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Friday 15 November 2024
Computer Programmer Convicted for Helping Run One of the Biggest Illegal Television Show Streaming Services in the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS — After a two-week trial, a federal jury in Las Vegas yesterday convicted a Cuban citizen and U.S. permanent resident for helping operate an illegal streaming service with one of the largest quantities of infringing works. The defendant, who was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement, is the eighth and final defendant to be convicted in the case.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Yoany Vaillant, 43, worked as a computer programmer for Jetflicks, an online, subscription-based service headquartered in Las Vegas that permitted users to stream and, at times, download copyrighted television episodes without the permission of relevant copyright owners. At one point, Jetflicks claimed to have 183,285 different television episodes, far more than Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, or any other licensed streaming service. At Jetflicks, Vaillant worked directly with Kristopher Dallmann and Jared Jaurequi, who were convicted of criminal copyright offenses by a different jury earlier this year.
According to his resume, Vaillant had 15 years of computer programming experience when he started at Jetflicks and knew 27 computer languages. During the four-and-a-half months that Vaillant worked at Jetflicks he made significant contributions to the operation of the service, including fixing issues affecting the automated downloading, processing, syncing, uploading, and streaming of Jetflicks’ inventory of infringing television episodes.
Evidence at trial showed that Vaillant and his co-conspirators scoured the internet to find infringing television programs from pirate sites around the world — including some of the biggest sites specializing in infringing content such as The Pirate Bay, RARBG, altHUB, and Nzbplanet — using automated software and computer scripts that ran nonstop. Vaillant and his co-conspirators reproduced hundreds of thousands of copyrighted television episodes without authorization and streamed the infringing programs to tens of thousands of paid subscribers located throughout the United States, often providing episodes to subscribers the day after the shows originally aired on television. The vast scale of Jetflicks’ piracy affected every significant copyright owner of a television program in the United States and resulted in millions of dollars of losses to the U.S. television show and streaming industries.
Vaillant was one of eight defendants indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2019 for running Jetflicks. In that case, Vaillant’s co-defendant Darryl Polo, a computer programmer, pleaded guilty to four criminal copyright counts and one money laundering count, which related to Jetflicks as well as another illegal streaming site he operated. Co-defendant Luis Villarino, also a computer programmer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement at Jetflicks. The court sentenced Polo to four years and nine months in prison and Villarino to one year and one day in prison.
In February 2022, the court transferred the case to the District of Nevada for trial. The court in the District of Nevada subsequently severed Vaillant’s case from the other remaining five defendants — Dallmann, Jaurequi, Douglas Courson, Felipe Garcia, and Peter Huber — and those defendants were tried in Las Vegas last June. Dallmann ran the Jetflicks operation with assistance from Jaurequi and Courson; Garcia was in charge of customer support and helped obtain television show content; and Huber provided computer programming services. A jury found all five defendants guilty of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement, and Dallmann was also found guilty of three additional counts of criminal copyright infringement and two counts of money laundering by concealment. This was the largest internet piracy case by volume of infringed works — and first illegal streaming case — ever to go to trial.
The court will sentence Dallmann, Courson, Garcia, Jaurequi, Huber, and Vaillant on Feb. 3 and 4, 2025. The court will determine any sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Las Vegas Field Office.
Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti, Trial Attorney Michael Christin, and Acting Deputy Chief Christopher S. Merriam of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
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Chief Financial Officer pleads guilty to $1M embezzlement schemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A North Carolina man pled guilty today to defrauding his business partner of approximately $1.2 million.
In September 2015, James Marshall Cesena, 39, and his business partner, identified in court records as E.P., formed a company identified as Company A. E.P. was the majority owner, and Cesena had a minority stake. From September 2015 to August 2023, Cesena served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In this role, Cesena managed Company A’s financial matters and controlled Company A’s bank accounts.
Cesena took advantage of his position as CFO to embezzle over a million dollars. Between 2016 and 2023, Cesena directed hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to his personal accounts, while informing E.P. that Company A had cash flow issues and was in financial difficulty. Because of these deceptions, E.P. periodically had to delay or forego receiving her salary.
Cesena used Company A’s credit cards and corporate accounts to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal purchases that had not been authorized by the Company A. This included expenditures on vacations, travel and airfare, amusement parks, school, home improvements, and living expenses. From 2020 to 2023, Cesena took out a credit card in E.P.’s name without her knowledge and consent and charged approximately $75,000.
To conceal his fraud, Cesena generated false financial statements, which he provided to E.P. and their business consultant. Cesena also masked his personal expenditures in Company A’s accounting software by labeling them as legitimate corporate expenditures. For example, sizeable payments for alcohol and cruise packages were reported as “Office Expenses.” He then provided these fraudulent records to Company A’s tax preparer. The financial data misreported Company A’s total gross receipts and expenses, and the information was then packaged into corporate tax returns.
To cover Company A’s chronic cash-flow issues caused by his sizeable distributions from corporate accounts, Cesena took out high-interest loans in the name of Company A and E.P., without E.P.’s knowledge or consent. To convince loan officers that he was authorized to take out the loans, Cesena misrepresented that he owned as much as 75% or 80% of Company A. Cesena received at least five loans or lines of credit, on at least one of which Company A ultimately defaulted.
In 2019, Cesena created an email account with Company A’s domain in the name of E.P., which he used to apply for business loans and monitor E.P.’s credit. Cesena used E.P.’s name, date of birth, social security number, and other personal information to fraudulently open accounts or obtain money.
In total, Cesena fraudulently took $1,195,878 through direct transfers, charging personal expenses to Company A’s accounts, and charges to the credit card in E.P.’s name.
Cesena is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9, 2025. He faces up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Morgan is prosecuting the case. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Likhitha Butchireddygari assisted in the prosecution of this 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. 1:24-cr-223.
This release was updated to reflect a change in the date of sentencing from Jan. 29, 2025, to April 9, 2025.
Cheyenne man sentenced to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
Zachary James Hernandez, 43, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on March 27, 2023, the Cheyenne Police Department responded to shots fired in the 800 block of West 6th Street in Cheyenne. According to witnesses, the defendant showed up at the residence and began firing shots before demanding that an occupant of the house come out. Once the occupant was out of the house, Hernandez forced her into his vehicle at gunpoint, pointed the gun at another witness, then drove off. Police located the vehicle nearby and initiated a traffic stop. Hernandez was arrested and officers located a Sig Sauer SP 2340 .40-caliber pistol in the vehicle. During questioning, Hernandez admitted to being a felon and to knowing that he was not allowed to possess a firearm.
Hernandez was indicted on July 19, 2023, and transferred to federal custody in June of 2024. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 21. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Nov. 14. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison 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. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 23-CR-00101
Chesapeake drug trafficker sentenced to over 16 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 16 years and eight months in prison for manufacturing, distributing, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on Aug. 13, 2023, Chesapeake Police (CPD) responded to four non-fatal overdoses at a hotel in Chesapeake. At least one of the four victims, who mistakenly thought they had ingested cocaine, had to be revived with naloxone (Narcan). CPD was informed that the drugs were sold by a person known as “Eazy,” a local narcotics distributor. CPD identified “Eazy” as Eric Stephon Faulcon, 43.
On Aug. 22, 2023, CPD conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Faulcon, during which he sold 1.44 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine. On Oct. 3, 2023, Faulcon agreed to sell heroin and fentanyl. With the assistance of another individual, Faulcon sold 1.06 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine.
On Oct. 17, 2023, CPD executed search warrants at Faulcon’s residence. During the search, investigators recovered 532 grams of fentanyl, 126 grams of methamphetamine, 756 grams of cocaine, a digital scale with residue, packaging materials, $4,732, and a loaded handgun. The firearm, which had been reported stolen, was equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device, rendering the firearm capable of fully automatic fire.
Faulcon was previously federally convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Upon his release from the Bureau of Prisons, he continued to engage in criminal conduct which led to convictions for possession of heroin and two armed bank robberies. He was sentenced to 47 years in prison with 29 years suspended. Faulcon was released from prison on Oct. 25, 2021, and was on supervised probation when he committed the crimes for which he was sentenced today.
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; and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin G. Bird 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 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-30.
Chefornak woman arrested for airline interferenceRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Chefornak woman was arrested by the FBI late Tuesday night at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on criminal charges related to her alleged interference with flight crews on a flight from Bethel to Anchorage.
According to court documents, on Nov.12, Caryn Evan, 38, allegedly acted erratically as the aircraft started its decent into Anchorage. Flight attendants and passengers surrounding the defendant observed her yelling incoherently and striking her husband, who was seated next to her. Flight attendants asked Evan to move to a seat in the back of the cabin, but she refused, and her husband was moved to the back of the cabin after the situation was de-escalated.
Court documents further allege that shortly after the crew de-escalated the situation, a flight attendant was called back again to where Evan was seated and observed her moving uncontrollably, flailing about and interfering with passengers around her. Flight attendants asked for an able-bodied person to assist in controlling Evan, and a nurse volunteered to sit with her.
Court documents further explain that upon landing, a flight attendant went to check on Evan and allegedly found her hitting her head on the seat in front of her and flailing her arms uncontrollably. Flight attendants restrained Evan in flex cuffs after one of the attendants allegedly became concerned for surrounding passengers’ safety.
According to court documents, alcohol was allegedly a factor in Evan’s conduct.
Evan is charged with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants. The defendant will make her initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, Evan faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Airport Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody Tirpak is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Career offenders sentenced to prison for meth trafficking and illegally possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Two Norfolk men were sentenced for drug-trafficking and firearms convictions.
