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13 January 2025
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Aidan J. Glenn, 25, of Lincoln, Nebraska was sentenced on January 10, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of distribution fentanyl resulting in death. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Glenn to a total of 240 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Glenn’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On August 10, 2023, Aidan Glenn sold Chase Hartung ten fentanyl pills. After Hartung received the pills, he gave five of them to T.R.H. That individual used at least one of the pills which resulted in T.R.H.’s overdose and death.
T.R.H.’s phone records showed that Hartung was T.R.H.’s only source of fentanyl. Hartung admitted he provided T.R.H. with the pill on August 11, 2023. Through conversations with Hartung and a review of Hartung’s phone law enforcement learned that Hartung and T.R.H. occasionally pooled money together to purchase M30 pills from Aidan Glenn and Wren Chamberlain.
On August 12, 2023, Hartung helped law enforcement arrange a controlled purchase of M30s from Glenn. Glenn informed Hartung that he was going to meet Michael Smith at a location in Lincoln to get more pills. Law enforcement then arrested Glenn, Chamberlain, and Smith at that location.
During recorded jail calls Glenn admitted to selling Hartung the pills that resulted in T.R.H.’s death.
Wren Chamberlain was previously sentenced on December 5, 2024, by United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis, to 51 months imprisonment and a 3-year term of supervised release for one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Chase Hartung is currently set for a court hearing on January 28, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca.
Michael Smith is currently set for sentencing on March 6, 2025, before United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.
Kennebunk Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining PPP Funds During PandemicRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Kennebunk woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to wire fraud.
According to court records, in April 2021, Meghan Martell, 33, submitted an application to a California lender for a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Martell falsely stated on the application that she was the sole proprietor of a beauty salon with gross income in 2019 of $99,870. She also submitted fraudulent documentation in support of the application, including a false tax form. The California lender transferred $20,806 in PPP funds to Martell’s bank account in Maine.
Martell faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.
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Justice Department Sues Stockton-based Nurse Practitioner to Stop Her Sale of Illegal Opioid PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
rubinger_complaint.pdfSACRAMENTO, Calif. — The United States has filed a civil complaint against nurse practitioner Joan Rubinger, registered in Stockton, that alleges a long-running nationwide scheme to sell illegal opioid prescriptions for cash, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced today.
The lawsuit asks the Court to prohibit Rubinger from prescribing controlled substances and to impose civil penalties on Rubinger for her conduct in providing more than 900 illegitimate prescriptions to customers around the country.
According to court documents, between Nov. 1, 2019, and June 17, 2024, Rubinger traveled from city to city, providing a range of services from intravenous flushes to prescriptions for controlled substances. Her unorthodox practice consisted of her, a personal assistant, and a person who managed billing. No licensed physician supervises Rubinger, and no licensed physician is associated with, or employed by, her practice. She usually met customers in non-medical environments, such as hotel rooms, without access to necessary diagnostic tools, proper medical records, or any other infrastructure required to treat chronic pain.
According to the complaint, Rubinger sold opioid prescriptions to her customers for cash, often during brief text message conversations over the encrypted messaging application Telegram. The complaint alleges that Rubinger provided her customers with price lists that invited them to select their own prescriptions from a menu of highly addictive drugs intended to treat a wide variety of medical conditions, including Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and Adderall, some of which can be dangerous in combination. Once customers paid Rubinger, she allegedly issued the requested prescriptions without conducting any examination or creating any medical records. The complaint further alleges that, to conceal the excessive quantities of drugs that she prescribed to her customers, Rubinger wrote prescriptions in the names of the customers’ friends and family members, many of whom did not consent to participate in Rubinger’s scheme, which allowed the customers to obtain opioids under false names. Many of Rubinger’s customers allegedly abused the drugs or resold them on the street.
According to court documents, Rubinger knew her conduct was illegal and gave her customers specific instructions that she told them would “make sure each patient appears as a legitimate medical patient.” In a document that she titled “THE RULES,” Rubinger explained to new customers the steps they had to take “to minimize the attention we attract from the DEA.” Among other things, Rubinger told customers they were required to pay her for prescriptions in advance because “just like at McDonald’s, you gotta pay for your burger before they hand it to you.”
The investigation and litigation of this matter illustrates the government’s continued emphasis on combating opioid abuse. Tips and complaints from all sources can be reported to the DEA at 1-877-792-2873 or https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Tennyson is litigating the case. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The complaint contains allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The case is United States v. Rubinger, 2:25-cv-00091-DAD-JDP (E.D. Cal.).
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Minnesota Restaurant Group to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured an agreement with a Minnesota-based restaurant group doing business as Brick & Bourbon. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that the restaurant group routinely discriminated against lawful permanent residents when verifying their permission to work in the United States by requiring them to provide more documents than necessary.
“It is unlawful for employers to impose additional or unnecessary requirements on employees because of their citizenship status when checking their permission to work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Discriminatory treatment during any step of the employment process harms workers who are lawfully participating in our economy and can deprive employers of their talents.”
After conducting an investigation, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) concluded that Brick & Bourbon had a longstanding practice of requiring additional and unnecessary documentation from lawful permanent residents, even after they had presented sufficient proof of their permission to work, because of their citizenship status.
Lawful permanent residents are sometimes referred to as “green card holders,” but they can show their permission to work using different types of documentation. As explained in the department’s recently-released fact sheet for lawful permanent residents, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) protects lawful permanent residents from discrimination when an employer is verifying their permission to work. The INA prohibits employers from asking for specific or unnecessary documents because of a worker’s citizenship, immigration status or national origin. Employers must allow workers to present whatever acceptable documentation the workers choose and cannot reject valid documentation that reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the worker.
Under the terms of the settlement, Brick & Bourbon will pay a $95,000 civil penalty to the United States, train its employees on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring.
IER is responsible for enforcing the INA’s anti-discrimination provision. This law prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
IER’s website has more information on lawful permanent residents’ rights under the INA and how employers can avoid unlawful discrimination when verifying someone’s permission to work. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a live webinar; watch an on-demand presentation; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Sign up for email updates from IER.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and CocaineRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan has sentenced Ronald Holland (46, Jacksonville) to 18 years and 9 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The court also ordered Holland to forfeit $1,500, which represents proceeds of the offense, and multiple firearms seized during the investigation. Holland entered a guilty plea on March 26, 2024.
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2023, Holland operated and managed a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Jacksonville. Holland and his co-conspirators acquired bulk narcotics from Mexico-based sources of supply who trafficked the narcotics through Houston, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia to Jacksonville. Holland directed two of his underlings, Annette Jones and Janice Strong, to distribute the fentanyl and methamphetamine from two houses he operated off Verbena Road in Jacksonville.
In 2022, federal agents and local law enforcement officers jointly investigated the drug trafficking activities of all three individuals. Between December 2022 and March 2023, agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of pure methamphetamine directly from Strong at one of the houses off Verbena Road. During this time, agents also conducted multiple controlled purchases of pure methamphetamine and fentanyl directly from Jones. Agents observed Holland re-supplying Jones and Strong, and accompanying Jones during drug transactions. Law enforcement officers also observed heavy foot traffic at the two houses off Verbena Road, which was indicative of drug trafficking activity.
On March 15, 2023, federal agents and local law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Holland’s apartment off Harts Road and the two houses off Verbena Road. At Holland’s apartment, agents seized approximately 680 grams of cocaine, 173 grams of pure methamphetamine, 130 grams of fentanyl, assorted drug paraphernalia, and ammunition. At the Verbena Road houses, agents seized approximately 415 grams of pure methamphetamine, 50 grams of fentanyl, and $1,500. Agents also located a Springfield Armory pistol, a North American Arms revolver, a Savage Arms rifle, two Ruger pistols, extended magazines, assorted ammunition, and a bulletproof vest.
According to the joint investigation, Holland was responsible for distributing more than 50 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, over 5 kilograms of fentanyl, and 680 grams of cocaine during the drug trafficking conspiracy. In a related case, Annette Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Janice Strong was indicted, and her case is pending trial. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh.
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.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Weslee Nathaniel Black, 39, of Huntington, was sentenced today to eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a short-barrel shotgun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 28, 2024, law enforcement officers ordered Black to exit a vehicle on the 1300 block of Marcum Terrace in Huntington and arrested him for grand larceny of the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and seized a Hatfield Gun Company model PAS 12-gauge shotgun with a shortened barrel. Black admitted that he possessed the firearm, that he knew it had a shortened barrel when he purchased it, and that it was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by law.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Black knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior conviction for domestic battery in Cabell County Magistrate Court on January 31, 2023.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor 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. 3:24-cr-84.
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Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Beecher Lee Shuler, 43, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 21, 2023, Shuler sold approximately 3.48 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $275. Shuler admitted that he conducted the transaction at his Huntington residence and arranged the transaction beforehand with the confidential informant.
On July 1, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Shuler’s residence and seized cocaine, oxycodone, at least 3,787 tablets containing protonitazene, six firearms and approximately $1,111. Protonitazene is a synthetic opioid potentially more dangerous and deadly than fentanyl, and the seized tablets weighed approximately 813 grams.
