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19 December 2024
Catawba Man Is Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Antoine Durel Reid, 39, of Catawba, N.C., was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release today for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Sheriff Donald G. Brown, II, of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement were investigating Reid’s drug trafficking activities in Catawba County. On February 22, 2022, law enforcement conducting surveillance on Reid observed the defendant enter a vehicle with an expired license plate and proceeded to conduct a traffic stop. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found a black backpack that belonged to Reid. Inside the backpack, there was a Smith and Wesson SD9 VE 9mm silver and black pistol with 16 rounds of ammunition, almost half a kilogram of methamphetamine and over 260 grams of fentanyl packaged in Ziploc bags, and three digital scales. Reid also had $1,590 in his pockets.
According to court documents, on July 21, 2023, at about 11:15 p.m., officers responded to as service call at a gas station in Hickory in relation to an assault. Officers investigating the incident were informed that an assault had occurred where an individual had brandished a pistol. The officers reviewed video footage collected from the gas station. The officers recognized the assailant as Reid and obtained a warrant for his arrest. The following day, law enforcement went to Reid’s last known address to effectuate the arrest. When they arrived at the residence, they found Reid standing outside an SUV at the passenger door with another individual. Officers observed suspected drug paraphernalia and subsequently searched the vehicle. During the search, the officers located narcotics and a black Taurus G2C 9mm handgun, consistent with the firearm Reid was seen carrying on the gas station security footage.
On August 8, 2024, Reid pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Reid is 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 the ATF, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hickory Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Carmel Man Sentenced to 84 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE –Gregory L. Thorpe, Jr., 28 years old, of Carmel, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to making a materially false and fictitious statement during the acquisition of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Thorpe was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in the summer of 2021, Thorpe purchased a handgun from a licensed firearms dealer and also attempted to make other firearm purchases while providing false information regarding his address of residency during the purchases. Thereafter during a traffic stop in Hendricks County in May 2022, one of the firearms Thorpe purchased was recovered from the trunk of his vehicle along with 2.9 kilograms of fentanyl pills.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Hendricks County Sheriff Department and the Plainfield Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
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.
California Political Operative Arrested on Complaint Alleging He Acted as Illegal Agent of People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
Note: View the criminal complaint here.
A criminal complaint filed Dec. 17 and unsealed this morning charges Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, for allegedly acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) while serving as the campaign manager for a political candidate who was elected in 2022 to the city council of a California city. Sun was arrested today is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in the Central District of California.
Sun is also charged with conspiring with another man, Chen Jun, who was sentenced to prison last month for bribery and acting as an illegal agent of the PRC government.
According to the complaint, Sun served as the campaign manager and close personal confidante for a Southern California politician (referred to in the complaint as Individual 1) who ran for local elected office in 2022. During the campaign, Sun communicated with Chen regarding his efforts to get Individual 1 elected. Chen allegedly discussed with Chinese government officials how the PRC could “influence” local politicians in the United States, particularly on the issue of Taiwan. In November 2022, shortly after Individual 1 was elected to office, Chen instructed Sun to prepare a report on the election that was sent to Chinese government officials, who responded positively and expressed thanks, according to the complaint.
About a month after Individual 1’s election, Chen arranged a lunch at a Rowland Heights restaurant with Sun and others, a gathering that Chen described to a PRC official as a “core member lunch,” the complaint alleges. Chen subsequently described the lunch as “successful” as participants agreed to establish a “US-China Friendship Promotional Association.” While Individual 1 did not attend the meeting, Chen identified Individual 1 as being part of “the basic team dedicated for us,” in a communication to a Chinese government official.
In early 2023, Chen instructed Sun to write another report for Chinese officials describing “[Sun] and [Chen] cultivating and assisting [Individual 1’s] success,” according to the complaint.
In February 2023, as the second report to PRC officials was being finalized, Sun forwarded to Chen a proposal to combat “anti-China forces” by participating in a U.S. Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C, according to the complaint. Sun proposed that the PRC government provide an $80,000 budget to support his and Chen’s efforts in the United States.
After Chen and Sun discussed a planned trip to China to meet with “leadership,” and after Chen directed Sun to schedule a meeting with the Chinese consul general in Los Angeles, Sun and Individual 1 traveled to China in August 2023.
If convicted, Sun faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. Sun also faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Ryan and Amanda Elbogen for the Central District of California and Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that William Kameron Ellis Taylor (29, Chula Vista, CA) today pleaded guilty to transportation of child sex abuse materials. Taylor faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Taylor was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents at Cape Canaveral after returning from an international cruise to the Bahamas. Agents discovered that Taylor had a cellphone and an SD card containing videos and images of child sexual abuse material. Taylor was previously convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material in 2017 in the Southern District of California and has certain sex offender registration requirements under federal law. He failed to inform his registering agency of his plans to leave the country as required by that law.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
California Corrections Officer Charged with Federal Conspiracy and Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Fresno, California, returned an indictment today charging California State Prison-Corcoran Correctional Officer Raquel Mosqueda and inmate Jimmie Carter with conspiracy and a federal civil rights violation.
