Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Tuesday 10 December 2024
Kearney Man Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Shelby Olson, age 46, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced December 10, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for distributing 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Olson to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Olson is released from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On June 23, 2022, a confidential informant (CI) purchased 57.2 grams of meth from Olson. On June 30, 2022, the CI purchased 57.6 grams of meth from Olson. On July 7, 2022, the CI purchased 60.2 grams of meth from Olson.
All purchases were audio and video recorded with a positive identification of Olson. The first purchase occurred in a commercial motor vehicle, and Olson was recorded smoking meth while he was driving.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tracey Brown, 45, of Chelyan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about December 12, 2023, Brown obtained approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine in the Dayton, Ohio, area and transported the controlled substance to an Elkview, West Virginia, residence where he was living. Brown admitted that he distributed approximately 1 pound of the methamphetamine and intended to distribute the remaining methamphetamine with another person in the Southern District of West Virginia.
On December 13, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Elkview residence and seized the remaining methamphetamine.
Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to live in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine.
“This case is the result of determined investigative work by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Their outstanding efforts prevented a staggering amount of methamphetamine from reaching our streets and poisoning our community.”
The U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force consists of members of the Mingo County Sheriff's Office, the Logan County Sheriff's Office, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, and the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-16.
###
Justice Department and EPA Announce Settlement with Cahokia Heights, Illinois, for Improper Operation of the City’s Sanitary Sewer SystemRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Illinois today announced a settlement with the City of Cahokia Heights, Illinois, resolving violations of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Act resulting from the city’s failure to properly operate its sanitary sewer system. The settlement requires that Cahokia Heights pay a $30,000 civil penalty and implement an estimated $30 million in extensive compliance measures.
The complaint against Cahokia Heights alleges that on more than 300 occasions since November 2019, Cahokia Heights discharged sanitary sewage from an overflow point in its sewer system to nearby waterways in violation of section 301 of the Clean Water Act. The city also discharged untreated sewage from other locations throughout the community, including into ditches, roads, yards and homes. Sanitary sewer overflows can damage property and harm water quality when they enter waterbodies. Discharges of raw sewage, or sanitary sewer overflows, also carry bacteria, viruses and other harmful organisms.
“We are taking action to ensure that the City of Cahokia Heights operates its sewer system in a way that complies with the Clean Water Act, and to protect human health and the environment in the community,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This settlement reflects the United States’ commitment to advancing environment justice.”
“Cahokia Heights failed to maintain its aging sewer system, resulting in hundreds of illegal sanitary sewer overflow discharges that created public health risks and contaminated homes and the environment,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement, which benefited from significant input from the local community, includes an estimated $30 million infrastructure investment that will put Cahokia Heights on a path to significantly reduce overflows and ensure effective operation of the sewer system.”
“Cahokia Heights residents have had to endure these threats to their health and their environment for far too long,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Residents are worried that the change can’t come soon enough. This consent decree is a significant step forward, bringing meaningful improvements to the community.”
“For too long, the neglected and aging sewer system in Cahokia Heights has forced local residents to deal with raw sewage in their basements, in their streets and in local waterways,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “I am proud of my office’s collaboration with the Department of Justice and local and state entities as we work toward a solution to solve this real environmental and public health threat. I will continue to partner with all levels of government to enforce Illinois’ environmental laws and protect our communities.”
“For far too long, residents of Cahokia Heights have been plagued by frequent sanitary sewer overflows as the result of the improperly maintained sewer system,” said Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings. “It is our hope that this settlement and the significant actions it includes provide residents with further assurance that federal and state government entities are committed to addressing these historic infrastructure issues and the proper maintenance of their sewer system. Illinois EPA remains dedicated to ensuring the City of Cahokia Heights continues work to rehabilitate and repair the deteriorated system.”
Under the settlement, the city will conduct more than 80 near-term capital improvement projects, such as constructing an interceptor to reroute wastewater flow, system-wide repairs and various investigations and assessments. The city is also required to keep the community informed about the work, have plans in place for emergencies and update its operations such as creating digital maps and monitoring in real-time known overflow points.
The proposed consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, is subject to a 60-day comment period and final court approval. Information on submitting comment and access to the settlement agreement is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
EPA investigated the case.
Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section and the Illinois Attorney General’s office are handling the case.
Justice Department Sues Tax Preparation Business and Its Owners to Stop Alleged Tax Preparation FraudRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a civil injunction suit today in federal court in Tyler, Texas. The lawsuit seeks to bar Hudrell Lemontez Jones, Brenda Jackson Thomas and D&B Professional Tax Services LLC from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others.
According to the complaint, Jones operated and prepared returns through an unincorporated business, D&B Professional Tax Services, starting in 2020 before forming D&B Professional Tax Services LLC in 2022. Additionally, according to the complaint, Thomas has prepared returns in connection with Jones since 2020 and is an owner of or has otherwise shared in the profits generated by D&B Professional Tax Services LLC.
The complaint alleges that Jones and Thomas prepare and file tax returns that falsely reduce their customers’ taxable income and falsely increase their customers’ refunds, while profiting by charging their customers substantial return preparation fees — at the expense of the Treasury. The complaint alleges that the defendants engage in misconduct, including:
- Fabricating businesses and related business income and expenses,
- Claiming false mortgage interest deductions,
- Claiming fabricated COVID-19-related tax credits, and
- Improperly concealing their status as preparers of certain returns by using the names and ID numbers of other preparers.
The Tax Division reminds taxpayers that the IRS has information, tips and reminders on its site for choosing a tax preparer carefully (Choosing a Tax Professional and How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer) and has launched a free directory of credentialed federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers taxpayers tips to protect their identities and wallets when filing their taxes.
In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $79,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronic federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free. The IRS has tips on how seniors and individuals with low to moderate income can get other help or guidance on tax return preparation, too.
In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained civil injunctions and criminal convictions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Jones Complaint for PI.pdfIllinois Man Sentenced to More Than 23 Years in Prison for Selling Fatal FentanylRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a man who sold the fake Percocet pills that killed a man in St. Louis County in 2022 to 23 years and eight months in prison.
“I’m going to send a message to other drug dealers,” said Judge Schelp, who also ordered Deontae’ Tre’Von Overall to pay $21,736 in restitution to his victim’s family.
Evidence and testimony at Overall’s trial in September showed that the victim contacted Overall’s cell phone on Dec. 3, 2022, seeking the prescription pain pill Percocet. The victim bought three pills that appeared to be Percocet from Overall at Overall’s St. Louis home. The victim died later that evening from fentanyl intoxication caused by ingesting the fake Percocet. He was discovered the following day by his parents and a sister.
To find out who sold the drugs, investigators with the St. Louis County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration contacted Overall’s phone to arrange additional purchases of counterfeit Percocet. Overall sold fentanyl to an undercover task force officer on July 19, 2023, and fentanyl and methamphetamine to the officer on July 26. A court-approved search of Overall’s home in Belleville on August 3, 2023, found drug paraphernalia and dozens of pills resembling those sold to the victim and the undercover officer.
On September 6, the Friday before his trial began, Overall admitted the July 26 sale of drugs to the undercover task force officer and pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly and intentionally distributing one or more controlled substances to another person.
Jurors found Overall, 28, guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
In court Tuesday, Judge Schelp said Overall “glorified” the drug trade, referring to a music video in which he discusses selling drugs while on house arrest and displays his ankle monitor.
“The victim of this man’s illegal business was poisoned by a pill. No one could have known was in it,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey, head of Drug Enforcement Administration operations in Eastern Missouri. "DEA works tirelessly to warn people of the danger of taking pills not prescribed by a doctor or a pharmacy, and we are being heard. Drug-induced deaths are down 14.5% nationwide as of June 2024, and pills tested by DEA labs with a lethal dose of fentanyl have decreased to five out of 10. DEA and our partners will keep working to make those numbers better.”
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Epplin and Jerome McDonald prosecuted the case.
Interpol Washington’s Keith Hood Honored as 2024 Global Mvp by Homeland Security TodayRead the Press Release
INTERPOL Washington proudly announces that Keith Hood, Deputy Assistant Director of the Border Security Division, has been awarded the prestigious Global Most Valuable Player Award by Homeland Security Today at the 2024 Homeland Security Holiday Hero Awards Gala on December 5. This award recognizes Hood’s extraordinary leadership in strengthening international border security through innovative strategies, including his work advancing Project TERMINUS.
"This recognition is a testament to the incredible team I have the privilege of leading,” said Hood. “Their unwavering commitment and innovative spirit have made it possible to deliver tangible, impactful solutions to some of the world’s most pressing security challenges. I share this honor with each of them.”
Project TERMINUS, spearheaded by Hood, identifies and closes information-sharing gaps that hinder global law enforcement efforts to detect and deter the illicit travel of foreign terrorist fighters and transnational criminals. It has also fortified partnerships with nations worldwide, integrated INTERPOL’s critical data into select countries’ law enforcement systems and fostered global collaboration for safer borders.
“Keith’s work has bolstered the abilities of key partner countries to stop threats at their borders - and before they reach ours,” said INTERPOL Washington Acting Director Jeffrey A. Grimming. "His leadership exemplifies the highest standards of excellence in public service. His vision and tireless efforts have not only strengthened international partnerships but also made the world a safer place.”
Hood’s accomplishments under Project TERMINUS include guiding Nigeria to become the first African nation to automate reporting stolen and lost travel documents to INTERPOL’s global database, overseeing transformative system implementations in Kyrgyzstan and Indonesia, and significantly increasing database records in Panama. These efforts have enhanced the security capabilities of partner nations and set new benchmarks for international law enforcement collaboration.
Great Falls man admits trafficking fentanyl pills in communityRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man today admitted to distributing fentanyl and other drugs in the community while he was on state probation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Michael Shawn O’Neill, 59, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. O’Neill faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 10, 2025. O’Neill detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Sept. 4, 2023, O’Neill, a convicted felon on state supervision, possessed thousands of fentanyl pills for redistribution, as well as four firearms, methamphetamine and heroin. O’Neill was arrested on Sept. 4, 2023 on a warrant for traveling outside of the district without permission. An investigation led to searches of his vehicle and residence. Law enforcement found 6,500 fentanyl pills, meth, U.S. currency, four firearms and 1,300 rounds of ammunition in his vehicle and additional fentanyl pills and U.S. currency in his residence. Later, officers located heroin and U.S. currency in a backpack retrieved from O’Neill’s vehicle. O’Neill told law enforcement he drove to Spokane to get his supply and believed he was one step away from the Cartel through a third party. He also said he had just spent $12,000 in Spokane on the drugs found in his backpack.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force, Montana Probation and Parole and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 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.