Shuler is scheduled to be sentenced on April 28, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-151.
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Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Michael Vernon Pinson Jr., 30, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 20, 2024, law enforcement officers responding to reports of an unresponsive male in a vehicle in Huntington encountered Pinson in the vehicle’s driver’s seat. Officers searched the vehicle during the encounter and found a loaded Taurus model PT111 Millennium Pro 9mm pistol in the vehicle.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Pinson knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for unlawful wounding in Cabell County Circuit Court on February 16, 2016.
Pinson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 28, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce 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. 3:24-cr-149.
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Former President and Executive Vice President of Local Teachers Union Indicted for Stealing Union Funds in Leave ScamRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Teresa Brady (69, Jacksonville) and Ruby George (81, Jacksonville) with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, eight counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud, and three counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud. Brady is also charged with two counts of money laundering. If convicted on the conspiracy, wire fraud, and mail fraud counts, Brady and George each face a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count. Brady also faces a maximum penalty of 10 years on each money laundering count. The indictment notifies Brady and George that the United States intends to forfeit at least $2,600,235.99, which are alleged to be proceeds obtained from the fraud.
According to the indictment, Brady and George were the President and Executive Vice President of Duval Teachers United (DTU), a labor union that represents Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) teachers, paraprofessionals, and office personnel. DTU has approximately 6,500 members and represents approximately 80 percent of eligible DCPS employees. DTU’s annual revenue is approximately $5 million, which is comprised of funds paid by dues-paying members.
The indictment alleges that between 2013 and 2022 Brady and George engaged in a conspiracy to steal more than $1.2 million each from the DTU by selling back leave time that they had not accrued or earned back to DTU. Brady and George allegedly hid this activity by providing false information to DTU’s auditors (Certified Public Accountants), and by signing each other’s checks when distributing the unaccrued and unearned leave money, hiding those payments from the DTU Secretary/Treasurer. The indictment further alleges that Brady and George withheld this unearned compensation from the Florida Public Employee Relations Commission (PERC), responsible for public labor unions in Florida, in required annual financial statement filings, some of which were mailed to PERC.
Brady also allegedly used the fraud proceeds and engaged in two monetary transactions of more than $10,000 to pay personal credit card debt.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys A. Tysen Duva and Kelly S. Milliron.
20250113_brady_george_indmt.pdf Download IndictmentFormer Federal Government Employee and Co-Conspirator Plead Guilty to Hobbs Act ExtortionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON—Ruth Nivar, 57, a former D.C. Department of Human Services employee, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to one count of Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthews M. Graves, FBI Office Special Agent in Charge Sean T. Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and the District of Columbia Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas.
The charges stemmed from a years-long scheme in which Nivar extorted money from low and no-income individuals to process applications for public assistance programs, even though it was part of her job responsibilities to do so free of charge. Nivar took money herself from these low-income victims simply to apply for public assistance. U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 25, 2025.
According to the plea paperwork, beginning at least since 2018 and continuing through at last May 2023, Nivar used the authority of her public office to obtain money from public assistance applicants to which neither she, nor the District of Columbia, were entitled. In 2022, after Nivar understood that law enforcement may have become aware of her scheme, she added an accomplice, civilian Yessica Moya, who did not work for the D.C. government, to assist in the extortion scheme.
Because Nivar worked on public assistance programs for the D.C. government, Nivar was able to provide information to Moya about eligibility requirements for applicants – including certain documents that needed to be submitted with applications – as well as information about applicants from the internal DHS database, including historical benefits information, status of benefits, identity verification, and dependent information. Moya then created online accounts and submitted application materials for health care coverage on behalf of the individuals they extorted. Nivar told individuals to pay Moya, who would then split the monies evenly with Nivar, even though it was Nivar’s duty to provide all these services for the community free of charge.
Moya pleaded guilty in the same case on January 8, 2025, to one count of aiding and abetting Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right. Her sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division and D.C. Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Madhu Chugh and Will Hart of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
24cr222
Former Atlantic City Housing Authority Coordinator Admits to Fraud in Connection with Covid-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – The former Ross Family Service Coordinator for the Atlantic City Housing Authority and Urban Redevelopment Agency today admitted to fraudulently applying for and obtaining COVID-19 relief funds, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.
Luquay Zahir, 50, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to two counts of an information charging him with making false statements to influence the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and wire fraud.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
In 2020 and 2021, Zahir, then the Ross Family Service Coordinator for the Atlantic City Housing Authority and Urban Redevelopment Agency, fraudulently obtained more than $30,000 through a Paycheck Protection Program loan and Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
The count of making false statements to influence the SBA carries a maximum potential penalty of two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The count of wire fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Driscoll; and special agents of SBA Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
zahir.information.pdf
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric A. Boden, Attorney-in-Charge of the Trenton Branch Office, working in conjunction with the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
Florida Client of Tax Refund Scheme Sentenced to Prison for Obstructing the IRSRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for obstructing the IRS in connection with his use of the “Note Program,” a tax fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 to 2018, Arthur Grimes, of Ocoee and Orlando, was a client of a tax fraud scheme promoted by Jasen Harvey and Christopher Johnson. The scheme involved Harvey and Johnson filing false tax returns for clients that claimed that large nonexistent income tax withholdings had been paid to the IRS and sought substantial refunds based on those purported withholdings.
Grimes participated in the scheme by causing four false income tax returns prepared by Harvey to be filed that sought refunds totaling $627,587 of which the IRS paid approximately $270,000. When the IRS attempted to recover a refund issued to Grimes based on one of those returns, Grimes made false statements and submitted false documents to an IRS revenue officer and transferred funds to a nominee bank account.
Harvey and Johnson previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the IRS and were respectively sentenced to 48 months in prison and 37 months in prison.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. for the Middle District of Florida ordered Grimes to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $238,973 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind, Jeffrey McLellan and Caroline Pearson of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Hu for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Florida Client of Tax Refund Scheme Sentenced to Prison for Obstructing the IRSRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – A Florida man was sentenced to 21 months in prison for obstructing the IRS in connection with his use of the “Note Program,” a tax fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 to 2018, Arthur Grimes, of Ocoee and Orlando, was a client of a tax fraud scheme promoted by Jasen Harvey and Christopher Johnson. The scheme involved Harvey and Johnson filing false tax returns for clients that claimed that large nonexistent income tax withholdings had been paid to the IRS and sought substantial refunds based on those purported withholdings.
Grimes participated in the scheme by causing four false income tax returns prepared by Harvey to be filed that sought refunds totaling $627,587 of which the IRS paid approximately $270,000. When the IRS attempted to recover a refund issued to Grimes based on one of those returns, Grimes made false statements and submitted false documents to an IRS revenue officer and transferred funds to a nominee bank account.
Harvey and Johnson previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the IRS and were respectively sentenced to 48 months in prison and 37 months in prison.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. for the Middle District of Florida ordered Grimes to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $238,973 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind, Jeffrey McLellan and Caroline Pearson of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Hu for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl “M30 King of Fresno” Sentenced to 23 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr., 24, of Fresno, was sentenced today to 23 years and one month in prison for distribution of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, the investigation began after a series of fentanyl-pill overdoses in the Fresno area. These overdoses were caused by counterfeit oxycodone M30 tablets containing fentanyl, referred to on the street as M30s. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Killer High,” targeted the drug dealers believed to have supplied the toxic pills that caused the spike in fentanyl-related overdoses. The operation uncovered a large drug-trafficking ring led by Torrecillas Urias, the self-proclaimed “M30 king of Fresno.”
Torrecillas Urias was obtaining, directly from sources in Mexico, tens of thousands of counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills and large quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, and methamphetamine. He and his co-defendants were then distributing these illicit drugs to dealers inside and outside of California. During the investigation, federal, state, and local law enforcement agents conducted traffic stops, intercepted packages, and executed residential search warrants that resulted in the recovery of over 55,000 fentanyl pills, 6 pounds of fentanyl powder, 10 pounds of methamphetamine, a pound of cocaine, 25 firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Operation Killer High resulted in three federal cases charging a total of 20 defendants. All but one pleaded guilty. The remaining defendant, Alma Garza, was found guilty in September 2024, after a four-day jury trial. She is set for sentencing on Feb. 24, 2025.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Clovis Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the Bakersfield Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
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.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Felon Sentenced to 30 Months for Unlawfully Dealing Firearms on Social MediaRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Leonel Castillo, 34, of Denver, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Engaging in a Business of Dealing Firearms without a Federal Firearms License.
According to the plea agreement, between September 2022 and May 2023, Castillo operated a business utilizing Facebook to raffle items including firearms. Castillo purchased firearms from federal firearms licensees or third-party private sellers. He then held interactive raffles on Facebook in which participants paid for the chance to win the firearms. Castillo would then have federal firearms licensees transfer the firearms to the winners of the raffles, sometimes through straw transfers. Castillo was a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms throughout the time he ran this business.
