conducted interviews and searched Lamb's digital devices. They found over 100 files of lude and lascivious material of a minor. The defendant was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 4, in Cheyenne. Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00099
Gregory Scott Gage, 31, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with 10 years of supervised release to follow, for obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children, subsequent offense. According to court documents, on March 25, a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) agent was contacted by a probation officer about Gage possessing electronics containing potential files of child pornography. Gage was under supervision after being sentenced for access with intent to view child pornography. Agents found and forensically investigated three smartphones, all of which contained pornographic depictions of minors. Gage was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept 13, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 5, in Cheyenne. U.S. Probation and Parole, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00100
Drug Trafficking & Firearms
Larry Arguijo, 46, of Douglas, Wyoming, was sentenced to 46 months with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, in June of 2024, agents with DCI Central Enforcement Team (CEET) began an investigation into an ongoing conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, occurring in Converse and Natrona County. During the investigation, several individuals including Arguijo were identified as part of the conspiracy. Arguijo waived indictment and pleaded guilty on Sept. 11. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 3, in Casper. Homeland Security Investigations and DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00132
Firearm Offenses
Howard George Lujan, 36, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served from July 30, 2024, up to January 6, 2025, with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, law enforcement stopped a vehicle that Lujan was a passenger in and found a gun wrapped up in a sweatshirt under the seat he was sitting in. Lujan is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Lujan was indicted on July 18, brought into federal custody on July 30, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12 and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 3, in Cheyenne. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00122
Kenneth Levi Crawford, 24, of Cody, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on May 25, a citizen called the Casper Police Department to report the location of a fugitive, the defendant. Crawford was found where the citizen described, and officers confirmed that Crawford had multiple active warrants. When officers encountered him, he had a pistol in his waistband. Crawford is a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Crawford was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 3, in Casper. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Casper Police Department investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 23-00115
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Arnulfo Perez-Gomez, 31, of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for illegal reentry into the United States. Perez-Gomez will be deported following his sentence. According to court documents, on August 4, Perez-Gomez was found by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Sweetwater County Detention Center. Perez-Gomez had been arrested for state drug charges. Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Deputies alerted ICE’s Casper office that Perez-Gomez claimed to be a citizen of Guatemala on his booking sheet. ICE agents determined Perez-Gomez had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in December 2013. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 4, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00156Margarito Sanchez-Velazquez, 37, of Chapultenango, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, in April 2022, Sanchez-Velazquez was encountered in Gillette, Wyoming. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted, and they determined that Sanchez-Velazquez did not have permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in May 2019. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 9, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00104
Vitaliano Garcia-Mendez, 49, of Oaxaca, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 26, Garcia-Mendez was arrested by the Big Horn Sheriff’s Office for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A deportation officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Garcia-Mendez was in the U.S. illegally and had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in June 2003. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 9, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00108
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:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
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
56 Members of a Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in San Juan, and Carolina, Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On December 5, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 56 violent gang members from the municipalities of San Juan, Carolina, and areas nearby with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, firearms violations, and murder, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau Carolina Strike Force, with the collaboration of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Marshals Service.
“The prosecution of this drug trafficking organization exemplifies our ongoing efforts to dismantle drug gangs, and reduce violent crime and gun violence,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “I want to thank our federal, local, and state law enforcement partners, as well as the prosecutors and investigators in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, for their relentless work in this case. As demonstrated by this prosecution, our valiant police officers serve and protect our communities with courage, dedication, and bravery every day -- at great risk to their own safety.”
“Combatting violent gangs requires a whole-of-society-approach and I am proud to say that this large-scale gang disruption is the result of the different government components, especially law enforcement, working together with and for the communities,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “I am convinced that, with the help of the public and our partners, we can continue to make tangible progress towards peace in the streets of Puerto Rico.”
The indictment alleges that from in or about 2021 through the date of the indictment, the charged drug trafficking organization distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, marijuana, Tramadol, and Clonazepam within 1,000 feet of the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project (PHP), the Luis Lloréns Torres PHP, the Los Mirtos PHP, the Lagos de Blasina PHP, the La Esmeralda PHP, the El Coral PHP, the Monte Hatillo PHP, and other areas near those locations, all for significant financial gain and profit. The drug trafficking organizations that operated in and around these areas (hereinafter The Alliance) reached an agreement to conduct their drug trafficking operations as allies, which they referred to as “La Paz” (The Peace). At that time, each housing project organization was controlled by their own leadership and structure. As part of The Alliance, there would not be war between these organizations and members would be able to rely on each other for protection, drugs, and weapons.
