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16 January 2025
Justice Department Finds that Idaho Violates Federal Civil Rights Law by Unnecessarily Segregating People with Physical DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today its finding that Idaho unnecessarily segregates adults with physical disabilities in nursing facilities, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. The department’s findings, detailed in a letter to Idaho Governor Brad Little, follow a thorough investigation into the state’s service system for people with physical disabilities.
“People with disabilities in Idaho have the right to choose services to remain independent in their own homes instead of being segregated in institutions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities can access the services they need to live at home and be full participants in their communities.”
“Older Idahoans and Idahoans with disabilities have the right to remain in their homes as their support needs increase,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho. “I trust that Idaho will work to remedy the violations identified by the Justice Department so that individuals with disabilities can remain in their communities and not isolated in institutions.”
The ADA and the Olmstead decision require state and local governments to ensure the services they provide to people with disabilities are available in the most integrated setting appropriate to individuals’ needs. Community-based services can include assistance with daily activities, like showering or transferring from bed to wheelchair. Without community-based services, Idahoans with physical disabilities have little choice but to enter nursing facilities. Many will remain in those nursing facilities for years or decades, when they would prefer to live in the community. And each year of nursing facility care costs Idaho, on average per person, much more than what Idaho spends serving adults with physical disabilities at home.
The department’s investigation found that most Idaho Medicaid-funded nursing facility residents could live successfully at home with services Idaho offers. But Idaho limits access to services to transition out of nursing facilities and to live in the community. As a result, very few Idahoans with physical disabilities can access Idaho’s services to leave nursing facilities and remain at home.
The Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.
For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov/topics/community-integration/.
For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt.
Justice Department Files Voting Rights Suit Against Houston County, GeorgiaRead the Press Release
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Houston County, Georgia, to challenge the county’s at-large method of electing the Houston County Board of Commissioners.
The lawsuit alleges that the county’s current at-large method of electing county commissioners results in Black citizens having less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of choice, in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Black residents make up more than 31% of the county’s voting-age population. In recent years, Black-preferred candidates have run for the Board of Commissioners and have routinely lost, despite the county’s sizeable and growing Black population.
“The Voting Rights Act guarantees that all eligible citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process and to elect representatives of their choice, regardless of race or ethnicity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department has a solemn duty to protect the right to vote by enforcing the Voting Rights Act and ensuring that all communities have a fair and equal chance to participate. We look forward to working with Houston County officials to bring the county into compliance with the Voting Rights Act.”
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, alleges that changing how commissioners are elected can create opportunities for Black voters to elect candidates of their choice to the five-member Board of Commissioners. For example, by electing commissioners from fairly drawn single-member districts rather than countywide, Black voters would have an equal opportunity to elect a representative of their choice to the Board. The lawsuit seeks a federal court order implementing a new method of electing the Houston County Board of Commissioners.
The Justice Department looks forward to continued discussions with Houston County toward resolution of this matter.
More information about voting and elections is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.
Justice Department Files Voting Rights Suit Against Fayette County, TennesseeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Fayette County, Tennessee, alleging that the Board of County Commissioners violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act when it adopted a redistricting plan that denies the city’s Black voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, alleges that during the 2021 redistricting cycle, the County Commission deliberately rejected multiple districting plans that would have combined Black communities in districts that would allow Black voters to elect representatives of their choice. In doing so, the Commission disregarded the guidelines and recommendations of its own redistricting committee and the advice of the attorney it hired specifically to guide it through the redistricting process.
“The right to vote is sacred and is the foundation for our ability to exercise all other civil rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Black voters should have the equal opportunity to elect their candidates of choice, but the redistricting map adopted by Fayette County did not provide that opportunity. The Justice Department is committed to enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and ensuring all eligible citizens have an equal opportunity to choose their elected officials. Our democracy works best when all communities have a fair and equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.”
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and Black voters in Fayette County deserve the same opportunity as anyone else to elect leaders who represent their voices,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Our office is committed to ensuring fairness and equality in the electoral process.”
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
More information about voting and elections is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.
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If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.
Jasper County man sentenced for possessing stolen law enforcement machine gunRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Jasper man has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Bradley Joseph LeBlanc, 25, pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm and was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on January 16, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at LeBlanc’s residence in Jasper, where they discovered a fully automatic machine gun which had previously been reported stolen from a Waller County law enforcement officer’s vehicle. Further investigation revealed there were no firearms records for LeBlanc with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records (NFRTR).
This case was 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.
This case was investigated by the Jasper Police Department, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn.
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Hopi Law Enforcement Services Officer Recognized for Exceptional Valor in the Line of DutyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Hopi Law Enforcement Services (HLES) Officer Tony Pawasiema was honored on Monday at the U.S. Attorney’s Law Enforcement Awards ceremony for his exceptional valor.
Officer Pawasiema was recognized for rendering life-saving aid to a man who shot him. In 2023, Officer Pawasiema was investigating a burglary call in Sichomovi Village on the Hopi Reservation when he was shot in the chest. Officer Pawasiema returned fire, striking his assailant. He then rendered life-saving aid to the shooter until additional help arrived. Fortunately, Officer Pawasiema was not seriously injured.
Officer Pawasiema was celebrated by members of his family, HLES, and tribal leadership.
As one of only a few HLES officers serving a large geographic area, Officer Pawasiema faces a number of challenges. Despite being fired upon more than once in his six-year career, Officer Pawasiema continues to serve the Hopi community with distinction.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-006_HLES Officer Pawasiema Valor Award
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Honduran National Charged with Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that EVIN ENRIQUE FUNEZ CRUZ (FUNEZ CRUZ”), age 22, a native of Honduras, was charged in a bill of information on January 15, 2025, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and (b)(1).
According to court documents, FUNEZ CRUZ, a Honduran national, was apprehended in St. Tammany Parish on or around January 6, 2025. He had been previously deported to Honduras on June 21, 2024.
If convicted, FUNEZ CRUZ faces a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Fresno County Men Indicted for Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A six-count indictment was unsealed today, charging Fresno resident Austin Lloyd Kerns, 53, and Clovis resident Lakota Tehya Wakley, 21, with conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Kerns is also charged with fentanyl distribution and illegally possessing ammunition, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, from November 2024 until his arrest in December 2024, Kerns conspired with Wakley and others to sell fentanyl pills to customers in Fresno County. On Nov. 23 and 24, 2024, Kerns personally and repeatedly sold fentanyl to a victim that Wakley referred to Kerns for a fee. This victim died soon after of a fentanyl overdose. Upon arresting Kerns at his residence on Dec. 9, 2024, law enforcement seized around 1,000 fentanyl pills, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and handgun parts.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (FORT), a multi-agency team composed of Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Fresno and Clovis Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Lee is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Kerns and Wakley face maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
Four Members of Mexico-Based Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Four men from Mexico and California have been convicted for their role in trafficking multiple kilograms of cocaine between California and the Western District of Tennessee. On January 14, 2025, Senior U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced the fourth defendant. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney, announced the sentencings today.
According to information presented in court, in September 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI") Border Enforcement Task Force investigators learned of a drug trafficking organization operating in West Tennessee. They determined that José Iban-Arcos, 52, and Edwin Mayorga, 42, were obtaining kilogram quantities of cocaine. Both Iban-Arcos and Mayorga had previously been convicted for narcotics trafficking in the Western District of Tennessee. Investigators also found that José Hernandez-Gonzalez, 29, was distributing cocaine on behalf of the organization and that Jesús Serrano-Mayorquin, 43, transported cocaine from California to the Western District of Tennessee. Agents seized over 25 kilograms of cocaine and several firearms during the investigation; this included more than 45 pounds of cocaine which was seized during a traffic stop.
The defendants were indicted in June 2023. Each defendant subsequently pled guilty and was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. or U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker.
- José Iban-Arcos of Aguascalientes, Mexico, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and illegal re-entry into the United States. He was sentenced to 144 months of incarceration to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Edwin Mayorga of Long Beach, California, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 66 months of incarceration to be followed by 4 years of supervised release.
- Jesús Serrano-Mayorquin, of Los Angeles, California, pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by 3 years supervised release.
- José Hernandez-Gonzalez, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 18 months of home detention to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
This investigation was conducted as 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.
“This investigation and the resulting sentences highlight the exceptional work of HSI Nashville and the vital law enforcement partnerships that are essential to protecting our communities,” said HSI Nashville Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Colin Jackson. “We remain dedicated to dismantling drug trafficking networks that endanger lives through the illegal distribution of narcotics, ensuring those responsible face the full force of the law.”
“This case is a perfect example of the impact and effectiveness of law enforcement working together at the local, state, and federal levels to combat drug trafficking and the violent offenders engaged in this activity,” said Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “Countless lives have been saved as result of these outstanding efforts!”
This case was investigated by HSI, in collaboration with the Bartlett Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, and K-9 Officer Athena.
Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory D. Allen and Bryce H. Phillips, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Fort Myers Felon Sentenced to Prison for Firearm and Drug Distribution OffensesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida –U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced James Wallace Mathis, Jr. (44, Fort Myers) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and distributing controlled substances. Mathis entered a guilty plea on October 30, 2024.
According to court records, on multiple occasions in July and August 2024, Mathis sold drugs—including fentanyl and cocaine—to a law enforcement informant and an undercover ATF agent. Additionally, on one occasion in July 2024, Mathis sold a loaded Ruger handgun to a law enforcement informant. As a multi-time convicted felon, Mathis is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.
Fort Myers Career Criminal Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Carl Samuel Thompson, Jr. (60, Fort Myers) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Because of Thompson’s extensive criminal history—which includes at least three convictions for violent felonies—he qualified for enhanced sentencing under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Thompson entered a guilty plea on October 30, 2024.