The indictment alleges that, on or about April 20, 2022, Mosqueda and Carter conspired to violate the Eighth Amendment right to freedom from cruel and unusual punishment of J.M., an inmate at California State Prison-Corcoran. The indictment also charges Mosqueda with depriving J.M. of the same right, while acting under color of law, by facilitating Carter’s planned attack on J.M.
If convicted, Mosqueda and Carter both face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count. Mosqueda also faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the federal civil rights violation. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California and Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Sacramento Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Office of Internal Affairs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar for the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal 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.
Bronx Gang Member Charged with Murdering 18-Year-Old Jayquan McKenley in Drive-By ShootingRead the Press Release
Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; William S. Walker, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); and Jessica Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging PAUL JOHNSON, a/k/a “PJ Glizzy,” with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and a firearms offense. The charges relate to JOHNSON’s membership in a Bronx-based street gang known as the “Original Goonz,” or “OGz.” As alleged, on February 6, 2022, JOHNSON murdered 18-year-old Jayquan McKenley. JOHNSON, who was in New York City Department of Correction custody, was transferred to federal custody earlier today and made his initial appearance in federal court in Manhattan. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Jayquan McKenley’s death was senseless. As alleged, Paul Johnson murdered him as part of a dispute between rival gangs. We hope that today’s charges bring some measure of comfort to McKenley’s family and make clear that this Office and our law enforcement partners will never stop investigating those who commit violence on our streets.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker said: “Paul Johnson's alleged ruthless murder of Jayquan McKenley sent shockwaves through our Brooklyn neighborhoods and shone a light on the level of senseless violence committed by street gangs in New York City. Today's indictment is the result of the relentless work and determination of HSI New York's Violent Gang Task Force. The streets are made safer everyday thanks to the dedication of New York's local, state, and federal law enforcement who work together to obtain justice for victims of violent crime.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court,[1] other court documents, and statements made during court proceedings:
From at least 2019 up to and including December 2024, JOHNSON was a member of the “Original Goonz,” or “OGz” street gang, which is based in the Bronx, New York. In order to fund the gang, protect its territory, and promote its standing, members of the OGz engaged in, among other things, narcotics trafficking and other acts of violence, including murder.
On February 6, 2022, JOHNSON and others murdered Jayquan McKenley in a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn, New York. Jayquan McKenley was 18 years old.
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JOHNSON, 23, of the Bronx, is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum term of life in prison; one count of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum term of life in prison or death; one count of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum term of 10 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 10 years in prison to run consecutive to any other term 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 defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and NYPD.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick R. Moroney is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Bradenton Felon Convicted of Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Javier Mares (44, Bradenton) guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Mares faces minimum of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been set.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bradenton Police Department began investigating Mares and his brother in 2023. Mares was believed to be supplying large amounts of narcotics from his auto shop business in Bradenton. Investigators dispatched a confidential informant to make several purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Mares’ brother. His brother was observed leaving the auto shop prior to the controlled purchases and returning to the location after the transactions.
On June 27, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant at the auto body shop. Mares and a juvenile were in the shop at the time of the search warrant execution. Investigators located a safe filled with packaged methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana along with drug distribution paraphernalia under the Mares’ desk. Mares’ fingerprint was later discovered on a baggie with 380 grams of methamphetamine found in the safe. A DEA forensic chemist later determined that the methamphetamine was 96% pure. Agents also found a loaded firearm next to several collectible $2 bills in the desk drawer near the floor safe.
During an interview, Mares told agents that the office was his, but he had no idea who the safe belonged to, and he did not have a key or code. He also admitted that the $2 bills found in the desk drawer belonged to him, but that he had never seen the loaded gun sitting next to them.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bradenton Police Department, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Braddock Man Charged with Assaulting Harrisburg Federal Court Security OfficerRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Joseph Louis Camino, age 56, Braddock, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges relating to his alleged assault on a court security officer inside the Sylvia H. Rambo United States Courthouse at 1501 North 6th Street in Harrisburg on December 16, 2024. The U.S. Marshal’s service previously reported that Camino was shot multiple times by another court security officer during this incident, and that Camino was taken to a local hospital where he is reported to be in stable condition.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Camino knowingly brought a folding knife with a blade longer than 2 ½ inches into the federal courthouse with the intent to assault a court security officer, and that he used the knife during the assault.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Haugsby is prosecuting the case.