“Criminals who deal firearms illegally can’t escape consequences by using social media as their marketplace,” said United States Attorney Matt Kirsch. “I am grateful that our partners at the ATF were able to investigate this unusual scheme and that our office was able to bring this person to justice.”
United States District Court Judge Nina Y Wang presided over the sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecution.
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.
Case Number: 23-cr-00326-NYW
Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer and Two Conspirators Plead Guilty to Gun TraffickingRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Matthew L. Stephen Easton (35, Melrose) has pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking. Easton faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 24, 2025. Easton’s co-defendants, Derick Yamir Perez Diaz (22, Orlando) and Ernesto Vasquez (23, Kissimmee), previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms. They each also face a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Perez Diaz and Vasquez are scheduled to be sentenced on March 25 and April 8, 2025, respectively.
According to the plea agreements, Easton, a federally licensed firearms dealer, supplied Perez Diaz with large quantities of firearms, despite knowing that Perez Diaz was dealing in firearms without a license. Perez Diaz, in turn, trafficked those firearms to Vasquez who resold them and smuggled them out of the country. Between October and December 2023, more than 100 Glock pistols and AK-47 rifles were trafficked, including those pictured below:
Additionally, Vasquez and Perez Diaz admitted to trafficking machinegun conversion devices:
On April 18, 2024, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, executed a Search Warrant at Vazquez’s residence. Inside they found multiple firearms, stockpiles of ammunition, and grenades:
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Noah P. Dorman and Dana E. Hill.
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.
Fayette County Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jeff Allen Adkins, 66, of Fayetteville, was sentenced today to 12 years eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 8, 2022, Adkins was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by law enforcement officers in Oak Hill. Officers searched the vehicle and found approximately 113 grams of fentanyl and 109 grams of methamphetamine. Adkins told officers he possessed the controlled substances and intended to distribute them.
Adkins has a long criminal that includes prior convictions for such offenses as grand larceny, breaking and entering, possession of a controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon, hit and run, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Oak Hill Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess, Alexander A. Redmon and Ryan Blackwell prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-57.
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Evansville Domestic Abuser Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison After Leading Police on a Foot Chase while Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE— Arties Dushawn Brown., 35, of Evansville, Indiana, has been sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on April 2, 2023, Evansville Police officers were called to a residential area in response to a report of shots being fired. The 911 caller claimed that a man wearing a black jacket, white hat, white shoes, and a camouflage jacket was walking down the street and fired a gun into the air. When officers arrived on scene, they found a spent shell casing at the same location the caller claimed the shot was fired from.
Officers located Arties Brown wearing the same clothes as the reported shooter and with a black firearm hanging out of his pants pocket. Officers ordered Brown to show his hands. Instead, Brown disregarded the orders and fled through an outdoor apartment hallway. Brown tossed the firearm away, jumped a residential fence, entered a backyard and approached the homeowner while repeating “change of clothes.” The homeowner gave Brown a change of clothes.
After a short time, officers located and arrested Brown wearing the new change of clothes. The firearm Brown threw was found lying in a neighbor’s backyard and was still loaded.
At the time of this arrest, Brown had sustained multiple felony convictions, including three separate counts of burglary and battery by means of a deadly weapon, as well as a misdemeanor conviction for domestic battery. These convictions prohibit Brown from ever legally possessing a firearm again.
“Illegally armed domestic abusers pose a significant danger to everyone close to them, our law enforcement officers, and our communities as a whole,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “That’s why we have prioritized federal prosecution of illegally armed individuals with a history of domestic violence. Our office will continue to partner with the ATF and local task forces in Evansville and all across our district to ensure that the most dangerous armed offenders are taken off our streets.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.
Erie Resident Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Distribution and Attempted Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $48,000 to seven identified victims on his conviction of distributing and attempting to distribute material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Michael Paul Ambrose, 44, on January 10, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, in and around November 2022, Ambrose distributed and attempted to distribute images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Erie Police Department, and Erie County Detectives Bureau for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ambrose.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un grupo de restaurantes de Minnesota para resolver las reclamaciones por discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia ha anunciado hoy que llegó a un acuerdo con un grupo de restaurantes de Minnesota que opera bajo el nombre de Brick & Bourbon. El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento de que el grupo de restaurantes discriminaba sistemáticamente a los residentes permanentes legales a la hora de verificar su permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos, exigiéndoles más documentos de los necesarios.
“Es ilegal que los empleadores impongan requisitos adicionales o innecesarios a los empleados debido a su estatus de ciudadanía cuando verifican su permiso para trabajar”, dijo la fiscal general auxiliar Kristen Clarke, de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “El trato discriminatorio durante cualquier paso del proceso de empleo perjudica a los trabajadores que participan legalmente en nuestra economía y puede privar a los empleadores de su talento”.
Tras llevar a cabo una investigación, la Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés) de la División de Derechos Civiles concluyó que Brick & Bourbon tenía la práctica habitual de exigirles documentación adicional e innecesaria a los residentes permanentes legales, incluso después de que hubieran presentado pruebas suficientes de su permiso para trabajar, debido a su condición de ciudadanía.
A los residentes permanentes legales se les denomina a veces “titulares de la tarjeta verde”, pero pueden demostrar su permiso para trabajar usando distintos tipos de documentación. Como se explica en la hoja informativa para residentes permanentes legales publicada recientemente por el Departamento, la Ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) protege a los residentes permanentes legales de la discriminación cuando un empleador verifica su permiso para trabajar. La INA les prohíbe a los empleadores solicitar documentos específicos o innecesarios debido a la ciudadanía, el estatus migratorio o la nacionalidad de origen del trabajador. Los empleadores deben permitir que los trabajadores presenten cualquier documentación aceptable que elijan y no pueden rechazar documentación válida que parezca razonablemente auténtica y relacionada con el trabajador.
Según los términos del acuerdo, Brick & Bourbon pagará una multa civil de $95,000, capacitará a sus empleados sobre los requisitos de la INA, revisará sus políticas de empleo y se someterá a supervisión departamental.
La IER es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición contra la discriminación de la INA. Esta ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en la contratación, el despido o el reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; las prácticas documentales injustas y las represalias y la intimidación.
El sitio web de la IER tiene más información sobre los derechos de los residentes permanentes legales según la INA y cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación ilegal al verificar el permiso de trabajo de alguien. Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo obtener ayuda a través de este breve video. Los solicitantes o empleados que crean haber sido discriminados por razón de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en la contratación, despido, reclutamiento o durante el proceso de verificación de elegibilidad de empleo (Formulario I-9 y E-Verify), o sometidos a represalias, pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, número de TTY para personas con discapacidad auditiva); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, número de TTY para personas con discapacidad auditiva); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse en un seminario web en vivo; ver una presentación a pedido; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.
Edinburg doctor and son guilty in kickback conspiracyRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 75-year-old Edinburg physician and his 43-year-old son both pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive kickbacks in exchange for referring prescriptions to local pharmacies, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Dr. Tajul Shams Chowdhury, a licensed physician, owned and operated a medical practice in Edinburg called Center for Pain Management. His son, Mohammad Imtiaz Chowdhury, worked as a purported marketer for a local pharmacy.
According to court documents, prescriptions for costly compound drugs were referred from Dr. Chowdhury’s clinic in exchange for kickback payments made from the pharmacy to Mohammad Chowdhury.
In total, Mohammad Chowdhury was paid $6.6 million in kickbacks as part of the scheme.
Both men were permitted to remain on bond pending their sentencing, which is currently scheduled for March 25 before Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane.
At that time, both men face up to five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 possible fine.
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, FBI, Department of Defense – Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Veteran Affairs – OIG, Department of Health and Human Services - OIG and Texas Health and Human Services - OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz is prosecuting the case.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Devontay Brian Johnson, 29, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 3, 2022, Johnson sold approximately 20 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while in a vehicle parked along Wilson Place in Huntington.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-24.
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Corpus Christi man convicted of weapons chargeRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury in Corpus Christi has returned a guilty verdict against a 30-year-old local man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The jury deliberated for 17 minutes following a one-day trial before finding Michael Pulido guilty.
On Feb. 7, 2024, authorities arrived at a local apartment complex following a criminal mischief complaint. The investigation led them to Pulido who had fired four gunshots inside his apartment.
They checked his criminal history and discovered Pulido had been previously convicted of a felony. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.
At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that the gun belonged to someone else. They were not convinced and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 15, at which time Pulido faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Corpus Christi Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmine Tucker and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
Convicted Child Sexual Abuse Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison After Illegally Reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Erbeth Gomez-Delgado, 48, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the country after he was deported.
In November 2024, after a three-day trial, a federal jury found Gomez-Delgado, a convicted child sexual abuse offender, guilty of a sole count of Reentry After Deportation.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Matthew Davies, Acting Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the evidence presented at trial, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol first encountered the defendant on July 29, 2016, as he crossed the U.S. border through the Rio Grande, in Texas. The defendant entered the country without inspection. Gomez-Delgado was then removed from the U.S. and deported to Guatemala on July 29, 2016.