According to court records, on April 7, 2024, a vehicle being driven by Thompson was pulled over in North Fort Myers by deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic infraction. During the traffic stop, deputies discovered that Thompson’s front seat passenger was concealing a loaded firearm, which was secured by the deputies during the traffic stop. A subsequent investigation revealed that Thompson, who had an active warrant for his arrest, had provided the firearm to his passenger to conceal after realizing he was being pulled over. As a career criminal with more than 10 prior felony convictions, Thompson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.
Former Williamson Memorial Hospital CEO Sentenced for Federal Theft CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Charles Hatfield, 62, of Williamson, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation and ordered to pay $34,872.62 in restitution and a $20,000 fine for theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Hatfield admitted that while chief executive officer of Williamson Memorial Hospital, he stole $34,872.62 in hospital funds for personal use and without authorization.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Hatfield became the hospital’s interim CEO in September 2018. As CEO, Hatfield had control over the hospital’s finances and bank accounts, directed payments of the hospital’s funds, and had custody and control of the hospital’s checkbook. Hatfield was the permanent CEO when he was relieved of those duties in September 2019. Around that time, on Oct. 21, 2019, the rural, 76-bed hospital filed for bankruptcy.
On May 16, 2019, Hatfield directed that $9,197.62 in hospital funds be used to purchase a cashier’s check made payable to an individual at Venice Sands Apartments-Argus Management of Venice in Florida. Hatfield admitted that he used the hospital funded-check to settle a personal lawsuit demanding the payment of delinquent real estate taxes and homeowners’ fees he owed for personal condominium property he owned in Venice.
On September 25, 2019, Hatfield directed the transfer of $25,675 in hospital funds to Mid Mountain Properties, a real estate company owned and operated by Hatfield. The transaction occurred just days prior to Hatfield being relieved as CEO, and shortly before the hospital filed for bankruptcy. Hatfield admitted that he was aware that the hospital could not appropriately fund its employee benefits programs, including retirement and healthcare plans at the time he directed the transfer. Hatfield further admitted to telling his business partners that he used the transferred funds to pay a personal obligation.
Hatfield also admitted that he never requested or received authorization from the hospital’s board of directors or anyone else at the hospital to direct the payments from the hospital to himself.
Hatfield was mayor of Williamson from July 1, 2017, until he resigned on May 3, 2024, due to this offense.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), the United States Secret Service, the U.S. Department of Labor- Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).
“I also commend Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman for the prosecution of this case, and Litigation Financial Analyst Steve Rowley in this office for his investigative work,” Thompson said. “Today’s sentence provides a general deterrence for abusing a position of trust to steal and embezzle funds from a federally funded hospital.”
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.
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-74.
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Former University IT Director Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison, Ordered to Repay $3.9 MillionRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced the former IT director of a St. Louis-area university to 46 months in prison and ordered him to repay $3.9 million to his employer and an IT equipment supplier that he had defrauded.
Ronald Simpson, of St. Peters, Missouri, was responsible for repairing and replacing defective IT equipment used at the university’s multiple locations. Beginning about Nov. 29, 2018, Simpson sold hundreds of items of IT equipment to a third party. The items had been approved for purchase after Simpson falsely claimed they would be used or installed at university locations.
He also fraudulently obtained items from the university’s IT supplier by falsely claiming that the equipment they originally supplied was defective. Simpson sold both the original equipment and the replacement gear.
Judge Autrey ordered Simpson to pay $3.19 million to the university and $780,233 to the IT supplier.
In a victim impact letter, a university official said Simpson’s crime “struck a serious blow to our financial stability,” forcing the university “to redirect money away from essential programs and resources that directly benefit our students.” Simpson also harmed the university’s reputation, betrayed the trust of coworkers and damaged their morale.
The IT supplier said in their own letter that Simpson took advantage of the company’s practice of providing replacement products on an expedited basis to customers to repair critical IT infrastructure, before the defective product is returned.
“In addition to bringing perpetrators to justice, the FBI has a dedicated process to try to make victims whole by seizing assets gained from a fraud or theft,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. “In this case, there were no substantial assets to seize because Ronald Simpson frivolously blew away millions of dollars on himself without any regard to how his crimes would damage the university, its employees and its students.”
Simpson, 54, pleaded guilty in June U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of wire fraud.
The FBI investigated the case. Both Simpson’s former employer and the IT supplier worked extensively with law enforcement during this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.
Former Postal Service Employee Sentenced for Mail TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former employee for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for stealing packages he was responsible for delivering.
William J. Paige, 35, of Duxbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to two years’ probation. Paige was also ordered to pay $5,119 in restitution to the victims. In September 2024, Paige pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of mail matter by a Postal Service employee.
Paige worked as a mail carrier with USPS in Whitinsville. Between January and February 2022, Paige stole collector’s coins and other items from packages he was entrusted to deliver, collectively valued at over $5,000.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Former Gary Mayor Sentenced for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Jerome Prince, age 60, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon following his plea of guilty to an Information charging wire fraud announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
According to documents in the case, Prince, who served from 2020 to 2023 as Mayor of Gary, Indiana, illegally used approximately $26,750 of his campaign committee funds for a non-campaign purpose of financing the purchase of his personal residence.
“By entering into a plea agreement to the criminal Information, former Mayor Prince demonstrated that he accepted responsibility for his criminal conduct,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “It is in the best interests of our society, the citizens of the Northern District of Indiana, and criminal defendants themselves, when individuals swiftly and completely accept responsibility for their crimes, as Mr. Prince did here. I want to thank the FBI for the thorough investigation which supported this prosecution.”
“Serving the public as mayor is a privilege, not an opportunity to exploit the position for personal gain. This sentence should send a clear message that public officials who betray the trust of their communities will be held accountable for their actions,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI is committed to investigating and uncovering corruption at all levels of government and will continue to work diligently to ensure those who engage in illegal conduct face responsibility for their decisions.”
The United States Attorney continues to urge the public to come forward and contact the United States Attorney’s Office ([email protected]) or the FBI in Merrillville, Indiana 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) if they have information related to public corruption within the Northern District of Indiana.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin F. Wolff and Philip C. Benson.
Former Fresno County Resident Charged with Managing a $10 Million Nationwide Real Estate Fraud Scheme from PrisonRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Seth Adam Depiano, 43, formerly of Clovis, made an initial appearance for an indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, Depiano was sentenced in 2018 to more than 12 years in prison for running a $24 million fraud scheme in the Eastern District of California (Case No. 1:17-cr-172 DAD). In 2021 and 2022, while serving that sentence in federal prisons in the states of Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Florida, Depiano managed a complex real estate fraud scheme utilizing a group of co-conspirators located across the United States.
Using contraband phones and computers and acting under the fictitious identities “Marcus Lazaro” and “Steven Baron Sr.,” Depiano posed as a real estate broker who represented clients who wanted to sell property. In reality, Depiano was not a real estate broker, did not have clients, and instead marketed and sold properties he did not own and did not have the authority to sell.
Depiano utilized co-conspirators to meet with potential investors, to conduct financial transactions, and conduct other activities on his behalf. In total, Depiano and his co-conspirators obtained approximately $10 million from victims in California, Nevada and elsewhere. Once Depiano and his co-conspirators had received the victim funds, they laundered the money through Las Vegas casinos and other businesses. They also formed shell companies to purchase and hold real estate using victim funds, and wired victim funds overseas.
Once Depiano and his co-conspirators had received the victim funds, they laundered the money through Las Vegas casinos, using international wire transfers and shell companies, purchased properties, and invested in legitimate businesses.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Bakersfield Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak is prosecuting the case.
Depiano is in custody. His next court date is July 16, 2025, at 1:00 pm before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto. Co-Defendants Zahria Barber, 28, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Paola Quintero Beltran were also charged in the scheme. Barber and Beltran’s next court dates are July 16, 2025, before Judge Oberto.
If convicted, Depiano faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison wire fraud and mail fraud. Depiano faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years consecutive for aggravated identity theft. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Construction Company Employee Indicted for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 17-count indictment today against Kami Elois Power, 54, of Gardnerville, Nevada, charging her with wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, from November 2019 to May 2023, Power worked as an office assistant at a family-owned construction company in South Lake Tahoe. During her employment, Power embezzled more than $1.4 million dollars from the company. She disguised more than $700,000 of these fraudulent transfers as payments made to vendors that the company worked with — under fake profiles she created in the names of real companies, as well as fake companies that resembled her own initials, such as “KEP Inc. Sale” and KPI.” She disguised additional fraudulent transfers as payments for payroll or reimbursements. Power also used the company’s credit card to make unauthorized personal purchases and paid down the balance of her own personal credit cards with the company’s money. Power used the stolen money to purchase property, luxury cars, ATVs, and a horse.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot C. Wong and Whitnee Goins are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Power faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud, 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count of bank fraud, and a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Army Officer and JAG Attorney Sentenced for Destruction of U.S. Army Property and Lying to Federal InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – A former Army officer and attorney assigned to the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (JAG School) in Charlottesville, Virginia, was sentenced today to 54 months in federal prison on multiple federal charges related to his destruction of U.S. Army property and subsequent false statements to federal investigators.
Manfredo Martin-Michael Madrigal, 38, formerly of Charlottesville, Va., pled guilty in July 2024 to one count of destruction of U.S. Army materials and three counts of making a false statement.
According to court documents, in February 2022, Madrigal was assigned to a staff position at the JAG School in the Training Developments Directorate, whose mission was to design and develop training products for the JAG Corps and the Army. Madrigal possessed an active security clearance and previously served overseas on sensitive operations.
In early 2022, Madrigal was under investigation by the U.S. Army and the JAG School for failing to report a previous arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). While his Army investigation was pending, Madrigal deleted, without authorization, online JAG training materials and filmed himself doing so while graphically describing his ill-will towards the Army. The FBI’s investigation also revealed that Madrigal made a phone call to the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C. the same night that he deleted the training materials and then texted a witness that Russia wanted to know what he knew.