The total maximum penalties under federal law for these offenses are 27 years’ 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 are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Boston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for sex trafficking and cocaine charges. The defendant operated out of a tent systematically preying on women dating back to at least 2019, in the Boston area and Cape Cod, some of whom he transported from Massachusetts to other states, including New York, for commercial sex. The defendant referred to himself as “Ason the Pimp,” has a tattoo across his chest that states “Pimp or Die,” and wrote music in which he glorified his work as a pimp and the objectification of women.
Jonathan Vaughan, a/k/a “Ason,” 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In September 2024, Vaughan pleaded guilty to three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, two counts of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. In March 2022, Vaughan was indicted by a federal grand jury.“Jonathan Vaughan will now pay a very heavy price for exploiting his victims’ vulnerabilities and using forcing them to sell their bodies for his financial gain,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This office and our federal, state and local partners are putting substantial resources into combatting the dehumanizing sex trafficking industry and this lengthy sentence is a message to everyone involved in preying on women that there are very serious consequences to this conduct.”
“Vaughn used physical violence and coercion to leverage his victims’ vulnerabilities as a form of control. Today’s sentence holds Vaughn accountable for these heinous crimes against these victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “We hope that this severe sentence will bring some peace to those he victimized as they continue to heal.”
From at least June 2019 through October 2021, Vaughan recruited and trafficked three female victims to engage in commercial sex acts and transported two of the victims for purposes of prostitution to another state. At the time of his arrest on state charges, on Oct. 13, 2021, Vaughan possessed 15 bags of cocaine intended for distribution to drug users.
From at least late spring or early summer of 2021 until his arrest on state charges, Vaughan maintained a tent at Mass and Cass which he used for distributing drugs and recruiting and trafficking women.
Vaughan permitted his sex trafficking victims to stay in and bring “dates” back to his tent so long as he received the proceeds of the commercial sex acts that the women engaged in at his direction. He recruited victims in and around Mass and Cass and Downtown Crossing as well as on the internet, including over Facebook. Vaughan also brought his victims to hotels in Boston, Chelsea, Saugus, Cape Cod, as well as Queens and Manhattan, N.Y.
Vaughan forced at least two of his victims to solicit themselves outdoors, by walking “the track” in areas such as Mass and Cass, Broadway in Chelsea and in and around Times Square in Manhattan, N.Y. Dating back to at least 2019, Vaughan engaged in both physical and sexual violence against his victims to manipulate them and to assert power and control over them.
Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this crime should contact [email protected].
U.S. Attorney Levy and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Barnstable and Boston Police Departments; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Boston Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-Relief FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston after being convicted of fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Robert Platt Jr., 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to time served (one day), to be followed by two years of supervised release. Platt was also ordered to pay $20,833 in restitution and forfeiture. In September 2024, Platt pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of making false statements. Platt arrested in February 2024 along with over 40 Heath Street Gang members/associates, who were charged with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms charges, and financial frauds, including COVID-related fraud.
Among other relief programs, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act created the PPP, a temporary loan program directed at small businesses. PPP loans were processed and funded by participating lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. If the small business used the loan funds for permissible expenses, the loan could be forgiven.
In April 2021, Platt submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of his purported construction business. The application contained multiple false statements, including false representations regarding the fictitious business’s income in 2019 and the purpose of the loan. Platt also submitted false tax records in support of his loan application. Based on the fraudulent application, Platt received approximately $20,833, which he then spent on non-business-related expenses, including transactions at Encore Boston Harbor Casino.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Jonathan Wlodyka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Lucy Sun of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Apopka Man Sentenced to 12 Months for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced James Fabius King, a/k/a Douglas Mesadieu, to 12 months’ confinement for tax evasion, including 6 months in federal prison and 6 months of home incarceration. The court also ordered King to pay restitution in the amount of $546,479, which represents the losses to the United States as the result of King’s conduct. King entered a guilty plea on June 17, 2024.
According to court documents, King earned income of $1,758,307 in 2013, for which he had federal income tax due and owed $546,479. Between 2014 and 2017, King used nominee businesses to pay personal expenses and car payments on his $151,890 Audi R8 sports car. He also transferred title of three luxury cars that he owned—an Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, and Bentley—into the name of a nominee business. King took these actions to evade the seizure of his assets to pay the tax debt.
“The dishonesty exhibited by the defendant is a clear violation of the laws we all abide by,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “While we may not always like it, we each have a responsibility to our country and ultimately to each other. We will not ignore attempts to cheat the tax system for personal gain.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Antelope Valley Man Faces New Charge Alleging He Knowingly Sold Fentanyl to Second Victim Who DiedRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Palmdale man already facing one charge of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death has been charged by federal grand jury indictment with an additional count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death related to the death of a Palmdale man in August, the Justice Department announced today.