According to court documents, in December 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled drug purchase from Javou Jameil Smith, 43, at the residence of Brian Ricardo Hinton, 41, in Norfolk. During the controlled purchase, Smith sold 452 grams of methamphetamine and was in possession of a firearm. Hinton was also present during the controlled purchase.
On Dec. 13, 2023, Chesapeake Police executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence. Smith, who was subject to active arrest warrants in Virginia Beach, attempted to flee and was apprehended after a short pursuit. Investigators searched Smith and recovered 6.05 grams of meth and approximately 1 gram of fentanyl individually packaged for sale. During the search of Smith’s residence, investigators recovered 57 packets containing fentanyl; five tablets containing fentanyl and Xylazine; five tablets containing para-fluorofentanyl, cocaine, and fentanyl; a loaded firearm; digital scales; and materials for the packaging and distribution of drugs.
Police also executed a second search warrant at Hinton’s residence. Investigators located a safe that contained a loaded firearm magazine, a bag with 118 multi-colored tablets containing meth, and a bag containing 13.9 grams of meth. In the same room, investigators found 29 bags of meth. Ten of the 29 bags were tested and confirmed to be 278 grams of meth, with the untested remainder totaling 533.34 grams. Investigators also recovered a firearm, ammunition, packaging materials, and digital scales.
Smith pled guilty on June 14 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. On Nov. 5, he was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison.
Hinton pled guilty on June 17 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. On Nov. 13 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
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; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney; Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, 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 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 Nos. 2:24-cr-49 (Hinton) and 2:24-cr-51 (Smith).
Camp County man sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine in East TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Leesburg, Texas, man has been sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Nathan Paul Hart, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On November 14, 2024, Hart was sentenced to 170 months for the drug offense and another 60 months for the firearms violation. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, ordered the sentences be served consecutively for a total of 230 months in federal prison. Hart was also ordered to forfeit $250,000.
According to information presented in court, between August 2019 and August 2021, Hart conspired with others to bring methamphetamine to East Texas for distribution. The offense involved more than 1.5 kilograms of actual methamphetamine. On November 30, 2020, Hart and a co-defendant were involved in a traffic stop where law enforcement located approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and a pistol. Hart also admitted to sending a package containing over $22,000 to California to a co-defendant to purchase drugs.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Criminal Investigations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
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California Gang Member Caught Smuggling 46 Kilograms of Methamphetamine at Charlotte Airport Is Sentenced to 20 YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A member of the Inglewood Family Gangster Bloods was sentenced to 20 years in prison today after he was caught trying to smuggle 46 kilograms of methamphetamine through the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Rashad Jamal Blanchard, 47, of Los Angeles, was also sentenced to five years of supervised release upon completion of the prison term.
Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, on February 1, 2023, during an enforcement action at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, HSI’s Queen City Regional Border Security Task Force conducted a search of Blanchard’s suitcases. Court records show that Blanchard had boarded a flight from Los Angeles to Charlotte and had checked four suitcases. A search of three of the suitcases revealed that each contained multiple black vacuum sealed packages that contained methamphetamine wrapped in comforters. The three suitcases contained a total of 34.6 kilograms of methamphetamine. Court records show that Blanchard’s fourth suitcase had been picked up from the airport’s baggage claim area by another individual who had then driven off in a vehicle. Law enforcement tracked down the vehicle and retrieved the fourth suitcase, which contained an additional 11.4 kilograms of methamphetamine. In total, Blanchard had attempted to smuggle a total of 46 kilograms of methamphetamine through the Charlotte airport.
According to court documents, Blanchard has an extensive criminal record in four states – North Carolina, California, Florida and Virginia. His prior felony convictions include carjacking and bank robbery. When Blanchard was arrested in Charlotte, he was on probation for the bank robbery conviction. He was also on bond pending prosecution in California, where he is charged for allegedly possessing nearly four pounds of methamphetamine and shooting at an individual during a dispute.
On November 28, 2023, Blanchard pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked HSI, CMPD, and the Queen City Regional Border Security Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Cabot Man Sentenced to over 16 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—George Tavis Marino, II, a multi-convicted felon, will spend 200 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
Marino was indicted on August 1, 2023, on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty on March 21, 2024. Judge Moody also sentenced Marino to five years supervised release.
An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that on May 13, 2022, at approximately 9:30 p.m., an Arkansas State Police trooper initiated a traffic stop at 2500 John Hardin Drive, in Jacksonville, Arkansas, on a silver Mazda for illegally displaying white lights to the rear of the vehicle, near the license plate. As the trooper approached the vehicle, he saw the front passenger, later identified as Marino, reach under his seat. At that point, the Trooper instructed Marino to put his hands where he could see them and not to dig around on the floorboard. Marino then raised his hands through the open passenger window.
The trooper advised the driver of the reason for the stop and asked if either of the men was on probation or parole, and both men stated “no.” The trooper asked Marino to exit the vehicle and saw him reach under his seat again. Concerned that he was reaching for a firearm, the trooper reached inside to prevent Marino from moving and told him not to “do anything stupid.” Marino denied having a firearm when asked by the trooper. After repeatedly being instructed to exit the vehicle and not reach for anything, Marino eventually exited through the open passenger window.
Marino repeatedly said, “Don’t do this, man,” tried to cover the trooper’s microphone, and continued to resist. The trooper pulled out his taser and Marino fled after throwing a can of Sprite at the trooper. During a search of Marino’s vehicle, the trooper discovered under the passenger seat a Hi-Point, model C9, 9mm pistol, loaded with five rounds. Marino was eventually located in a Walmart parking lot in Jacksonville and taken into custody.
Marino is classified as an armed career criminal offender due to his violent criminal history, which includes 21 prior felony convictions for crimes such as first degree terroristic threatening, second degree battery, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing, aggravated assault, possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, and two prior felon in possession of a firearm convictions. Therefore, the maximum penalty Marino faced was not less than 15 years and not more than life in prison, no more than five years supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the Passing of Theodore OlsonRead the Press Release
The Justice Department released the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today following the passing of Theodore Olson:
“The passing of Ted Olson is an enormous loss for the legal community. Ted was an extraordinary attorney and public servant whose contributions to the Justice Department and the law will long be remembered.
Ted led the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel as Assistant Attorney General and later served as Solicitor General of the United States. One of the great lawyers and appellate advocates of his generation, Ted led those offices with integrity, skill, and dedication to the rule of law, in the best traditions of the Justice Department. He left with the great admiration and respect of the Department’s attorneys.
Ted exemplified what it means to be a principled person. Throughout his career, both in government and private practice, he held steadfast to what he believed was right, regardless of criticism from any quarter. Even more important, throughout his life, he treated everyone with great kindness and decency.
On behalf of the Justice Department, I extend my condolences to Ted’s family and loved ones, and my deep gratitude for his service and his lifetime devotion to the law.”
Armed Drug Trafficker with Infant in His Car Sentenced to 9 YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Jacksonville man was sentenced to 108 months in prison for armed drug trafficking in Jacksonville after being found in his car with his child, a loaded gun, and drugs. On August 9, 2024, Antwone Hatchell, age 24, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“Mr. Hatchell is clearly a dangerous individual. Not only did he put his own 2-month-old child in danger, but he was intent to do harm within our community through the trafficking of illegal narcotics. I am thankful to the U.S. Attorney's Office and the members of the Jacksonville Police Department and Onslow County Sheriff's Office for their professionalism and dedication to keeping our community safe,” said Jacksonville Police Chief Jarad Phelps.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Antwone Hatchell, was caught with illegal drugs and firearms four consecutive times in nine months. In November 2022, he was found in the car with his 2-month-old child, a loaded 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana hidden in a diaper bag. In both February and July 2023, he was found asleep in a running vehicle, each time with a loaded gun and multiple types of controlled substances. And on a separate occasion in July, he was pulled over and found with a loaded AR-15 pistol with a large capacity magazine and red dot optic, a loaded 9mm pistol, 17.07 grams of fentanyl, 13.2 grams of cocaine base, and other contraband.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Jacksonville Police Department and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Loeser prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-11-D.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Antonie Albert Eaddy, 49, of Arizona, has pleaded guilty in Columbia to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a quantity of crack cocaine and a quantity of marijuana.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Eaddy was supplying multiple people in Columbia, Florence, and Lee Counties in South Carolina with cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and fentanyl pills. The police learned of his operation while investigating a person in Columbia who was purchasing cocaine from Eaddy. During their investigation, the police learned that Eaddy was supplying him with cocaine and fentanyl pills. Eaddy was shipping the drugs through the postal service and through couriers who picked up the drugs from Eaddy and transported money and drugs to and from South Carolina. During their investigation, the police, with the help of the United States Postal Inspection Service, seized two packages that contained approximately one kilogram of cocaine, 500 grams of marijuana, five grams of crack cocaine and 344 gross grams of fentanyl pills that was set to be delivered to another co-conspirator in Columbia for a wider distribution. Police also learned that Eaddy was shipping fentanyl pills through the mail to other co-conspirators in Miami, Florida. Three other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to their involvement in this conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing.
Eaddy faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Eaddy after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This operation and prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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13 Arrested after Investigation into Drug Trafficking from New Britain Car DealershipRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and New Britain Police Chief Matthew Marino today announced that the following 13 individuals were arrested yesterday on federal criminal complaints charging each with drug distribution offenses:
WILFREDO ORTIZ, aka “Will” and “P,” 44, of Bristol
MICHAEL LUISI, aka, “Mike,” 51, of Berlin
ELI SAMUEL OFARRILL-FERNANDEZ, aka "Eli” and “Maple,” 46, of New Britain
SAMUEL MARTINEZ, aka “Sammy,” 48, of Rocky Hill
TASHIA BRIDGES, aka “Cheena,” 34, of Torrington
DIMAS RODRIGUEZ, aka “Dima” and “D,” 55, of Meriden
JOSE M. ORTIZ, 52, of New Britain
JOSE L. ORTIZ, 47, of New Britain
RICHARD BEAUDOIN, aka “Rich,” 52, of Newington
RICHARD ZINA, aka “Rich,” 42, of Ludlow, Mass.