On February 22, 2022, Madrigal was discharged from the JAG School and claimed in his exit paperwork that he had no unreported contact with a foreign national. In April and May 2022, Madrigal was interviewed by the FBI about his actions. In these interviews, Madrigal made multiple false statements regarding his actions, including denying any involvement in the deletion of materials and that he only learned of the deletion from a coworker, as well as falsely denying his contact with a foreign national at the Embassy.
Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee of the Western District of Virginia and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Attorneys Katie Burroughs Medearis, Vito A. Iaia, Sean M. Welsh, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Joyce are prosecuting the case for the United States.
Five People Charged with Gun-Point Home Invasion Robbery That Involved Zip Tying Two Victims in Front of Their ChildrenRead the Press Release
Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging BHUPINDERJIT SINGH, ELIJAIH ROMAN, COREY HALL, ERIK SUAREZ, and DIVYA KUMARI with perpetrating a gun-point home invasion robbery of the home of a small business owner in Orange County, New York. The defendants were arrested today, and will be presented in White Plains federal court before the Hon. Victoria Reznik, United States Magistrate Judge.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Bhupinderjit Singh and his co-defendants allegedly planned and executed a violent robbery, during which four children watched as their parents were zip tied and held at gunpoint while four men ransacked their home looking for money and valuables. Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office, the defendants will now face charges stemming from this brazen robbery.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “These five defendants participated in a robbery in which a firearm was brandished to gain unauthorized entry into a family’s home and steal valuable jewelry and thousands of dollars. This alleged forceful intrusion violated the privacy and security expected inside one’s home, and terrorized four young children left to helplessly beg for the safety of their restrained parents. The FBI will continue to apprehend any individual who utilizes weapons to intimidate victims to fulfill their criminal agenda.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed on January 15, 2025, in White Plains federal court and unsealed today:
On or about December 1, 2024, SINGH, ROMAN, HALL, SUAREZ, and KUMARI perpetrated a gun-point home invasion robbery in the vicinity of the Town of Wallkill, New York. When they arrived at the house, SINGH, ROMAN, HALL, and SUAREZ forced the homeowner (“Victim-1”) and Victim-1’s daughter, who is approximately 10 years old, into the house at gunpoint. When SINGH, ROMAN, HALL, and SUAREZ entered the home, Victim-1’s wife was sitting with the couple’s other three children, who ranged from approximately two to nine years old. SINGH, ROMAN, HALL, and SUAREZ then zip tied the hands and legs of both Victim-1 and his wife and placed the couple on the couch next to their children. Three of the four robbers then began to search throughout the house, while the fourth robber remained with Victim-1 and his family, armed with what appeared to be a small black pistol. At one point, Victim-1’s daughter begged the robbers to not hurt her parents and indicated that she would tell them where the family stored their valuables. Certain of the robbers then took Victim-1’s daughter to the house’s master bedroom where there was a safe, but Victim-1’s daughter was unable to get the safe open. The robbers then took Victim-1’s daughter back to her parents and forced Victim-1’s wife to come with them instead. Once in the bedroom, Victim-1’s wife opened the safe and watched as the robbers removed from it, among other items, numerous pieces of jewelry and approximately $10,000 in U.S. currency. While the robbery was ongoing, KUMARI was waiting in the vicinity of Victim-1’s house to act as a lookout. Eventually, SINGH, ROMAN, HALL, and SUAREZ left Victitm-1’s house with various stolen items, including the jewelry and U.S. currency stolen from the safe.
* * *
SINGH, 26, of South Ozone Park, New York; ROMAN, 22, of Far Rockaway, New York; HALL, 45, of Saint Albans, New York; SUAREZ, 24, of Elmhurst, New York; and KUMARI, 26, of Massapequa, New York, are all charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. SINGH, ROMAN, HALL, and SUAREZ are additionally charged with one count of using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, as well as the assistance of the Town of Wallkill Police Department and the New York State Police.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S Attorney David A. Markewitz is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Five Members of the Hoover Criminal Gang Sentenced for Racketeering and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN - A leader in the Hoover Criminal Gang was sentenced to 15 years in prison today for ordering fellow gang members to murder a suspected rival gang member.
Markell Young, 33, was the last of five defendants, all from Gibson County, to be sentenced in this case. Young, Octavius Ferguson, 27, and Jordan Powell, 25, were convicted after trial, while Bakari Lenon, 25, and Monterio Ross, 29, pleaded guilty.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, all defendants were members of the Hoover Criminal Gang subset known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. The gang was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and trafficking of marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base.
“These defendants were members of the violent Hoover Criminal Gang who were responsible for murdering a suspected rival gang member to further the aims of the gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence traumatizes communities and makes our streets less safe. The Criminal Division is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who engage in gun violence and other violent criminal activity.”
“This case serves as notice to all that engage in organized criminal activity that we will use every available resource to bring you to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “The citizens of this district deserve a safe and secure community, one not riddled with gun violence, and this is a great example of the diligent and collaborative work of law enforcement to protect those rights to safety.”
“This case is an outstanding example of what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we dismantle gang networks that spread violence and fear,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The sentences imposed demonstrate the commitment of the FBI and our partners to thwarting gang violence and reinforcing the severe consequences awaiting those who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“The individuals who wreak havoc in the communities that we serve are a huge concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, day and night, to swiftly remove individuals who traffic narcotics, participate in organized crime and show total disregard for human life from the streets. The ATF’s primary mission is to combat violent crime in our communities, and we will work tirelessly to keep the communities that we serve, safe.”
The evidence showed that, on Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt. On that date, Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, Lenon, and Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and indiscriminately shooting several firearms through the open front door, killing the victim. Based on their participation on this killing, all of the shooters were promoted to higher ranks within the Hoover Criminal Gang.
In addition to Young’s conviction at trial for aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering, Ferguson and Powell were convicted at trial of murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during and in relation to murder, and causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Both Ferguson and Powell were sentenced to life in prison. Lenon and Ross pleaded guilty to causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering and were both sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The FBI and ATF investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by state and local law enforcement partners.
Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Topic
VIOLENT CRIME
Components
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Criminal Division
Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
USAO - Tennessee, Western
Five Members of the Hoover Criminal Gang Sentenced for Racketeering and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
A leader in the Hoover Criminal Gang was sentenced to 15 years in prison today for ordering fellow gang members to murder a suspected rival gang member.
Markell Young, 33, was the last of five defendants, all from Gibson County, to be sentenced in this case. Young, Octavius Ferguson, 27, and Jordan Powell, 25, were convicted after trial, while Bakari Lenon, 25, and Monterio Ross, 29, pleaded guilty.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, all defendants were members of the Hoover Criminal Gang subset known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. The gang was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and trafficking of marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base.
“These defendants were members of the violent Hoover Criminal Gang who were responsible for murdering a suspected rival gang member to further the aims of the gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence traumatizes communities and makes our streets less safe. The Criminal Division is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who engage in gun violence and other violent criminal activity.”
“This case serves as notice to all that engage in organized criminal activity that we will use every available resource to bring you to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “The citizens of this district deserve a safe and secure community, one not riddled with gun violence, and this is a great example of the diligent and collaborative work of law enforcement to protect those rights to safety.”
“This case is an outstanding example of what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we dismantle gang networks that spread violence and fear,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The sentences imposed demonstrate the commitment of the FBI and our partners to thwarting gang violence and reinforcing the severe consequences awaiting those who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“The individuals who wreak havoc in the communities that we serve are a huge concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, day and night, to swiftly remove individuals who traffic narcotics, participate in organized crime and show total disregard for human life from the streets. The ATF’s primary mission is to combat violent crime in our communities, and we will work tirelessly to keep the communities that we serve, safe.”
The evidence showed that, on Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt. On that date, Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, Lenon, and Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and indiscriminately shooting several firearms through the open front door, killing the victim. Based on their participation on this killing, all of the shooters were promoted to higher ranks within the Hoover Criminal Gang.
In addition to Young’s conviction at trial for aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering, Ferguson and Powell were convicted at trial of murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during and in relation to murder, and causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Both Ferguson and Powell were sentenced to life in prison. Lenon and Ross pleaded guilty to causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering and were both sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The FBI and ATF investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by state and local law enforcement partners.
Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Georgia Man of Transporting A Minor with Intent to Engage in Sexual Activity and Possessing A Firearm After A Felony ConvictionRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Vincent Joseph Robusto (41, Georgia) guilty of transporting a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. Robusto faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2025. Robusto was indicted on December 1, 2021.
According to evidence presented at trial, beginning in at least February 2021 Robusto discussed sexual activity with a minor via chat on a social media application. In July 2021, Robusto purchased an airline ticket for the minor. He provided the airline with the minor’s name and date of birth, confirming that Robusto knew the child’s age. On July 17, 2021, Robusto caused the minor to travel from Texas to the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. Surveillance video from the airport captured Robusto picking up the minor.
Within a few days, the parent of the minor contacted the Dilley (Texas) Police Department to report the minor missing and shared the locations of the minor’s cellphone using a locator application. The Dilley Police Department reached out to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office for assistance in locating the minor and provided the residential address of a home in Port Charlotte that the locator application indicated.
On July 23, 2021, at approximately 3:00 a.m., deputies from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the Port Charlotte residence and found Robusto at the residence with the minor. During the execution of a search warrant at the residence, law enforcement located a firearm and ammunition contained in Robusto’s backpack located on a kitchen table. Robusto, a previously convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
Subsequently, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted DNA analysis on evidence obtained in this case. The Crime Laboratory Analyst from the Biology Section found Robusto’s DNA on the rough surfaces of the firearm and in the analysis of the sexual assault kit that had been collected from the minor.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. Additional assistance was provided by the Dilley Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Lee County Port Authority. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yolande G. Viacava and Benjamin S. Winter.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Fayat Group to Pay $11M for Violations of the Clean Air Act for Sale of Nonroad Equipment Containing Noncompliant Diesel EnginesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement agreement with Fayat S.A.S. and nine of its subsidiaries — BOMAG GmbH, Bomag Americas Inc., BOMAG (China) Construction Machinery Co. Ltd., MARINI S.p.A., RAVO B.V., Charlatte of America Inc., PTC S.A.S., Secmair S.A.S. and MATHIEU S.A. — for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act’s mobile source emission standards regulations.