Christopher Morales, 22, was named in a superseding indictment returned Wednesday by a federal grand jury that adds the new narcotics distribution count. Morales was initially charged in October in relation to the first death of a victim in Palmdale. Morales is expected to be arraigned on the superseding indictment in the coming weeks.
Morales previously was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in a death and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The superseding indictment charges him with an additional count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
“The defendant allegedly chose financial gain over the life of another when he decided to traffic fentanyl,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We cannot tolerate those who treat unnecessary and preventable losses of life as just the cost of doing business. Our office and our law enforcement partners will continue our steadfast campaign to help fight this fentanyl crisis and bring lawbreakers to justice.”
“Within a five-month period, two victims died of fentanyl poisoning, allegedly after receiving fentanyl from the defendant,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Los Angeles Field Division. “His actions serve as a reminder that drug traffickers are not going to stop distributing their poison just because someone dies. But traffickers should take notice – law enforcement is not stopping either.”
According to the indictment, the second victim died of fentanyl poisoning in August 2024 at his family’s home shortly after purchasing the drug from Morales.
Morales was arrested in the first case on September 9 on charges related to a victim who died in March 2024 in Palmdale.
During the investigation of the first incident, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search of Morales’s residence in April 2024, which led to the discovery of 4.3 grams of fentanyl and text messages between Morales and the first victim indicating the purchase of fentanyl. More pills recovered and tested after the September 9 arrest were determined to be about an ounce of fentanyl pills.
According to the superseding indictment, the second victim died of fentanyl poisoning in August 2024 at his family’s home shortly after purchasing the drug from Morales.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Morales has been in federal custody since his arrest on September 9.
If convicted, Morales faces a mandatory 20-year prison sentence for each of the two counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Those two counts carry a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey A. Stimson of the Violent and Organized Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Another former Richmond County deputy pleads guilty to violating civil rights of jail detaineeRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A former Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputy has pled guilty to federal civil rights charges involving an assault on a jail detainee.
Dantavion Jones, 33, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to an Information charging him with Deprivation of Civil Rights Under Color of Law. The guilty plea subjects Jones to a possible sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, along with substantial fines and restitution, followed by up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
As described in the plea agreement, Jones was a deputy with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and, with other personnel, responded to Richmond County’s Charles D. Webster Detention Center on May 7, 2022, to secure inmates who had caused flooding in a section of the jail.
A pretrial detainee, referred to in court documents as Victim 1, “was handcuffed, face-down on the ground, and was not posing a threat to anyone” when another deputy shouted that the detainee wanted his handcuffs removed. A jailer attempted unsuccessfully to unlock the handcuffs, and Jones “then proceeded to unlock and remove the handcuffs from Victim 1.” Another deputy then repeatedly punched the detainee and placed him in a chokehold, while Jones “failed to intervene to stop or attempt to stop the assault.”
Two other former Sheriff’s Office staff members, former Corporal Daniel D’Aversa, 52, and former jailer Melissa Morello, 27, await sentencing after previously pleading guilty to Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law in the underlying case.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing for Jones upon completion of a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III and Anita T. Channapati of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
AAR CORP to Pay over $55M to Resolve Foreign Corrupt Practices Act InvestigationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – AAR CORP. (AAR), a publicly-traded aviation services company headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois, will pay over $55 million to resolve investigations by the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) arising from AAR’s participation in corrupt schemes to pay bribes to government officials in Nepal and South Africa.
AAR entered into an 18-month non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with the Department. According to the company’s admissions in connection with the resolution, between 2015 and 2020, AAR conspired to pay bribes to government officials to obtain and retain business with state-owned airlines in Nepal and South Africa. AAR obtained profits of nearly $24 million as a result of the scheme.
“Companies competing on a fair and level playing field is a core value that we expect any U.S. company or anyone doing business in the United States to embrace,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Bribery schemes, whether based inside or outside the United States, harm consumers and companies that are trying to lawfully run their businesses. That is why this office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to diligently pursue any individual or company that seeks to profit through corrupt or illegal means.”
“AAR bribed high-level government officials to obtain business with state-owned airlines in Nepal and South Africa and reaped nearly $24 million in illicit profits as a result,” said Chief Counselor Brent Wible of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Justice Department continues to hold companies and individuals accountable for engaging in international corruption. Today’s resolution also demonstrates how companies that proactively report misconduct, extensively cooperate, and timely and appropriately remediate will receive credit under the Criminal Division’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, including in the form of the agreement, the amount of cooperation and remediation credit, and the length of the term.”