The goal of The Alliance was to control all the drug trafficking activities within the municipalities of Carolina, San Juan, and areas nearby using force, threats, violence, and intimidation. In preserving power and protecting territory, the members of the alliance profited from the illegal distribution of narcotics, including transportation to and distribution of kilogram quantities of cocaine in the continental United States. Members of the alliance conducted meetings and frequented each other’s housing projects and the same bars and clubs together; performed in concerts and music videos together, recording videos at each other’s housing projects using real weapons to project their alliance’s power. Members would identify their gang affiliation with jewelry such as pendants allusive to their housing project, organization, or names of record labels, including, but not limited to, “LFC” (La Familia Carolina), “LMM” (Loyalty Music Money) and “LMG” (Loyalty Music Group).
The investigation revealed that during the conspiracy the defendants and their co‑conspirators participated in acts of violence and shootings to further their drug trafficking operations. They also engaged in the trafficking of illegal firearms and ammunition using their social media accounts and other social media applications and platforms. It is also alleged that the defendants obtained information from corrupt police officers to surveil rival gang members and to avoid law enforcement detection. On occasions, the corrupt police officers accessed law enforcement databases to obtain privileged information such as vehicle registration data and personal identifying data.
The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including as leaders, suppliers, drug point owners, enforcers, runners, sellers, lookouts, and facilitators.
The 56 defendants charged in the indictment are:
[1] Victor J. Pérez-Fernández, a.k.a. “La Cone/Vitu/Vitikin/Enano”
[2] David A. Isaac-Febus, a.k.a. “Durant/Davicito”
[3] Jan C. Dalmau-Román, a.k.a. “Yankee/El Árabe”
[4] Charlie J. Dalmau-Román, a.k.a. “Tres Deos/Tres Dedos”
[5] Luis R. Pérez-Vizcarrondo, a.k.a. “Tío/Raúl”
[6] Samuel Santiago-Delgado, a.k.a. “Kule”
[7] Michael J. García-Marquez, a.k.a. “Maco/Menor”
[8] Luis N. Isaac-Sánchez, a.k.a. “Chimbo/CDobleta/Dobleta”
[9] Eli Y. Couvertier-Pollock, a.k.a. “Tata/Maike/Maike Casiano”
[10] Gerald O. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Patrón”
[11] Onix Y. Couvertier-Pollock, a.k.a. “Gato/Gatito/Yamil”
[12] Ángel L. Agosto-Andino, a.k.a. “Bilito/Bartolo/Birlito”
[13] Vicyael C. Hernández-Díaz, a.k.a. “Menor/Ozu”
[14] Paul W. Herrera-Rivera, a.k.a. “Polito/Agua Sucia/Negro”
[15] Luis R. Pérez-Colón, a.k.a. “Mencho/Luisito”
[16] Lino J. Calcaño-Rodríguez
[17] Eddie G. Roque-Sánchez, a.k.a. “Edito/Coco”
[18] Ángel L. Sanjurjo, a.k.a. “Vaca”
[19] William E. Boria-Rosa, a.k.a. “Boria”
[20] Christian Luna-Ilarraza, a.k.a. “Chiqui”
[21] Carlos F. Mercado-Molina, a.k.a. “Blanco Perla/Payco”
[22] Orlando Resto-García, a.k.a. “Luli/Potala”
[23] Andyel González-Sáez, a.k.a. “Martino”
[24] Olvin O’Neill-Concepción-Tapia, a.k.a. “Sinfo”
[25] Daniel J. López-Vega, a.k.a. “Dany”
[26] Edwin Y. Flores-Tavárez, a.k.a. “Chizguis/Película/Cheese Wiz”
[27] Jeremy Millán-Isaac, a.k.a. “Pequeño/Zepe”
[28] Bernardo De La Cruz-Pizarro, a.k.a. “Caravela/Armandito”
[29] Yasiel Morales-López, a.k.a. “Pausa/Rubio”
[30] Joshua E. Bula-Cartagena, a.k.a. “Inquilino/El Corista”
[31] José A. González-Herrera, a.k.a. “Teta/Ted”
[32] Josué Isaac-Febus, a.k.a. “Tonto/Doble T”
[33] Ramsell Maldonado-Tatis, a.k.a. “R”
[34] Joshua Jeriel Rivera-Cruz, a.k.a. “Joshi/J”
[35] Jazhiel Ocasio-Herrera, a.k.a. “BV”
[36] Frambel Rijos-Hernández, a.k.a. “Domi”
[37] José Martínez-Serrano, a.k.a. “Tio/Denzel”
[38] Wilfredo Hernández-Vizcarrondo, a.k.a. “Machacho”
[39] Jean C. Fernández-Garay, a.k.a. “Logan/Bebo”
[40] Harold Reynoso-Isaac, a.k.a. “Jandi/Pichi”
[41] Carlos A. Delgado-Torres, a.k.a. “Peter/Papi/Papa Candela”
[42] Isaías Caleb De Jesús-Valentín, a.k.a. “Minor/Mynor/Mynol”
[43] Ángel M. Franqui-González, a.k.a. “Blanquito”
[44] Juan L. Tereforte-Bello, a.k.a. “Tostin”
[45] Justin Landrau-Cirino, a.k.a. “Cheo”
[46] Edgardo D. Rivera-Rivera, a.k.a. “Limba”
[47] Danny Díaz-Soto, a.k.a. “Shorty”
[48] Alexander Y. Encarnación-Febus, a.k.a. “Bebo”
[49] Kevin E. Soto-Peña, a.k.a. “Mostri”
[50] Jacob J. Monge-Vigo
[51] Yander C. Santos-Ramos, a.k.a. “Mingui”
[52] Michael Rodríguez-Seib, a.k.a. “Teco”
[53] Victor Z. Sifonte-Rivera
[54] Eduardo A. Tolentino-Meléndez