XXX
Former United Medical Center Employee Sentenced for Criminal Abuse of a Vulnerable AdultRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Eleanor Flowers, 76, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in Superior Court for one count of criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult and attempted threats, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
Superior Court Judge Deborah J. Israel sentenced Flowers to 24 months of probation. As part of the sentencing, Flowers must also stay away from the victim and is prohibited from working, volunteering, or participating in any activity involving the elderly, vulnerable, cognitively disabled, or children, to include activities in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors’ offices, urgent care, and daycare.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Flowers was employed as a Patient Sitter at United Medical Center, a hospital in Southeast Washington. On January 4, 2021, while attempting to change the soiled clothing of a 68-year-old patient under her care, Flowers struck the patient repeatedly with the hospital bed’s remote controller. The victim, who had previously suffered a stroke, was paralyzed on one side of his body, unable to speak, and classified as a “vulnerable adult” under D.C. Code § 22-932.
The assault was captured on cellphone video by another Patient Sitter in the room, who witnessed the abuse. The video showed Flowers’ repeated strikes, causing visible distress to the victim. Flowers was terminated from her position following the incident, which was reported to hospital authorities and subsequently investigated by the D.C. Office of Inspector General.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Initiative partners with the D.C. Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), which is statutorily responsible for investigating and prosecuting District Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse or neglect of residents in health care facilities and board and care facilities and of District Medicaid beneficiaries in noninstitutional or other settings.
In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves and Inspector General Lucas commended the efforts of those who investigated and prosecuted the case, including the D.C. OIG Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They also acknowledged the contributions of Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Facci, detailed from the D.C. OIG, who prosecuted the case.
Studies show that for every incident of abuse reported to authorities, nearly 24 additional cases remain undetected. (See https://ncea.acl.gov/prevalenceofeldermistreatment#gsc.tab=0).
If you have information about individuals committing these types of offenses, please call the D.C. Office of the Inspector General at 202-724-TIPS [202-724-8477].
Former Postal Worker Admits Stealing Gifts Cards from the MailRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A former U.S. Postal Service letter carrier on Tuesday admitted stealing gift cards from the mail.
Joseph S. Wilkins, 56, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of embezzlement of mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee. Wilkins admitted stealing approximately 10 to 12 gift cards from customers’ mail between December 2023 and April 2024. Wilkins made personal purchases with the cards, which had a total value of approximately $500.
The investigation began after someone in California mailed a Christmas card containing two Amazon gift cards to a home in Cape Girardeau. The card never arrived. An investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General revealed that Wilkins, a city carrier at the Cape Carrier Annex in Cape Girardeau, had used the gift cards.
In a later interview, Wilkins told investigators that he manipulated customer mail to identify any gift cards inside.
Wilkins is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2025. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton is prosecuting the case.
Former Naval Weapons Instructor Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing Silencers and A Short-Barrel RifleRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Rocco Joseph Frakes (50, Middleburg) has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing unregistered silencers and an unregistered short-barrel rifle. Frakes faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on July 25, 2024, federal agents executed a search warrant at Frakes’s home and located a .22 caliber rifle with a threaded barrel, three silencers, a rifle with a 7 ½ inch long barrel, and a .45 caliber machinegun in Frakes’s bedroom. Contrary to federal law, none of these devices were registered to Frakes in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record—a database maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Frakes is retired from the United States Navy, where his primary duty was as a weapons instructor for Atlantic Fleet squadrons.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.
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.
Former Houston park ranger charged with sexual assault and extortion of multiple victimsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 34-year-old Houston resident has been federally indicted for repeatedly abusing his authority as a City of Houston urban park ranger by stopping, detaining and assaulting victims who visited city parks late at night, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Dec. 3 charging Joey Lamar Ellis with 20 counts representing accusations of civil rights violations perpetrated against eight victims.
He is expected to make his initial appearance at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison.
According to the charges, Ellis positioned his city-issued vehicle behind the victims’ vehicles to prevent them from leaving. In many instances, he allegedly confiscated their driver’s licenses and/or cell phones. Ellis falsely accused his victims of committing various crimes and threatened their cars would be towed or they would be arrested, according to the charges.
As the encounter progressed, Ellis allegedly offered the victims a way out of being towed, charged and arrested. On some occasions, Ellis allegedly demanded money. On others, he assaulted his victims and at times demanded sexual acts, such as groping one victim, forcing another to strip naked and sexually assaulting another, according to the charges. During multiple instances, Ellis allegedly utilized his firearm in such a way to threaten his victims. He also instructed at least one victim to not tell anyone, according to the charges.
“The indictment accuses Ellis of leveraging his authority to intimidate victims, demanding money or, in more disturbing instances, forcing them into unwanted sexual acts,” said Hamdani. “This alleged breach of public trust underscores the horror of those using their power for alleged unlawful gains, leaving communities questioning the integrity of their protectors.”
If you believe you have been a victim or know someone who has, please fill out a quick this quick Seeking Victims online FBI form or contact the FBI Houston Field Office at 713-693-5000.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharad Khandelwal and Rebekah Saunders are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former Coast Guard Servicemember Sentenced to More Than 11 Years for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A former Coast Guard member was sentenced to 133 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for receiving child pornography after an investigation found that he had solicited child pornography from multiple women. Stephen Lamond Lollis, 36, pled guilty to the charge on August 19, 2024.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Lollis was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Coast Guard after a former romantic partner reported him to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In her tip, the woman reported that Lollis had shown her the child pornography he possessed and had made graphic comments about his desire to sexually abuse her and her son.
As a result of this tip, HSI agents executed a search warrant on Lollis’ residence, which resulted in four devices being seized that contained contraband. On those devices, law enforcement found images and videos of child pornography. Additionally, law enforcement found conversations on his devices in which Lollis encouraged women to sexually abuse their own children and then to send him videos and images of the abuse. Lollis had engaged in this coercive behavior to solicit child pornography from multiple women, including the woman who ultimately reported him to law enforcement.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded. U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan presided over the sentencing. The Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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. 7:24-CR-21-FL-RN.
Firearms dealer pleads guilty; surrenders federal licenseRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to selling a firearm to a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Ricardo Estevis Jr. was the operating officer of Rick’s Armory LLC in Laredo and admitted to illegally manufacturing firearms without a license.
On Feb. 15, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at his home and business. It resulted in the discovery of at least 13 firearms that Estevis made in violation of several federal laws and was incompatible with his dealer-only federal firearms license.
Estevis admitted making the firearms - some of which were illegal to make or possess without a special license - and had them for sale at his home business.
After his arrest, Estevis surrendered his federal firearms license on behalf of the business and personally agreed to stop acquiring firearms inventory and transferring firearms to the public as of April 24.
“Estevis abused the privilege of a federal firearm license by intentionally selling a pistol to a five-time convicted felon and by making illegal firearms and lying about it,” said Hamdani. “He pursued financial profits over the safety of our citizens. The protection of our communities from criminals with guns is one of my primary responsibilities, something I take very seriously.”
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Estevis faces up to 15 years for selling the pistol. The conviction also carrys up to $250,000 maximum possible fine.
Estevis was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case which is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Robert Lee Moran, 46, of Mount Hope, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 29, 2024, Moran distributed approximately 1 gram of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Beckley.
Moran is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 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 Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-141.
###
Drug Trafficker and Money Launderer Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yvette Porras-Ochoa, 42, of Wittmann, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 180 months in prison. Porras-Ochoa pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Cocaine, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Prescription Controlled Substances Oxycodone and Promethazine-Codeine, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering on August 22, 2024.
Porras-Ochoa was the head of an Arizona-based drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of cocaine and prescription drugs. To fraudulently obtain the prescription drugs, Porras-Ochoa used an Arizona-licensed medical practitioner’s authorization to prescribe controlled substances and recruited others to pick up prescription drugs from Arizona-based pharmacies. After receiving the prescription drugs, she sold them, as well as cocaine, to out-of-state customers. Porras-Ochoa arranged payment for the drugs in a variety of sophisticated ways so as to avoid detection and subsequently laundered some of the drug proceeds through real estate transactions.
During a year-and-a-half long investigation, investigators were able to seize several large loads of drugs connected with Porras-Ochoa and confirm her involvement in the distribution of 884.2 grams of oxycodone, 33,330 units of promethazine-codeine, 4,690 units of alprazolam, 27,200 units of tramadol, 63,900 units of midazolam, and 2.96 kilograms of cocaine.
This investigation was 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.
In other words, OCDETF is a holistic approach to prosecuting organized crime. Deterrent criminal justice sentences are only a part of the District’s strategy to dismantle criminal entities. Sometimes, as here, it includes coordination with state and local partners. On other occasions it involves the use of sensitive investigative techniques like court-authorized interceptions of communications, or responsible use of civil and criminal asset forfeiture to disgorge illicit gains, or extradition of leadership from foreign nations, or collaboration with federal regulatory entities like the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Unites States Postal Service, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation in this case.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-1265-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-172_Porras-Ochoa# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Des Moines Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines woman was sentenced on November 15, 2024 to 12 years in federal prison for distribution of a pill containing fentanyl that resulted in a victim’s death.
According to public court documents, Nevaeh Simone Botts, 21, sold pills containing fentanyl to a 16-year-old victim who subsequently overdosed and died. Botts also sold fentanyl pills to an undercover police officer three times. In July 2023, during the execution of a search warrant at Botts’s apartment, law enforcement found hundreds of fentanyl pills and two firearms.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Botts will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Botts was also ordered to pay $5,574.09 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Fentanyl deaths for youth ages 15 to 24 more than doubled between 2018 and 2022. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to 144 Months in Federal Prison for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on November 8, 2024 to 12 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl.