“AAR, through its bribery of government officials in Nepal and South Africa, violated U.S. law enacted to ensure that U.S. businesses do not engage in foreign corruption,” said Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office. “Today’s outcome reflects HSI’s steadfast commitment to enforcing accountability within global commerce. HSI New York will continue to pursue all necessary measures to ensure that those who engage in corrupt practices, regardless of their location or position, are held fully accountable under the law.”
In Nepal, AAR corruptly obtained business with Nepal Airlines Corporation, the state-owned airline of Nepal, related to the sale of two Airbus A330-200 aircraft by offering and paying bribes to Nepali officials through various intermediary companies. In South Africa, AAR corruptly obtained the award of an aircraft component support contract with South African Airways Technical, a wholly owned subsidiary of South African Airways, the state-owned airline of South Africa, by corruptly offering and paying bribes to South African officials through a third-party agent.
As part of the NPA, AAR agreed to pay a penalty of approximately $26,363,029 penalty and $18,568,713 in administrative forfeiture. In addition, AAR will pay $29,236,624 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest as part of the resolution of the SEC’s parallel investigation. The Justice Department has agreed to credit the forfeiture to be paid to the department against disgorgement AAR has agreed to pay to the SEC.
Pursuant to the NPA, AAR has agreed, among other things, to continue to cooperate with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in any ongoing or future criminal investigations arising during the term of the NPA. In addition, AAR agreed to continue to enhance its compliance program and report to the Department regarding remediation and the implementation of compliance measures during the eighteen-month term of the NPA.
The Department reached this resolution with AAR based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. AAR self-reported to the Department conduct that forms, in part, the basis for the resolution; however, the self-report was not a “voluntary self-disclosure” as defined in the Criminal Division Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP). Prior to the self-report, several English-language articles had been published in media outlets in Nepal and South Africa that described potential irregularities in the relevant contracts in both countries, including that an AAR subsidiary had been summoned by a Nepalese agency investigating irregularities and corruption in connection with the procurement of aircraft. In addition, twelve days before AAR’s self-report, an independent source reported the allegations regarding the Nepal conduct to the Department. AAR received credit under the CEP for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, which included (i) self-reporting the conduct that forms, at least in part, the basis for the resolution before AAR was aware the conduct had come to the attention of the Department; (ii) promptly providing information obtained through its internal investigation, which allowed the government to preserve and obtain evidence as part of its own independent investigation; (iii) proactively preserving, imaging, and conducting extensive forensic analysis of key electronic evidence, which included imaging mobile devices, recovering deleted documents, forensically recreating attachments from log files, and decrypting recovered chat messages; (iv) making regular and detailed presentations to the Department; (v) promptly collecting, analyzing, and organizing voluminous information, including complex financial information; (vi) meeting the Department’s requests promptly; (vii) voluntarily making employees, including foreign-based employees, available for interviews; (viii) collecting and producing voluminous relevant documents and translations to the Department, including documents located outside the United States; and (ix) producing documents to the Department from foreign countries in ways that did not implicate foreign data privacy laws.
AAR also engaged in extensive and timely remedial measures including, among other things (i) conducting an enterprise-wide review of all existing high-risk third-party representatives and reducing its use of international sales agents; (ii) enhancing protocols regarding onboarding and vetting of third-party engagements, including heightened diligence and senior-level approvals; (iii) taking employment actions, including promptly separating one employee involved in the relevant conduct and disciplining other employees with oversight responsibilities; (iv) strengthening its anti-corruption compliance program by investing in compliance resources and expanding its compliance function with experienced and qualified personnel, including appointing a Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer and hiring a compliance monitoring manager; (v) implementing a compliance risk assessment program which has enabled AAR to proactively identify new areas of risk; (vi) enhancing public bidding policies and monitoring implementation of those enhancements; (vii) beginning to roll out a messaging application retention tool; (viii) implementing compliance auditing and periodic anti-corruption site reviews; and (ix) engaging in continuous testing, monitoring, and improvement of its compliance program.
In light of these considerations, the criminal penalty calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 45% reduction off the applicable Guidelines sentence. The Department gave significant weight in evaluating the appropriate disposition of this matter—including the form of the resolution, the reduction in the penalty amount based on cooperation and remediation credit, and the length of the term—to the Company’s self-report of the misconduct before the Company was aware the conduct had already come to the Department’s attention.
The Department previously charged two individuals in related matters. Deepak Sharma, a former AAR subsidiary executive, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia on August 1, 2024, to a conspiracy to violate the FCPA for his role in the Nepal scheme. Julian Aires, a third-party agent of AAR, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia on July 15, 2024, to a conspiracy to violate the FCPA for his role in the South Africa scheme.