[55] Fernando Torres-Galarza, a.k.a. “Perro”
[56] Destiny Crespo-Correa
Thirty-seven defendants are facing one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and fourteen of those defendants are facing one count of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Count Nine charges the murder of Sergeant Eliezer Ramos Vélez that occurred on March 29, 2024 - during and in furtherance of the conspiracy. Defendants [1] Victor J. Pérez-Fernández, [8] Luis N. Isaac-Sánchez, [23] Andyel González-Sáez, [24] Olvin O’Neill-Concepción-Tapia, and [25] Daniel J. López-Vega are charged with one count of firearm-related murder and are eligible for the death penalty.
If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug trafficking and the firearms charges in Count Seven, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison. The defendants charged with possession of machineguns in furtherance of drug trafficking in Count Eight face a mandatory sentence of thirty years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the drug trafficking charges. All defendants are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $31,347,400 that represent a calculation of the proceeds generated from their illegal drug trafficking activities.
Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort; Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares; and AUSAs Laura Díaz-González, R. Vance Eaton, and Joseph Russell are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
2 Defendants Charged in U.S. Courts as Part of Global Crackdown on ‘Booter’ Services Offering Distributed Denial-of-Service AttacksRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Justice Department today announced the court-authorized seizure of 27 internet domains associated with some of the world’s leading DDoS-for-hire services, as well as criminal charges against two defendants who allegedly oversaw computer attack platforms commonly called “booter” services.
Federal law enforcement is now seizing the websites that allowed paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that flood targeted computers with information and prevent them from being able to access the internet.
Booter services such as those named in this action allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including educational institutions, government agencies, gaming platforms and millions of people. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and can completely disrupt internet connections.
The websites targeted in this operation were used to launch millions of actual or attempted DDoS attacks targeting victims worldwide. While some of these services claimed to offer “stresser” services that could purportedly be used for network testing, the FBI and DCIS determined these claims to be a pretense, and “thousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers…make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers,” according to an affidavit filed in support of court-authorized warrants to seize the booter sites.
“Booter services facilitate cyberattacks that harm victims and compromise everyone’s ability to access the internet,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “This week’s sweeping law enforcement activity is a major step in our ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal conduct that threatens the internet’s infrastructure and our ability to function in a digital world.”
“Cybercrime service providers, such as those criminals operating DDoS for hire booter websites, affect victims in Alaska and across the world,” said United States Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Because of the scope of the threat, we have partnered with law enforcement in the United States and abroad to achieve meaningful disruptions of these services in order to protect critical internet infrastructure and services.”
“Whether you launch a DDoS attack or hire a DDoS service to do it for you, the FBI considers it a crime. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting essential services and our critical infrastructure with DDoS attacks that can cost victims valuable time, money and reputational harm,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “With the FBI’s mix of unique authorities, capabilities, and partnerships, potential users and administrators should think twice before buying or selling these illegal services. Victims of cybercrime are urged to contact their local FBI field office or file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.”