The complaint alleges that, between 2014 and 2018, Fayat and its subsidiaries illegally imported and sold hundreds of pavers, rollers and other nonroad equipment containing diesel engines that failed to meet Clean Air Act emission requirements. The complaint also alleges that Fayat failed to comply with Clean Air Act labeling and reporting requirements. The agreement requires Fayat to pay a civil penalty of $11 million and requires the company to complete a project to reduce the harm caused by excess nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions.
“Fayat failed to ensure that the equipment it introduced into the United States market complied with Clean Air Act requirements designed to protect the public’s health from harmful emissions,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We will not tolerate violations of Clean Air Act standards. The settlement requires both a substantial civil penalty and a project that will reduce emissions in the Mobile, Alabama, area and contribute to improved public health.”
“Fayat’s import of nonroad vehicles with outdated diesel engines violates the Clean Air Act standards for emissions from mobile sources and threatened exposure to harmful diesel air emissions,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Cecil Rodrigues for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s announcement demonstrates that EPA will hold accountable companies that put outdated equipment into commerce that pollutes the air and risks exposing communities to toxic air pollutants.”
In addition to paying a civil penalty, Fayat will, as part of the agreement, undertake a project to reduce the harm from the emissions. The company will retrofit a tugboat currently in service in Mobile, Alabama. Retrofitting the tugboat includes removing and destroying two engines and two auxiliary generators and replacing them with two new engines and two new generators that meet current emission controls.
More information regarding this settlement is available from the Fayat Clean Air Act Violations Settlement Summary.
The proposed consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is subject to a public comment period and final court approval. Information on submitting comment and access to the settlement agreement is available at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
EPA investigated the case.
Attorneys with the ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling the case.
Falmouth Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Embezzling more than $1.3 MillionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former bookkeeper for a Falmouth flooring company was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for embezzling more than $1.3 million from her employer.
Susan Figuerido, 73, of Falmouth, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to two years in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Figuerido was also ordered to pay $1,714,921.01 in restitution. In October 2025, Figuerido pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return.
Between June 2015 and February 2023, Figuerido embezzled more than $1.3 million from her employer by writing checks to herself drawn on her employer’s bank account. To conceal her scheme, Figuerido did not record the checks that she wrote to herself in her employer’s accounting system. Figuerido did not report or include the funds that she embezzled on her federal income tax filings, resulting in a tax loss of approximately $353,000.
U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. The Falmouth Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Eleven Time Felon Found Guilty of Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
An eleven‑time felon who fired a pistol during an argument was convicted by a jury on January 15, 2025, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Kenneth Moore, age 50, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The verdict was returned following less than three hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that on August 4, 2023, around 4:00 a.m., Moore got into an argument with an individual on the porch of a residence in Dubuque. During the argument, two individuals attempted to push Moore away from the argument and de‑escalate the situation. As they were pushing Moore away, Moore fired a pistol towards the residence. The bullet nearly hit two people, went through the front wall of the residence, and lodged in the back living room wall. Moore then fled the scene. Twelve days later, on August 16, 2023, officers arrested Moore and searched the car he was driving, where they recovered the pistol Moore fired on August 4. Moore was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had previously been convicted of eleven felony convictions.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Moore remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Moore faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $250,000 fine, and not more than 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach, and it was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24‑CR‑01009‑CJW.
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El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con el Condado de Sangamon, Illinois y agencias del condado para resolver una investigación de discriminación por motivos de discapacidad y razaRead the Press Release
Nota: El titular original fue actualizado para cumplir con el limite de caracteres
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy un acuerdo con la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Sangamon (SCSO), el Sistema Central de Despacho del Condado de Sangamon (SCCDS) y el Condado de Sangamon, Illinois, para resolver una investigación de discriminación por motivos de raza y discapacidad en la prestación de servicios de policía y despacho.
El Departamento inició su investigación con base en quejas e informes sobre un incidente en el que Sonya Massey, una mujer negra que estaba experimentando una crisis de salud mental, fue disparada mortalmente por un adjunto de la SCSO mientras respondía a la llamada de 911 de auxilio de la Sra. Massey. La División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia investigó el cumplimiento por parte de las entidades con el Título VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 (Título VI), las disposiciones antidiscriminatorias de la ley General de Control de Delitos y Calles Seguras (ley de Calles Seguras) y el Título II de la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés). El Título VI y la ley de Calles Seguras prohíben, en su conjunto, la discriminación por motivos de raza, color de piel, origen nacional, sexo o religión por parte de entidades que reciben apoyo financiero federal, tal como la SCSO. El Título II de la ADA prohíbe que las entidades públicas discriminen por motivos de discapacidad.
«La muerte de Sonya Massey fue una terrible tragedia para una mujer que estaba en medio de una crisis de salud mental, para su familia y para toda la comunidad del Condado de Sangamon», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Este acuerdo refleja el compromiso del Condado de Sangamon de instituir reformas y tomar medidas que ayudarán a mejorar la seguridad pública y restaurar la confianza de la comunidad en el camino futuro».
En respuesta a la investigación, la Oficina del Fiscal Estatal para el Condado de Sangamon trabajó en cooperación con el Departamento para alcanzar un acuerdo conciliatorio para garantizar que la SCSO tenga las herramientas y la formación para llevar a cabo sus actividades de vigilancia policial de forma no discriminatoria y que el Condado y el SCCDS proporcionen servicios de despacho de forma no discriminatoria.
En virtud del acuerdo, las entidades revisarán y actualizarán los procedimientos, políticas y reglas y proporcionarán capacitaciones sobre una variedad de temas, incluida la vigilancia policial no discriminatoria y las interacciones con personas con discapacidades de salud del comportamiento. El acuerdo requiere el desarrollo y la implementación de un programa de equipo de crisis móvil, que incluirá personal capacitado en la salud del comportamiento que responda oportunamente a las personas que necesitan asistencia urgente en lo que se refiere a su salud del comportamiento. El acuerdo también prevé el desarrollo de un plan de compromiso con la comunidad para garantizar la resolución colaborativa de problemas y la ausencia de discriminación en la vigilancia policial, así como para aumentar la transparencia y la confianza de la comunidad. El acuerdo establece un marco para la recopilación de datos y la presentación de informes durante un período de dos años de supervisión departamental, entre otras disposiciones. El acuerdo no constituye ninguna admisión de responsabilidad por parte de las entidades, y el Departamento no ha llegado a un hallazgo de discriminación.
La no discriminación en virtud del Título VI, la ley de Calles Seguras y la ADA es una de las principales prioridades de la División de Derechos Civiles. Hay más información disponible sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en www.justice.gov/crt.
Los miembros del público pueden denunciar posibles infracciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Dubuque Man Who Distributed Fentanyl Resulting in an Overdose Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed and sold fentanyl pills was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison.
Anthony Frank Ernst, age 39, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 9, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, in April 2023, Ernst distributed pills that contained fentanyl to an individual who, in turn, distributed pills to another person. That person took the pills, which caused the person to suffer an overdose. A few days later, officers stopped a car that Ernst was a passenger in. Ernst was in possession of more than 240 fentanyl pills. On June 7, 2023, Ernst sold marijuana and fentanyl to a confidential informant who was working with law enforcement, and, in the early morning on June 9, 2023, officers again stopped a car that Ernst was a passenger in. Ernst was in possession of controlled substances, including fentanyl.
Ernst was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Ernst was sentenced to 94 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Ernst is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was also investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Lacrosse, Wisconsin, Drug Task Force, and the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of the Dubuque Police Department and the Dubuque Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-1019.
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Dublin Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Damaging Former Employer’s ComputersRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Dublin resident Vamsikrishna Naganathanahalli was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for damaging computers belonging to his former employer. The Honorable Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, U.S. District Judge, handed down the sentence.
Naganathanahalli, 49, pleaded guilty on Aug. 15, 2024, to three counts of knowingly causing the transmission of a program, information, code, or command, and as a result of such conduct, intentionally causing damage without authorization, to a protected computer. According to his plea agreement, defendant worked for MedAmerica, Inc., part of the Vituity group of companies, from October 2018 to June 2022. Vituity, based in Emeryville, Calif., included physician partners and other healthcare professional employees who worked as contractors in hospital emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, telehealth providers, and other clinical settings. The company also employed non-clinical healthcare personnel who worked with healthcare providers in various facilities. Vituity used the Oracle Human Capital Management (“HCM”) platform to organize core human resources data for its approximately 7,000 employees. The HCM platform contained records for current and past Vituity employees, including their Social Security numbers, salaries, and addresses. Naganathanahalli worked for Vituity as a Senior HCM Architect.
Defendant admitted that, on May 28, 2022, the day after being told that his employment at Vituity was being terminated, he used his access to a privileged HCM service account to change the password for another employee’s privileged Vituity HCM account without authorization. On or about Sept. 6, 2022, after his employment had ended, he used that privileged HCM account to change the HCM password for a Vituity contractor. That same day, he used the contractor’s account to load files containing “dummy” or “masked” data, which replaced real data, to the Vituity HCM live production environment. As Naganathanahalli admitted, the generic masked data overwrote the real data for approximately 90 percent of Vituity employees, current and former. Defendant’s conduct caused a loss to Vituity of at least $400,930.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Gonzalez Rogers also ordered Naganathanahalli to pay $400,930 in restitution and a $300 special assessment and sentenced him to a three-year period of supervised release. The defendant will begin serving his sentence on July 20, 2025.