HSI New York is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madhu Chugh for the District of Columbia is prosecuting the case along with Acting Assistant Chief Katherine Raut and Trial Attorney Paul Ream of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted in the matter.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/foreign-corrupt-practices-act.
AAR CORP to Pay over $55M to Resolve Foreign Corrupt Practices Act InvestigationRead the Press Release
Note: A copy of the non-prosecution agreement and attachments can be found here.
AAR CORP. (AAR), a publicly traded aviation services company headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois, will pay over $55 million to resolve investigations by the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) arising from AAR’s participation in corrupt schemes to pay bribes to government officials in Nepal and South Africa. A former AAR subsidiary executive previously pleaded guilty for his role in the Nepal scheme, and a third-party agent of AAR previously pleaded guilty for his role in the South Africa scheme.
AAR entered into an 18-month non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with the Justice Department. According to the company’s admissions in connection with the resolution, between 2015 and 2020, AAR conspired to pay bribes to government officials to obtain and retain business with state-owned airlines in Nepal and South Africa. AAR obtained profits of nearly $24 million as a result of the scheme.
“AAR bribed high-level government officials to obtain business with state-owned airlines in Nepal and South Africa and reaped nearly $24 million in illicit profits as a result,” said Chief Counselor Brent Wible of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Justice Department continues to hold companies and individuals accountable for engaging in international corruption. Today’s resolution also demonstrates how companies that proactively report misconduct, extensively cooperate, and timely and appropriately remediate will receive credit under the Criminal Division’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, including in the form of the agreement, the amount of cooperation and remediation credit, and the length of the term.”
“Companies competing on a fair and level playing field is a core value that we expect any U.S. company or anyone doing business in the United States to embrace,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Bribery schemes, whether based inside or outside the United States, harm consumers and companies that are trying to lawfully run their businesses. That is why this office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to diligently pursue any individual or company that seeks to profit through corrupt or illegal means.”
“AAR, through its bribery of government officials in Nepal and South Africa, violated U.S. law enacted to ensure that U.S. businesses do not engage in foreign corruption,” said Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office. “Today’s outcome reflects HSI’s steadfast commitment to enforcing accountability within global commerce. HSI New York will continue to pursue all necessary measures to ensure that those who engage in corrupt practices, regardless of their location or position, are held fully accountable under the law.”
In Nepal, AAR corruptly obtained business with Nepal Airlines Corporation, the state-owned airline of Nepal, related to the sale of two Airbus A330-200 aircraft by offering and paying bribes to Nepali officials through various intermediary companies. In South Africa, AAR corruptly obtained the award of an aircraft component support contract with South African Airways Technical, a wholly owned subsidiary of South African Airways, the state-owned airline of South Africa, by corruptly offering and paying bribes to South African officials through a third-party agent.
As part of the NPA, AAR agreed to pay a $26,363,029 penalty and $18,568,713 in administrative forfeiture. In addition, AAR will pay $29,236,624 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest as part of the resolution of the SEC’s parallel investigation. The Justice Department has agreed to credit the forfeiture to be paid to the department against disgorgement AAR has agreed to pay to the SEC.
Pursuant to the NPA, AAR has agreed, among other things, to continue to cooperate with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in any ongoing or future criminal investigations arising during the term of the NPA. In addition, AAR agreed to continue to enhance its compliance program and report to the Justice Department regarding remediation and the implementation of compliance measures during the eighteen-month term of the NPA.
The Justice Department reached this resolution with AAR based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. AAR self-reported to the department conduct that forms, in part, the basis for the resolution; however, the self-report was not a “voluntary self-disclosure” as defined in the Criminal Division Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP). Prior to the self-report, several English-language articles had been published in media outlets in Nepal and South Africa that described potential irregularities in the relevant contracts in both countries, including that an AAR subsidiary had been summoned by a Nepalese agency investigating irregularities and corruption in connection with the procurement of aircraft. In addition, 12 days before AAR’s self-report, an independent source reported the allegations regarding the Nepal conduct to the department. AAR received credit under the CEP for its cooperation with the department’s investigation, which included (i) self-reporting the conduct that forms, at least in part, the basis for the resolution before AAR was aware the conduct had come to the attention of the department; (ii) promptly providing information obtained through its internal investigation, which allowed the government to preserve and obtain evidence as part of its own independent investigation; (iii) proactively preserving, imaging, and conducting extensive forensic analysis of key electronic evidence, which included imaging mobile devices, recovering deleted documents, forensically recreating attachments from log files, and decrypting recovered chat messages; (iv) making regular and detailed presentations to the department; (v) promptly collecting, analyzing, and organizing voluminous information, including complex financial information; (vi) meeting the department’s requests promptly; (vii) voluntarily making employees, including foreign-based employees, available for interviews; (viii) collecting and producing voluminous relevant documents and translations to the department, including documents located outside the United States; and (ix) producing documents to the department from foreign countries in ways that did not implicate foreign data privacy laws.