On February 15, 2019, law enforcement became aware that Gomez-Delgado was back in the U.S. after he was arrested and charged with sexually abusing a minor in Prince George’s County. During the reentry trial, the prosecution proved that Gomez-Delgado voluntarily and unlawfully reentered the U.S. prior to February 2019. Gomez-Delgado did not seek or receive permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the U.S.
U.S. Attorney Barron acknowledged the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for their work throughout the investigation and the trial. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney LaShanta Harris and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Shriram Harid who prosecuted this federal case.
Chinese national sentenced in illegal wildlife guide-outfitter schemeRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Chinese national was sentenced today to two years’ supervised release and agreed to turn over to the United States over $73,000 and a luxury vehicle related to an illegal guide-outfitter scheme he ran for over a year.
According to court documents, beginning in August 2021, Jun “Harry” Liang, 41, and his co-conspirator Brian Phelan, 53, of Fairbanks, conspired to provide guide-outfitter services for caribou and brown bear hunts out of Fairbanks. Neither defendant was licensed by the state of Alaska as a big game guide-outfitter.
During the 2022 hunting season, Liang collected $60,000 in advance payments from two undercover agents posing as non-resident hunters in exchange for guide-outfitter services for a brown bear hunt. The money was transferred to Liang’s account through wire transfer and deposited checks.
In furtherance of completing the hunt, in August 2022, Liang and Phelan falsely informed the Alaska Department of Fish and Game that Phelan was the brother-in-law of the two undercover agents, which ultimately led the Department to issue a non-resident brown bear permit and tag based on fraudulent information.
On Sept. 20, 2024, Liang pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act false labeling, and additional violations for failing to obtain a special recreation permit and engaging in business in park areas without a permit in Denali National Park. As part of his sentence for the Lacey Action violation, Liang is also required to pay a $10,000 fine. For guiding without a license on Federal Land, he will pay over $9,000 in restitution to the Bureau of Land Management.
On Dec. 30, 2024, Phelan was sentenced to two and a half years’ probation and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to two counts of violating a regulation for management, use and protection of BLM land, and one count of Lacey Act false labeling.
“Hunting is a vital part of Alaskan communities, and Mr. Liang and Mr. Phelan unjustly enriched themselves through their conspiracy, harming law-abiding guide-outfitters in our state,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their dedication in dismantling Mr. Liang’s illegal operations and upholding our conservation laws. Hopefully this sentence, including the forfeiture of tens of thousands of dollars and goods, will deter others from committing wildlife violations.”
“This sentencing emphasizes our unwavering commitment to safeguarding wildlife and upholding the integrity of our conservation laws,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement will tirelessly pursue anyone exploiting our nation’s wildlife and attempting to make a profit from violating our wildlife laws. Individuals engaging in illegal hunting and guiding activities not only threaten our natural resources but also erode the trust and reputation of dedicated hunters and ethical guides within our communities. The defendants fraudulently secured over $70,000 in payments from hunters through these illegal activities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement will remain vigilant in its efforts to investigate and prosecute those who violate wildlife laws and regulations and related offenses.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Region, with assistance from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation Service, Seattle Field Office, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Vosacek and Steve Skrocki prosecuted the case.
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Child Sexual Predator Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Glenn Raymond Breeden, 56, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced today to 120 months’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release after planning via cell phone to engage in sexual activity with someone he believed was a minor.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr., comes after Breeden pleaded guilty in June 2024 to coercion and enticement/attempted coercion and enticement.
According to court documents and statements made at Breeden’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, in January 2024, Breeden traveled from Florida to Utah. While in Utah, Breeden communicated via cell phone with an undercover law enforcement officer who he believed was the father of a child under the age of 12. Breeden told the father he planned to engage in sexual activity with the minor. Upon opening the door at a hotel in Salt Lake City to let the father and child into the hotel, Breeden was met by law enforcement and arrested.
The case was investigated by the West Valley Police Department and the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Joey Blanch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Charleston Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Robbery and Weapon ViolationsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Marquine Antonio Benbow, 34, of Charleston, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery affecting interstate commerce and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Benbow committed a series of armed robberies and a carjacking. On Aug. 22, 2017, Benbow carjacked a woman at gunpoint and later drove the vehicle to a Circle K in Summerville. Benbow entered the store where he pointed a weapon at the cashier and demanded money. An hour later, Benbow entered a Circle K in Charleston and again demanded money at gunpoint. Benbow left his DNA behind in the carjacked vehicle and video surveillance at the Summerville and Charleston Circle Ks matched his description.
United States District Judge David C. Norton accepted a negotiated resolution and sentenced Benbow to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
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Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jaron Andrew O'Neal, 38, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, investigators obtained a search warrant for a package addressed to a Barboursville address after a K9 alerted to the package. Investigators opened the package and found it contained approximately 1 kilogram of fentanyl. Investigators replaced the fentanyl with a sham substance and conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the Barboursville address. On January 24, 2023, O'Neal retrieved the package from the address and drove away with it in his vehicle. Investigators conducted a traffic stop of O’Neal’s vehicle and found the package in the vehicle. O’Neal told investigators that he retrieved the package believing that it contained controlled substances.
O'Neal is scheduled to be sentenced on April 28, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-85.
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Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Roman Rodriguez, 26, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to receipt and distribution of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, between Feb. 18, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, Rodriguez used an iPhone and the internet to receive and distribute more than 600 images containing visual depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images included depictions of the sexual exploitation of prepubescent minors and at least one toddler.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Art Dealer Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling Bankruptcy Estate of Miracle Mile and Beverly Hills Art GalleryRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An internationally known art dealer was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for embezzling from the bankruptcy estate of Ace Gallery Los Angeles, an art gallery located in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, while acting as the estate’s trustee and custodian.
Douglas J. Chrismas, 80, of the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who also ordered him to pay $12,809,192 in restitution.
At the conclusion of a four-day trial in May 2024, a jury found Chrismas guilty of three counts of embezzlement against a bankruptcy estate.
“Instead of performing his fiduciary duty and properly managing the gallery’s bankruptcy estate, this defendant chose to use funds that belonged to the creditors of the gallery to make them whole, but for his dream of an art museum that never came to be,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Today’s sentence provides a just punishment for these crimes, which were brazenly undertaken by a thief who gamed a system designed to protect those in financial desperation.”
Chrismas was the president and CEO of Art and Architecture Books of the 21st Century, which did business as Ace Gallery and had offices located in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles as well as in Beverly Hills.
In February 2013, Ace Gallery filed a Chapter 11 petition in federal bankruptcy court in Los Angeles and continued to operate while in bankruptcy with Chrismas acting as its fiduciary and trustee.
In late March and early April of 2016, Chrismas embezzled approximately $264,595 that belonged to the Ace Gallery bankruptcy estate, including a $50,000 check that Chrismas signed, was drawn against the estate, and was paid to Ace Museum, a separate non-profit corporation that Chrismas owned and controlled.
Chrismas also embezzled $100,000 owed to Ace Gallery by a third party for the purchase of artwork. Instead, the funds were paid – at his direction – to Ace Museum. Finally, Chrismas embezzled approximately $114,595 owed to the gallery by a third party that purchased artwork, but which Chrismas instead had paid to Ace Museum’s landlord to keep current with its $225,000 monthly rent.
Chrismas funneled money from the bankrupt Ace Gallery for over three years, until April 2016, when the bankruptcy court appointed an independent trustee to run Ace Gallery’s bankruptcy estate and Chrismas was removed.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Valerie L. Makarewicz of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
Army Veteran Sentenced to Federal Prison for over Three-Quarter Million Dollar Benefit FraudRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Kevin Paul McMains, 44, of Milton, Florida, has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of theft of government money and two counts of making false statements to a federal agency. The sentence was announced today by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Our service members, and their families, make incredible sacrifices to defend our country and are deserving of our deepest respect and the disability benefits intended for our injured patriots,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Consequently, the defendant’s fabrication of documents and false claims of service-connected injuries, to include his assertion he was awarded a Purple Heart, is not only criminal, but repugnant. We remain committed to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who defraud government disability programs, stealing benefits earned by our veterans.”
Court documents reflect that for nearly 14 years, McMains received over $779,000 in government disability benefits by providing false information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). McMains submitted fraudulent documentation and made false statements to medical professionals and in his applications claiming that post-traumatic stress was affecting his life to the extent he was unable to work, do normal daily activities, or care for himself, knowing that was not true. In addition, he also falsely claimed he was awarded a Purple Heart as proof of his service-connected injuries. As a result of his fraud, McMains also qualified for and received Social Security disability benefits and Medicare coverage to which he would not have otherwise been entitled.
“This sentence sends a clear message that veterans who defraud VA by exaggerating their disabilities will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov of the VA Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “VA’s programs and services are established to justly compensate deserving veterans and the VA OIG is committed to investigating those who would exploit these programs.”