According to public court documents, Luca Joseph Roberts, 25, provided pills containing fentanyl to a victim on October 20, 2022. The victim used the pills, overdosed, and died. Law enforcement identified Roberts as the source of supply for those pills and purchased from Roberts additional pills containing fentanyl.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Roberts will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Roberts was also ordered to pay $5,796.00 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Fentanyl deaths for youth ages 15 to 24 more than doubled between 2018 and 2022. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
Cut Bank man admits assaulting teen on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Cut Bank man today admitted to assaulting a teenage girl and breaking her jaw in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Elijah John Bullcalf, 21, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Bullcalf faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 10, 2025. Bullcalf was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on May 25, 2023, Bullcalf assaulted the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was 17 years old, at a residence in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The two got into an argument, and Bullcalf struck Doe in the face, breaking her jaw. Doe was treated the next day for the injury. About a month after the assault, Bullcalf struck Doe again in the same part of the jaw, causing pain and bleeding. In early 2024, Doe and her mother reported the assault to law enforcement, and Bullcalf admitted to the assault.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
XXX
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Trying to Illegally Buy A PistolRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Jason Harris (43, Palm Coast) to two years and four months in federal prison for making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm. Harris entered a guilty plea on April 10, 2024.
According to court documents and records, on May 22, 2023, Harris attempted to purchase a .22 caliber pistol from a gun store in Bunnell. At the time, Harris had multiple prior felony convictions, including robbery, felony battery and sale of cocaine. During the attempted purchase, Harris made a false statement on an ATF Form 4473, indicating that he was not a convicted felon. Because of his prior convictions, Harris is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This is another case identified through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.
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.
Colorado Springs Nurse Practitioner Agrees to Pay $90K to Resolve Allegations of Improper Prescribing of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
DENVER—The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Monica Preston, N.P., has agreed to pay $90,000 to resolve allegations that she unlawfully prescribed controlled substances, including dangerous opioids and drug combinations, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act.
The United States alleges that Ms. Preston, while working as a Nurse Practitioner at the now-defunct Colorado Institute for Pain Management in Colorado Springs, wrote prescriptions for controlled substances that were in dosages, at frequencies, and in combinations with other controlled substances that were outside the course of her professional practice, were not reasonable and necessary, and were not for a legitimate medical purpose. The United States alleges that Ms. Preston’s conduct departed from well-established prescribing guidelines and that she also fraudulently represented to the Center for Medicare Services that improper prescriptions were reasonable and necessary. The United States alleges that this conduct violated the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act.
As part of the settlement, Ms. Preston agreed to pay $90,000 in damages and civil penalties. Ms. Preston also agreed to permanently forgo holding a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration, which will prevent her from prescribing any controlled substances in the future.
“Nurse practitioners entrusted with prescribing authority must be careful not to ignore red flags that suggest that the opioids they prescribe are being misused or abused,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch. “When nurse practitioners do not adhere to well-established prescribing guidelines or falsely represent that improper prescriptions were reasonable and necessary, we will hold them accountable.”
“The DEA is proud to relentlessly pursue practitioners not acting in their patients’ best interests,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “Our investigators – along with other federal partners – worked diligently on this case, and as a result, Ms. Preston will never again be allowed to legally prescribe opioids or other controlled substances.”
“Medical providers who write prescriptions for controlled substances, including powerful opioids and dangerous drug combinations, that are outside the course of professional practice endanger the safety and wellbeing of patients and communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “This settlement highlights HHS-OIG’s commitment to work closely with our state and federal partners to protect federal health care programs and the people served by those programs.”
The claims against Ms. Preston are allegations, and in agreeing to settle this matter, she did not admit to any liability.
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General and was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Ross.
Collin County man convicted in oil and gas fraud scheme in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Murphy man has been convicted of federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Sameer Praveen Sethi, 42, was convicted of seven counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering by a jury following a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 10, 2024.
According to information presented in court, over several years, Sethi engaged in fraud scheme targeting investors of oil and gas joint ventures. Evidence presented at trial showed that Sethi would create a joint venture, prepare investment documents along with his staff, have his sales staff market the investments, and then the money raised from investors would be spent almost entirely on personal and business expenses. Evidence showed the investment documents contained significant misrepresentations and false statements. Although over $4 million was raised over the course of the joint ventures, investors received almost no returns.
"The United States Attorney's Office will continue to lead investigations into oil and gas investment schemes and other types of white collar crime that cause real harm to victims in Texas and around the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “The investors in this case were misled into providing their hard-earned money to a scheme that collapsed as the defendant was living well off of the money brought in by his joint ventures.”
Sethi faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Texas State Securities Board, and the FBI.
###
Clinton County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Receive and Distribute Child Pornography and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard Hockersmith, age 65, of Plattsburgh, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to receive and distribute child pornography and possession of child pornography announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
As part of his guilty plea, Hockersmith admitted that in August of 2022, he began conspiring with his co-defendant, Jack Kelly, about exchanging child pornography. Hockersmith further admitted that he and his co-defendant decided to exchange their child pornography by mailing an SD card containing the child pornography back and forth, which each of them did. Hockersmith also admitted that during a search of his residence on September 12, 2024, he still possessed the SD card he and his co-defendant used to receive and distribute child pornography via the U.S. mail, which still contained images and videos of child pornography.
At sentencing, which is currently scheduled for April 9, 2025, in Albany, New York before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, Hockersmith faces a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years and up to 20 years, a supervised release term of between 5 years and life, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Hockersmith will also be required to pay restitution to the victims of his offenses and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The case is being investigated by HSI with assistance from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Clewiston Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Felix Alberto Quinones (26, Clewiston) to six years in federal prison for distributing cocaine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense. Quinones pleaded guilty on August 28, 2024.
According to court documents Quinones pleaded guilty to selling cocaine and a firearm to an undercover ATF agent on October 3, 2023. Quinones also pleaded guilty to selling cocaine to an undercover ATF agent on October 11, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Chinese nationals indicted for conspiracy to grow marijuana in two south Georgia locationsRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: Eight Chinese nationals have been indicted on felony charges after investigators discovered massive indoor marijuana growing operations in rural south Georgia.
All eight defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Conviction on those charges carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to life, along with fines of up to $10 million and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This investigation alleges the discovery of a massive clandestine operation illegally growing marijuana on two locations hidden in plain sight,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Our exceptional law enforcement partners identified these illicit operations and are working to hold these defendants accountable.”
As described in court documents and in initial court hearings, the investigation identified two large-scale indoor marijuana growing facilities on two tracts of land in Pierce and Brantley Counties.
The defendants indicted in USA v. Huang et al. all are Chinese nationals, including:
- Hiawen Huang, 54;
- Yim Hung Yuen,61;
- Chen Hui Shu, 35;
- Jen Peng Ma, 34;
- Zhu Sheng Bing, 64;
- Wei Sheng Deng, 42;
- Lecai Huang, 67; and,
- Zhi Yong Ma, 52.
In addition to the conspiracy and drug possession charges, Shu, Ma, Bing, and Deng also are charged with Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Similarly, Lecai Huang and Ma are charged with a separate count of Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
Hiawen Huang and Yim Hung Yuen are believed to have left the United States. The remaining defendants have made their initial appearance hearings in U.S. Magistrate Court and await further court proceedings.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was initiated by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and also investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and Darron J. Hubbard.
Chinese National and U.S. Legal Permanent Resident Charged for Illegal Scheme to Export Controlled Data and Defraud the Department of DefenseRead the Press Release
A four-count indictment was unsealed today charging Hang Sun, also known as Cody Sun, with conspiracy, wire fraud, smuggling, and a violation of the Arms Export Control Act for his role in an illegal scheme to send export-controlled defense-related technical data to China and to unlawfully supply the Department of Defense (DOD) with Chinese-origin rare earth magnets for aviation systems and military items.
The indictment alleges that between January 2012 and December 2018, the defendant conspired to send approximately 70 drawings containing export-controlled technical data to a company located in China without a license from the U.S. government, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The technical data drawings were the property of two U.S. companies and related to end-use items for aviation, submarine, radar, tank, mortars, missiles, infrared and thermal imaging targeting systems, and fire control systems for DOD.
The indictment further alleges that Quadrant Magnetics imported rare earth magnets that were smelted and magnetized by a company in China. Quadrant then sold these magnets to two U.S. companies which included them in components sold to DOD for use in the F-16, the F-18, and other defense assets in violation of the Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DFARS). Under the DFARS specialty metal clause, rare earth magnets sold to DOD must be produced in the United States or an approved country. China is not an approved country. Quadrant Magnetics and three of its employees were separately charged in a superseding indictment filed in the Western District of Kentucky on Dec. 5, 2023.
If convicted, Sun faces statutory maximum penalties of up to five years in prison for conspiracy; 20 years in prison for wire fraud; 20 years in prison for exporting technical data without a license; and 10 years in prison for smuggling goods from the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Director Kelly P. Mayo of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cincinnati Field Office, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud made the announcement .
The DCIS, FBI, HSI, IRS-CI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Christopher Tieke for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorneys Alexander Wharton and Leslie Esbrook with the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control 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.
XXX
China-Based Hacker Charged for Conspiring to Develop and Deploy Malware That Exploited Tens of Thousands of Firewalls WorldwideRead the Press Release
A federal court in Hammond, Indiana, unsealed an indictment today charging Guan Tianfeng, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for his involvement in a conspiracy to hack indiscriminately into firewall devices worldwide in 2020. Guan and his co-conspirators worked at the offices of Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Ltd. to discover and exploit a previously-unknown vulnerability (an “0-day” vulnerability) in certain firewalls sold by U.K.-based Sophos Ltd. (Sophos) – an information technology company that develops and markets cybersecurity products. The malware that exploited the vulnerability discovered by Guan was designed to steal information from infected computers and to encrypt files on them if a victim attempted to remediate the infection. In total, Guan and his co-conspirators infected approximately 81,000 firewall devices worldwide, including a firewall device used by an agency of the United States.
“The defendant and his co-conspirators exploited a vulnerability in tens of thousands of network security devices, infecting them with malware designed to steal information from victims around the world,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today’s indictment reflects the Justice Department’s commitment to working with partners across government and across the globe to detect and hold accountable malicious cyber actors based in China or elsewhere who pose a threat to global cybersecurity.”
“The defendant and his conspirators compromised tens of thousands of firewalls and then continued to hold at risk these devices, which protect computers in the United States and around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The Department of Justice will hold accountable those who contribute to the dangerous ecosystem of China-based enabling companies that carry out indiscriminate hacks on behalf of their sponsors and undermine global cybersecurity.”
“Our law enforcement actions, technical expertise, and enduring partnerships with private companies, like Sophos, demonstrate the reputation of the FBI as being a reliable and effective partner for stopping this malicious activity,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Complementary actions prevented further victimization of U.S. businesses and individuals while contributing to the safety of U.S. citizens as they use the internet.”