CURTIS ROOTH, aka “Scooter,” 36, of Portland
JOSE RIVERA, 35, of Rocky Hill
JEMUEL VEGA-GOMEZ, 24, of New BritainAs alleged in court documents and statements made in court, since February 2024, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and New Britain Police Department have been conducting an investigation into a drug trafficking organization, headed by Wilfredo Ortiz and Michael Luisi, that was operating out of Supreme Automotive, a car dealership located at 494 Main Street in New Britain. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and approximately 15 controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily cocaine.
In association with yesterday’s arrests, investigators conducted court authorized searches of Supreme Automotive and residences and other locations connected to the drug trafficking organization and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of heroin, a kilogram press, seven firearms, ammunition, approximately $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles.
Each defendant is currently charged with possession with intent to distribute/distribution of controlled substances, and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, which carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Certain defendants may face additional charges and penalties.
Wilfredo Ortiz, Luisi, Ofarrill-Fernandez, Martinez, Bridges, Rodriguez, Rooth, and Vega-Gomez are currently detained, and Jose M. Ortiz, Jose L. Ortiz, Beaudoin, Zina, and Rivera are released on bond.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Police, and the New Britain, Hartford, West Hartford, Waterbury, Naugatuck, East Hartford, Brookfield, Milford, Norwich, Orange, North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Manchester Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth, Reed Durham, and David Nelson through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Thursday 14 November 2024
Woburn Men Plead Guilty to Migrant Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Father and son owners of two Woburn, Mass. restaurants, Taste of Brazil—Tudo Na Brasa and The Dog House Bar and Grill, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle migrants into the United States from Brazil. One defendant has also pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy.
Jesse James Moraes, 66, and Hugo Giovanni Moraes, 45, both of Woburn, pleaded guilty to conspiring to encourage and induce an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law, for commercial advantage or private financial gain. Jesse Moraes also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the migrant smuggling conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencings for Feb. 11, 2025.
The conspiracy involved recruiting undocumented migrants in Brazil to come to the United States through Mexico without authorization in exchange for fees of between $12,000 and $22,000 per person. The migrants were encouraged to make fraudulent claims of asylum and familial relationship (e.g., parent and minor child) in the United States and were given fraudulent information about U.S. points of contact to give to immigration authorities when they were caught in the United States. Once migrants were in the United States, Jesse Moraes and Hugo Moraes helped them secure long term housing, including in apartments owned by relatives of Hugo Moraes. The defendants arranged for some of the migrants to work at Tudo Na Brasa/Taste of Brazil and The Dog House Bar and Grill and paid the migrants either entirely or partly in cash unless and until the migrants obtained identification documents, at which point they would be paid at least partly by check. The defendants encouraged the migrants working for them to obtain false identification documents and referred them to a co-defendant, Marcos Chacon Gil, a/k/a Marquito,” to obtain such false identification documents. The co-conspirators agreed that some of the migrants could pay off some of their smuggling fee once they reached the United States, which they did by direct payment, having their wages withheld, or by collection by relatives and other associates within and outside the United States.
The money laundering conspiracy to which Jesse Moraes pleaded guilty involved transferring funds into and out of the United States with the intent to promote the migrant smuggling conspiracy and conducting financial transactions with the proceeds of the smuggling conspiracy that were designed to conceal the ownership and control of the proceeds.
Members of the public who believe they may be victims of the alleged crimes, or have information or questions about this case, are encouraged to call 888-221-6023, Option 5 or send an email with contact information to [email protected].
The charge of conspiring to encourage and induce an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law, for commercial advantage or private financial gain, provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison per alien smuggled, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Woburn Police Chief Robert F. Rufo, Jr., made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Norwood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James D. Herbert, Kelly Lawrence and Samuel R. Feldman of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Waverly, Iowa, Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jared Russell Rigdon, 38, from Waverly, Iowa, was sentenced November 13, 2024, to 30 years in federal prison. On March 29, 2024, Rigdon pled guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of distribution of child pornography.
Evidence in the case showed that between January 2022, and March 22, 2023, Rigdon downloaded and distributed files of child pornography using BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer network, as well as Kik. Rigdon admitted that he used a video chat application and a screen-recording application to record dozens of clearly prepubescent children from around the world, whom Rigdon would solicit to engage in sexual and lascivious acts. Forensic review of his electronic devices discovered over 120,000 images of child sexual abuse materials. The videos and images discovered involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct and included prepubescent children, infants, and toddlers.
Rigdon was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Rigdon was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Rigdon is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Urbandale Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-02068. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Venezuelan National Sentenced for Sanctions Evasion SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI — George Semerene Quintero (Semerene), 61, of Venezuela, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and for his role in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions imposed on Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PdVSA), a Venezuelan state-owned oil company.
“Today, George Semerene Quintero was held accountable in a U.S. court of law for conspiring to circumvent economic sanctions and export controls to aid Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela in obtaining critical aircraft parts from America,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “The prosecution of Semerene reflects our steadfast commitment to holding those who violate sanctions accountable and to vigorously enforcing export controls to protect our nation’s security. Together, with the Bureau of Industry and Security and our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to ensure that the integrity and intent of U.S. sanctions are preserved.”
“Today, the defendant George Semerene Quintero, is being held accountable for his role in a brazen scheme to illegally funnel American aircraft parts to service planes used by Maduro and his cronies,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the sanctions imposed on the Maduro regime and will not tolerate those who violate the law and undermine our national security.”
“Semerene conspired to illegally procure critical parts from U.S. companies to supply the PdVSA aircraft fleet and tried to hide the transactions through third parties in other countries like Spain and Costa Rica,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). “Now, the only procurement he’ll be doing is at the prison commissary.”
According to court documents, between January 2019 and December 2021, after learning of the sanctions imposed on PdVSA, Semerene and his co-conspirators devised a scheme to illegally procure aircraft parts, including bearings, rudder parts, joint slide flexes and actuators, from the United States to service PdVSA’s aircraft fleet in Venezuela, in violation of U.S. sanctions and export controls. Semerene, who was an employee in PdVSA’s procurement department, and his co-conspirators concealed from U.S. companies that the requested parts were destined for Venezuela and PdVSA by utilizing third parties in other countries, including a company in Costa Rica, Novax Group SA, and a company in Spain, Aerofalcon SL, to serve as the purported purchasers and end users for the aircraft parts. Semerene and his co-conspirators carried out this scheme by causing the third-party companies to (1) lie to U.S. parts suppliers; (2) make false declarations on customs forms and shipping documents; (3) fabricate supplier invoices; and (4) provide false end-user certificates. Semerene and his co-conspirators utilized freight forwarders and shipping companies located in the Southern District of Florida to move the parts.
The indictment charging Semerene and nine co-defendants, including three other individuals associated with PdVSA, was unsealed in April, following Semerene’s arrest upon his arrival in the United States. Semerene pleaded guilty on Aug. 20.
BIS investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Stratton for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Medetis, Chief of the National Security Section for the Southern District of Florida, and CES Deputy Chief Matthew McKenzie provided valuable assistance during the investigation.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20589.
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Venezuelan National Sentenced for Sanctions Evasion SchemeRead the Press Release
George Semerene Quintero (Semerene), 61, of Venezuela, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and for his role in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions imposed on Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PdVSA), a Venezuelan state-owned oil company.
“Today, the defendant George Semerene Quintero, is being held accountable for his role in a brazen scheme to illegally funnel American aircraft parts to service planes used by Maduro and his cronies,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the sanctions imposed on the Maduro regime and will not tolerate those who violate the law and undermine our national security.”
“Semerene conspired to illegally procure critical parts from U.S. companies to supply the PdVSA aircraft fleet and tried to hide the transactions through third parties in other countries like Spain and Costa Rica,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). “Now, the only procurement he’ll be doing is at the prison commissary.”
“Today, George Semerene Quintero was held accountable in a U.S. court of law for conspiring to circumvent economic sanctions and export controls to aid Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela in obtaining critical aircraft parts from America,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “The prosecution of Semerene reflects our steadfast commitment to holding those who violate sanctions accountable and to vigorously enforcing export controls to protect our nation’s security. Together, with the Bureau of Industry and Security and our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to ensure that the integrity and intent of U.S. sanctions are preserved.”
According to court documents, between January 2019 and December 2021, after learning of the sanctions imposed on PdVSA, Semerene and his co-conspirators devised a scheme to illegally procure aircraft parts, including bearings, rudder parts, joint slide flexes and actuators, from the United States to service PdVSA’s aircraft fleet in Venezuela, in violation of U.S. sanctions and export controls. Semerene, who was an employee in PdVSA’s procurement department, and his co-conspirators concealed from U.S. companies that the requested parts were destined for Venezuela and PdVSA by utilizing third parties in other countries, including a company in Costa Rica, Novax Group SA, and a company in Spain, Aerofalcon SL, to serve as the purported purchasers and end users for the aircraft parts. Semerene and his co-conspirators carried out this scheme by causing the third-party companies to (1) lie to U.S. parts suppliers; (2) make false declarations on customs forms and shipping documents; (3) fabricate supplier invoices; and (4) provide false end-user certificates. Semerene and his co-conspirators utilized freight forwarders and shipping companies located in the Southern District of Florida to move the parts.