“Mr. McMains defrauded the Social Security Administration (SSA) of $357,847 with fabricated documents that falsely reported his medical condition. His malicious acts are inexcusable. and this 33-month prison sentence holds him accountable for his crimes,” said Jermaine Jack, Acting Special Agent in Charge, SSA Office of the Inspector General, Atlanta Field Division. “I commend the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General and Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General for their invaluable work in this investigation. Further, I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting this case.”
“Individuals who fraudulently obtain Medicare benefits that they are not entitled to divert taxpayer funds meant to pay for essential health services for legitimate enrollees, including the elderly and disabled,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG remains committed to thoroughly investigating health care fraudsters to hold them accountable for their actions and to send a warning to those considering such fraudulent schemes.”
In addition to a 33-month prison sentence, McMains was ordered to pay restitution of $378,380.82 to the VA, $357,847.80 to the SSA, and $43,451.56 to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. McMains’ prison sentence will be followed by two years of supervised release.
This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Former Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love and Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Forbes prosecuted this case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
10 January 2025
Washington, D.C., Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Assault CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – MacArthur Walker Jr., 58, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on January 8, 2025, to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees involving physical contact.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2024, Walker was driving a vehicle through the New River Gorge National Park area near Sandstone, West Virginia when a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana, and a passenger in Walker’s vehicle told the officer there was approximately 3.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle.
The passenger provided the officer with the marijuana. The officer directed Walker to exit his vehicle and stand by the officer’s vehicle while the officer searched Walker’s vehicle. During the search, the officer found a brown briefcase containing a loaded Rossi .38 Special revolver, a holster, and .38 Special ammunition. After the officer found the firearm, Walker left his ordered position next to the officer’s vehicle and approached the officer. When the officer told him to turn around to be handcuffed, Walker drew back his fist and struck the left side of the officer’s body. The officer deployed a taser to stop Walker.
Walker has a long criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for first-degree theft, multiple controlled substances offenses, and third-offense driving while intoxicated.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Parker Bazzle II and Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-88.
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Washington, D.C., Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Assault CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – MacArthur Walker Jr., 58, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on January 8, 2025, to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees involving physical contact.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2024, Walker was driving a vehicle through the New River Gorge National Park area near Sandstone, West Virginia when a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana, and a passenger in Walker’s vehicle told the officer there was approximately 3.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle.
The passenger provided the officer with the marijuana. The officer directed Walker to exit his vehicle and stand by the officer’s vehicle while the officer searched Walker’s vehicle. During the search, the officer found a brown briefcase containing a loaded Rossi .38 Special revolver, a holster, and .38 Special ammunition. After the officer found the firearm, Walker left his ordered position next to the officer’s vehicle and approached the officer. When the officer told him to turn around to be handcuffed, Walker drew back his fist and struck the left side of the officer’s body. The officer deployed a taser to stop Walker.
Walker has a long criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for first-degree theft, multiple controlled substances offenses, and third-offense driving while intoxicated.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Parker Bazzle II and Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-88.
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Virginia Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Sextortion and Production of Sexually Explicit Videos of a MinorRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Virginia man has been sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for using social media to contact and coerce a minor to create sexually explicit material, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between November 2023 and February 2024, Raymond Jung Woo Choi, a.k.a Jason Lee, 42, of Centreville, Virginia, used Instagram and other social media apps to engage in sexually-focused conversations with a 13–14-year-old girl. Often using the alias “Jason Lee,” Choi knowingly enticed and coerced the minor victim to send him sexually explicit images and videos on Instagram. Choi also groomed and enticed the minor victim by providing gifts, which he sent via Amazon or mailed directly via the U.S. Postal Service.
According to court documents, on February 17, 2024, Choi flew from Virginia to Minnesota to attempt to meet the minor victim in person. Because of family and law enforcement intervention, Choi was unsuccessful in his meeting attempt and flew back to Virginia.
Choi pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography on October 2, 2024. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Donovan W. Frank.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Murphy prosecuted the case.
United States Enters into Agreement with Nigeria to Transfer $52.88M in Forfeited Corruption Proceeds for Uses to Benefit the Nigerian PeopleRead the Press Release
Note: View the agreement here.
The Justice Department announced today that the United States entered into an agreement to transfer approximately $52.88 million in forfeited assets to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in recognition of Nigeria’s assistance to the department in an investigation into corruption in the Nigerian oil industry.
“This agreement recognizes the close law enforcement relationship between the United States and Nigeria and Nigeria’s vital assistance that contributed to the successful forfeiture of millions of dollars of corruption proceeds,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Our strong coordination with international partners to trace and recover assets leaves corrupt actors few places to hide their ill-gotten gains. Today’s agreement to return nearly $53 million in forfeited funds to support Nigeria and its people through electrification projects and cross-border efforts to combat terrorism demonstrates forfeiture’s power as a tool to help remediate the harms of corruption and to invest in our global fight against terrorism.”
“The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to the global fight against corruption,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “By ensuring these forfeited funds are repatriated to Nigeria to benefit the Nigerian people through critical projects and counterterrorism efforts, the FBI reaffirms our dedication to promoting transparency and dismantling the systems that enable corruption to thrive.”
“The repatriation of these funds to Nigeria to benefit the citizens of Nigeria is one of the primary goals of the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “IRS-CI is proud to partner with the global law enforcement community in this initiative to restore these vital resources to the projects and programs that promote Nigeria’s continued prosperity.”
These assets were forfeited as part of an investigation by the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative of the International Unit of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), a dedicated team that seeks to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, repatriate those assets to the countries harmed by corruption for the benefit of their people. According to court documents, from 2011 to 2015, Nigerian businessmen Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore conspired with others to pay bribes to Nigeria’s former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. In return, Alison-Madueke used her influence to steer lucrative oil contracts to companies owned by Aluko and Omokore. Proceeds from the scheme of more than $100 million were then laundered into and through the United States and used to purchase various assets, including luxury real estate in California and New York as well as the Galactica Star, a 65-meter superyacht. The real estate was also used as collateral for loans to Aluko and shell companies he controlled. As part of the forfeiture process, those lien holders were paid. The assets were forfeited as a result of corruption, bribery, money laundering, and other illegal acts in violation of Nigerian and U.S. law. The Federal Repubic of Nigeria provided crucial assistance to the United States leading to the forfeitures, including providing extensive evidentiary and investigative support.
The agreement was signed in Abuja, Nigeria, today by Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN, and U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard M. Mills Jr. Under the agreement, $50 million of the recovered funds will be dedicated to an expansion of the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-Up project, an existing electrification project funded, in part, by the International Development Association and implemented by the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency. This program is intended to increase access to electricity services in Nigeria with renewable energy generation. Approximately $2.88 million of the forfeited funds will be used towards Nigeria’s contribution to the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) and used to support capacity-building for criminal justice sector practitioners and relevant stakeholders in the region, including through activities focused on countering the financing of terrorism, development and implementation of the Counter-Terrorism Academic Curriculum of the IIJ, and institutional support for the IIJ particularly in the North, West, and East Africa regions.
The agreement contains key measures designed to promote transparency and accountability. Under the agreement, the $50 million dedicated to electrification programs will be managed and disbursed through a World Bank trust fund, subject to World Bank oversight controls, auditing, and publication requirements. Similarly, the IIJ counterterrorism and rule of law programs will be subject to external auditing, periodic progress reporting, and public reporting.
These forfeiture actions were prosecuted by MLARS’ International Unit. The FBI and IRS-CI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance.
The Criminal Division, through MLARS’ International Unit, administers the Justice Department’s international asset forfeiture sharing program. Pursuant to federal law, and in coordination with the Departments of the Treasury and State, the Attorney General may share proceeds of successful forfeiture of property with foreign countries that participate in the seizure or forfeiture of the property.
United States Attorney’s Office Hosts Second Annual Human Trafficking Simulation for Human Trafficking Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina (USAO-MDNC), in partnership with The Human Trafficking Resource Center and the Lexington Police Department, hosted a simulation for community members, law enforcement, and service organizations to learn about the warning signs of human trafficking and provide resources for victims.
Each year, the Department of Justice recognizes National Human Trafficking Awareness month in January in an effort to better educate the public about the signs of human trafficking and bring awareness to the victims. This year, the USAO-MDNC hosted its second annual human trafficking simulation to allow law enforcement and service providers a chance to learn more about what it is like to be a victim of human trafficking in order to better serve victims and their families. Despite the forecast winter storm, approximately 35 participants from all around the state took part in this event, including service providers, NGOs, churches, medical providers, law enforcement, analysts, and victims’ services. Participants were also given a chance to speak with prosecutors and law enforcement about the government response to human trafficking and what resources are available.
“The exploitation of human beings for profit and has no place in any society. Whether it’s forced labor, domestic servitude, or sex trafficking of children or adults, human trafficking is happening every day in every state, stripping victims of their dignity and forcing them into a life of fear and servitude,” said United States Attorney Hairston. “The public is law enforcement’s most valuable partner in identifying cases and preventing this heinous crime, and we are proud to host this event to educate members of both the community and law enforcement on the ways to recognize and prevent human trafficking.”