“Today’s indictment underscores our commitment to protecting the public from malicious actors who use security research as a cover to identify vulnerabilities in widely used systems and exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators placed thousands of computer networks, including a network in the Northern District of Indiana, at risk by conducting this attack.”
“The zero-day vulnerability Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators found and exploited affected firewalls owned by businesses across the United States, including in Indiana,” said Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “If Sophos had not rapidly identified the vulnerability and deployed a comprehensive response, the damage could have been far more severe. Sophos’s efforts combined with the dedication and expertise of our cyber squad formed a powerful partnership resulting in the mitigation of this threat.”
The Conspiracy to Exploit Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) 2020-12271
As alleged in the indictment, in 2020, Guan and his co-conspirators developed, tested, and deployed malware that targeted approximately 81,000 Sophos firewalls using a 0-day vulnerability that existed on those devices. The 81,000 Sophos firewalls were located throughout the world, including within victim organizations located in the Northern District of Indiana. The vulnerability was later designated CVE 2020-12271.
Guan and his co-conspirators designed the malware to steal information from firewalls. To better hide their activity, Guan and his co-conspirators registered and used domains designed to look like they were controlled by Sophos, such as sophosfirewallupdate.com. Sophos discovered the intrusion and remediated its customers’ firewalls in approximately two days, which caused the co-conspirators to modify their malware. As modified, the malware was designed to deploy encryption software from a ransomware variant in the event the victims attempted to remove the malware. Their encryption efforts did not succeed, but demonstrated the conspirators’ disregard for the harm that they would cause to victims.
Guan Tianfeng’s Employment and Sichuan Silence’s Relationship with the PRC Government
According to court documents, Guan worked for Sichuan Silence, a PRC-based private company that has provided services to the PRC Ministry of Public Security, among other PRC organizations. According to Sichuan Silence’s website, it developed a product line which could be used to scan and detect overseas network targets in order to obtain valuable intelligence information.
In October, Sophos released a number of articles chronicling its separate long-running investigation, "Pacific Rim.” Sophos detailed PRC-based advanced persistent threat groups targeting its networking appliances for over five years, which it described as “unusually knowledgeable about the internal architecture of the device firmware.” One of the attacks described in the Pacific Rim report involved CVE-2020-12271.
Soon after the Sophos announcements in October, the FBI issued a call for information regarding computer intrusions into Sophos edge devices. The FBI continues to solicit information on PRC-sponsored malicious actors targeting edge devices and network security appliances.
The U.S. Department of State also announced rewards today of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Guan or any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also announced sanctions on Sichuan Silence and Guan today.
Trial Attorneys Jacques Singer-Emery and George Brown of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Lupa for the Northern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.
The FBI continues to investigate Sichuan Silence’s hacking activities and intrusions into various edge devices.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
China-Based Hacker Charged for Conspiring to Develop and Deploy Malware That Exploited Tens of Thousands of Firewalls WorldwideRead the Press Release
Note: View the indictment here and FBI Wanted Poster here.
A federal court in Hammond, Indiana, unsealed an indictment today charging Guan Tianfeng, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for his involvement in a conspiracy to hack indiscriminately into firewall devices worldwide in 2020. Guan and his co-conspirators worked at the offices of Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Ltd. to discover and exploit a previously-unknown vulnerability (an “0-day” vulnerability) in certain firewalls sold by U.K.-based Sophos Ltd. (Sophos) – an information technology company that develops and markets cybersecurity products. The malware that exploited the vulnerability discovered by Guan was designed to steal information from infected computers and to encrypt files on them if a victim attempted to remediate the infection. In total, Guan and his co-conspirators infected approximately 81,000 firewall devices worldwide, including a firewall device used by an agency of the United States.
“The defendant and his co-conspirators exploited a vulnerability in tens of thousands of network security devices, infecting them with malware designed to steal information from victims around the world,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today’s indictment reflects the Justice Department’s commitment to working with partners across government and across the globe to detect and hold accountable malicious cyber actors based in China or elsewhere who pose a threat to global cybersecurity.”
“The defendant and his conspirators compromised tens of thousands of firewalls and then continued to hold at risk these devices, which protect computers in the United States and around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The Department of Justice will hold accountable those who contribute to the dangerous ecosystem of China-based enabling companies that carry out indiscriminate hacks on behalf of their sponsors and undermine global cybersecurity.”
“Our law enforcement actions, technical expertise, and enduring partnerships with private companies, like Sophos, demonstrate the reputation of the FBI as being a reliable and effective partner for stopping this malicious activity,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Complementary actions prevented further victimization of U.S. businesses and individuals while contributing to the safety of U.S. citizens as they use the internet.”
“Today’s indictment underscores our commitment to protecting the public from malicious actors who use security research as a cover to identify vulnerabilities in widely used systems and exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators placed thousands of computer networks, including a network in the Northern District of Indiana, at risk by conducting this attack.”
“The zero-day vulnerability Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators found and exploited affected firewalls owned by businesses across the United States, including in Indiana,” said Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “If Sophos had not rapidly identified the vulnerability and deployed a comprehensive response, the damage could have been far more severe. Sophos’s efforts combined with the dedication and expertise of our cyber squad formed a powerful partnership resulting in the mitigation of this threat.”
The Conspiracy to Exploit Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) 2020-12271
As alleged in the indictment, in 2020, Guan and his co-conspirators developed, tested, and deployed malware that targeted approximately 81,000 Sophos firewalls using a 0-day vulnerability that existed on those devices. The 81,000 Sophos firewalls were located throughout the world, including within victim organizations located in the Northern District of Indiana. The vulnerability was later designated CVE 2020-12271.
Guan and his co-conspirators designed the malware to steal information from firewalls. To better hide their activity, Guan and his co-conspirators registered and used domains designed to look like they were controlled by Sophos, such as sophosfirewallupdate.com. Sophos discovered the intrusion and remediated its customers’ firewalls in approximately two days, which caused the co-conspirators to modify their malware. As modified, the malware was designed to deploy encryption software from a ransomware variant in the event the victims attempted to remove the malware. Their encryption efforts did not succeed, but demonstrated the conspirators’ disregard for the harm that they would cause to victims.
Guan Tianfeng’s Employment and Sichuan Silence’s Relationship with the PRC Government
According to court documents, Guan worked for Sichuan Silence, a PRC-based private company that has provided services to the PRC Ministry of Public Security, among other PRC organizations. According to Sichuan Silence’s website, it developed a product line which could be used to scan and detect overseas network targets in order to obtain valuable intelligence information.
In October, Sophos released a number of articles chronicling its separate long-running investigation, “Pacific Rim.” Sophos detailed PRC-based advanced persistent threat groups targeting its networking appliances for over five years, which it described as “unusually knowledgeable about the internal architecture of the device firmware.” One of the attacks described in the Pacific Rim report involved CVE-2020-12271.
Soon after the Sophos announcements in October, the FBI issued a call for information regarding computer intrusions into Sophos edge devices. The FBI continues to solicit information on PRC-sponsored malicious actors targeting edge devices and network security appliances.
The U.S. Department of State also announced rewards today of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Guan or any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also announced sanctions on Sichuan Silence and Guan today.
Trial Attorneys Jacques Singer-Emery and George Brown of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Lupa for the Northern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.
The FBI continues to investigate Sichuan Silence’s hacking activities and intrusions into various edge devices.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Matthew L. Farmer, 33, of Charleston, was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 8, 2023, law enforcement officers had reason to believe Farmer was carrying a firearm and encountered him while patrolling Charleston’s West Side. Officers asked Farmer if he had a firearm, and Farmer told them he had a firearm in his back pocket. Officers retrieved a Firearms Import Export (FIE) model Titan .25-caliber handgun from Farmer’s back pocket. The firearm had a magazine inserted that contained seven rounds of ammunition.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Farmer knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery in Monongalia County Circuit Court on October 7, 2015, and grand larceny in Wetzel County Circuit Court on January 26, 2011.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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. 2:23-cr-202.
###
Broward Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Jean Volvick Moise was sentenced today in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to 36 months in prison for orchestrating a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing false income tax returns.
According to court record, to include the factual proffer in support of the defendant’s guilty plea, Moise, 39, of Fort Lauderdale, prepared false tax returns on behalf of his clients, causing his clients to get larger refunds than the refunds to which they were entitled. Moise accomplished this goal by preparing tax returns which included, among other false statements, false dependents, false Form 1099 withholdings, false educational credits, and false Schedules C business expenses, often for businesses which did not exist. Moise’s fee for his service was larger than the typical fee charged by a tax preparer. All told, Moise filed hundreds of false returns which caused the IRS to issue over $574,000 in fraudulent refunds to which the individuals were not entitled.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Hipkins of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The IRS CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertha R. Mitrani prosecuted this case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60057.
###
Biddeford Man Faces up to 20 Years After Being Found with Cocaine While on State Probation for Unlawfully Possessing CocaineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Biddeford man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.
According to court records, in September 2024, a Biddeford police officer encountered Gage Barton, 26, walking in the early morning hours. Barton was on probation for unlawful possession of cocaine, and was also on bail conditions in the State of Maine District Court in York County. The officer searched Barton under his bail conditions. Barton was wearing a sling bag under his coat, and when the officer felt the bag he discerned something hard that he believed to be a weapon. When the officer looked inside the bag, he discovered a small digital scale and several clear plastic bags containing cocaine.
Barton faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine up to $1 million to be followed by three years to life of supervised release.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case with assistance from the Biddeford Police Department.
###
Bessemer Man Convicted in Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Bessemer man has been convicted at trial in an elder fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
The jury returned a guilty verdict against Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, after two days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco. Pruitt was convicted of two counts of wire fraud.
According to evidence presented at trial, in September 2023, Pruitt executed a Power of Attorney over an elderly family member with dementia, without the victim’s knowledge or permission. Between September 2023 and December 2023, Pruitt devised a scheme to defraud the victim by becoming a joint account holder on the victim’s bank accounts, changing the address on the victim’s bank accounts from the victim’s address to his address, removing two payable on death (POD) beneficiaries from one of the accounts, and adding two POD beneficiaries to another account. Pruitt then transferred $550,000 in funds from the victim’s accounts to his personal bank accounts. Pruitt used some of these funds for his own personal benefit, and he moved $500,000 to a new bank account that did not include the victim as an account holder. When confronted, Pruitt told various, inconsistent stories attempting to excuse his conduct.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan S. Rummage and Brett Janich are prosecuting the case.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and attempted fraud is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov. Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324.