The indictment charging Semerene and nine co-defendants, including three other individuals associated with PdVSA, was unsealed in April, following Semerene’s arrest upon his arrival in the United States. Semerene pleaded guilty on Aug. 20.
BIS investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Stratton for the Southern District of Florida (SDFL) and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Medetis, Chief of the National Security Section for SDFL and CES Deputy Chief Matthew McKenzie provided valuable assistance during the investigation.
Vallejo Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Possession of a Visual Depiction of a Minor Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On July 11, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against John Robert Remlinger, 42, of Vallejo, charging him with sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed following Remlinger’s arrest.
According to court documents, between June and August 2021, Remlinger knowingly coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and on Jan. 24, 2023, he possessed visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor, Remlinger faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison up to a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, Remlinger faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison up to a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, plus restitution and a fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
U.S. Government Employee Charged with Two Counts of Unlawfully Transmitting National Defense InformationRead the Press Release
A U.S. government employee working overseas was charged with unlawfully transmitting two highly sensitive classified documents last month.
According to court documents, Asif William Rahman, 34, held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance as part of his role working for the U.S. government. According to an indictment filed in the Eastern District of Virginia on Nov. 7, Rahman, on or about Oct. 17, retained without authorization two documents classified at the Top Secret/SCI level, which contained information relating to national defense, and transmitted those documents to a person not entitled to receive them.
Rahman made his initial appearance in federal court in Guam on Nov. 14. The court ordered Rahman’s continued detention and removal from the District of Guam for further court hearings in the Eastern District of Virginia.
The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Criminal Complaint Against Burtonsville Woman in Connection with Fentanyl Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
First-grade teacher allegedly sold drugs on school property during work hours.
Greenbelt, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has filed a criminal complaint against Sarah Katherine Magid, 34, of Burtonsville, Maryland. Magid is charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury and the death of a victim. The criminal complaint was unsealed on November 13, 2024, as Magid appeared in the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gina L. Simms.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the charge with Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division, and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department.
After the death of the victim in March 2024, law enforcement discovered text messages between the victim and Magid pertaining to the distribution of fentanyl. Specifically, a forensic analysis of the victim’s cell phone revealed a text conversation and subsequent meeting between Magid and the victim. The messages uncovered a drug transaction involving pills that had been pressed to appear like oxycodone hydrochloride 30 mg pills but actually contained fentanyl. After the meeting and transaction, the victim was found deceased. The Washington, D.C., Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the victim’s cause of death was fentanyl toxicity.
Additionally, in July 2024, a complainant reported to law enforcement that Magid, a Montgomery County first-grade schoolteacher, exited her classroom to sell drugs to people outside of the school. Law enforcement subsequently identified text messages from Magid’s phone indicating that she dealt drugs during work hours.
If convicted, Magid faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment up to a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by a criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and/or until proven guilty at later criminal proceedings.
The law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation are all partners in the recently announced Maryland Fatal Fentanyl Overdose Task Force (“MFOTFF”). Led and coordinated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the DEA’s Washington Division, the task force is focused on raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, as well as creating connections between local, state, and federal authorities to increase prosecutions of overdose-death cases in Maryland. A Public Service Announcement created for MFFOTF is available online.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the DEA and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Metropolitan Police Department and the Montgomery County State's Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright who are prosecuting this federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentencing for Domestic Violence CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – After receiving credit for 13 months previously served in Tribal custody, a Laguna man was sentenced to serve an additional 27 months in prison for two violent assaults against his intimate partner, a member of the Acoma Pueblo in 2019.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, in the first incident on May 30, 2019, Bret Anthony Vallo, 32, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, admitted to approaching the victim from behind during an argument, wrapping his arm around her neck, and strangling her until she lost consciousness.
In a separate incident between July 1 and July 15, 2019, Vallo acknowledged that he escalated another verbal dispute by punching the victim in the face and striking her multiple times with a metal futon leg.
Upon his release from prison, Vallo will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Pueblo of Acoma Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentencing for Assault Case Against Jemez Pueblo Police OfficerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Jemez Pueblo man was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for a violent confrontation with a police officer that escalated from a call for help to an assault on law enforcement.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on May 29, 2023, a police officer with the Jemez Pueblo Police Department received a report from his sister about an individual in a nearby arroyo who was grunting and screaming for help. Upon investigation, the officer encountered Dylon Scott Sandia, 32, an enrolled member of the Jemez Pueblo, speaking with his sister. When Sandia took an aggressive posture towards the officer’s sister, he intervened and instructed Sandia to go inside. Instead, Sandia became increasingly hostile, yelling slurs at the officer and attempting to headbutt him before physically pushing him.
After being pushed, the officer attempted to detain Sandia. However, Sandia violently resisted, pulling the officer to the ground where he struck him in the stomach and chest while trying to access items from the officer’s duty belt, including his firearm.
In response to the escalating violence, the officer was forced to use pepper spray and a baton to subdue Sandia. He ultimately managed to break free from Sandia’s grip and handcuff him.
Upon his release from prison, Sandia 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 Jemez Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney Obtains Consent Decree Against Liberty Central School District for Violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights ActRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States obtained a consent decree against LIBERTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (“LIBERTY”) in a lawsuit for violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (“USERRA”) filed on behalf of teacher and U.S. Army National Guard member John Chewens. The consent decree enjoins LIBERTY from future violations of USERRA and requires it to pay Chewens $10,000 in damages, including the $5,992.04 in pay that Chewens did not receive because of LIBERTY’s violations.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Our courageous soldiers, who often leave behind their families and loved ones to serve this country, should not return from their military deployments only to find that they have fallen behind in their civilian jobs. This Office is dedicated to ensuring that service members like Captain John Chewens receive all the protections that USERRA guarantees, and we will hold employers responsible when they refuse to honor those guarantees.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:
LIBERTY pays teachers according to a salary schedule by which a teacher’s base annual salary is determined by the teacher’s step. Teachers typically progress one step per school year, which results in an increase in the teacher’s compensation.
Chewens began teaching at LIBERTY in the 2016–17 school year, and he was paid at step 1. At the start of the 2017–18 year, he progressed to step 2. Subsequently, he was ordered to report for active duty starting in March 2018, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As a result of his deployment, he did not return to teaching until April 2019.
When Chewens returned to teaching, LIBERTY denied him the step increase that he would have otherwise received but for his absence during his deployment. As a result, his annual base salary for the 2018–19 school year and subsequent school years was less than it would have been but for his military service.
USERRA guarantees that service members whose employment is interrupted by more than 90 days of military service are, upon their return to the employer, paid at the same rate that they would have earned absent their military service.
The Consent Decree enjoins LIBERTY from violating any provisions of USERRA (including the provisions that prohibit retaliation); requires LIBERTY to compensate Chewens for lost wages and other damages; and requires LIBERTY to incorporate the following statement into its Board of Education policy and to communicate it to members of its executive and administrative staff:
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (“USERRA”) prohibits employers from discriminating against military service members in employment and hiring. USERRA also guarantees that service members whose employment is interrupted by more than 90 days of military service are, upon their return to the employer, paid at the same rate that they would have earned absent their military service. Even if an employee would not otherwise be eligible to advance a step in the salary schedule because of an absence, the employee must receive a step increase if the employee’s absence is due to his or her military service.
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This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Osmond is in charge of the case.
Two Men Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for selling methamphetamine in Marshall County.
David Adam Stewart, 42, of Glen Easton, West Virginia, was sentenced to 87 months for the distribution of methamphetamine. Michael J. Lloyd, Jr., 22, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stewart, also known as “Adam,” was selling methamphetamine from his residence. Lloyd was also selling methamphetamine from Stewart’s residence, as well as from other residences in Marshall County. The investigation included the search of two homes, resulting in the seizure of 275 grams of methamphetamine, 8.5 grams of fentanyl, and cash.
Stewart has prior convictions in Marshall County for selling fentanyl that resulted in death and a firearms charge.
Stewart will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Lloyd will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Trio sentenced to prison for multi-state wire and bank fraud conspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Three men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy to cash fraudulent checks and obtain pandemic relief benefits using stolen identities.
According to court documents, from at least May 2020 through January 2022, Deandre Merritt, aka Dre, Scam Likely, and John Adams, 29, of Hyattsville, Maryland, coordinated and participated in schemes to cash stolen or altered checks and use the personal identifying information of unwitting victims to fraudulently claim pandemic relief benefits. The conspirators used fake identification documents in both schemes.
Merritt and at least one other coconspirator obtained U.S. Postal Service (USPS) arrow keys, which are universal keys used by mail carriers and collectors that can unlock various USPS collection boxes. Merritt and his co-conspirators stole checks from USPS collection boxes. The conspirators then created fraudulent checks by altering stolen checks or creating new fraudulent checks using the checks’ information such as the payees’ names, addresses, and account numbers, as well as the routing number of the bank.
Merritt conspired with a bank teller who would tell Merritt if a check could be cashed, and Merritt would provide conspirators with checks and direct them to the teller. Among the conspirators Merritt directed to cash checks was Sylvester E. Hawkins II, 31, of Buffalo, New York.
Merritt and Hawkins worked with Trevon Thompson, aka Rell and Zoe Bands, 23, of La Plata, Maryland, and other coconspirators to obtain illegitimate identification documents, including driver licenses and passport documents, in the names of other people, but which pictured Thompson or Hawkins. Merritt and Thompson then used these illegitimate identification documents in various fraudulent schemes, such as obtaining cellphones, opening bank accounts, and obtaining debit cards, credit cards, loans, and lines of credit. Merritt recruited individuals, including drug addicts, to go into banks with the illegitimate identification documents as necessary.