United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Dan Costin made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle J. Kane and Nikhil Bhagat are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kathy Tat. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Drug Dealer Receives 235 Months After Picking up a Package with 4 Pounds of Methamphetamine InsideRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Mitchell Bostic, age 41, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 15, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Brian C. Buescher sentenced Bostic to 235 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bostic’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On December 5, 2023, law enforcement intercepted a package that contained nearly 4 pounds of meth in Nebraska. On December 6, 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of the package whereby Bostic and Stephanie Cummings picked up the package at a residence in Omaha and law enforcement surveilled Bostic and Cummings as they drove away in Bostic’s vehicle. Believing law enforcement was following them, Bostic instructed Cummings to throw the package containing meth out of the car window. Law enforcement located the package and subsequently conducted a traffic stop of Bostic’s vehicle and both Bostic and Cummings were arrested. Cummings is awaiting sentencing in federal court.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Doctor Jailed for HIPAA ViolationsRead the Press Release
An Iowa emergency room doctor and medical resident, who violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) by viewing the medical records of multiple women who were not his patients, was sentenced today to a month in jail. Dr. Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Roman, age 31, from Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, received the term of incarceration after a June 28, 2024, guilty plea to one count of wrongfully obtaining individually identifiable health information relating to an individual under false pretenses.
At his plea and sentencing hearings, Dr. Hernandez-Roman admitted that, between 2020 and 2022, he knowingly and without authorization obtained the protected health information of multiple women at hospitals in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Dr. Hernandez-Roman was working as a resident doctor in Iowa emergency rooms at the time, including at “Hospital-1” in Cedar Rapids and “Hospital-2” in Iowa City.
In January 2022, Dr. Hernandez-Roman viewed the medical records of “K.F.” at Hospital-1 in Cedar Rapids without her knowledge or consent. K.F. was never Dr. Hernandez Roman’s patient and was not a patient in Hospital-1’s emergency department at the time. When K.F. discovered what Dr. Hernandez-Roman had done, Dr. Hernandez-Roman asked K.F. to tell Hospital-1, falsely, that K.F. had given Dr. Hernandez-Roman permission to look at her medical records.
Dr. Hernandez Roman also admitted to accessing K.F.’s medical records at Hospital-2 in March 2021, as well as the medical records of “M.C.” at Hospital-2 in October 2020. After receiving an anonymous complaint about Dr. Hernandez-Roman being romantically involved with patients, accessing their medical records, and threatening them, Hospital-2 discovered that Dr. Hernandez-Roman had illegally accessed K.F. and M.C.’s records. The records included M.C.’s health records when she was a minor and her adult psychological records.
Dr. Hernandez Roman also admitted that, in January 2022, he sent a photograph of one of Hospital-1’s patients in Cedar Rapids to another individual via SnapChat. The photograph showed the patient in a hospital setting, wearing a gown, with the patient’s rectum clearly hanging out of the body. Dr. Hernandez Roman had no legitimate medical purpose for taking this photograph or, further, for sending it via SnapChat to the individual.
Finally, Dr. Hernandez Roman admitted that, in June 2023, he mailed a letter to the Iowa Board of Medicine in which he admitted accessing the confidential medical records of K.F. and M.C. and also to sharing the photograph of the prolapsed rectum. In his plea agreement, Dr. Hernandez Roman admitted he falsely wrote in the letter that he had sent the photograph of the prolapsed rectum to his mother to remind her of the importance of fiber intake.
Dr. Hernandez-Roman was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Dr. Hernandez Roman was sentenced to a month of imprisonment and fined $1,000. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Dr. Hernandez-Roman is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-34.
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Des Moines Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced today to 17 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that led to the overdose death of a one-year child.
According to public court documents, Kenneth Leroy Quinn, 23, also known as “Coach K,” distributed several pills containing fentanyl on April 29, 2023. Quinn’s customer used some of the pills and brought the remaining pills home. The customer’s one-year-old son ingested the fentanyl mixture and died of acute fentanyl toxicity. Law enforcement began an investigation into Quinn and purchased marijuana from Quinn six times. In November 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Quinn’s Des Moines residence and located four firearms, more than five pounds of marijuana, nearly an ounce of methamphetamine, and three-quarters of an ounce of cocaine.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Quinn will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Quinn was also ordered to pay $1847 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the West 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 the dangers of fentanyl and the One Pill Can Kill program.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine.
According to public court documents, Richard Dean Putnam, 62, was found in possession of more than 85 grams of methamphetamine and 200 grams of marijuana at his Council Bluffs residence in March 2024. Putnam also possessed nearly $10,000, two pellet guns, and two rounds of ammunition. Putnam had previously been convicted of felony drug offenses and domestic abuse assault charges in the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County, both which prohibit him from possessing firearms and ammunition.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Putnam will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force.
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.
Conway Man and Woman Sentenced to More Than 30 Years Combined for Online Enticement of MinorsRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE - On January 15, 2025, Benjamin Coney, age 30, and Emily Grace Brinley, age 26, both of Conway, Arkansas, were sentenced to a combined 378 months in prison without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of Online Enticement of a Minor in violation of federal law. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which was held in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, in November of 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, began an undercover investigation targeting online predators seeking minors for sexual activity. Between November 19, 2023, to November 27, 2023, a male and female couple, later identified as Coney and Brinley, messaged an undercover FBI officer posing as the mother of two young girls. In messages sent by the couple, they detailed their intended abuse of the two young girls and arranged to drive from Conway to Bentonville to engage in the sexual acts. When the couple arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location, they were met by law enforcement officers and immediately taken into custody. Among the items located in their vehicle were sexual aides and lubricant.
Coney and Brinley were indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas in May of 2024. Benjamin Coney entered a plea of guilty in September of 2023 and was sentenced to 210 months imprisonment to be followed by 25 years of supervision. Emily Grace Brinley entered a plea of guilty in July of 2023 and was sentenced to 168 months to be followed by 15 years of supervision.
U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Benton County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Columbus Woman Convicted of Trafficking in Counterfeit GoodsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Christine L. Parry, age 62, of Columbus, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 16, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for trafficking in counterfeit goods. United States District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Parry to time already served and a $12,000 fine. Parry was also ordered to pay an additional $1,935 in restitution to two victims.
On July 26, 2021, Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) agents at a FedEx facility in Anchorage, Alaska, inspected goods arriving from China. The CBP agents discovered a package addressed to Parry in Columbus. The package contained counterfeit goods, including imitation Birkenstock sandals, Ray Ban sunglasses, Chanel earrings, Louis Vuitton bags, and Louis Vuitton shoes. Records obtained from shipping companies, such as FedEx and DHL, showed numerous deliveries of packages from China and Taiwan to Parry.
Information obtained from Facebook revealed that Parry had been operating an online store named “Bugaboo Boutique,” at least since April 2019, and continuing to August 2022, which sold numerous counterfeit goods just like the counterfeit goods seized by CBP on July 26, 2021.
HSI agents obtained search warrants for Facebook accounts associated with Parry and the Bugaboo Boutique online store. The records revealed that Parry knowingly sold counterfeit goods through their online store. The counterfeit goods were described using words such as “inspired by” name brand goods. The counterfeit goods were described as virtually identical to the name brand goods but sold at a more affordable price because they were sourced through a different manufacturer. The counterfeit goods included items such as clothing, footwear, purses, bags, wallets, tumblers, headphones, and sports apparel which had counterfeit marks identical to, or substantially indistinguishable from, marks used by many name brand companies which were in use and registered for goods on the principal register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A search warrant was obtained for the Parry’s residence and executed on August 10, 2022. HSI agents seized counterfeit goods, various records associated the purchase and sale of such counterfeit goods, and electronic devices which were used to help facilitate the sale of counterfeit goods through the online store “Bugaboo Boutique.”
At Parry’s sentencing hearing, Judge Bazis remarked about how businesses who work hard to develop a reputation for making quality products are substantially harmed when counterfeit goods are sold. The counterfeit goods are far inferior in quality. And even when the initial purchaser of the counterfeit goods are told that the goods are counterfeit, often times those purchasers turn around and sell them to other unsuspecting customers who do not realize they are being sold counterfeit goods.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security.
City of Española Agrees to Pay $3.9M to Resolve Allegations It Trespassed on Santa Clara Pueblo Land for DecadesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – The United States of America, the City of Española and the Pueblo of Santa Clara have entered into a comprehensive Settlement Agreement to resolve longstanding disputes regarding Española water and sewer lines, streets, and other utility facilities in trespass on Pueblo lands. The City of Española has agreed to pay $3.9 million to resolve claims related to water and sewer lines, streets, and other utility facilities maintained on Pueblo lands without proper easements.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the United States in 2016, alleging that Española’s water and sewer lines were trespassing on Santa Clara's lands following the expiration of previously granted rights-of-way. Santa Clara intervened in the lawsuit, asserting additional claims for trespassing streets and utility facilities.
Under the terms of the agreement, Española will pay $2.5 million to Santa Clara as compensation for new 25-year easements, subject to certain credits. Additionally, Española will pay $1.4 million over 20 years as compensation for past use of Santa Clara lands through July 1, 2022.
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the sovereignty of tribal communities as well as building the partnerships between neighbors that are necessary to navigate our complex and interconnected world,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez. “This settlement not only rights historic intrusions, but commits the parties to future accord, beginning with a public apology. This is a meaningful first step towards reconciliation between the City of Española and the Pueblo of Santa Clara, allowing us to unite for a future built on mutual respect and cooperation.”
The agreement requires Española to obtain the new easements for its facilities on Santa Clara lands, subject to approval by the Secretary of the Interior. The Bureau of Indian Affairs will provide technical assistance in developing the right-of-way applications.
As part of the settlement, Española agreed to publish a public apology for the delay in resolving the dispute. That apology appeared in the Legal Notices section of the Rio Grande SUN in its Thursday, January 9, 2025, edition. Española will also work cooperatively with the Pueblo and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to complete the necessary right-of-way applications and environmental reviews.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Santa Clara Pueblo Governor James Naranjo made the announcement today.