Ashland Man Sentenced for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – An Ashland man, Dennis Hall, 49, was sentenced on Monday, to 130 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of 50 gram or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to his plea agreement, on March 4, 2024, law enforcement observed a vehicle speeding and executed a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and the passenger, Hall, also had a warrant for his arrest. A search of the vehicle revealed a bag of 71.5 grams of methamphetamine located between Hall’s legs. Additionally, officers located a loaded firearm between the passenger seat and center console. Hall admitted that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Hall had previously been convicted of burglary second degree in Greenup Circuit Court in 2012.
Under federal law, Hall must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief William Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Ashland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
– END –
Ashland Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – An Ashland man, Walter Sherman Thomas, 43, was sentenced on Monday, to 240 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, a cyber tip led law enforcement to a Reddit account that was reported for uploading child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement searched the Reddit account and found several sexually explicit images of minors. Additionally, a Reddit chat, that detailed the user’s employment, lead law enforcement to identify Thomas as the owner of the account. Law enforcement interviewed Thomas and searched his phones, which contained 205 sexually explicit images and 87 sexually explicit videos of minors.
Under federal law, Thomas must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief William Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Ashland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
– END –
Arizona Man Sentenced for Attempted Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Robert Frenchie McGriff, 44, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 10 years in prison for attempted transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from March through June 2019, McGriff began communicating with an individual he believed to be a minor female on Instagram. McGriff told the individual that he was a pimp and actively recruited her to work for him in Arizona as a prostitute. In June 2019, McGriff traveled by bus from Phoenix, Arizona to Turlock, California with the intent of retrieving the minor female in Turlock and transporting her to work for him as a prostitute. McGriff was thereafter arrested by law enforcement.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Prosecutions Unit and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorneys Whitnee Goins and Shea Kenny prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education
38 Charged in Alleged Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greensboro, NC – A federal indictment charging 38 defendants with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine hydrochloride was unsealed today, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.
The indictment charges the following individuals with narcotics distribution conspiracy:
[1] NICHOLAS TYLER CURRY, age 30, of Mount Gilead, NC, also known as “Hundough” and “Hondo”;
[2] EMMANUEL MARTIMIANO LEON-SOTO, age 44, of Naco, Mexico, also known as “Manny,” “Jose Manuel Lopez-Castro,” “Jesus Lopez Castro,” “Pedro Beltran Zazueta,” “Pedro Zazueta Beltran,” “Emmanuel Gomez,” “Emanuel Leon,” “Emanuel Leon-Soto,” “Manuel Leon Soto,” “Jose Manuel Lopez Castro,” and “Emanuel Pena Gomez”;
[3] JIMMY MENDOZA ARENAS, age 36, of Phoenix, AZ, also known as “Gordo,” “Jay Jay,” and “JJ”;
[4] CRANDALL ORTAIS INGRAM, age 32, of High Point, NC, also known as “Turk”;
[5] KELLY EMANUEL HARRINGTON, JR., age 31, of Candor, NC;
[6] ERICK LEMAR POLLARD, age 42, of Candor, NC, also known as “Black” and “E”;
[7] JERRY MCCLURE, JR., age 40, of Winston-Salem, NC;
[8] ANTHONY OKURTIS RASHAD LLOYD, age 29, of High Point, NC, also known as “Ant”;
[9] CHRISTOPHER TRELONNIE EVERETTE, age 31, of Candor, NC, also known as “Bank Rich” and “Bank”;
[10] DAMON LEE INGRAM, age 46, of Candor, NC, also known as “Danky”;
[11] TRENT DASHUN STARNES, age 28, of Mount Gilead, NC, also known as “Trinidad”;
[12] CARMEN VALENZUELA, age 37, of Glendale, AZ;
[13] IVANGIANNI VALENZUELA GONZALEZ, age 20, of Glendale, AZ;
[14] RAY COZART, JR., age 29, of Jackson Springs, NC, also known as “The Mayor,” “Bigrayful DaMayor,” “Big Rayful,” and “Rayful”;
[15] SAMMY SOQUI, age 36, of Tucson, AZ;
[16] BERNARD ESQUIRE CAIN, age 33, of Winston-Salem, NC;
[17] ABEL GEBREHIWET ZERATSION, age 30, of Winston-Salem, NC;
[18] NIKONDA TAYE INGRAM, age 31, of High Point, NC, also known as “Slatt” and “Big Boy”;
[19] CHARLES EUGENE ROBBINS, age 65, of Phoenix, AZ;
[20] ADAN VILLAREAL-GRAJEDA, age 39, of Phoenix, AZ;
[21] JORGE ANTONIO LOPEZ-VALDEZ, age 18, of Glendale, AZ;
[22] LEWIS RONDEZ PRATT, age 34, of Candor, NC;
[23] ADRIAN DEVON HILL, age 54, of Lenoir, NC;
[24] PRECIOUS SEQUILA HERRON, age 28, of Tucson, AZ;
[25] SHAINA ALEAH HUNT, age 27, of Fairmont, NC;
[26] SCOTTIE PERETT STANBACK, age 43, of Jackson Springs, NC;
[27] AHMAD RASHAUN SAUNDERS, age 31, of Winston-Salem, NC, also known as “Heart”;
[28] CORNEILLOUS DEONTE STALEY, age 33, of Ellerbe, NC, also known as “Sosa”;
[29] SANIYAH JENAY MCCORKLE, age 19, of Cherryville, NC;
[30] AMYA KYONNA GORDON, age 21, of Mount Gilead, NC;
[31] KATEY ANN LAMONDS, age 26, of Mount Gilead, NC;
[32] GERMAN LOPEZ-GOMEZ, age 22, of Phoenix, AZ;
[33] XAVIER FABRICE ELLIS, age 27, of Jackson Springs, NC, also known as “Zay”;
[34] CAMARIUS KISON PHILLIPS, age 22, of Candor, NC, also known as “CBo”;
[35] CODY ANTHONY CURRY, age 29, of Tucson, AZ, also known as “Boss Curry,” “El Jefe,” and “Boss Man”;
[36] TERELL MYHIEM BALDWIN, age 22, of Troy, NC, also known as “Backstreet”;
[37] MICHAEL WILLIAM CURTIS, age 49, of Archdale, NC; and
[38] JUSTIN RAND ALLEN, age 35, of Candor, NC.
The indictment also charges 10 of the defendants named above with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking scheme. Those charged with money laundering conspiracy include NICHOLAS TYLER CURRY, EMMANUEL MARTIMIANO LEON-SOTO, JIMMY MENDOZA ARENAS, CRANDALL ORTAIS INGRAM, ANTHONY OKURTIS RASHAD LLOYD, TRENT DASHUN STARNES, CARMEN VALENZUELA, PRECIOUS SEQUILA HERRON, SHAINA ALEAH HUNT, and CODY ANTHONY CURRY.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison for narcotics conspiracy, and up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
As of today, 37 of the 38 defendants are in custody. Of 26 defendants arrested today, 18 will have initial court appearances today or tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joi E. Peake of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). Eight defendants were arrested outside the MDNC and will have initial appearances in the districts of arrest. Eleven other defendants—NICHOLAS TYLER CURRY, JIMMY MENDOZA ARENAS, CRANDALL ORTAIS INGRAM, JERRY MCCLURE, JR., BERNARD ESQUIRE CAIN, ABEL GEBREHIWET ZERATSION, ADAN VILLAREAL-GRAJEDA, LEWIS RONDEZ PRATT, AHMAD RASHAUN SAUNDERS, GERMAN LOPEZ-GOMEZ, and CAMARIUS KISON PHILLIPS—are currently in federal or state custody on related charges and will be arraigned on these charges at a later date. One defendant remains at large.
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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Investigating agencies include the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, Candor Police Department, Mesa (Arizona) Police Department, Davie County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Drug Task Force, Mooresville Police Department, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, and Surry County Sheriff’s Office.
###
Monday 9 December 2024
Windsor, Colorado Business Owner and Company Sentenced for Conspiring to Delete Emissions Controls on Hundreds of Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks in Violation of the Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Elite Diesel Service Inc., formerly located in Windsor Colorado, and its owner, Troy Lake Sr., were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act by disabling the monitoring components of the emissions control systems on hundreds of heavy-duty commercial trucks throughout the country. Eight co-conspirators located in seven different states had previously been sentenced for their role in the conspiracy.
According to the plea agreements, between approximately January 2017 through December 2020, Elite and Lake instructed Elite employees to disable the computerized on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems on at least 344 heavy-duty commercial trucks. OBDs are required under the Clean Air Act to monitor emissions control hardware on vehicles to ensure that they are functioning properly. Elite’s co-conspirators, companies that operated diesel truck garages or diesel truck fleets, had disabled the emissions control hardware on these trucks and hired Elite and Lake to manipulate the OBDs so that the OBDs would not detect the malfunctions. This violated the Clean Air Act’s prohibition against tampering with monitoring devices, 42 U.S.C. § 7413(c)(2)(C).
Emissions controls on vehicles are critical to maintaining air quality, and when these controls are disabled, the increase in excess tailpipe pollution is significant. A study of the effects of tampering with these 344 trucks showed that the conspirators in this case collectively caused an illegal increase in pollutants of at least 1,300 tons of excess nitrogen oxides, 30 tons of excess non-methane hydrocarbons, 600 tons of excess carbon monoxide, and 30 tons of excess particulate matter. The World Health Organization has found that diesel exhaust is a carcinogen and causes lung cancer. Diesel exhaust is also associated with asthma and an increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory disease. These impacts disproportionately affect low-income communities that tend to be located near highways and other high-traffic areas.
Lake was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in custody and a fine of $2,500. Elite was sentenced to a five-year term of probation and ordered to pay a fine of $37,500. Elite was also ordered to make a payment of $12,500 to a program operated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment to repair the emissions control systems on vehicles owned by low-income drivers who cannot afford to bring their vehicles into compliance. The total assessment was based upon Elite’s demonstration that it was unable to pay a higher amount. Elite also agreed to enter into a corporate compliance and reporting program.