Thompson, Merritt and Hawkins used an illegitimate driver license in the name of an identity theft victim to apply for and receive a loan of approximately $20,833 through the Paycheck Protection Program, a pandemic relief program.
Merritt, Thompson, Hawkins, and other co-conspirators used the fake identification documents and stolen personal identifying information to apply for pandemic and unemployment insurance (UI) benefits intended to assist those who lost their jobs through no-fault of their own or whose employment was negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Over the course of the bank fraud conspiracy, Merritt directed at least 15 individuals into bank branches, and the overall bank fraud conspiracy caused an actual loss of at least $575,579. The overall wire and bank fraud conspiracy related to the fraudulent pandemic and UI benefit applications caused an actual loss of at least $506,308. An additional loss of approximately $20,833 was caused by the fraudulent PPP loan. The conspiracy used the personal identifying information of at least 10 victims.
Thompson pled guilty on Aug. 1 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. On Oct. 18 he was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.
Hawkins pled guilty on July 17 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. On Nov. 5 he was sentenced to one year and three months in prison.
Merritt pled guilty on Aug. 27 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. He was sentenced yesterday to five years and six months in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Troy W. Springer, Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Robeson and Kimberly M. Shartar 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. 1:24-cr-98.
Thurston County man caught twice with drugs and firearms sentenced to 7 years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 53-year-old resident of Rochester, Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 7 years in prison for two federal felonies related to his armed drug trafficking activity, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Waylan Graves was arrested twice in a four-month period in 2023, each time with distribution amounts of dangerous drugs and loaded firearms.
On June 1, 2023, Graves was arrested by officers with the Thurston County Narcotics Enforcement Team. Law enforcement served a judicially authorized search warrant on Graves’ home and car. In the home they found fentanyl pills, two firearms (one of them loaded) and nearly $5,000 in cash. In Graves’ car they found a third loaded firearm as well as fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. In the car was more than $10,000 in cash.
Graves was charged with drug and gun crimes in Thurston County Superior Court. He was released on bail. Less than four months later he was arrested a second time for drug trafficking.
On September 20, 2023, Graves was arrested with fentanyl pills, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in his car. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was in the void under the center console. Investigations also seized a scale and more than $3,000 cash – proceeds from Graves’ drug dealing.
Graves was indicted federally in October 2023 for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Graves pleaded guilty to these crimes in July 2024.
Prosecutors asked for a seven-year sentence, noting the harm fentanyl in particular has been causing in our community writing, “The drugs that Mr. Graves was distributing have been causing irreparable harm to the community. As the Court is well aware, the influx of fentanyl has left a wake of destruction in the community. In King County alone, there have been 839 overdose deaths as of November 6, 2024, with 624 of those deaths involving fentanyl.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Puyallup Police Department, Thurston County Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey S. Conzatti and Stephen Hobbs.
Three Philadelphia Men Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Franklin Sael Gonzalez, age 25, Ricardo Batista, age 22, and Tazwell Berrios, age 22, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Gonzalez, Batista, and Berrios conspired to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and cocaine, between October 10 and 15, 2022, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The indictment also alleges that Gonzalez, Batista, and Berrios possessed a FN Five-seveN MK2P, 5.7 x 28 mm pistol during and in relation to their drug trafficking activities.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams 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.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is lifetime imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Three More Participants Graduate from U.S. District Court’s Alternative Treatment CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson congratulated three recent graduates of the Alternative Treatment Court (ATC) today. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn oversees the ATC program for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and presided over today’s graduation ceremony.
The ATC program is a collaborative partnership between the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Probation Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, and various community-based treatment providers and organizations. The ATC program is a pre-plea, pre-sentence alternative to conviction or imprisonment for certain individuals charged with federal crimes. The ATC program provides a blend of treatment that focuses on drug and mental health treatment, and alternative sanctions to effectively address offender behavior, rehabilitation, and education and jobs skills training. The U.S. Probation Office provides oversight and monitoring that are integral to the ATC program’s success.
In a video statement, Thompson commended U.S. Magistrate Judge Aboulhosn, the judges of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and the ATC program’s partners.
“We appreciate the fact that they allow the program not only to exist but to thrive,” Thompson said. “This is something that is done on a volunteer basis. The work and effort they put in makes this program successful and they all deserve recognition today.”
Participants must be individuals whose criminal conduct is believed to be motivated by substance abuse issues, mental health, or other underlying causes that appear to be amenable to treatment through programs available as part of the ATC. Defendants with a history of violent offenses, involved in child exploitation offenses or subject to removal by immigration authorities are among those excluded from participating.
Eligible defendants must participate for at least 12 months, but may be required to participate for up to 24 months.
Today’s graduates are Richard Allen Bowen, 63, of Charleston, Bradley Flowers, 29, of Hurricane, and Joseph Harper, 39, of Beckley. Thompson offered words of encouragement to each graduate.
The three graduates each successfully completed Track Two of the program, which allows them to receive terms of probation. Track One of the program allows for the dismissal of charges against those participants upon their successful completion of the ATC program.
Information about the Alternative Treatment Court program, including the program’s Memorandum of Understanding, is available on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia: https://www.wvsd.uscourts.gov/programs-services/alternative-treatment-court.
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 Nos. 2:23-cr-4 (Bowen), 3:22-cr-96 (Flowers), and 5:23-cr-15 (Harper).
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Three Indiana Residents Charged in Nationwide SIM-Swapping ConspiracyRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – An indictment was unsealed today charging three Indiana residents, Indigo Kiara Graham, Cortez Tarmar Crawford, and Trevon Demar Allen with conspiracy in connection with a SIM-swapping operation.
All three defendants were arrested yesterday and made their initial appearances in federal court in South Bend, Ind.
According to the indictment filed on Nov. 7, 2024, Graham, 27, Crawford, 22, and Allen, 30, all currently of Elkhart, Ind., are alleged to have conspired with each other and with additional co-conspirators to unjustly enrich themselves by targeting victims for SIM (subscriber identity module) swaps. A SIM card is an integrated circuit that stores authentication and other information for devices on mobile phone networks. In a SIM swap, a criminal actor causes the SIM card assigned to a victim’s account with a mobile service provider to be changed to a SIM card controlled by the criminal actor. Upon obtaining control of the SIM card that is attached to the victim’s cell phone service, the criminal actor can impersonate the victim to other service providers (such as email providers, cryptocurrency exchanges, and social media accounts) by using the victim’s cell phone number to receive password reset codes.
The indictment describes how, beginning around April 2023 to around May 2024, the defendants allegedly created fraudulent identification documents in victims’ names, performed SIM swaps in exchange for money, and fraudulently obtained two-factor authentication codes, thereby accessing and stealing victims’ money and data, extorting victims for money in exchange for restoring access to data, and concealing the ill-gotten funds through cryptocurrency transactions. Graham and Crawford are also charged with committing aggravated identity theft in connection with one incident involving both Graham and Crawford and a second incident involving only Crawford at a mobile service provider store in El Cerrito, Calif.
All three defendants were released and ordered to appear on Dec. 4, 2024, for their initial appearances before the Honorable Kandis A. Westmore, U.S. Magistrate Judge.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years of imprisonment, $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, $100 special assessment, forfeiture, and restitution for the conspiracy charge in count one; Graham and Crawford also face a mandatory minimum sentence of two years of imprisonment to run consecutively to any other sentence and in addition to the sentence for the underlying felony, $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, $100 special assessment, and restitution for each count of aggravated identity theft with which they are charged.
However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle J. Kane is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kathy Tat. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Indigo Kiara Graham Indictment
Three Admit Nearly $350,000 Auto Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Three people have pleaded guilty to federal charges and admitted fraudulently obtaining nine auto loans worth nearly $350,000.
Willie Roy Carter, 75, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday to one count of bank fraud and one count of mail fraud. Kizzie Davis, also known as Kizzie Lofton, 46, pleaded guilty October 31 to one count of mail fraud. Her husband, Charles Davis Jr., 57, pleaded guilty October 24 to one count of bank fraud and one count of mail fraud.
Carter, aided by Charles and Kizzie Davis, applied for auto loans between July 23, 2018, and Aug. 1, 2018, using fraudulent purchase and loan documents. Carter did not own or plan to buy the vehicles as represented in the loan applications, however. Carter claimed the cars were being sold by City Limits Auto Sales, a business name registered in Missouri in 2016 by Charles Davis. Carter gave the loan checks to Charles Davis to deposit. Money orders for monthly loan payments were purchased by Kizzie Davis and mailed via the United States Postal Service from Florida to lenders in Missouri to lull the financial institutions into believing the automobile purchases were legitimate and delay the reporting of the fraudulent activity.
The nine loans totaled about $345, 444.
Carter also admitted charging $10,396 on two credit cards that he never paid off.
Charles Davis is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28, 2025. Kizzie Davis is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 13, 2025, and Carter five days later.
Each bank fraud and mail fraud charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane is prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office Finds Conditions at Fulton County Jail in Georgia Violate the Constitution and Federal LawRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced its findings concluding that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office routinely violate the constitutional and statutory rights of persons incarcerated at the Fulton County Jail and fail to adequately protect incarcerated persons from substantial risk of serious harm.
“In Fulton County, people in custody awaiting formal charges or trials frequently must protect themselves from brutal physical attacks, endure frequent excessive force, manage their wellbeing with inadequate food and unsanitary living conditions, and hope they can find access to a strained medical and mental health care program. This is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our Constitution requires humane conditions while incarcerated that, at a minimum, ensure people in custody are safe. The findings regarding the Fulton County Jail reveal grave and diffuse failures to safeguard the men and women housed in its facilities, including a disturbing frequency of deaths among incarcerated people. We expect Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to share our sense of urgency about the seriousness of the violations described in this report and to work cooperatively with our Office and the Department of Justice to remedy these systemic deficiencies in the Jail.”