“DDoS attacks are a potent cyber weapon with the proven potential to disrupt critical information systems and infrastructure,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “Today’s action against DDoS-for-hire services demonstrates the resolve of the DCIS and global law enforcement partners to disrupt the use of these services by hacktivist groups and cybercriminals.”
“In this coordinated law enforcement effort, the FBI seized and disabled powerful computer attack platforms that offered DDoS-for-hire services,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This action demonstrates our shared commitment with domestic and international law enforcement partners in combatting cybercrime and defending our digital infrastructure.”
Law enforcement has conducted interviews with U.S. customers of these services, with future interviews expected, and authorities are continuing to investigate both administrators and customers of booter services around the world.
This coordinated law enforcement action comes shortly before the Christmas holiday period, which typically brings a significant increase in DDoS attacks across the internet.
Relatedly, one defendant has been charged federally in Los Angeles and one defendant has been charged federally in Anchorage, Alaska, in connection with DDoS-for-hire services.
Central District of California
Prosecutors in Los Angeles this week unsealed one indictment charging one defendant with running booter services.
Ricardo Cesar Colli, a.k.a. “TotemanGames,” 22, of Brazil, is charged with conspiracy to violate and violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act related to the alleged operation of a booter service named Securityhide.net (formerly known as Securityhide.com).
Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the seizure of the domains.
District of Alaska
Prosecutors in Alaska have indicted one defendant with being the administrator of significant booter services. That indictment remains under seal, as the United States continues to work with international partners to pursue an arrest and extradition.
Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Alexander, Ainsley McNerney, and Seth Brickey are prosecuting the case.
In conjunction with the website seizures, Homeland Security Investigations, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cyber criminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, as well as to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities.
In recent years, booter services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. These types of DDoS attacks are so named because they result in the “booting” or dropping of the targeted computer from the internet. For additional information on booter and stresser services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks.
The cases announced today are being investigated by the FBI’s Anchorage and Los Angeles field offices, Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Cyber East and Cyber West field offices, and HSI’s Columbus field office, with additional support provided by the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.
Invaluable assistance was provided by Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA); the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency; the Netherlands Police; Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau; Brazilian Federal Police, High Tech Crimes Coordination; EUROPOL; and the Brandon Police Service in Manitoba, Canada. Akamai, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Entertainment Software Association, Flashpoint, Google, Oracle, PayPal, Unit 221B, the University of Cambridge, and other valued private sector partners provided additional assistance.
These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services.
In previous law enforcement actions involving prosecutors and investigators in Los Angeles and Anchorage over the last four years, the Justice Department charged nine defendants who facilitated DDoS-for hire services and seized more than 75 internet domains associated with DDoS-for-hire services. The multi-prong investigation announced today builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting all known booter sites, shutting down as many as possible, and undertaking a public education campaign.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
2 Defendants Charged in U.S. Courts as Part of Global Crackdown on ‘Booter’ Services Offering Distributed Denial-of-Service AttacksRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department today announced the court-authorized seizure of 27 internet domains associated with some of the world’s leading DDoS-for-hire services, as well as criminal charges against two defendants who allegedly oversaw computer attack platforms commonly called “booter” services.
Federal law enforcement is now seizing the websites that allowed paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that flood targeted computers with information and prevent them from being able to access the internet.
Booter services such as those named in this action allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including educational institutions, government agencies, gaming platforms and millions of people. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and can completely disrupt internet connections.
The websites targeted in this operation were used to launch millions of actual or attempted DDoS attacks targeting victims worldwide. While some of these services claimed to offer “stresser” services that could purportedly be used for network testing, the FBI and DCIS determined these claims to be a pretense, and “thousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers…make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers,” according to an affidavit filed in support of court-authorized warrants to seize the booter sites.
“Booter services facilitate cyberattacks that harm victims and compromise everyone’s ability to access the internet,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “This week’s sweeping law enforcement activity is a major step in our ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal conduct that threatens the internet’s infrastructure and our ability to function in a digital world.”
“Cybercrime service providers, such as those criminals operating DDoS for hire booter websites, affect victims in Alaska and across the world,” said United States Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Because of the scope of the threat, we have partnered with law enforcement in the United States and abroad to achieve meaningful disruptions of these services in order to protect critical internet infrastructure and services.”