The government’s investigations were led by DOJ ENRD Trial Attorney Samuel D. Gollis, Assistant United States Attorney Cassandra C. Currie, and DOI Senior Indian Law Attorney Stephanie P. Kiger.
Settlement Agreement - Executed.pdfThe claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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Chicago Man Convicted of Kidnapping, Carjacking, and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a Chicago man on multiple criminal charges for kidnapping two drivers and sexually assaulting one of them at gunpoint.
ANDREW ANANIA, 29, was convicted Monday on all counts against him, including two counts of kidnapping, one count of carjacking, and one count of using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. The guilty verdicts were returned after a two-week trial in federal court in Chicago. Anania faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a maximum of life. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set sentencing for May 13, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
Evidence at trial revealed that Anania kidnapped an Uber driver on March 8, 2021, in Darien, Ill. Anania showed the driver a gun and forced her to drive to Chicago and park in alleys, where he sexually assaulted her before fleeing on foot. On March 10, 2021, Anania and another man, WALTER MORAN, kidnapped a woman who was on her way to work in Cicero, Ill. Anania pointed a gun at the driver and drove himself, Moran, and the victim to Chicago, where Moran exchanged gunfire with others on the street. The pair eventually released the victim and took her car.
Anania pleaded guilty prior to trial to another kidnapping and carjacking. That incident occurred on Feb. 27, 2021, in Chicago, when Anania got in a vehicle with the driver, claimed he had a gun, and sexually assaulted her. The woman escaped when the car stopped at an intersection. Anania fled in the vehicle and crashed it a short time later.
Anania committed all of the offenses while awaiting trial in a separate federal firearm case. Anania had been released on bond in that case after a court hearing at which the government had moved for detention.
Moran, 31, of Cicero, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to kidnapping and carjacking charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Chang on March 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
The jury convictions were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the Cicero, Ill. Police Department, Summit, Ill. Police Department, Stickney, Ill. Police Department, Chicago Police Department, Darien, Ill. Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cornelius Vandenberg, Megan Donohue, and Hayley Altabef.
Chicago Businessman Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Bilking Elderly Homeowners in Reverse Mortgage SchemeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A Chicago businessman was sentenced today to more than 17 years in federal prison for bilking elderly homeowners in a reverse mortgage and home repair scheme.
MARK STEVEN DIAMOND schemed with others to induce homeowners to unwittingly obtain reverse mortgage loans to pay for purported home repairs that Diamond offered to perform. Diamond and the co-schemers targeted elderly victims in the Chicago area based on the amount of equity in their homes and their relative lack of financial sophistication. In some instances, Diamond concealed from the homeowners that they were applying for reverse mortgage loans by falsely representing that they needed to sign certain documents to start the repair work, when, in fact, the documents that Diamond caused them to sign were related to applying for the loan. After the loans were approved and originated by co-schemers, Diamond fraudulently pocketed the loan proceeds and often failed to perform any repairs.
Diamond, 68, of Chicago, pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of wire fraud affecting a financial institution. In addition to the 205-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama ordered Diamond to pay $2.7 million in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Rae Oliver Davis, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General. The government was represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Netols and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Kelly.
“Mark Diamond repeatedly preyed on the elderly for years,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “He damaged the most vulnerable in our community, both financially and personally. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who seeks to deceive elderly homeowners through fraud.”
“Diamond’s scheme defrauded more than 100 elderly and vulnerable homeowners, preying upon their trust and devastating them financially,” said HUD-OIG Inspector General Davis. “His sentencing today is a sobering reminder of the unique harm caused by predatory reverse mortgage schemes. These egregious criminal acts will not be tolerated, and my agency will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold other individuals like Diamond accountable for their actions.”
“The reverse mortgage fraud scheme perpetrated by the defendant preyed on some of the most vulnerable Chicagoans,” said FBI Chicago SAC DePodesta. “Combatting white-collar crime stands as a foremost priority for the FBI. With the assistance of our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and dismantle financial fraud schemes aimed at harming members of our community.”
“Many of these victims were older homeowners who worked and saved their entire their lives, and their only mistake was trusting an individual who specifically targeted them to be victims of his scam,” said Attorney General Raoul. “My office is proud to partner with the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General in Chicago, and the Chicago Field Office of the FBI to obtain a degree of justice for the victims who were defrauded. This sentence underscores the importance of the state-federal law enforcement collaborations that support my office’s work to hold accountable individuals who prey upon our most vulnerable residents.”
All four co-schemers charged in the investigation – loan originators GARY BOHN, of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and MATTHEW FEFFERMAN, of Munster, Ind., Diamond’s employee CYNTHIA WALLACE, of Sauk Village, Ill., and title agency owner FORREST C. FAWCETT, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – previously pleaded guilty and admitted their roles in the fraud. They are awaiting sentencing.
Cherokee County Resident Pleads Guilty to Felony Arson ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sheena Grasshopper, age 41, of Cherokee County, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Arson of a Dwelling in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that on July 31, 2023, Grasshopper willfully and maliciously attempted to set fire to and burn a building and place the life of a person in jeopardy. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Grasshopper will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Flanigan and Edith Singer represented the United States.
Canadian Gun Smuggler SentencedRead the Press Release
Austin, Texas – A Canadian national was sentenced today to 82 months in prison and given a $30,000.00 fine for illegally purchasing handguns with the intent to smuggle them into Canada.
According to court documents, Harsimran Dhaliwal, 31, a Canadian citizen, was operating a gun smuggling operation to smuggle handguns, which are illegal in Canada, across the border and distribute them to criminals. In 2022, Dhaliwal made arrangements with a straw purchaser to obtain numerous handguns in and around the Austin area. Dhaliwal then smuggled the handguns back to Canada. At least two of those weapons have been recovered in Canada and linked to crimes committed there.
“The international smuggling of firearms is dangerous and harmful and our office will vigorously prosecute persons who illegally obtain, transport, and distribute guns” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke prosecuted the case.
Burlington Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A Burlington, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Winston-Salem to 9 years in prison after pleading guilty to a drug charge and a related firearm charge, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
FREDRICK DONTAE SLADE, age 50, was sentenced to 108 months imprisonment plus 3 years supervised release by the Honorable Loretta C. Biggs, Senior United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. In addition to prison and supervision, SLADE was ordered to forfeit a Glock-type privately made pistol and 9mm ammunition.
According to court records, on March 23, 2022, Alamance County Sheriff’s Office deputies approached SLADE while he was parked at a local business after noting SLADE was driving on a suspended license and had completed a suspected drug delivery. SLADE refused officer commands to get out of the vehicle. As one of the officers opened his driver door, SLADE placed the car in reverse and stepped on the gas. SLADE dragged the officer approximately 35 feet before stopping. Upon searching SLADE and his vehicle, officers discovered over 8 grams of cocaine base and a tan polymer “ghost gun,” similar in design to a Glock pistol, which is more difficult for law enforcement to trace. The gun was loaded and attached to a 50-round drum magazine with thirteen rounds of ammunition in it. Attached to the weapon was a “Glock switch,” which functions as a machine gun and allowed the Glock-type ghost gun to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.
SLADE pleaded guilty on June 5, 2024, to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and one count of felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
The case was investigated by Alamance County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by MDNC Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey A. Freeman and former Assistant United States Attorney Jack M. Alsup.
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.
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Brentwood Couple Sentenced for Making False Statements on Residential Loan ApplicationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Two residents of Brentwood, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and were sentenced in federal court on January 15, 2025, on charges of making false statements on a loan application, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Husband and wife Brennan and Angela McNally each pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to one count of making a false statement on a loan application. In separate sentencing hearings, Judge Fischer ordered each defendant to spend a day in the custody of the United States Marshals Service, to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Additionally, both defendants were ordered to pay restitution to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $26,251.
In connection with the guilty pleas and sentencings, the Court was advised that Brennan, 43, and Angela, 43, each made false statements and representations pertaining to Angela’s residential loan application, specifically, regarding Angela’s employment status and income. Both defendants made these false statements knowingly and for the purpose of influencing the mortgage lending business’s action on the loan application.
In sentencing each defendant, Judge Fischer noted the serious nature of the federal felony offense and the harm that such criminal conduct has on the lender and mortgage industry.
“When the McNallys lied so that they could get a federally funded loan, they put themselves above the worthy and qualified applicants for whom the funds were intended,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “We appreciate the work of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General in this case and will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to stamp out financial fraud wherever we find it.”
“The defendants engaged in an egregious scheme to misrepresent the spouse’s employment, falsely claiming she was a federal employee to take advantage of a HUD-insured mortgage program designed to assist hard-working individuals realize the American dream of homeownership,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. “No one is above the law and our office will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to investigate individuals who jeopardize the integrity of FHA mortgage programs.”
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Brennan and Angela McNally.
Boyfriend Sentenced to 40 Years for Murdering Romantic Rival in Southeast in September 2021Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Vernon Parrish, 41, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for first-degree murder while armed and related charges for the September 26, 2021 murder of his romantic rival, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
A jury returned guilty verdicts on July 9, 2024, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, for first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to the evidence, Parrish drove to the home of Ronald Bailey, in the 5200 block of E Street Southeast, Washington D.C., armed with a firearm. Parrish intended to kill Bailey because they were both involved in a romantic relationship with the same woman. Parrish sped down E Street, got out of his car in front of Mr. Bailey’s home, screamed for Mr. Bailey, and then fired multiple shots into Mr. Bailey’s house before fleeing the scene. Mr. Bailey was killed in the gunfire.
Parrish was arrested on October 6, 2021. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the FBI Washington Field Office Cellular Analysis Survey Team. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bromwich, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Kimak and Alec Levy, who investigated and tried the case.