If you or someone you know has experienced human trafficking, help is available. The National Human Trafficking Hotline provides free, confidential help, 24/7. Call: 1-888-373-7888; Text: HELP to 233733 (BEFREE); or Chat: humantraffickinghotline.org/chat. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
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United States Attorney Kate E. Brubacher announces resignationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – United States Attorney for the District of Kansas Kate E. Brubacher announced that she has submitted her resignation to President Joe Biden effective January 19, 2025. Brubacher was sworn in as the 42nd presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney (USA) for the District of Kansas on March 10, 2023. She was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the first woman to serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District.
“Serving the People in my home state as United States Attorney for the District of Kansas has been a high honor,” said Brubacher. “I am grateful to President Biden for nominating me. I am also grateful to Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall for their support for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and prioritizing the rule of law in Kansas.”
The District of Kansas employs Assistant U.S. Attorneys and support staff who work in three offices associated with the federal courts which are in Kansas City, Kan., Topeka, and Wichita. The jurisdiction covers all 105 counties of Kansas, with a population of approximately 2.9 million.
“I leave this position with overwhelming respect for the career attorneys, professional staff, and the dedicated law enforcement officers who work diligently and in good faith every day to protect the public and uphold our Constitution,” Brubacher said. “Together, we focused on confronting the fentanyl epidemic and keeping Kansans safe from violent crime, including crimes against children, and we paid just amounts when there were just claims against the United States. The people and partnerships in Kansas are unsurpassed, and I look forward to seeing the continued success of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the years ahead.”
The District of Kansas’ mission is to protect citizens from terrorism, enforce federal laws, and advance the interests of the U.S. government. Some accomplishments under Brubacher’s tenure include disrupting international drug trafficking cartels, bringing child pornography offenders to justice, and prosecuting white collar criminal acts. Here are some of the noteworthy cases.
FINANCIAL FRAUD
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 293 months in prison for using his former position as chief executive officer (CEO) of a bank to embezzle tens of millions of dollars in a cryptocurrency scheme which led the bank to fail at a complete loss of equity for investors.
• A federal grand jury in Kansas indicted seven defendants, including five current and former high-level officers of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmith, Forgers and Helpers (Boilermakers Union) for their alleged roles in a 15-year, $20 million embezzlement scheme.CIVIL RIGHTS
• A Kansas jury convicted six members of a religious cult on charges related to compelling forced the labor on victims including multiple minors as young as eight years old.
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 80 months in prison for threatening multiple Black people in and around the Wichita area, and for interfering with the housing rights of a white woman because he believed that she was dating and associating with Black people.NATIONAL SECURITY
• A grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, indicted a North Korean national for his involvement in a conspiracy to hack and extort U.S. hospitals and other health care providers, launder the ransom proceeds, and then use these proceeds to fund additional computer intrusions into defense, technology, and government entities worldwide. The ransomware attacks prevented victim health care providers from providing full and timely care to patients.
• Two U.S. businessmen pleaded guilty to conspiring to circumvent U.S. export laws prohibiting the sale, repair and shipment of U.S.-origin avionics equipment to customers in Russia and in other countries that operate Russian-built aircraft, including the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB).FENTANYL & OTHER NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for giving a man a fentanyl pill which caused his death.
• Indictments charging hundreds of individuals in alleged drug trafficking rings. o https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/eight-defendants-indicted-drug-trafficking-ring o https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/man-sentenced-kansas-city-drug-ring-tied-mexican-cartel o https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/multiple-people-indicted-meth-traffickingKate E. Brubacher
Brubacher is a native of Newton, Kansas. She previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Jackson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Prior to her government service, She was an associate at Cooley LLP and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, both in New York, New York.
Brubacher received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and her law degree from Yale Law School. She also holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Secures 20-Year Sentence for Repeat Offender in Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison for a series of armed robberies committed in February and March 2022 after he absconded from a federal halfway house.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Xavior Akina, 28, committed the following crimes:
- On February 23, 2022, Akina robbed a Chevron gas station in Los Lunas at gunpoint, stealing money, cigarettes, and an energy drink.
- On February 25, 2022, Akina robbed a Circle K in Los Lunas, again using a silver handgun to demand money from the clerk.
- On March 12, 2022, Akina robbed another Circle K in Albuquerque, shooting and injuring the clerk during the incident.
- On March 13, 2022, Akina committed two more armed robberies in Albuquerque, targeting a DK convenience store and a Sally's Beauty Store.
Prior to his crime spree, Akina had absconded from a federal halfway house. Akina's criminal history includes a prior conviction for armed robbery of a pizza delivery person in 2018, for which he was sentenced to 84 months in prison.
Upon his release from prison, Akina will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs Announces DepartureRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – United States Attorney Damien M. Diggs has announced that he will resign as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Eastern District of Texas effective 11:59 p.m. on January 21, 2025. U.S. Attorney Diggs was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on February 2, 2023, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 4, 2023. Mr. Diggs was sworn in as U.S. Attorney on May 7, 2023.
“I will forever be grateful to President Biden, Attorney General Garland, and Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz for having confidence in me to serve our nation and the citizens of the Eastern District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Diggs. “This office and our committed local, state, and federal law enforcement partners go above and beyond daily to keep our communities safe, uphold the rule of law, and protect the civil rights of the citizenry. I count it a blessing to have assisted in these efforts.”
In a message to his office and law enforcement partners, U. S. Attorney Diggs said:
It has been an honor and a privilege leading this District for the past two years. I can proudly say that the Eastern District, the state of Texas, and the United States are safer because of the great work being done here. During my tenure as United States Attorney, the work of this Office has reached five continents in the pursuit of justice and has remained a leader in the fight against international criminal organizations, while simultaneously remaining an active and engaged partner in our communities in north- and southeastern Texas.
U.S. Attorney Diggs led an office of nearly 100 employees, including 50 prosecutors, across six fully staffed offices in Beaumont, Lufkin, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana, and Tyler. The district covers 43 counties stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Oklahoma border, covering 29,000 square miles, and is home to roughly 4.5 million people. He focused the office’s efforts on public safety, fighting fraud, waste and abuse, civil rights, and community outreach.
Under U.S. Attorney Diggs’ leadership, the office achieved noteworthy successes in criminal matters, obtaining notable victories in crimes related to gun and gang violence, firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, public corruption, healthcare fraud, white collar, cybercrime, national security issues, child exploitation, and human trafficking issues. U.S. Attorney Diggs also expanded the office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program by creating separate PSN programs in Beaumont, Longview, and Plano; established Operation Purple Ribbon—a domestic violence initiative targeting domestic violence abusers for federal prosecution; surged investigations and prosecutions of commercial robberies; stood up a carjacking task force in the spring of 2024, which has resulted in a significant decrease in carjackings district-wide; and partnered with the other Texas U.S. Attorneys and the ATF in the summer of 2024 in launching Operation Texas Kill Switch—a statewide initiative targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “switches.” The initiative has raised public awareness and resulted in multiple prosecutions.
U.S. Attorney Diggs continued the district’s prioritization of prosecuting large-scale drug trafficking organizations, primarily through DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. With an emphasis on the targeting of international drug cartels, U.S. Attorney Diggs oversaw one of the nation’s most productive extradition practices, particularly with respect to Colombia and Guatemala. U.S. Attorney Diggs’ team obtained a 25-year sentence against a Colombian trafficker who coordinated maritime shipments of cocaine through Central America; extradited the leader of the Los Pochos drug trafficking organization which supplies multi-ton quantities of cocaine to trafficking cells in Guatemala and Mexico; and successfully prosecuted a former senior Republic of Guatemala official whose assistance on behalf of an international drug trafficker resulted in the safe passage of at least 450 kilograms of cocaine through Guatemala for distribution in the United States.
The office’s Civil Division experienced record successes under U.S. Attorney Diggs’ leadership. For instance, the Civil Division negotiated a $97 million settlement with Walgreens to resolve allegations that it billed government payors for prescriptions that were never dispensed. U.S. Attorney Diggs also oversaw a $21.75 million settlement with Medisca, Inc. to resolve allegations that the company submitted false and inflated average wholesale prices for ingredients used in compounded prescriptions. U.S. Attorney Diggs also demonstrated a commitment to holding individuals, not just corporations, responsible for defrauding the government. After obtaining a settlement with the bankrupt fintech company Kabbage, Inc. to receive a total unsubordinated general unsecured claim in the bankruptcy proceeding of up to $120 million, U.S. Attorney Diggs approved the United States’ intervention against three former executives of Kabbage, Inc. Under his leadership, the Civil Division also obtained a settlement with the CEO of a Texas hospital, who paid $5.3 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act involving illegal payments to physicians for laboratory referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
U.S. Attorney Diggs dedicated himself to protecting the civil rights of citizens of the Eastern District of Texas. He oversaw the district’s partnership with the other Texas U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to investigate allegations of civil rights violations at Texas Juvenile Justice Department (“TJJD”) facilities across the state. The investigation found that TJJD violated the rights of children housed in those facilities.