“Whether you launch a DDoS attack or hire a DDoS service to do it for you, the FBI considers it a crime. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting essential services and our critical infrastructure with DDoS attacks that can cost victims valuable time, money and reputational harm,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “With the FBI’s mix of unique authorities, capabilities, and partnerships, potential users and administrators should think twice before buying or selling these illegal services. Victims of cybercrime are urged to contact their local FBI field office or file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.”
“DDoS attacks are a potent cyber weapon with the proven potential to disrupt critical information systems and infrastructure,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “Today’s action against DDoS-for-hire services demonstrates the resolve of the DCIS and global law enforcement partners to disrupt the use of these services by hacktivist groups and cybercriminals.”
“In this coordinated law enforcement effort, the FBI seized and disabled powerful computer attack platforms that offered DDoS-for-hire services,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This action demonstrates our shared commitment with domestic and international law enforcement partners in combatting cybercrime and defending our digital infrastructure.”
Law enforcement has conducted interviews with U.S. customers of these services, with future interviews expected, and authorities are continuing to investigate both administrators and customers of booter services around the world.
This coordinated law enforcement action comes shortly before the Christmas holiday period, which typically brings a significant increase in DDoS attacks across the internet.
Relatedly, one defendant has been charged federally in Los Angeles and one defendant has been charged federally in Anchorage, Alaska, in connection with DDoS-for-hire services.
Central District of California
Prosecutors in Los Angeles this week unsealed one indictment charging one defendant with running booter services.
Ricardo Cesar Colli, a.k.a. “TotemanGames,” 22, of Brazil, is charged with conspiracy to violate and violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act related to the alleged operation of a booter service named Securityhide.net (formerly known as Securityhide.com).
Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the seizure of the domains.
District of Alaska
Prosecutors in Alaska have indicted one defendant with being the administrator of significant booter services. That indictment remains under seal, as the United States continues to work with international partners to pursue an arrest and extradition.
Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Alexander, Ainsley McNerney, and Seth Brickey are prosecuting the case.
In conjunction with the website seizures, Homeland Security Investigations, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cyber criminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, as well as to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities.
In recent years, booter services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. These types of DDoS attacks are so named because they result in the “booting” or dropping of the targeted computer from the internet. For additional information on booter and stresser services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks.
The cases announced today are being investigated by the FBI’s Anchorage and Los Angeles field offices, Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Cyber East and Cyber West field offices, and HSI’s Columbus field office.
Invaluable assistance was provided by Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA); the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency; the Netherlands Police; Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau; Brazilian Federal Police, High Tech Crimes Coordination; EUROPOL; and the Brandon Police Service in Manitoba, Canada. Akamai, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Entertainment Software Association, Flashpoint, Google, Oracle, PayPal, Unit 221B, Amazon Web Services, the University of Cambridge, and other valued private sector partners provided additional assistance.
These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services.
In previous law enforcement actions involving prosecutors and investigators in Los Angeles and Anchorage over the last four years, the Justice Department charged nine defendants who facilitated DDoS-for hire services and seized more than 75 internet domains associated with DDoS-for-hire services. The multi-prong investigation announced today builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting all known booter sites, shutting down as many as possible, and undertaking a public education campaign.
Tuesday 10 December 2024
Woman Picking up Package of Meth as Part of a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy SentencedRead the Press Release
SPARTANBURG, S.C. —Stacey Bentley, 53, of Blacksburg, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after she pleaded guilty to a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Bentley was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy when she was caught attempting to pick up a package of three kilograms of methamphetamine from a U.S. Post Office in April of 2023.
United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Stacey Bentley to 40 months imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. The court also ordered $400,000 in forfeiture against Bentley.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case.
Washington State Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Traveling to Oregon to Sexually Abuse a Minor He Met OnlineRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Washington State man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to federal prison today for traveling to Oregon to sexually abuse a minor he met online.
Seth Lee Fabry, 34, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison and 20 years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in April 2022, Fabry messaged a minor through Discord, a social media platform, after meeting on MeetMe, another social media platform. Undeterred by the minor’s age, Fabry engaged in explicit discussions with the minor and persuaded them to send sexually explicit images. In May 2022, Fabry traveled from Washington to Oregon two times and sexually abused the minor.
On May 29, 2022, Fabry again traveled to the victim’s residence in Oregon but was met by the minor’s mother. She contacted law enforcement and Fabry was arrested.
On October 4, 2022, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Fabry with sexually exploiting a child and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
The FBI CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.