Boone County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Billy Ray Castle Jr., 40, of Bim, 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 July 24, 2023, Castle fired three rounds from a Beretta Pietro SPA Model APX 9mm pistol into the ceiling of a Bim-area residence in Boone County and a fourth round out the open door of the residence. Responding law enforcement seized the Beretta, a Sig Sauer model P250 .40-caliber pistol and a Marlin Firearms Co. model X7 .308-caliber rifle at the residence. Castle possessed all three firearms.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Castle knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for robbery in Boone County Circuit Court on November 18, 2003. In that offense, Castle and others violently robbed a 65-year-old person who uses a wheelchair in the person’s home in 2002.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Boone County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe and former Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams 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. 2:24-cr-71.
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Bollinger Shipyard LLC Agrees to Pay $1,025,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Involving Billing the Coast Guard for Employees Ineligible to Work in the United StatesRead the Press Release
Bollinger Shipyard LLC (Bollinger), a Lockport, Louisiana, based company, has agreed to pay $1,025,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing the U.S. Coast Guard for labor provided by workers who were not eligible to work in the United States.
Bollinger manufactures ships for the United States, including the Coast Guard’s Fast Response Cutter (FRC). The United States alleged that, from 2015-2020, Bollinger knowingly billed the Coast Guard for labor prohibited under the FRC contracts. Specifically, the United States alleged that Bollinger was contractually required to confirm that its employees were eligible to work in the United States. The United States further alleges that Bollinger failed to comply with this requirement and, as a result, several ineligible employees worked on the contract. Further, the United States alleged that Bollinger billed the Coast Guard for the labor provided by the ineligible employees and received payment for those bills.
“It is essential to the safety and operational readiness of our fleet that contractors comply with all contractual requirements,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to hold accountable those who knowingly disregard their contractual obligations.”
“Companies that conduct business with the United States are required to do so in a legitimate manner,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “The favorable resolution of these False Claims Act allegations illustrates the collaboration and commitment by our federal partners to use all available remedies to address signs of fraud, waste and abuse.”
“Today’s settlement sends a clear message that contractors providing services to DHS programs will be held accountable for breaking the law,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari Ph.D. of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “DHS’ Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize protecting our national security from these kinds of schemes.”
“The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) is committed to continually working with all our law enforcement partners to protect and secure taxpayer funds and aggressively act to fully investigate allegations of false claims involving the Coast Guard,” said Assistant Director William Hicks of CGIS.
Senior Trial Counsel Art J. Coulter of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Lee Sears for the Eastern District of Louisiana handled the matter.
DHS OIG and CGIS assisted in the investigation.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Settlement
Bvi Man Sentenced in Illegal Alien Smuggling CaseRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Danny Dennevil, alias Danny Dorcine-Turnbull, 34, of Tortola, BVI, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy to 92 days of imprisonment following his plea of guilty to the charge of illegally bringing aliens to the United States.
According to court documents, on September 25, 2024, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations agents were patrolling United States waters in the area of Leinster Bay, St. John, when they observed a small vessel traveling from the British Virgin Islands towards Leinster Bay without navigational lights, as required by law. Agents observed the vessel, operated by Dennevil, arrive at Leinster Bay and two individuals disembarked. Agents intercepted Dennevil’s vessel as he attempted to flee, while agents at Leinster Bay apprehended two Dominican Republic nationals who disembarked the vessel. Neither individual had legal status to be present in the United States. When questioned by the agents, Dennevil, himself a Dominican Republic national with Belonger status in the British Virgin Islands, admitted that he knew that Leinster Bay was not a legal port of entry and that his two passengers were citizens of the Dominican Republic.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and the United States Coast Guard and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.
Attempted Attack on the White House with a Rented Box Truck Results in 8-Year Sentence for Missouri ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Sai Varshith Kandula, 20, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 96 months in federal prison for an attempted attack on the White House with a rented truck on May 22, 2023, an attack that aimed to overthrow the democratically elected government of the United States in order to replace it with a dictatorship fueled by Nazi ideology.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge William McCool of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterterrorism Division, Chief Jessica M. Taylor of the U.S. Park Police, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Kandula pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024, to a charge of willful injury or depredation of property of the United States before U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. Kandula is an Indian national who was born in Chandanagar, India. At the time of the incident, he was a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. with a green card. In addition to the prison term, Judge Friedrich ordered Kandula to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Kandula flew on a commercial flight from St. Louis, Missouri, to Washington D.C. on the afternoon of May 22, 2023, connecting through another airport on a one-way airline ticket. Kandula arrived at Dulles International Airport about 5:20 p.m., and rented a truck at 6:30 p.m. He stopped for food and gas, and then drove to Washington, D.C., where he crashed into the barriers protecting White House and President’s Park at 9:35 p.m. at the intersection of H Street, Northwest and 16th Street, Northwest. Kandula drove onto the sidewalk, sending pedestrians running from the scene. After striking the barriers, the truck backed up in reverse, then lurched forward, striking the metal barriers a second time. The second impact disabled the truck which began smoking from the engine compartment and leaking fluids.
Kandula next exited the vehicle and went to the back of the truck. From a backpack he removed a flag, a three-by-five foot red-and-white banner with a Nazi Swastika in the center, and brandished it. U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Secret Service officers arrested Kandula at the scene and took him into custody.
According to the plea agreement, at the time Kandula crashed the truck into the White House perimeter, he was attempting to gain access to the White House to seize political power. Kandula’s intent was to replace the democratically elected government with a dictatorship fueled by ideology of Nazi Germany and for himself to be put in charge of the United States. Kandula admitted to investigators that he would have arranged for the killing of the U.S. President and others if necessary to achieve his objective. His actions were calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion.
Kandula’s actions caused $4,322 in damage to the National Park Service. This amount included costs for repairing the metal bollard barriers to their original condition and ensuring structural soundness, oil and chemical removal, spill cleanup, and disposal of fluids from the crashed U-Haul. The damaged property was property of a department or agency of the United States, specifically the National Park Service, an agency of the United States federal government, within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Kandula planned the attack for several weeks. Prior to renting the truck and crashing it on White House grounds, he made several attempts to gain access to vehicles or armed security guards. For example, on April 22, 2023, Kandula requested 25 armed guards and an armored convoy from a security company located in Virginia. On May 4, 2023, Kandula attempted to contact several other companies in an attempt to rent a large commercial tractor-trailer truck, a dump truck, or another large truck. Kandula was unsuccessful in arraigning for security guards or a tractor-trailer truck or dump truck. Kandula had attempted to arrange for the services of these security guards and the use of large vehicles in order to carry out his offense against the U.S. Government.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Park Police, and the MPD. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Schneider and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar.
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As Carjackings Decline in D.C., Defendants Face 57-Count Indictment for Spree of Armed Carjackings and ShootingsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Deangelo Wooten, 27, Jaleel Fowler, 26, and other co-conspirators were indicted today on a 57-count indictment filed in Superior Court, charging them as members of a conspiracy that have robbed, carjacked, and shot numerous individuals in the District of Columbia between December 2023 and March 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The indictment returned today charges Wooten and Fowler with conspiracy, multiple carjackings and armed robberies, multiple assaults with intent to kill, obstruction of justice, and other related charges stemming from a course of violent conduct committed throughout the city in late 2023 and early 2024. The indictment details how the Defendants would use firearms to steal cars and rob individuals of their belongings during the commission of numerous offenses. The indictment charges three separate carjackings committed upon rideshare driver victims in December 2023 and January 2024, in addition to four separate shootings committed in the District from December 2023 through February 2024.
In December 2024, the District of Columbia had 28 carjackings. The last month that had fewer carjackings was May of 2021. The District has had 10 carjackings as of January 16, 2025.
“Despite the massive reduction in carjacking incidents, this Office remains vigilant in aggressively pursuing and prosecuting those committing these crimes because one carjacking is too many,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “As this indictment reflects, we will hold accountable those committing these crimes by thoroughly investigating and prosecuting these carjacking incidents.”
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Levy and Sara Matar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Antlers Resident Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clyde Park Crews III, age 34, of Antlers, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
On September 4, 2024, Crews pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, between December 2022 and May 2023, Crews induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct in order to produce and transmit images of that conduct on the internet.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com, through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Crews will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Aneth Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering Navajo WomanRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Randy Lansing, 41, of Aneth, Utah, was sentenced today to a term of life in prison for murdering a woman he was dating in front of her two young daughters.
The sentence, imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge David Nuffer, comes after Lansing was found guilty by a federal jury for murder in the second degree while within Indian Country.
According to court documents, evidence presented at trial, and statements made at Lansing’s sentencing hearing, Lansing murdered Tammy Clark, on April 23, 2022. Clark was a 30-year-old mother of three, who Lansing severely beat and drowned in front of her two young daughters. During trial, the evidence established that on the day of the murder, Lansing drove Ms. Clark, her two young daughters and a second woman to McElmo Creek. At the creek, Lansing violently beat and forcibly drowned Ms. Clark, causing her grievous injuries that included a broken nose, extensive facial swelling, many brain hemorrhages, lacerations to her right cheek, left ear, and inside her mouth, a fractured hyoid (neck) bone, four broken ribs, and extensive blunt force trauma to her torso and extremities.
According to statements and evidence presented at trial, Lansing also threatened Ms. Clark’s young daughter. He later drove Ms. Clark’s beaten body to Aneth in the back of his SUV, where he left the vehicle as his mother contacted neighbors for help. Several neighbors, including an EMT, called San Juan County Dispatch for an ambulance and attempted life saving measures until the ambulance arrived and transported Ms. Clark to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
“Mr. Lansing subjected Ms. Clark to an unthinkable level of brutality before her death, all witnessed by her young daughters,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “He has a history of violence against women, which escalated to the heinous murder of this young mother. While no prison sentence can ever make up for the life stolen from Ms. Clark’s family, it is our hope her children can continue to heal and move forward after being profoundly impacted by the gravity of Lansing’s crime.”
“Randy Lansing’s horrific actions will forever have a profound impact on the victim’s family, especially her two young children,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Albert Kelly of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our tribal and other law enforcement partners to seek justice and support victims of such heinous crimes.”