The Appellate Division also had notable victories under U.S. Attorney Diggs’ leadership. For instance, the Appellate Division persuaded the Fifth Circuit to affirm the 90-month sentence of a Colombian lawyer who falsely told drug traffickers that, for a fee, she could prevent their extradition to the United States; successfully defended the federal-programs bribery convictions of a local politician and her spouse—a real estate developer; and urged the Fifth Circuit to uphold the convictions of Aryan Circle prison gang members who were convicted of RICO conspiracy for their participation in various acts of violence and drug distribution.
As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Diggs has prioritized his office’s engagement in the community, particularly when it comes to fentanyl awareness presentations where prosecutors across the district have given One Pill Can Kill presentations to students across the district. U.S. Attorney Diggs, along with the other Texas U.S. Attorneys, met with state education leaders in Austin to provide fentanyl-related information and awareness that could be used in schools state-wide. Additionally, in partnership with the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service, U.S. Attorney Diggs has spearheaded civil rights and hate crimes prevention through United Against Hate presentations across the district designed to raise community awareness about hate crimes, hate incidents and discrimination, and establishes connections between law enforcement and ethnic communities and religious groups, particularly those with members who have been reluctant to contact law enforcement for help.
Beyond leading in the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Diggs was a member of the Attorney General Advisory Subcommittees on Violent Crime, White Collar/Fraud, Cybercrime/Intellectual Property, and Terrorism/National Security. He also served a member of a Working Group dealing with FIRREA whistleblower issues.
Pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin Jr. will succeed Mr. Diggs as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas until a successor is nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate.
Learn more about the district at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx.
Two Men Indicted in $3M Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A 10-count indictment charges two defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States and making false claims for over three million dollars in tax refunds, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between approximately April 2022 and May 2023, Henry Remington Herod, 42, of Minneapolis, and Matthew McDowell, 44, of Port Allen, Louisiana, conspired to defraud the United States by preparing and filing false federal income tax returns for themselves and others. The returns included false employment, income, and tax credit information they knew to be false, and which resulted in large refunds the filing taxpayers were not entitled to.
According to court documents, for tax year 2021, Herod prepared and filed false tax returns claiming refundable sick and family leave tax credits available to certain self-employed individuals unable to work due to COVID-19. For tax year 2022, Herod and McDowell prepared and filed false tax returns claiming refundable tax credits for federal taxes paid on fuel ostensibly used for off-highway business purposes. Collectively, the defendants knowingly and willfully completed and filed 115 fraudulent federal income tax returns, falsely claiming approximately $3,032,839 in tax refunds the filers were not entitled to.
Herod and McDowell are each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, and Herod is charged with nine counts of making false claims. Herod made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on December 12, 2024, and McDowell made his initial appearance on December 26, 2024; both defendants were released upon conditions.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the IRS, Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The City of New York and Queens Borough Public Library Settle Federal Claims That the Hunters Point Branch Failed to Comply with the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today a settlement agreement with the Queens Borough Public Library (QBPL) and the City of New York (the City) to resolve violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) at the Hunters Point Library Branch of the QBPL (the HPL Branch). The ADA applies to QBPL because it is a “public accommodation” as defined by Title III of the ADA and to the City because it is a “public entity.” Title II and Title III of the ADA require that newly constructed public accommodations are accessible to individuals with mobility impairments.
“The design and construction of the Hunters Point Library Branch of the Queens Borough Public Library blatantly violated the ADA’s requirement that individuals with disabilities have equal access to public accommodations,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s settlement agreement ensures that access. My Office will continue to enforce the ADA and its protections against discrimination for people with disabilities.”
The HPL Branch, located at 47-40 Center Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens, was designed by Steven Holl Architects pursuant to a contract with the City. Construction was completed in the fall of 2019. Among the library’s unique architectural features is a two-story high, five-tiered mezzanine area intended to house HPL’s periodical and adult fiction sections. However, only the top and bottom tiers are accessible to individuals with mobility impairments, in violation of the ADA.
The United States conducted an ADA compliance review in December 2019 of the HPL Branch shortly after it opened. That review identified approximately 95 violations of the ADA’s accessibility requirements which the City and QBPL have now agreed to remediate. Among the work that the City and QBPL will perform is construction of a platform lift from the fifth tier to the fourth tier of the Mezzanine area and a skywalk/skybridge to the third tier. The platform lift and skywalk/skybridge will provide stair-free access to the third and fourth tiers. QBPL will not house any portion of the HPL collection on the second tier of the Mezzanine Tiers so long as that tier remains inaccessible to people with mobility disabilities.
Additional remediation will include creating wheelchair accessible spaces in the children’s area and the rooftop terrace. Under the terms of the agreement, all remediation work will be completed within five years.
This matter is being handled by the Office’s Civil Division Civil Rights Chief Michael J. Goldberger.
Tennessee man admits selling unapproved drugs used in bodybuilding through his Kalispell business known as Rat’s ArmyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Tennessee man accused of creating and selling unapproved drugs for use in bodybuilding from his Kalispell business known as Rat’s Army admitted to a federal crime on Jan. 9, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Tyler Jordan Hall, 31, of Greenville, Tennessee, was arraigned on and pleaded guilty to an information charging him with introduction of unapproved drugs into interstate commerce. Hall faces a maximum of three years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for May 15 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hall was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that from June 2020 through March 2022, Hall operated a business in Kalispell known as Rat’s Army, LLC, to import, create, bottle and label drugs. Hall marketed these substances to individuals in the bodybuilding and fitness community to increase muscle mass, reduce body fat and counter the unwanted side effects of using bodybuilding drugs. Hall regularly caused the introduction of unapproved new drugs containing Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) and other active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) into interstate commerce.
Many of these substances were not safe for human use except for under the supervision of a practitioner licensed to administer prescription drugs. Some drugs were of similar composition to Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, which require special boxed warnings in their labeling emphasizing serious potential side effects, including pulmonary embolism.
The government further alleged that Hall obtained proceeds of approximately $3,805,470 from Rat’s Army. This income was, at least in part, from the sale of unapproved drugs, including Raloxifene, Tamoxifen and Pramipexole, in interstate commerce.
Hall knowingly took steps to mislead and defraud United States regulatory agencies, including the FDA, about the true nature of products he was selling on the Rat’s Army website. Hall falsely portrayed his products as “research chemicals” and “not for human consumption,” despite knowing and intending that the products were for human ingestion to affect the structure and function of their bodies. Hall also took steps to mislead and defraud consumers to whom he was offering the sale of these drugs by posting misleading Certificates of Analysis on the website to convince consumers that Rat’s Army was manufacturing products which were legitimate and safe to consume.
Hall knew the substances he was distributing required prescriptions, but he falsely claimed, “you do not need a doctor to write a prescription” or “access to a pharmacy, or pharmacist” to obtain products through Rat’s Army. He repeatedly held out his company as a “pharmaceutical manufacturing” business, but he was not a pharmacist, nor did he ever employ a licensed pharmacist at Rat’s Army. And Hall never registered Rat’s Army with the FDA as a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility as is required.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FDA conducted the investigation.
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Suffolk man sentenced to 10 years in prison for federal drug trafficking and firearms convictionRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Suffolk man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Sept. 15, 2023, law enforcement intercepted a package containing two pounds of crystal meth that had been shipped from Murrieta, California, to Norfolk through the U.S. Postal Service. Investigators removed all but 33 grams of the meth, repackaged the parcel, and conducted a controlled delivery to the intended address.
After the package was delivered, Dobeir Quam Rudolph, 35, arrived at the address and retrieved the package. An arrest team attempted to detain Rudolph, but he resisted and attempted to flee in his vehicle. Officers observed Rudolph reaching for something and attempting to destroy his cellphone. Rudolph was eventually placed into custody.
During a search of the vehicle, investigators recovered a handgun where Rudolph had been reaching. Rudolph has two prior felony convictions. As a previously convicted felon, Rudolph cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA’s Washington Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-23.
Stillwater Man Convicted for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted Flint Donavan Luster, 36, was convicted of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.
“This investigation shows the collaborative effort of law enforcement working together to keep the citizens in our communities safe by keeping drugs off our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
In September 2023, Luster was pulled over by a Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputy for a traffic violation. The deputy learned the truck was stolen and took Luster into custody. Upon search of the truck, deputies found more than 400 grams of methamphetamine inside.
Evidence presented at trial showed a search warrant was conducted on Luster's home. Law enforcement found cash, scales, firearms, and additional methamphetamine.
Luster will remain in federal custody pending sentencing at a later date.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Payne County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey and Attila Bogdan prosecuted the case.
Spencer Man to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Casey Tuttle, 26, from Spencer, Iowa, was sentenced on January 7, 2025, to 41 months’ imprisonment.