The convictions of Elite and Lake are the culmination of an investigation into a widespread conspiracy to tamper with emission controls on diesel trucks across the country. The co-conspirators, who cooperated with the government during its investigation, were previously sentenced to pay fines and make payments for community service projects designed to offset some of the environmental harm caused by the violations, as follows:
- Endrizzi Diesel LLC of Bolivar, MO, was assessed a penalty of $220,000 including a fine and a community service payment to the Walnut Grove, MO School District to help replace old school buses with newer and cleaner school buses.
- Pro Diesel Inc. of Des Moines, IA, was assessed a penalty of $155,000 including a fine and a community service payment to the Des Moines Area Community College to fund development of curricula to train diesel mechanics on servicing emissions controls.
- McDermid Sales & Service Inc. of Oconto Falls, WI, was assessed a penalty of $112,500 including a fine and a community service payment to the Oconto Falls School District to help replace old school buses with newer and cleaner school buses.
- Hammes Repair Inc. of Seneca, KS, was assessed a penalty of $117,500 including a fine and a community service payment to the Kansas Department of Health & Environment for the purchase of electric groundskeeping equipment to replace old gas-fired equipment.
- Crossroads Repair Inc. of Jamestown, ND, was assessed a penalty of $97,500 including a fine and a community service payment to the Jamestown Rural Fire Department to help replace an old firefighting truck with a newer and cleaner truck.
- ATP Oilfield Services LLC of Fort Lupton, CO, was assessed a penalty of $107,500 including a fine and a community service payment to the CDPHE program to repair emissions controls on vehicles owned by low-income drivers.
- Beatty Bodyworks Inc. of Oklahoma City, OK, was assessed a fine of $15,000 based on defendant’s inability to pay a higher fine.
- Perkins Diesel LLC of Strafford, MO, was assessed a penalty of $95,500 including a fine and a community service payment to the Walnut Grove, MO School District to help replace old school buses with newer and cleaner school buses.
The above eight defendants were also sentenced to probation and were required to enter into corporate compliance and reporting programs.
“These violations of the Clean Air Act affected the health of people in Colorado and across the nation,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “These sentences reflect the seriousness of these crimes.”
“For years, the defendants led a large-scale conspiracy designed to violate the Clean Air Act by defeating emissions control equipment on hundreds of heavy-duty commercial trucks,” said Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division in Colorado. “The actions by the defendants and their co-conspirators directly resulted in a significant increase in excess pollution, which diminished air quality and further placed vulnerable populations at risk of developing adverse health conditions. Today’s sentencing demonstrates that individuals and companies who violate our nation’s environmental laws and threaten our nation’s air quality will be held criminally responsible for their actions.”
The defendant was sentenced by Judge Regina Rodriguez on December 5, 2024.
The Environmental Protection Agency handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Weber and Special Assistant United States Attorney Linda Kato handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 24-cr-00118-RMR
Westland Man Sentenced for Role in Armed Robbery of Albion HydroponicsRead the Press Release
Andrew Curtis Williams participated in the February 2020 Crime
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Andrew Curtis Williams, 27, of Westland, Michigan, was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison for his role in two separate offenses relating to the February 2020 armed robbery of Albion Hydroponics in which a gun was used to physically assault a store employee and place him in restraints.
“This crime was extremely dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “No one should fear violence while simply doing their job. These are serious crimes, and my office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure offenders are held accountable and our communities are safe from violent crimes.”
Williams previously pleaded guilty in August 2024. According to court documents, Williams admitted to being part of a conspiracy to rob Albion Hydroponics on February 10, 2020. He also admitted to the separate offense of brandishing a firearm while committing the robbery.
During the robbery, William’s co-defendant Kyle Lynn Carson, 28, of Jackson used a firearm to strike the victim of the robbery with a gun. Carson previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in the offense.
An unknown third man participated in the robbery. Anyone with information about this person should contact the Grand Rapids Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at 616-301-6100.
“Tis the season for gun violence accountability. As such, the upcoming holidays just got a little bit more joyful. Everyone deserves to feel safe as they try to provide for themselves and their families,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “Mr. William’s greed and actions represent “the worst of the worst” in our community. In the end, accountability matters. The moral of this story is simple: if you use an illegal firearm to commit violent acts, you most certainly should pack your bags for a very long stay in federal prison.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey is prosecuting it.
# # #
Upper St. Clair Resident Charged with Lying to FBI Regarding Involvement with HizballahRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been charged by Criminal Complaint in Pittsburgh with making a false statement or representation involving international terrorism to a department or agency of the United States, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The two-count Criminal Complaint names Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, as the sole defendant, and charges that, on or about October 20, 2024, Molloy lied to FBI agents during an investigation involving international terrorism, in violation of federal law. Molloy was arrested and appeared in federal court today in Chicago, Illinois.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the Complaint, which was unsealed today, Molloy, a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, traveled to Lebanon in August 2024 with a desire to join Hizballah, a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). While in Lebanon, Molloy appeared to encounter obstacles in doing so. Molloy then traveled from Lebanon to Syria in October 2024 in an effort to contact the Syrian branch of Hizballah. The affidavit further alleges that Molloy also supported and idolized violence and wanted to kill Jews, as evidenced by multiple images and videos on his electronic devices and the names he chose as his monikers for his social media and email accounts. Molloy returned to the United States and began residing in the Pittsburgh suburb of Upper St. Clair, where Molloy continued to engage in conduct consistent with his desire to join Hizballah. Upon arriving at the Pittsburgh International Airport on October 20, 2024, Molloy lied to agents of the FBI when he told them that (1) he had no current or future plans to become involved with Hizballah and (2) he had no business in, nor was he meeting with anyone, in Syria. These statements and representations were false because Molloy knew at that time that (1) he did have current and future plans to become involved with Hizballah and (2) Molloy travelled to Syria in furtherance of his attempts to join Hizballah, and while in Syria, set up a meeting with an individual there. Read the full affidavit filed in support of the Criminal Complaint against Molloy here.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to eight years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pittsburgh and Chicago offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Complaint.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States Attorney’s Office Enters Agreement with Frankfort Hospital to Ensure Effective Communication with Deaf and Hard of Hearing PatientsRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.—The United States has reached an agreement with Frankfort Regional Medical Center (“FRMC”), a 173-bed acute care facility located in Frankfort, Ky., to resolve allegations that FRMC violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), by failing to ensure effective communication with a deaf patient who uses American Sign Language (“ASL”).
At multiple hospital visits during her pregnancy, FRMC failed to provide the patient with an ASL interpreter or other effective means of communication. Additionally, despite her request for an in-person interpreter during her labor and delivery, the patient had to provide her own interpreter for her cesarean section. FRMC also failed to ensure effective communication during the patient’s recovery stay, and during a subsequent hospital visit when she sought treatment for her infant. Moreover, FRMC failed to provide an interpreter or other appropriate auxiliary aids and services to the patient’s mother, who is also deaf and was attending the patient’s labor and delivery as a support person. FRMC cooperated fully with the United States’ investigation of this matter, which substantiated the patient’s allegations.
Under the terms of its agreement with the United States, FRMC will modify its policies and practices consistent with the ADA, including those that address providing effective communication and securing qualified interpreters for patients; will train its staff and inform affiliated medical providers about the policies; will report any future complaints; and will cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure ongoing compliance. FRMC also will pay a $62,500 civil penalty to the United States, $100,000 to the patient, and $10,000 to her mother.
“It is critical that patients who are deaf or hard of hearing have equal access to health care, which includes having the ability to communicate with their health care providers,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV. “This settlement reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting the rights of those who are deaf or hard of hearing and ensuring that they are able to effectively participate in discussions and decisions regarding their health care.”
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Pond and investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Section, in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination or experienced a civil rights violation by a place of public accommodation or public entity in Eastern Kentucky can submit a complaint to the U.S. Attorney’s Office by email at [email protected] or by phone to the Civil Rights Hotline at (859) 685-4880.
For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/civil-rights. More information about the ADA is available at the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information line at (800) 514 0301 or (800) 514 0383 (TTY) and on the ADA website at www.ada.gov.
– END –
fully_executed_settlement_agmt_frmc.pdfU.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, Along with Tribal and Local Law Enforcement Officials, Release Second “Don’t Click December” PSARead the Press Release
BOISE – During the holiday season, online criminals increasingly target Idahoans through online scams and fraud schemes. Today, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, along with the FBI, the Fort Hall Police Department, the Bannock County Prosecuting Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices, the Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Pocatello Police Department, released a second PSA as part of their joint “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign. The AARP is also participating in the announcement and the awareness campaign.
The campaign advises members of the public to exercise skepticism and caution when receiving unsolicited online, email, pop-up, or text communications from unknown or unverified sources. If there is any doubt about a link, message, or attachment, law enforcement cautions: “Don’t Click It.”
In the second PSA, available here, Bannock County Prosecutor Stephen Herzog, Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson, and U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit warn the public about the “QR Code” scam and explain some of the ways in which individuals can protect themselves.
This scam targets individuals through corrupt or fictitious QR codes. Often the scammer will email or text a scam QR code in an attempt to trick you. They may even cover up legitimate QR code with their own corrupted code with the goal getting you to visit a bogus website that can steal your information if you log in. Always verify with the restaurant or business if you suspect a QR code is suspicious.
As part of the ongoing campaign, two additional PSAs are planned to be released in the weeks leading up to Christmas in an effort to alert the public to common online fraud schemes that Idaho law enforcement has seen affect Idahoans.
Unfortunately, these are not the only schemes affecting the public, and new schemes arise all the time. Law enforcement hopes that the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign will raise public awareness and encourage individuals to talk to their friends and relatives about not clicking suspicious links, texts, messages, pop-ups, or attachments.
“We have witnessed many Idahoans lose their hard-earned money or their entire retirement savings to online scams. And, sadly, this type of crime tends to spike during the holiday season,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “But, together, we can reduce the risks by talking with each other about how to avoid such scams, and I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners and the AARP for joining us in the Don’t Click December campaign. We also encourage Idahoans to report any scams as soon as possible so that law enforcement can investigate and we can bring these vicious online criminals to justice.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners recognize that we all must work to eliminate the stigma individuals may experience if they are victimized. There is no shame to falling victim to an online scheme, which are often designed by professional criminals, sophisticated, and tested repeatedly across the country.
For this reason, the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign also publicizes ways to report scams and incidents of fraud to the FBI and local law enforcement.
To learn more about these and other scams targeting Americans visit FBI.gov, and if you believe you have been victimized, take-action by reporting it to FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or by contacting your local law enforcement agency.