“Lashawn Thompson’s horrific death was symptomatic of a pattern of dangerous and dehumanizing conditions in the Fulton County Jail,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department’s report concluded that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office allowed unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the Jail. As a result, people incarcerated in the Fulton County Jail suffered harms from pest infestation and malnourishment and were put at substantial risk of serious harm from violence by other incarcerated people — including homicides, stabbings and sexual abuse. The unconstitutional and unlawful conditions at the Fulton County Jail have persisted for far too long, and we are committed to working with Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s office to remedy them.”
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the inhumane, violent, and hazardous conditions that people are subjected to inside the Fulton County Jail," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Detention in the Fulton County Jail has amounted to a death sentence for dozens of people who have been murdered or who died as a result of the atrocious conditions inside the facility. It’s not just adults but also children who are subjected to conditions and treatment that violate the constitution and defy federal law. Many people held in jails in our country have not been convicted — they are awaiting hearings, trial dates or are serving short sentences for misdemeanors. At the end of the day, people do not abandon their civil and constitutional rights at the jailhouse door. Jails and prisons across the country must protect people from the kind of gross violations and unconstitutional conditions that we have uncovered here. We hope our findings report sounds an alarm that will prompt Fulton County officials to work with the Justice Department to implement the reforms necessary to ensure constitutional conditions going forward.”
The 97-page report details its findings from a comprehensive investigation of the Jail, which is funded and operated by Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation included the Main Jail, also known as “Rice Street,” in Atlanta and three annex facilities: the Marietta Annex in Atlanta, the North Annex in Alpharetta, and the South Annex in Union City. The Jail currently houses around 2,000 people and in recent years the population has surpassed 3,000 people.
The report concludes that the conditions of confinement at the Jail do not meet basic constitutional standards. The noted deficiencies include the following:
- Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office fail to protect people from the substantial risk of serious harm from violence by other incarcerated people, including homicides, stabbings, and sexual abuse.
- Officers use excessive force against incarcerated people.
- The Jail houses incarcerated people in constitutionally inadequate living conditions that are unsanitary and dangerous.
- The Jail fails to provide adequate medical and mental health services.
- The Jail’s restrictive housing practices expose people, including 17-year-old children, to substantial harm, discriminate against people with mental health disabilities, and fail to provide incarcerated people due process of law.
- The Jail fails to provide special education services to 17-year-old boys and girls who are entitled to those services while they are incarcerated at the facility.
The unlawful and dangerous practices identified in the report are long-standing and have contributed to multiple deaths and other serious harm:
- From 2022 to the present, six incarcerated people have died in violence at the Jail.
- In 2023, more than 300 stabbings occurred in the Jail which involved contraband and makeshift weapons.
- Four deaths from suicide happened at the Jail in the past four years, including as recently as April of this year.
The United States conducted its investigation under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), the Americans with Disabilities Act, and 34 U.S.C. § 12601, which prohibit law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. These statutes authorize the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in federal court seeking court-ordered remedies to eliminate a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct. Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office have been provided written notice of the supporting facts for the conclusions in the report and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the alleged violations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia joined together with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section to conduct the investigation.
The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Johnson, Aileen Bell Hughes, and Rebeca Ojeda of the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. To provide information related to the investigation of the Fulton County Jail, please call 1-888-473-4092 or email the Department of Justice at [email protected].
Attachment - Fulton County Jail Findings Report:
fulton_county_jail_findings_report.pdfTexas Man Pleads Guilty of Federal Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SAUL MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ (“MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ”), age 38, a Texas resident, pled guilty on November 13, 2024 before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to two counts of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine (Count 1) and, possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine (Count 5), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ and other co-conspirators distributed multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin within the Eastern District of Louisiana.
For Counts 1 and 5, MACEDO-RODRIGUEZ faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, at least five years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Border Patrol, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, the Kenner Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.
Texas Man Indicted for Transportation of Illegal Alien Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Moises Gabriel Castillo, 39, of Texas, was indicted on October 30 by a federal grand jury on charges of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and four counts of Transportation of Illegal Aliens. All five charges allege that the offenses were committed for financial gain, placed in jeopardy the life of any person, caused serious bodily injury, and resulted in death.
The criminal complaint filed in this case alleges that on July 24, 2024, Castillo was driving a commercial semi-truck on Interstate-10 near Rita Road, Tucson, when he collided with another semi-truck from the rear. The collision caused Castillo’s semi-truck to skid down Interstate-10. One passenger was ejected, an adult male who was pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement and emergency services found three additional passengers nearby in the brush, including a 16-year-old. All three individuals and the decedent were determined to be undocumented noncitizens without permission to be present in the United States. The individuals stated they were paying to be smuggled further into the United States. Two of the undocumented noncitizens involved in the collision underwent surgery for their injuries. The Pima County Medical Examiner determined the decedent’s cause of death was due to blunt force injuries of the head.
A conviction for either Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death or Transportation of Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-07586-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-154_Castillo# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Texan Charged with Being Felon in Possession of Firearm After Coast Guard Encounter on Lake ChamplainRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment on October 16, 2024 charging Michael Robistow, 49, of Willis, Texas, with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Robistow entered a plea of not guilty to the charges today during an arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Robistow be released on conditions pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled.
According to court records and statements made at today’s arraignment, on June 9, 2024, U.S. Coast Guard personnel on Lake Champlain boarded Robistow’s vessel, the “Sonata,” to conduct a safety inspection. Robistow and his wife were the only two people aboard the vessel at the time of the Coast Guard boarding. During the inspection, Coast Guard personnel learned of the presence of a firearm in a cabinet in the helm of the vessel. That firearm was temporarily detained for the safety of Coast Guard personnel. After concluding the safety inspection, Coast Guard personnel disembarked the “Sonata.” Shortly thereafter, dispatchers informed the Coast Guard personnel that Robistow had previously been convicted of a felony offense. The Coast Guard personnel therefore reboarded the “Sonata,” and seized 3 firearms: a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield 9x19mm pistol, a Glock Model 19 9x19mm pistol, and a Palmetto Armory PA-15 AR-style rifle. Coast Guard personnel also seized loaded spare magazines for the pistols, and a box of .38 caliber ammunition. The next day, ATF and HSI agents again boarded the “Sonata,” and during a more thorough search, located a bag containing 806 rounds more of ammunition, in 6 different calibers. During their search, ATF agents also observed a 3D printer onboard the “Sonata.”
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Robistow is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Robistow faces up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the vital assistance of Homeland Security Investigations.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Robistow is represented by Devin McKnight, Esq.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Ten Defendants Charged in Interstate Auto Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that an indictment was returned by a federal grand jury charging ten individuals from several states with an auto theft conspiracy and multiple counts of transporting stolen motor vehicles interstate.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges that from in or about October 2023 through in or about September 2024, ten defendants—hailing from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland—conspired with each other and others to transport stolen motor vehicles interstate and to receive, possess, conceal, store, sell, and dispose of stolen motor vehicles that had been transported interstate.
The alleged coconspirators include:
- Nigel Criss, age 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
- Ian Quintana Torres, age 23, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
- Shamar Morris, age 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
- Jumaane Wright, age 28, of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania;
- Raymond Steward, age 24, of Camden County, New Jersey;
- Rafael Otero Nieves, age 40, of Baltimore County, Maryland;
- Jose Otero Nieves, age 41, of Baltimore County, Maryland;
- Jesus Terrero, age 32, of Baltimore County, Maryland;
- Tyler Hoagland, age 27, of Howard County, Maryland; and
- Robert Jones, age 25, of Prince George’s County, Maryland.
The indictment alleges that the coconspirators traveled to car dealerships with key programmers to steal several vehicles at a time.
It is further alleged that an object of the conspiracy was to take the stolen vehicles—typically high-end, “muscle” type cars—across state lines to “car meetups” and “street takeovers,” at which individuals would take over a parking lot, intersection, road, or portion of a highway. According to the indictment, the vehicles were shown off in person at the meetups and on social media and driven in a reckless and dangerous manner, such as spinning and “burning out” the vehicles.
Several vehicles across multiple states are alleged to have been stolen by the coconspirators. For example, it is alleged that on or about October 3, 2023, seven of the ten coconspirators traveled to a car dealership in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, to steal two 2017 Cadillac CTS-V’s, a 2016 Cadillac CTS-V, two 2019 Cadillac CTS-V’s, a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro, and a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette.
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by Pennsylvania State Police’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Central and Eastern Auto Theft Task Forces, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Moreno is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the indictment is five years of imprisonment for the conspiracy charge and ten years for each count of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, in addition to a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Stockton Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Pills and Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kavieo Daeshaun Lee Wiley, 28, of Stockton, was sentenced Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and U-47700 (a synthetic opioid), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2019, Wiley sold 4,000 methamphetamine-laced pills to a confidential source at a music studio in Stockton belonging to co-defendant Jamaine Dontae Barnes, 42, of Stockton. When agents executed a federal search warrant at the music studio, they encountered Wiley sitting on the floor with his left hand concealed between a sofa and filing cabinet. After giving Wiley repeated commands to display his left hand, an agent quickly approached Wiley, grabbed his left arm, and detained him. In the area where Wiley’s left hand had been concealed, agents found a loaded assault-style rifle. Throughout that room and the rest of the music studio, agents found large amounts of pills and powders laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine, materials for pressing the powders into pills, and a loaded handgun sitting on top of a large bag of methamphetamine-laced pills. Wiley possessed the assault-style rifle and handgun in furtherance of the crime of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Highway Patrol, the San Joaquin METRO Narcotics Task Force, the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT) Task Force, the Stockton Police Department, the Sacramento County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David W. Spencer and Emily G. Sauvageau are prosecuting the case.