AAR also engaged in extensive and timely remedial measures including, among other things (i) conducting an enterprise-wide review of all existing high-risk third-party representatives and reducing its use of international sales agents; (ii) enhancing protocols regarding onboarding and vetting of third-party engagements, including heightened diligence and senior-level approvals; (iii) taking employment actions, including promptly separating one employee involved in the relevant conduct and disciplining other employees with oversight responsibilities; (iv) strengthening its anti-corruption compliance program by investing in compliance resources and expanding its compliance function with experienced and qualified personnel, including appointing a Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer and hiring a compliance monitoring manager; (v) implementing a compliance risk assessment program that has enabled AAR to proactively identify new areas of risk; (vi) enhancing public bidding policies and monitoring implementation of those enhancements; (vii) beginning to roll out a messaging application retention tool; (viii) implementing compliance auditing and periodic anti-corruption site reviews; and (ix) engaging in continuous testing, monitoring, and improvement of its compliance program.
In light of these considerations, the criminal penalty calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 45% reduction off the applicable guidelines sentence. The Justice Department gave significant weight in evaluating the appropriate disposition of this matter — including the form of the resolution, the reduction in the penalty amount based on cooperation and remediation credit, and the length of the term — to the company’s self-report of the misconduct before the company was aware the conduct had already come to the department’s attention.
The Justice Department previously charged two individuals in related matters. Deepak Sharma, a former AAR subsidiary executive, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia on Aug. 1 to a conspiracy to violate the FCPA for his role in the Nepal scheme. Julian Aires, a third-party agent of AAR, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia on July 15 to a conspiracy to violate the FCPA for his role in the South Africa scheme.
HSI New York is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.
Acting Assistant Chief Katherine Raut and Trial Attorney Paul Ream of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Madhu Chugh for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/foreign-corrupt-practices-act.
18 December 2024
Worcester Man Sentenced for Unlawful Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Joan Rosado Maldonado, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Rosado Maldonado was also ordered to forfeit a firearm and ammunition. In March 2024, Rosado Maldonado pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.
Shortly after midnight on Sept. 10, 2021, law enforcement observed Rosado Maldonado standing on Main Street in Worcester, outside of a high-rise apartment building located across the street from the federal courthouse. Officers observed Rosado Maldonado raise his arm to the sky and, as they drove away, heard the ring of a gunshot. The officers immediately turned around and returned to the apartment building, where they apprehended Rosado Maldonado as he attempted to enter an elevator. During a subsequent search of his person, Rosado Maldonado was found in possession of a semi-automatic .40 caliber pistol with its serial number removed, loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber. The spent casing from the shooting was found on the street outside of the apartment building.
Rosado Maldonado is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple prior convictions of crimes punishable by more than one year in prison, including armed assault to murder and assault and battery by dangerous weapon and cocaine trafficking.United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Paul B. Saucier, Interim Chief of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto, Chief of the Worcester Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
Woman Sentenced for Distributing Methamphetamine with a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Alondra Rebolledo, age 42, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced December 18, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Rebolledo to 235 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 295 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rebolledo’s release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On May 24, 2023, a confidential source coordinated a controlled purchase of 111 grams of meth from codefendant Shelby English. To make the purchase, the confidential source drove to the residence at 45th block of N. 41st Street, Omaha, and entered the residence with English. Inside the residence, the confidential source and English encountered a Hispanic female later identified as the defendant, Alondra Rebolledo, who
weighed out the meth and gave it to English, who then gave it to the confidential source. Forensic laboratory testing confirmed the substance as meth. A search warrant was later executed on the home, resulting in the seizure of several pounds of meth, cocaine, marijuana, THC derivatives, a firearm and ammunition.
Shelby English pled guilty to distributing meth. On July 17, 2024, she was sentenced to 130 months custody with 5 years of supervised release to follow.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
West Haven Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Gun Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TREMAYNE FERGUSON, also known as “Tre,” 24, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearm trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 26, 2023, Stefan Bagley, Jr. was shot and wounded while traveling in his vehicle in Bridgeport. Later that same day, Bagley’s vehicle was used in another shooting incident in Bridgeport. An investigation revealed that, between October 2022 and October 2023, Bagley purchased more than 20 handguns from licensed firearm dealers and then trafficked the guns to a network of customers. Bagley typically scratched the serial numbers off of the firearms before providing them to his customers, making the guns more difficult to trace.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized text messages revealing that Ferguson transported and facilitated the transport of two firearms from Bagley to other individuals. Ferguson also asked Bagley to purchase firearms on his behalf.