###
U.S. Attorney’s Office and HSI Charge Childcare Owner in Alleged Minor Sexual Abuse CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – The owner of Cardiel Childcare Services in Las Cruces is charged with attempted enticement of a minor after an investigation revealed alleged systematic sexual abuse of a child under his care.
Juan Jose Cardiel, Sr., 79, appeared before a federal judge and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for December 11, 2025.
According to court documents, Cardiel allegedly showed the minor victim naked photos of herself as a baby and toddler, displayed a video of people engaging in sexual acts to the victim, forced the victim to perform sexual acts on him, and inappropriately touched the victim. This is alleged to have occurred on numerous occasions.
The complaint also states that Cardiel was previously arrested by Las Cruces Police Department on May 1, 2024, on state charges of Criminal Sexual Contact with a Minor.
If convicted of the current charge, Cardiel faces not less than 10 years in prison and up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and the U.S. Marshals. Assistant United States Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Jackson Dering are prosecuting the case as part of as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
HSI is seeking other potential victims in this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact HSI at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP (877-447-4847) or online at www.hsi.gov.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
# # #
U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Agreement with Hudson and Morris County Boards of Elections to Ensure Polling Place Access to Voters with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
NEWARK--The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey has secured agreements with the Hudson and Morris County Boards of Election to ensure that the counties provide accessible polling places to voters with disabilities, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today. The agreement resolves the United States’ investigations into both counties’ compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by state or local government in its programs or services.
The United States’ investigation identified architectural barriers at multiple polling places in both counties that rendered some of the polling places not fully accessible to voters with disabilities. The Boards of Elections in both counties have cooperated fully with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to reach these agreements to improve physical accessibility at their respective polling place locations.
“Ensuring that all eligible citizens can participate in the voting process is one of the most fundamental elements of our democracy. Voters with disabilities have a right to vote at their local polling places free from barriers to physical accessibility. Our office remains committed to using every tool available to ensure that all eligible New Jersey voters can cast their ballot without barriers.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
Under the settlement agreement, the Election Boards will each employ temporary measures, such as portable ramps and signage, where appropriate, to make their existing polling places accessible. They will also train poll workers on the ADA’s accessibility requirements, how to use temporary measures to make polling places accessible, and how to survey polling locations for accessibility on Election Day. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor the Board of Elections’ compliance with the agreements and provide them with technical assistance.
The United States is represented by Senior Civil Rights Counsel Kelly Horan Florio and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thandiwe Boylan of the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Division.
Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may file a complaint with the U.S Attorney’s Office at http://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement/complaint or call the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Complaint Hotline at (855) 281-3339. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TDD).
hudson.settlementagreement.pdf morris.settlementagreement.pdfU.S. Attorney's Office Announces Sentencing of Online Predator for Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Santo Domingo man has been sentenced to 72 months in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release for sexually assaulting a minor victim after grooming her through social media and gaining unauthorized access to her home on the Navajo Nation.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Jordian Pacheco, 33, an enrolled member of the Santa Domingo Pueblo, was arrested on January 10, 2021, after the victim's mother discovered him hiding in her daughter's closet. Navajo Police Department officers responded to the call and initially detained Pacheco, who provided false identification.
The investigation revealed that Pacheco had developed a relationship with the 14-year-old victim through TikTok and email over the course of a year. Pacheco, who was 29 years old at the time, did not disclose his true age to the victim.
On January 9, 2021, Pacheco drove to the victim's residence on the Navajo Nation while her mother was away. He then engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts with the minor.
During the investigation, it was uncovered that Pacheco had a history of contacting minors online using usernames such as "youngduke12," "Little Felon," and "Scott Little Felon." He tried to ingratiate himself with minors, requesting photographs and attempting to meet them at local high school sporting events while lying about his age.
Upon his release from prison, Pacheco will be subject to 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
# # #
Troy Man Admits Possessing a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Richawn McClain, age 26, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.
McClain faces a mandatory prison term of at least 10 years and up to life, a supervised release term of at least 3 years and up to life, and a maximum $1 million fine. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
McClain admitted that on January 9, 2024, he possessed a handgun that had been modified to make it into a machinegun, 32 grams of cocaine, and more than 900 fentanyl pills. Inside of the same bag as the narcotics, McClain had $22,770, which he must forfeit as part of his plea.
The DEA investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting.
Theodore Man Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Schemes and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Theodore man was sentenced to 32 months in prison for a bank fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and a wire fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Sean Donnell White, 30, engaged in various fraud schemes between 2020 and 2022. One of White’s fraud schemes involved stealing mail to obtain victims’ bank account and personal identifying information. White recruited a postal employee, Kristen Arieale Williams, to participate in the scheme. Williams illegally sold White an “arrow” key for $2,500 in cash. Arrow keys are government property and will open, among other things, all blue postal collection boxes in a particular geographic area. Law enforcement caught White using the key to steal mail from collection boxes outside the Bel Air Mall in Mobile in November 2022. White stole hundreds of pieces of mail using the key and committed numerous fraudulent bank transactions totaling at least $69,508.69 using counterfeited checks that he generated based on information he stole from the mail.
White’s other fraud scheme was a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam. To carry out the scheme, White bought stolen identities from illicit dark web marketplaces online. Using those stolen identities, White opened Coinbase and associated bank accounts, both of which he controlled. White selected banks that he knew allowed accountholders to overdraw their accounts by as much as $35,000. White then overdrew several accounts, making cryptocurrency trades in the Coinbase accounts using the unsettled funds. White siphoned any profits from the trades into accounts he controlled. The victim banks suffered losses if White lost money on the trades. As part of this “Coinbase scam,” White obtained at least $210,000 in fraudulently derived criminal proceeds.
In addition to the 32-month prison sentence, Judge DuBose ordered White to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment, and will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered White to pay $35,334.10 in victim restitution, a $210,000 money judgment, and $300 in special assessments.
A federal jury convicted Williams of various fraud offenses in November 2023. Judge DuBose sentenced Williams to three years in federal prison and ordered her to pay victim restitution.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the USPS–Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. The Brewton Police Department and the U.S. Small Business Administration–Office of Inspector General provided substantial assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Bodnar and Justin Roller prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States.
Ten Count Indictment Unsealed Charging Eight Individuals and Two Law Firms with Offenses in Connection with Staged Automobile Collisions in the New Orleans AreaRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS –The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice announce the unsealing of a ten count superseding indictment charging RYAN J. HARRIS, a/k/a “Red,” (“HARRIS”), age 36, of New Orleans; SEAN D. ALFORTISH (“ALFORTISH”), age 57, of New Orleans; VANESSA MOTTA (“MOTTA”), age 43, of New Orleans; JASON F. GILES (“GILES”), age 45, of New Orleans; LEON M. PARKER, a/k/a “Chunky,” (“PARKER”), age 51, of New Orleans; DIAMINIKE F. STALBERT (“STALBERT”), age 34, of Metairie; CARL MORGAN (“MORGAN”), age 66, of New Orleans; and TIMARA N. LAWRENCE (“LAWRENCE”), age 34, of New Orleans. Also charged are the law firms MOTTA LAW, LLC (“MOTTA LAW”) and THE KING FIRM, LLC (“THE KING FIRM”), both of New Orleans. The superseding indictment was returned on Friday, December 6, 2024, and unsealed on Monday, December 9, 2024, after PARKER was arrested by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”).
Count One charges defendants HARRIS, ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW FIRM, GILES. THE KING FIRM, MORGAN, PARKER, STALBERT and LAWRENCE with Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1343, and 1349. Count Two charges defendants GILES and THE KING FIRM with Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. Count Three charges defendants ALFORTISH, MOTTA, and MOTTA LAW with Obstruction of Justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1503(a) and 2. Count Four charges defendants ALFORTISH, MOTTA, and MOTTA LAW with Witness Tampering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512(b)(1) and 2. Count Five charges defendants GILES and THE KING FIRM with Obstruction of Justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1503(a) and 2. Count Six charges defendants GILES and THE KING FIRM with Witness Tampering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512(b)(1) and 2. Count Seven charges defendant STALBERT with Making False Statements, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2). Count Eight charges defendant HARRIS with Witness Tampering through Murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512(a)(1)(C), 1512(a)(3)(A), and 2. Count Nine charges defendant HARRIS with Retaliation Against a Witness Through Murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1513(a)(1)(B), 1513(a)(2)(A), and 2. Count Ten charges defendant HARRIS with Causing Death Through Use of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(j)(1) and 2.
According to the superseding indictment, defendants HARRIS, ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, THE KING FIRM,MORGAN, PARKER, STALBERT, and LAWRENCE were members of a conspiracy that engaged in a fraud scheme, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, witness tampering through murder, and retaliation against a witness through murder. The members of the conspiracy intentionally staged automobile collisions in the New Orleans metropolitan area and submitted fraudulent insurance claims based on the staged collisions. The members of the conspiracy filed fraudulent lawsuits in state and federal court based on the staged automobile collisions. The members of this conspiracy also obstructed justice and made material misrepresentations in court cases to prevent detection of their scheme by law enforcement and members of the judiciary.
The superseding indictment alleges that HARRIS, ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, THE KING FIRM, MORGAN, PARKER, STALBERT, LAWRENCE, Cornelius Garrison (“Garrison”), then attorney Danny Patrick Keating (“Keating”), Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Roderick Hickman (“Hickman”), and others participated in a scheme in which they intentionally staged automobile collisions with other vehicles in the New Orleans metropolitan area. The scheme included individuals who rode in automobiles as passengers knowing they would be part of staged collisions. Those individuals later lied as part of fraudulent insurance claims and fraudulent lawsuits based on the staged collisions. Additionally, the scheme included individuals who drove automobiles and intentionally collided with 18-wheeler tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles, in order to stage collisions (“slammers”). After the staged collisions, the slammers would flee the scene and a passenger would falsely claim to have been driving at the time of the collision. HARRIS, Garrison, Labeaud, and Hickman were slammers. HARRIS, Garrison, Labeaud, and Hickman also recruited and conspired with others to participate in staged collisions. Additionally, the scheme included individuals (“spotters”) who drove getaway cars that allowed the slammers to flee the scene after causing a collision and evade detection by law enforcement. The spotters would sometimes also pretend to be eyewitnesses and would flag down the commercial vehicles after the staged collisions, alleging that the commercial vehicles were at fault. Additionally, the scheme included individuals, including ALFORTISH, MOTTA, GILES, Keating, other attorneys and others associated with the attorneys, who pursued fraudulent claims and fraudulent lawsuits knowing they were based on staged collisions.