Co-defendant Jamaine Barnes and four other co-defendants await sentencing after pleading guilty, and three others have been sentenced. Charges are pending against Jamar Deontae Barnes, who is scheduled for a jury trial on Dec. 2, 2024. The charges against Barnes are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Somerset County Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Defrauding New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury Fund of Millions of Dollars and Committing Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, five acts of healthcare fraud, and four counts of tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
C.R. Kraus, 58, of Manville, New Jersey was convicted in April 2024 of all 10 counts of an indictment following a trial before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court. In January 2023, Kraus’s conspirators, Harry Pizutelli and Maritza Flores, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and tax evasion relating to defrauding the New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury Fund (TBI Fund) of millions of dollars for their own personal benefit. Both are awaiting sentencing.
“This defendant stole millions of dollars earmarked for victims of traumatic brain injuries. Stealing resources intended to help New Jersey residents who are already coping with serious challenges is especially egregious. This office will never relent in holding such criminals accountable. Today, this defendant learned the price of his criminal acts.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
“C.R. Kraus was intent on defrauding the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund by making false claims that he treated patients who suffer from such maladies,” FBI – Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado said. “This not only took away valuable resources from other deserving patients but enabled Kraus and his co-conspirators to benefit substantial monetary gain, to the tune of more than $4 million. The FBI investigative team worked to put a stop to their fraudulent behavior, and bring to justice criminals who use the healthcare system as a personal piggy bank.”
“Motivated entirely by greed, C.R. Kraus and his co-conspirators stole millions of dollars from a government program meant to aid individuals with life-altering injuries,” Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, said. “Today’s sentence reinforces IRS-CI’s dedication to investigating financial crimes and ensuring bad actors are held accountable for their misconduct.”
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
The TBI Fund is a publicly funded program run by the New Jersey Division of Disability Services, a component of the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The TBI Fund’s purpose is to provide New Jersey residents who have suffered a traumatic brain injury with services and support in order to maximize their quality of life when funding from insurance, personal resources, or other programs is unavailable to meet their needs. Services funded by the TBI Fund include physical, occupational, and speech therapy; service coordination; assistive technology; cognitive therapy; neuropsychological services; pharmaceuticals; wheelchair ramp installation and other home modifications; and general home management and maintenance.
After a prospective patient applies for services, TBI Fund personnel review the application and, if approved, the patient is authorized to secure designated services from a third-party vendor. Once a patient receives services approved by the TBI Fund, the vendor or service provider submits an invoice to the TBI Fund for payment. When an invoice is received, TBI Fund personnel review the invoice to ensure that the patient had been approved to receive the services. If the invoice is approved, an internal payment voucher is generated, authorized by TBI Fund personnel, and then submitted to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury for payment, which issues a check directly to the vendor.
Pizutelli was the manager of the TBI Fund and was responsible for its day-to-day operation. He supervised, managed, and oversaw the process by which third-party vendors were paid for services rendered to eligible TBI Fund beneficiaries. From 2009 through June 2019, Pizutelli, Kraus, and Flores conspired to defraud the TBI Fund by misappropriating more than $4 million in fraudulent vendor payments for purported services that were never actually provided. Pizutelli orchestrated the distribution of fraudulent vendor payments to Flores and Kraus by generating and processing false invoices and internal payment vouchers. Pizutelli generated these invoices and vouchers to give the appearance that Flores and Kraus had provided approved services to eligible patients when, in fact, they had not provided any services. Pizutelli then approved and transmitted the internal payment vouchers so that his conspirators received vendor payments.
Pizutelli orchestrated these fraudulent payments to maintain and further romantic and/or sexual relationships with Flores, including more than $940,000 in fraudulent distributions to Flores and more than $3.245 million in fraudulent distributions to Kraus. To obscure their fraudulent conduct, Flores and Kraus also evaded the payment of substantial amount of income taxes by making material misstatements and omissions on their federal income tax returns and significantly underreporting the income they had derived from the fraudulent scheme.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Kraus to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $4.19 million.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Delgado, and special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to the guilty verdict. He also thanked the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Division of Law, and the New Jersey Department of Human Services, for its assistance.
The government is represented by Eric A. Boden, Attorney-in-Charge in Trenton, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Suggs of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Trenton Branch Office.
Shooting Investigation Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for 15 Years for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – RONALD LADALE ATCHISON, JR., 37, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 180 months in federal prison—the statutory maximum—for illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On March 5, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Atchison with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to public record, on January 29, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a reported shooting in the northeast Metro. At the scene, officers found a wrecked vehicle and two victims, one of whom had been shot in the neck. The victims told authorities they had been chased by a dark colored SUV, and the driver had fired multiple gunshots at them, some at point-blank range after the victims crashed their vehicle. The victim with the gunshot wound was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries. That evening, law enforcement located the suspect SUV and took the driver, Atchison, into custody. Inside the SUV, officers found a handgun, marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl pills.
On May 29, 2024, Atchison pleaded guilty, and admitted he unlawfully possessed a firearm despite his criminal record.
At the sentencing hearing on November 13, 2024, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Atchison to serve 180 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted Atchison’s lack of respect for the law, the need to protect the public, and his long criminal history. Public record reflects that Atchison has a lengthy criminal history, with convictions in Oklahoma County District Court that include:
- domestic abuse by strangulation in case number CF-2019-2373;
- driving while under the influence in case number CF-2019-2273;
- possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia in case number CF-2012-7555;
- illegal possession of a firearm and concealing stolen property in case number CF-2012-2671; and
- possession of marijuana in case number CF-2009-4362.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew E. Davis prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of “Operation Shots Fired.” Operation Shots Fired targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Schofield Woman Sentenced to 4 ½ Years for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Teala L. Kumbera, 27, Schofield, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 4 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Kumbera pleaded guilty to this charge on August 16, 2024.
In February 2022, Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force officers began investigating a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization operating in Wausau, Wisconsin. The multi-year investigation involved the seizure of drug-laden packages from the mail, controlled purchases of narcotics, and seizures of firearms and large quantities of drugs from residence searches. From the investigation, officers believe the drug trafficking organization was distributing kilograms quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Teala Kumbera was identified as a main local distributor of cocaine for one of the leaders of the organization. From intercepted phone calls, officers found that she was picking up cocaine every few days to sell. She was later interviewed following her arrest and admitted to regularly selling cocaine for the past six to twelve months.
While distributing cocaine in this case, Kumbera was on state supervision for two prior methamphetamine trafficking cases. Kumbera’s state supervision has since been revoked and she was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in state prison. Kumbera was also convicted of cocaine trafficking in state court for conduct that occurred during the course of this investigation. She was sentenced to 2 years in state prison in that case to run concurrently with her revocation sentences. Judge Conley ordered that this federal sentence run concurrently with the remainder of Kumbera’s state sentences.
In announcing the sentence, Judge Conley highlighted Kumbera’s prior criminal history as well her serious conduct in this case, which involved her regularly obtaining significant quantities of cocaine for resale.
Eight others were also charged in connection with this drug trafficking organization. Quo Vadis Lewis, Craig C. Gates, Troy A. Olsen, and Shandell Mohr have all pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months. Tommie L. Haney is scheduled to enter a guilty plea on December 2, 2024. Cases against Edwin Lewis, Samuel A. Teague, and Shelby Gutch are still pending and the three are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge against Kumbera was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Marathon County Sheriff's Office, Portage County Sheriff's Office, Everest Metro Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations.
Saucier Man Pleads Guilty to Producing and Transmitting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Saucier, Mississippi man pled guilty today to production of child pornography.
According to court documents, Tyler Selby, 30, was identified when United Kingdom authorities recovered a video that came from a social media user in the United States. Federal authorities in the United States identified Selby as the person who transmitted the video of an adult male and a minor child engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Chat logs related to the video evidenced that Selby knew the video would be transported and transmitted in interstate and foreign commerce via the internet with the use of a live streaming platform.
Selby pled guilty to the use of a minor in his legal custody for the purpose of producing and transmitting a live visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Selby is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2025, and faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the United Kingdom West Yorkshire Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting 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 the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.
Rockland County Man Convicted at Trial of Hobbs Act Robbery and Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the conviction in White Plains federal court of THIERRY ANTOINE for robbing the residence of a marijuana dealer in Chestnut Ridge, New York, on December 16, 2019, and for using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in connection with that robbery. The jury convicted ANTOINE yesterday following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “A unanimous jury has found that Thierry Antoine engaged in a violent gunpoint robbery, which included the beating of an innocent victim. Thanks to the hard work of the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners, Antoine is now held accountable for his conduct.”
As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
On or about December 16, 2019, ANTOINE and five others agreed to rob, and did rob, the residence of a known marijuana dealer in Chestnut Ridge, New York. Later that same day, ANTOINE and the others drove to the residence, bringing weapons including a mini-bat, a knife, and a firearm. Upon arrival at the residence, ANTOINE and the others encountered a young man who was at the residence to meet a friend. ANTOINE and the others beat the young man, including shoving the firearm in his mouth with such force that it broke one of his teeth, and tied him up as they broke into the residence and stole cash, marijuana, and high-end clothes and shoes.
* * *
ANTOINE, 34, of Spring Valley, New York, was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of use, carrying, and possession of a firearm, in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. ANTOINE is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Román on April 4, 2025.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin L. Levander, Margaret N. Vasu, and Margery B. Feinzig, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Shannon Becker.