The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Monticello Resident Agency and Navajo Nation Police Department, Criminal Investigations.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tad May and Tanner Zumwalt prosecuted the case.
American Express Agrees to Pay More Than $138 Million to Resolve Wire Fraud Investigation in Connection with the Sales and Marketing of Wire ProductsRead the Press Release
Judy Philips, Acting Attorney for the United States for the Eastern District of New York and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), announced today that American Express Company (AMEX) has entered into a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (the Office), and has agreed to pay more than $138 million for engaging in sales practices that provided inaccurate tax advice to customers and potential customers of AMEX for two wire products, Payroll Rewards and Premium Wire (PR/PW).
Under the terms of the NPA, AMEX agreed to pay a criminal fine of $77,696,000 and forfeit a total of $60,700,000. The NPA requires AMEX to continue to cooperate with and provide information to the Office for at least the 36-month term of the agreement. In the event that AMEX violates the NPA, the Office may prosecute AMEX for any of the conduct that gave rise to the NPA and any newly discovered criminal activity.
Separately, AMEX has entered a civil settlement with the Department of Justice’s Civil Division Fraud Section (Civil Frauds) related to the tax-avoidance scheme, for which AMEX has agreed to pay a $60,700,000 civil penalty. The Office and Civil Frauds have each agreed to credit approximately $30,350,000 of the forfeiture amount and civil fine to their respective resolutions.
“Financial institutions like American Express have no business pitching inaccurate tax avoidance schemes to sell products and turn a quick profit,” stated Acting Attorney for the United States Philips. “This resolution ensures that American Express will be held financially accountable for the unacceptable conduct of its sales employees in misrepresenting the tax benefits of these products.”
Ms. Philips expressed her appreciation to Civil Frauds and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for their work on the case.
“American Express misled their customers by touting tax breaks that simply didn’t exist. This deceitful marketing campaign that involved hundreds of employees defrauding their customers and the government, resulted in AMEX paying more than $138 million to cover their deceit. Regardless of a company’s size, every business is required to comply with the laws of this nation, including all tax laws,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.
The Improper Sales and Marketing of PR/PW
In approximately April 2018, AMEX launched “Payroll Rewards,” a wire product that allowed business customers to pay their payroll via a direct payment from an AMEX account. AMEX charged a percentage-based fee—ranging from 1.77% to 3.5%—based on the size of the wire, even though, at the time, competitors offered wiring services for nominal fees of $0 to $50, irrespective of the size of the wire. In exchange for AMEX’s fee, customers earned one Membership Reward (MR) point for each $1 of the wire, which could be deposited into any personal or business account at AMEX. In May 2019, Payroll Rewards was expanded to include Premium Wire, thereby allowing customers to use the products for wire payments beyond payroll. Whereas Payroll Rewards underwent a compliance and legal review process at AMEX, Premium Wire was determined to be a spin-off product, and only underwent a limited review process.
PR/PW were sold within the AMEX divisions Global Commercial Services, which offered corporate credit cards and financial services, and FX International Payments, which offered foreign and domestic wire transfer services. AMEX’s official marketing material for PR/PW listed benefits of the products as being, chiefly, the ability to earn MR and utilize AMEX’s “white glove service” in connection with customer wiring needs. The official marketing materials also contained the disclaimer: “The value of the [MR] may be taxable income to the Card Member and the Card Member is responsible for any federal or state taxes resulting from the [MR].”
In practice, however, the products were marketed as a means to generate tax savings. The products were primarily marketed to small and mid-size businesses that valued a reduced tax burden over increased profitability. Customers were advised: first, that the fees were tax-deductible as a business expense, and thereby had the effect of lowering their overall profit and taxable income; second, that they otherwise would have paid taxes on the fees, so the true cost of the fees had to be evaluated in the context of their effective tax rate; and, third, that the MR received in exchange for the transaction was earned tax-free (the Pitch). As a result, the value of the MR outweighed the true cost of the fees adjusted to account for the tax savings they generated.
The Pitch relied on incorrect tax advice, namely, that the wiring fee was deductible in its entirety as a business expense. Business expenses must be “ordinary” and “necessary.” Incurring a wiring fee—far in excess of that offered by competitors in the marketplace—for the purpose of generating a personal benefit is not an “ordinary” and “necessary” business expense. AMEX did not consult with tax professionals to verify the tax advice being offered.
In early 2021, as concerns grew regarding the way PR/PW was marketed, an internal investigation commenced, which ultimately resulted in the termination of approximately 200 employees. In the summer of 2021, AMEX stopped enrolling new customers in the products. In September 2021, a cap was instituted of $280,000 per wire sent. In November 2021, the products were discontinued entirely.
The Non-Prosecution Agreement
AMEX has agreed to pay a fine of $77,696,000 and forfeit $60,700,000, which represents the net revenue that could reasonably be attributed to the sale of PR/PW.
The Office reached this resolution with AMEX after carefully weighing all the factors relevant to the appropriate corporate resolution, including the nature and seriousness of the offense. The NPA recognizes that AMEX voluntarily took substantial remedial measures beginning in 2021 to mitigate and correct the sales and marketing practices described above and improving compliance measures, including terminating employees involved in the misconduct, discontinuing PR/PW, and making significant improvements to AMEX’s product approval and internal audit processes. AMEX also has no prior criminal history in the past 18 years. Furthermore, AMEX has cooperated with the Office in its investigation and has agreed to continue to cooperate fully with the Office.
The agreement announced today is the result of an investigation conducted by IRS-CI. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section in coordination with the Office’s Bank Integrity Task Force, which is charged with investigating and charging corporate and individual actors who launder criminal proceeds using the U.S. banking system and enforcing anti-money laundering controls under the Bank Secrecy Act. Assistant United States Attorneys Hiral D. Mehta, Gillian Kassner and Tara McGrath, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian D. Morris prosecuted the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Timothy Migliaro.
The Defendant:
amex_npa_agreement_print.pdfAMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
American Express Agrees to Pay $108.7M to Settle Allegations of Deceptive Marketing and “Dummy” Account InformationRead the Press Release
The American Express Company (American Express), based in New York, New York, has agreed to pay a $108.7 million civil penalty to resolve allegations that it violated the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) by deceptively marketing credit card and wire transfer products and by entering “dummy” Employer Identification Numbers in the credit card accounts of its affiliate bank.
“When financial companies engage in deceptive sales tactics or falsify information to cover up a failure to follow applicable regulations, they threaten the integrity of our financial system,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement makes clear that the department will hold accountable those who violate the trust placed in them to follow the rules governing our financial institutions and to be truthful about their business practices.”
The United States alleged that, from 2014 through 2017, American Express deceptively marketed credit cards through the conduct of an affiliated entity that initiated sales calls to small businesses. The alleged deceptive practices included misrepresenting the card rewards or fees and whether credit checks would be done without a customer’s consent and submitting falsified financial information for prospective customers, such as overstating a business’s income.
The United States also alleged that American Express engaged in practices to deceive its federally insured financial institution into allowing certain small business customers to acquire American Express credit cards without the required employer identification numbers (EINs). EINs are required by law if the card recipient is a business entity such as a corporation or partnership; the requirement does not apply to sole proprietors. The United States alleged that American Express employees used “dummy” EINs such as “123456788” in opening small business credit cards in 2015 and the first half of 2016. These cards were sold to replace an American Express co-branded credit card that was being discontinued during that time period. American Express allegedly allowed these “dummy” EINs to remain on the credit card accounts for up to two years before remediating the problem. American Express allegedly knew that many of the small business applicants had previously acquired American Express-issued co-brand cards where the card application stated that EINs were required for corporations or partnerships, but if the applicants left the EIN line blank, American Express would assume they are sole proprietors. That practice exacerbated the effects of American Express’s failure to enter proper EINs when it sold these customers replacement cards.
Finally, the United States further contended that American Express employees deceptively marketed wire transfer products known as Payroll Rewards and Premium Wire to its small business customers from 2018 through 2021, making false assertions regarding these products’ tax benefits. As to both products, American Express allegedly would wire money for an above-market fee that was far in excess of that offered by competitors in the marketplace and award the businesses or the business owners credit card membership reward points. American Express sales employees allegedly told customers that the wire transfer fees were tax deductible as business expenses, while the reward points earned on the transaction were not taxable, and thereby afforded the customer tax-free benefits. The United States contended, however, that the above-market wiring fee was not deductible as an ordinary or necessary business expense insofar as it was incurred by a customer solely for the purpose of generating a personal benefit.
Contemporaneous with the civil resolution, American Express will enter into a Non-Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and pay a criminal fine and forfeiture. That agreement deals exclusively with the Payroll Rewards and Premium Wire programs referenced above. Under the terms of the civil settlement, American Express will receive a credit toward the satisfaction of the civil penalty in the amount of $30.35 million if it makes a full payment of the forfeiture and fine amounts due under the criminal resolution.
“This multi-million-dollar settlement holds American Express accountable for violating FIRREA through unlawful sales tactics and recordkeeping requirements, and deceiving small business customers who placed their trust in the Company,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Pittano of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Region. “The FDIC-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate financial crimes that harm customers and undermine the integrity of our Nation’s financial institutions.”
“Today’s multi-million dollar settlement should make clear that financial companies who engage in fraudulent and deceptive practices will be held accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge John T. Perez of Headquarters Operations, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “We are proud to have worked alongside our federal law enforcement partners to achieve this result.”
Attorneys Daniel Spiro and Mary Beth Hickcox-Howard of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section handled the matter with assistance from the Legal Division of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Office of Comptroller of the Currency’s Chief Counsel’s Office. Senior Special Agent Brittany Harding of the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Treasury, Special Agent Will Burmeister of the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve Board and Senior Special Agent Mike Serra from the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Insurance Deposit Corporation investigated the matter.
Except for the conduct admitted in connection with the criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
View the settlement here