On August 29, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, Tuttle pled guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Tuttle was previously convicted in 2021 in the Iowa District Court of burglary, third degree; possession of methamphetamine, third or subsequent offense; and in 2018 of burglary, second degree. Each of these are felony convictions which prohibit Tuttle from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that in the early morning of April 4, 2024, Spencer Police Department officers stopped Tuttle riding his bike in the dark without taillights or reflectors. It was determined Tuttle had outstanding arrest warrants, so he was placed under arrest. During a search of Tuttle and a backpack he was wearing, law enforcement located a .22 caliber revolver, ammunition, marijuana, knives, 1 gram of methamphetamine, and other drug-use paraphernalia. Tuttle admitted to law enforcement he was a drug user. As a drug user, Tuttle is also prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Tuttle was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Tuttle remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Spencer, Iowa Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 24-4032. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute more than 40 kilograms of methamphetamine pled guilty January 7, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Celeste Seaton, 40, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
At the plea hearing Seaton admitted that for five months in 2023 she and others conspired to distribute over 3 pounds of pure methamphetamine in the Sioux City, Iowa area. Specifically, on three occasions in 2023, Seaton distributed over 750 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. Seaton further admitted to methamphetamine trafficking over the last several years in Sioux City and that she obtained and distributed a total of 100 pounds of methamphetamine from her source of supply who was obtaining the methamphetamine from Arizona.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Seaton remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Seaton faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4051. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Seven Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 41+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and NarcoticsRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Seven defendants were sentenced this week in the Monroe Division for illegal possession of firearms and narcotics, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the defendants as follows:
- Adrien Marcel Brown, 44, of St. Joseph, Louisiana was sentenced to 126 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute or possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 14, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of the residence of Brown and Andrea Lenae Bass, Brown’s co-defendant. Agents found methamphetamine inside the home. The suspected narcotics were sent to the crime lab for analysis and confirmed to be over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. Brown pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024.
- Bobby R. Thompson, 45, of Monroe, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On March 21, 2024, Monroe Police Department officers detained Thompson due to an active arrest warrant as well as a battery investigation. Thompson was found to be in possession of a SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol and ammunition. Thompson was a convicted felon and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition and was arrested. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 18, 2024.
- Desmond Copeland, 37, of Monroe, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic complaint involving Copeland on April 6, 2024. Deputies found Copeland to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 9mm pistol and ammunition. As a convicted felon, Copeland was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition. He pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024.
- Shawn M. Robertson, 39, of Monroe, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In August 2023, a Louisiana State Police trooper attempted to stop Robertson’s vehicle for speeding. The trooper lost sight of Robertson for a short time but found him in a nearby driveway. Robertson was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. The trooper found a loaded 9mm magazine on the floorboard of the vehicle. Meanwhile, another trooper was stopped by a passing motorist who stated that he had found an abandoned pistol on the road. Law enforcement officers investigated further and learned that the magazine in Robertson’s vehicle fit the pistol found on the road and learned that Robertson’s girlfriend had purchased the Taurus G2C firearm approximately 85 days before. In addition, their investigation confirmed that Robertson had the firearm in his possession before ejecting it from the vehicle onto the roadway. Robertson pleaded guilty on September 16, 2024, and admitted to knowing he was in possession of the firearm despite being prohibited from doing so.
- Dylan Cueto, 33, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On April 12, 2024, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence of Cueto. Deputies found him in possession of a Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield pistol, a Marlin 12-gauge shotgun, a Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle, and ammunition. Cueto pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024, and admitted to possessing the firearms and ammunition knowing he was prohibited from doing so.
- Dequarius Dequan Bailey, 30, of Monroe, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In December 2023, Monroe Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Bailey’s residence and found a DPMS A-15 223-5.56mm rifle loaded with a high-capacity drum magazine hidden under his bed. Law enforcement officers also found a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol hidden in the bathroom. Bailey was arrested and admitted to possessing the firearms despite the fact that he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing them. Bailey pleaded guilty to the charge on April 19, 2024.
- Dalton W. Knight, 24, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On February 11, 2023, an individual sold a Savage rifle to a pawn shop in West Monroe. An investigation by Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office determined that the firearm had previously been stolen. Deputies interviewed the individual that sold the firearm and learned that he had purchased it from another individual and that had traded with Knight for the firearm on December 31, 2022. Knight admitted to possessing the rifle and trading it. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 24, 2024, and admitted to knowing that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from having any firearm in his possession.
“There is a reason why crime is down in Monroe and the surrounding area,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “In partnering with our local district attorney’s offices and law enforcement agencies, we are highly focused on targeting the right offenders and seeking sentences of imprisonment for those who illegally possess firearms and distribute narcotics in our communities. Our office, the DEA and the ATF will forever appreciate these partnerships which are vital to public safety.”
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, Monroe Police Department and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Cathy Semmes and Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica D. Cassidy, William C. Gaskins, and Mike Shannon prosecuted the cases.
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Serial Fraudster Sentenced AgainRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOHN VOLOSHIN, also known as “Josh Thomas,” 69, formerly of New Haven and Woodbridge, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to approximately 41 months of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release, for fraud and identity theft offenses. Judge Chatigny ordered Voloshin to serve the first six months of supervised release in a halfway house.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2012, Voloshin was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 33 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for operating multiple fraud schemes that caused losses of more than $1.5 million to individuals and lenders. He was released from prison in May 2014. In November 2014, he was sentenced to an additional nine months of imprisonment for violating the terms and conditions of his federal supervised release for repeatedly lying to his supervising probation officer by concocting a bogus job for a real estate concern in London. He was released from prison in June 2015. In the fall of 2015, Voloshin engaged in another fraud scheme by soliciting money from individuals and falsely representing that the money would be fully invested to generate very high returns. In November 2017, he was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment for the offense and for violating his supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $275,000 in restitution, in addition to his restitution obligation from his 2012 conviction. He was released from prison in May 2018.
Between January and April 2019, Voloshin defrauded a company in Bloomfield that provided accounting and tax preparation services to individuals and companies. Voloshin stole blank checks for both the company’s business account and the company owner’s personal account, forged the owner’s name on the checks, and negotiated the checks for his own benefit. Voloshin also stole and negotiated checks and money orders that were written out as payment by third parties to the company. As part of the scheme, Voloshin incorporated an entity in Wyoming with a name very similar to that of the company, opened a bank account in the name of the sham company, deposited misappropriated checks into the account, and used the stolen funds for his own benefit. Through this scheme, Voloshin defrauded victims of $56,548.71.
On September 23, 2020, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Voloshin. He was arrested on July 14, 2021, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and had been detained since his arrest. On May 30, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Judge Chatigny ordered Voloshin to make full restitution.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bloomfield Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Sean P. Mahard.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked Interpol and Brazilian authorities for their assistance in apprehending Voloshin, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for coordinating the extradition proceedings in this matter.
Second Whiteville Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Gunfire that Injured Pregnant WomanRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Whiteville man was sentenced to 71 months in prison for possessing a firearm by a felon. On October 17, 2024, Robert Jamar Avant pled guilty to the charges.
“This reckless shootout, adjacent to t-ball fields where hundreds of kids and parents were playing, left a pregnant woman shot and enduring an emergency c-section to save her baby. It is a miracle the baby survived, and the Whiteville Police Department deserves credit for their swift action on this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We’ve cemented firm partnerships with local law enforcement throughout Eastern North Carolina to shut down senseless violence that degrades communities and puts innocent lives at risk. Those partnerships led to a statutory maximum sentence against one of the shooters. We won’t stop fighting for our communities until every kid lives free from gun violence.”
According to court records and evidence presented to the court, Robert Avant, 33, and his co-defendant, Dashaud Maultsby, opened fire on a group of men at the Sandy Ridge Apartment Complex in Whiteville on May 13, 2021. The incident began when Maultsby got into an argument with his girlfriend while at the apartment complex. After leaving the area, he returned with Avant and they began firing AR-15 rifles at an unidentified group of men, who then returned fire. Avant retreated to his vehicle while Maultsby continued shooting as he also moved towards the vehicle. In the process, Maultsby attempted to shoot with one hand as he got into the vehicle, but his rifle fell and discharged accidentally, hitting Avant in the head.
The Whiteville Police Department (WPD) responded swiftly to the scene and found Avant injured from the gunshot wound while sitting in his vehicle. As officers tended to Avant, they noticed and secured his AR-15 rifle and a pistol that were located near his leg. Avant was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Avant was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Additionally, a pregnant woman was shot in the torso during the incident, which necessitated an emergency cesarean section to save her child's life. Following the events, WPD officers apprehended Maultsby and Avant.
On June 6, 2024, Maultsby was sentenced to 10 years, the maximum sentence allowed by statute. His criminal history includes a prior conviction for attempted trafficking of opium.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Whiteville Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaren E. Kelly is prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for the case number 7:23-cr-00087.
Sarasota Doctor Indicted for Coercion and Enticement of Sexual Activity by A Minor and Production of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Pete Supan (35, Bradenton) with coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and production of child sex abuse material. If convicted on all counts, Supan faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Supan coerced and enticed an individual under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. He also persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.