Pueblo Man Convicted on Multiple Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that David Wayne Watkins, 45, of Pueblo, Colorado, was convicted by a federal jury on five counts including possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a weapon and ammunition, possession of a weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
According to the facts established at trial, Watkins was stopped by Pueblo Police in December of 2023 for a forged temporary license plate tag. During the stop, Watkins briefly ran from officers before his arrest. During his arrest, police recovered a loaded handgun from his waistband and a bag and wallet together containing $52,000 in cash, 378 fentanyl pills, and 25 grams of pure methamphetamine. When officers searched his car, they found one additional handgun, numerous firearm magazines and ammunition, clear baggies, and a bag with an additional 375 fentanyl pills. A search of his hotel room resulted in the recovery of a short-barreled rifle and additional ammunition.
“Violent drug dealers have no place in our communities, and we are proud of the team effort that was involved in getting this repeat offender off the street,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch.
“This felon was responsible for bringing weapons and drugs into the Pueblo community, and neighborhoods are safer with him behind bars,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “FBI Denver leans on successful partnerships with Pueblo Police Department, Denver Police Department, ATF, DEA and USAO to support our common goals. We will continue our steadfast support and commitment to the Pueblo Community.”
“This conviction is testament to the hard work and perseverance of the Pueblo Police Department’s Investigations Division, and more specifically the gang and narcotics unit,” said Pueblo Police Department Chief of Police Chris Noeller. “I want to commend the US Attorney’s Office and the jury for helping to ensure Mr. Watkins is held accountable for his actions and for working to keep this dangerous criminal off the streets of our community.”
United States District Court Judge S. Kato Crews presided over the trial. The Pueblo Police Department and the FBI Denver Field Office handled the investigation. The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado 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: 1:24-cr-00058-SKC
Portfolio Manager of "A.I." Investment Fund Arrested for Stealing Fund AssetsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Kanen Flowers with securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. He was arrested this morning in Tucson, Arizona and will be removed to the Eastern District of New York, at which time he will be arraigned on the indictment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the charges.
“Flowers is charged with shamelessly lying to investors to get their money and capitalizing on disruptions in the cryptocurrency market to hide the fact that he had pilfered investor funds for his own benefit,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Be it through crypto or traditional banking, my Office is committed to rooting out fraud and protecting our investing public.”
“As alleged, Kanen Flowers masqueraded the true composition of his fund to deceive and steal from his investors before diverting the misappropriated assets for personal use. The alleged scheme Flowers engaged in manipulated the good faith placed upon him to selfishly pocket substantial amounts of investments. The FBI will continue to dismantle all fraudulent conspiracies to ensure invested monies are duly managed,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.
As alleged in the indictment, from 2020 to 2023, Flowers was the Portfolio Manager of an “A.I.” fund that used “proprietary algorithms to actively trade long and short positions” (the “Fund”). He lied to investors and potential investors about the size of the Fund—claiming it was worth billions of dollars when it never had more than approximately $3.5 million in assets under management. He lied to investors and potential investors about the Fund’s diversification efforts—claiming it was trading in equal parts futures, equities and cryptocurrency, when just months after its formation it was trading more than 50% cryptocurrency and, later, entirely cryptocurrency. And he lied to investors about his alleged inability to liquidate the Fund when it ultimately shuttered—claiming cryptocurrency lenders and exchanges were capping withdrawals or had even confiscated Fund assets, when in fact Flowers had largely emptied the Fund’s accounts at those cryptocurrency lenders and exchanges months prior.
As further alleged in the indictment, Flowers stole Fund assets. Among other things, in October 2021, he used $70,000 worth of cryptocurrency from a Fund account to pay off a personal loan. Between December 2021 and January 2022, he transferred more than $200,000 worth of the Fund’s cryptocurrency to himself. And in January 2022, he caused the Fund to purchase a non-fungible token or NFT for over $100,000, which he then kept.
In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering, as charged here.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of securities fraud and wire fraud, Flowers faces a 20-year statutory maximum sentence. If convicted of money laundering, Flowers faces a 10-year statutory maximum sentence.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorney Tara McGrath is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Liam McNett.
The Defendant:
KANEN FLOWERS
Age: 54
Atlanta, GeorgiaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-458
2024.11.12_-_indictment_flowers_as_filed.pdfPhoenix Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Deadly Human Smuggling-Related Crash on the Tohono O'odham NationRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Kevin Rojo-Barron, 21, of Phoenix, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 144 months in prison stemming from a deadly crash last March on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Rojo-Barron pleaded guilty on July 18, 2024, to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death, and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death.
On March 2, 2023, near Why, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Tohono O’odham Police Department and United States Border Patrol responded to a 911 call of a vehicle collision at the intersection of State Route 86 and Federal Route 1. Rojo-Barron was driving the vehicle traveling northbound on Federal Route 1 at a high rate of speed and failed to yield at a stop sign, striking a vehicle traveling eastbound on State Route 86. All three Tohono O’odham Nation members in the other vehicle died as result of the crash. Further investigation showed that Rojo-Barron was smuggling four undocumented noncitizens and had an AR-15 style rifle in the vehicle at the time of the crash. One of the undocumented noncitizens died due to the crash and another was permanently injured.
Homeland Security Investigations-Sells, Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol, and the Tohono O’odham Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Y. Chamblee and Ryan P. DeJoe, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-1844-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-155_Rojo-Barron# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Phoenix Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine ViolationsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Mark Camacho, 25, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Second Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around August 2022 to in and around March 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Camacho conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Camacho was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Camacho. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Palo Alto Man Convicted of Drug Offense Near Emmetsburg High SchoolRead the Press Release
David Specketer, 57, from Emmetsburg, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court in Sioux City on November 14, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location. Specketer was previously convicted of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in 2013.
At the plea hearing, Specketer admitted that on April 15, 2024, while living in Emmetsburg, Iowa, law enforcement attempted to arrest him at his residence for an outstanding arrest warrant. That warrant involved a pending 2022 case in Woodbury County for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. Specketer attempted to flee back into his residence after initial contact with law enforcement at his door. Law enforcement apprehended Specketer in his residence with approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine. At the hearing, Specketer admitted he intended to distribute all or some of the methamphetamine to another. Specketer’s residence is within 1,000 feet of the Emmetsburg High School, a protected location.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Specketer remains in custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Specketer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 80 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Emmetsburg Police Department, Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3024. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Orlando Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Luis Miguel Plaza (34, Orlando) to 10 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Plaza entered a guilty plea on July 24, 2024.
According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration used an undercover agent and confidential informants to conduct multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Plaza. During two of the controlled purchases, in August 2023 and January 2024, Plaza sold the undercover agent and a confidential informant a total of over 1,100 pills containing fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, an analogue of fentanyl. In February 2024, Plaza possessed more than 7,000 pills containing fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, which he intended to sell to a confidential informant.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Ammunition ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Omaha man was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possessing ammunition as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in April 2024, law enforcement responded to a report and identified that Lual Lul Nguot, 32, struck a woman and threatened to shoot bystanders who confronted him. Law enforcement later found Nguot and he was in possession of ammunition and two fake handguns. Nguot is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he is a felon.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Nguot will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Possession of Methamphetamine as Repeat OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Zachary McElderry, age 35, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced November 14, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced McElderry to 250 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After McElderry’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
On February 7, 2024, a confidential informant ordered three pounds of meth from McElderry. McElderry told the informant to meet at a QuikTrip in Omaha. At QuikTrip, DEA agents drove toward McElderry’s vehicle to arrest him. McElderry avoided the DEA vehicles and escaped. He drove recklessly for more than three miles, driving the wrong way on a street and passing vehicles faster than the speed of traffic. McElderry parked his vehicle, which had a blown tire, near some apartment buildings. He was eventually arrested in a residential neighborhood. During McElderry’s drive, a backpack with eight pounds of meth was thrown from the vehicle. Another two pounds of meth was found in the vehicle.
McElderry faced an enhanced mandatory minimum because of a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute meth in Douglas County District Court. The advisory guideline sentencing range was also enhanced because of reckless endangerment during flight from law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
North Carolina gun store robberies lead to prison sentences for Norfolk menRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Two Norfolk men have been sentenced for federal firearms crimes.
According to court documents, on Sept. 20, 2021, Khari Terell Wood, 28, and others broke into Gale Force Guns in Moyock, North Carolina, and stole five firearms. On Oct. 22, 2021, Wood and others broke into the same Gale Force Guns store and stole 47 firearms. After each of the burglaries, Wood transported the stolen firearms from North Carolina to Norfolk.
On Oct. 28,2021, law enforcement found Wood in a stolen vehicle at his residence. As officers approached, Wood quickly exited and attempted to flee into the residence, but the officers were able to detain him. During subsequent searches of the stolen vehicle, officers recovered several firearms that were stolen in the Gale Force Guns burglaries.
On Nov. 26, 2021, Isaiah Malquawn Hopkins, 28, broke into the River View Market in Norfolk, using one of the handguns stolen from Gale Force Guns to shoot through a glass door. He then entered the store and stole a lottery ticket box. On March 14, 2022, Hopkins was stopped by the Indiana State Police for a traffic infraction. During a search of the vehicle, officers found the handgun near the driver seat.
Wood previously had been convicted of robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Hopkins previously had been convicted of robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, conspiracy to commit robbery, and malicious wounding. As convicted felons, Wood and Hopkins cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Hopkins pled guilty on June 24 to being a felon in possession of firearms. On Oct. 24 he was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Wood pled guilty on June 25 to conspiracy and being a felon in possession of firearms. He was sentenced today to nine years and two months in prison.
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; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock 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. 2:23-cr-33.