Garrison worked with HARRIS as a slammer and spotter. Similar to HARRIS, Garrison recruited others to participate in staged collisions. Both HARRIS and Garrison caused or attempted to cause passengers in the staged collisions to hire the attorneys who were part of the scheme. Between approximately December 12, 2011, and the date of the superseding indictment, HARRIS, Garrison, Labeaud, Hickman, and others caused multiple staged collisions in order to file fraudulent insurance claims and fraudulent lawsuits based on the staged collisions. The scheme involved the use of the mail and the use of interstate wires, including through the filing of fraudulent insurance claims and fraudulent lawsuits. The superseding indictment includes twenty-two (22) staged collisions perpetrated by the charged defendants.
The superseding indictment alleges that, in or around 2019, ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, and THE KING FIRM became aware of the federal criminal investigation into the staged collision scheme. ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, and THE KING FIRM committed various acts of obstruction of justice and witness tampering to cover-up the illegal collision scheme and to obstruct justice. These acts included ALFORTISH, MOTTA, and MOTTA LAW conspiring to 1) manipulate an individual into making a false statement, 2) offering to pay Garrison and to move Garrison outside of the United States if Garrison agreed not to cooperate with the federal criminal investigation into the staged collision scheme, and 3) obstructing Garrison and HARRIS’s participation in civil depositions related to 18-wheeler tractor trailer collisions. Also, GILES and THE KING FIRM manipulated Labeaud and Hickman by secretly recording them, and thereby obstructing justice and committing witness tampering. GILES and THE KING FIRM also suggested that Labeaud leave town while there was increased attention on the staged collisions and convinced passengers in staged collisions to sign documents created to cover up the scheme.
In or around October 2019, Garrison began covertly cooperating with the federal government concerning staged automobile collisions. On September 18, 2020, Garrison was indicted in the Eastern District of Louisiana with Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, and other offenses related to the staged collisions. The superseding indictment alleges that on September 22, 2020, HARRIS murdered, and aided and abetted the murder of Garrison, as part of a scheme to prevent Garrison from cooperating with the federal government and exposing the scheme to stage collisions.
In addition, the superseding indictment charges STALBERT with lying to Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on May 28, 2020, in connection with her involvement in staged collisions.
PARKER made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Michael B. North, on Monday, December 9, 2024. Defendant HARRIS remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest on May 3, 2024. Defendants ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, THE KING FIRM, MORGAN, STALBERT, and LAWRENCE will make their initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in the near future.
If convicted of Count One, defendants HARRIS, ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, THE KING FIRM,MORGAN, PARKER, STALBERT, and LAWRENCE face up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. If convicted of Count Two, defendants GILES and THE KING FIRM face up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victims. If convicted of Counts Three or Five, defendants ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, and THE KING FIRM face up to ten (10) years imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. If convicted of Counts Four or Six, defendants ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, and THE KING FIRM face up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. If convicted of Count Seven, defendant STALBERT faces up to five (5) years imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. If convicted of Counts Eight, Nine, or Ten, defendant HARRIS faces a mandatory life sentence, up to five (5) years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine as to each of these three counts. For each of the ten counts, any charged defendant also faces payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee for the charged conduct.
Including this superseding indictment, sixty-three (63) defendants have been charged in the federal probe into the staging of automobile collisions with other vehicles in the New Orleans metropolitan area.
The U.S. Attorney's Office reiterated that the superseding indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of the FBI, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne; Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; and Trial Attorney J. Ryan McLaren of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.
Tarpon Springs Felon Previously Convicted for Attempted Murder of A Police Officer Convicted for Possessing Ammunition Loaded into Ar-15 Ghost GunRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found James Patrick Sychowski (48, Tarpon Springs) guilty of possessing ammunition by a convicted felon. Sychowski faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Sychowski was indicted on May 17, 2023.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on February 7, 2023, at his mother’s residence in Tarpon Springs, Sychowski armed himself with a loaded AR-15 “ghost gun” he built himself over the course of several months, threatened to kill his mother and her husband, and threatened to shoot at any police officers responding to the scene. When officers from the Tarpon Springs Police Department arrived, Sychowski fled and was later arrested in Clearwater. Officers discovered the AR-15 ghost gun on Sychowski’s bed in his room and discovered the construction materials and accessories Sychowski used to build the AR-15. Further investigation revealed that Sychowski had purchased the AR-15 components online and shipped them to the Tarpon Springs residence.
Bank statements and financial documents presented at trial corroborated Sychowski’s purchase of the ghost gun components and his purchase of PMC 5.56mm ammunition and a magazine from a local firearms store in Holiday, Florida. Evidence presented to the jury obtained from Sychowski’s cell phone corroborated the firearm and accessories purchases and featured a photograph of the same AR-15 ghost gun.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tarpon Springs Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and David J. Pardo.
TPD Receives $2.5M in Grant Funding from the Department of Justice to Further Investigate Sexual Assault KitsRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson, City of Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, and Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen proudly announced a $2.5M grant from the National Sexual Kit Initiative.
The grant will allow the Tulsa Police Department to continue working on the prosecution of unsolved sexual assault cases. This is critical to enhancing the response to sexual assaults and ensuring justice for victims. This funding will not only help link victims with advocates and services but also help implement best practices to prosecute offenders and increase public safety.
The National Sexual Kit Initiative is finding that a significant number of people who have committed multiple violent sexual assaults are being linked to other unsubmitted kits. Not only are those people committing sexual assaults, but they are frequently responsible for homicides and other violent offenses.
“This essential funding allows victims of sexual assault to receive long-awaited justice,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My hope is that this grant will enable the Tulsa Police Department to reopen unsolved cases and help the survivors of sexual assault move forward with closure.”
“Even with the strides made by the Tulsa Police Department in recent years to address cold cases and previously untested rape kits, there is more work to be done as we seek to do right by our neighbors and for the victims of these senseless crimes,” Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said. “I spent my career in the legislature working to ensure we ended the backlog on rape kit testing and I’m committed to doing so as mayor. Having the funding to be able to continue this testing will help us solve some of the most underreported crimes in Tulsa and make sure victims get the justice they deserve while removing these predators off our streets. I’m thankful for the U.S. Department of Justice for its help in making this a funding priority, and I’m eager to work with the Tulsa Police Department as we set the bar high and do all that we can to combat sexually based crimes in our community.”
Chief Dennis Larsen said, "This $2.5 million grant from the Department of Justice is a critical step forward in our commitment to justice for sexual assault survivors. It will enable us to process backlogged kits, potentially solve cold cases, and provide closure to victims who have waited far too long for answers. This funding not only supports our efforts to enhance the efficiency of our forensic services but also reinforces our resolve to ensure that no stone is left unturned in seeking justice."
In total, the Department of Justice, through its Office of Justice Programs, is awarding more than $4.4 billion in grants across the country. This funding will support state, local, and community-based efforts and evidence-based interventions that reduce violence, crime, and recidivism.
“BJA is pleased to award new SAKI funding to the city of Tulsa in support of its efforts to address unsubmitted sexual assault kits and to advance improvements in addressing sexually motivated crimes,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “This funding will prioritize the voices of victims and survivors, while providing essential resources to advance investigations into cold cases.”
More information about this award and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP FY24 Grant Awards site.
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Sumter Man Pleads Guilty to Destruction of an Energy Facility and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Donald Ray Hurst, Jr., 35, of Sumter, has pleaded guilty to destruction of an energy facility and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Aug. 11, 2023, Duke Energy called law enforcement to respond to a power outage near Fish Road in Dalzell. FBI agents and deputies with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrived and saw that the regulator bank, which helps distribute power to the local community and businesses, had multiple holes in it that appeared to be from bullets. The damage resulted in a power outage to several thousand customers. The cost of the clean-up and replacement of the regulators was over $100,000.
Investigators spoke to witnesses who stated they heard gunshots near the regulators on Aug. 9. After speaking with witnesses, agents installed a pole camera at that location. Two days later, they returned and found that the regulators had been shot again. They also recovered a 9mm shell casing at the scene.
A review of the pole camera footage revealed that a white van arrived near the regulators. The van stopped and gunshots were seen being fired toward the energy facility. Agents located the owner of the van, with the help of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and interviewed the owner who was in possession of the vehicle. The owner stated that Hurst and another individual possessed the van during the time of the shooting. Agents searched the van and found a spent 9mm shell casing.
Agents later executed a search warrant on Hurst’s residence and recovered a firearm in his room and a 9mm handgun in a safe in another room of the house. Forensic analysis determined that the shell casing found at the scene of the shooting on Aug. 14 and the shell casing recovered from the van were fired from the 9mm handgun. Hurst’s fingerprint was also found on the trigger of the 9mm handgun, and the key to the safe containing the firearm was located with Hurst’s car keys.
While incarcerated, Hurst was heard on a recorded jail phone call informing someone about a hard drive in his room that needed to be recovered because it “could get someone in trouble.” In a subsequent recorded phone call, Hurst admitted to shooting the regulator bank. He also stated that the hard drive found at his home contained images of child sexual abuse material that he acquired from the dark web.
Agents retrieved the hard drive from the home. A search warrant on the hard drive revealed several images that were confirmed to be CSAM by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Hurst faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and a lifetime of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment for each charge. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Hurst after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sumter Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lamar J. Fyall and Michael Shedd are prosecuting the case.
###
Southeast Missouri Man Sentenced to 152 months in Prison for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Friday sentenced a man to 152 months in prison for selling methamphetamine.
In February of 2023, Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force officers received information that Johnny O. Morrow was selling methamphetamine. Officers made two purchases of meth totaling 22 grams from Morrow at his home in Fisk, Missouri, in Butler County. When officers arrived to serve a court-approved search warrant for Morrow’s home, he tried to run away but was caught and detained while still on the premises. After being read the search warrant, an officer heard Morrow make multiple statements about killing whoever had told on him.
Officers found a pill bottle in a bedroom containing eight bags of meth packaged in a manner consistent with drugs intended for delivery, totaling approximately 31.6 grams, a separate pill bottle containing approximately 64.78 grams of meth and a bag of approximately 52.97 grams of meth concealed in a jacket. After being read his Miranda rights, Morrow said all the drugs belonged to him.
Morrow, now 54 and from Steele, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau in June to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Butler County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Willis and Christopher Shelton prosecuted the case.