Ferguson was on state probation at the time of the offense.
Ferguson was arrested on December 18, 2023. On September 9, 2024, he pleaded guilty to firearm trafficking conspiracy. Ferguson, who is released on a $75,000 bond, is required to report to prison on February 17.
Bagley pleaded guilty to the same charge and awaits sentencing. Most of the firearms trafficked by Bagley are unaccounted for.
U.S. Attorney Avery noted that this case is being prosecuted, in part, under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
This matter is being investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice 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 www.justice.gov/psn.
Upshur County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Matthew Logan Frame, 38, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 165 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, officers were called to a gas station in Belington, West Virginia, on a shots fired incident. Officers attempted to stop Frame’s vehicle and he fled. The chase ended in a crash, and Frame was arrested with two bags of methamphetamine in his pockets. More methamphetamine and cash were recovered during a search of his vehicle.
Frame will serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office; and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
United States Attorney Will Thompson and Law Enforcement to Hold Press Conference in Child Sex Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson and law enforcement officials will hold a press conference on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 3 p.m. to discuss the sentencing of Larry Allen Clay Jr.
The press conference is contingent upon the completion of the sentencing hearing, scheduled for 11 a.m.
WHAT: Press conference for the sentencing of Larry Allen Clay Jr.
WHEN: Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston, Fourth Floor, Suite 4000
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.
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United States Attorney Breon Peace Announces Upcoming Resignation from OfficeRead the Press Release
Breon Peace is resigning as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York on January 10, 2025. Mr. Peace has served in the position since October 15, 2021.
First Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Pokorny will become Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York upon Mr. Peace’s departure.
Statement from United States Attorney Peace:
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as United States Attorney, to be at the forefront in protecting the over eight million residents of this great district from harm, in upholding the rule of law and promoting civil rights and dignity for all people. As United States Attorney, I have had the singularly rewarding experience of being called to public service and leadership in a district that is filled with people of different backgrounds and life experiences – yet share a common bond of humanity. Throughout my tenure I have also had the good fortune to work with some of the most talented prosecutors and staff to be found anywhere in the country and this district and our nation are the better for their skill, sacrifice and service. As I leave the Office, I will always be grateful for the extraordinary work we have done together in furthering our mission, doing the right thing always and in achieving justice with honor and integrity. And, I look forward to the Office’s continued courageous commitment to pursuing justice, fairly and ethically, without bias, without fear or favor, and with compassion and empathy for our fellow human beings.”
Una extranjera previamente extraditada de México se declara culpable de liderar una prolífica conspiración de contrabando de personasRead the Press Release
Una ciudadana mexicana extraditada a Estados Unidos desde México en 2023 se declaró hoy culpable de liderar una conspiración de contrabando de personas que operaba en Mexicali, en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México, durante varios años.
Según los documentos judiciales, Ofelia Hernández-Salas, de 63 años, dirigía una organización de contrabando de personas que facilitó el viaje de más de 100 migrantes a Estados Unidos desde Bangladés, Yemen, Pakistán, Eritrea, India, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Uzbekistán, Rusia, Egipto, Brasil, Perú, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala y México y a través de esos países. La organización de Hernández-Salas cobraba a los migrantes hasta decenas de miles de dólares por realizar el viaje y les indicaba por dónde cruzar ilegalmente la frontera con Estados Unidos, incluso proporcionándoles una escalera para saltar la valla fronteriza. Hernández-Salas y sus cómplices iban armados con pistolas y cuchillos y también robaban dinero y efectos personales a los migrantes.
“Hernández-Salas se ha declarado culpable de dirigir una organización delictiva que introducía clandestinamente en Estados Unidos a migrantes procedentes de más de una docena de países”, declaró el fiscal general Merrick B. Garland. “Su declaración de culpabilidad es el ejemplo más reciente del largo alcance y el compromiso inquebrantable de la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Alpha (JTFA) para llevar ante la justicia a los líderes de las operaciones de contrabando de personas que victimizan a los migrantes con fines de lucro y ponen en peligro nuestra seguridad nacional”.
“Los contrabandistas de personas son despiadados: mienten, roban y ponen en grave peligro a sus víctimas, sembrando la muerte y la devastación en toda nuestra región”, declaró el secretario de Seguridad Nacional, Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) seguirá trabajando con nuestros socios federales e internacionales para ayudar a desmantelar las operaciones de contrabando de personas y llevar a los autores ante la justicia”.
“Pusimos en marcha la JTFA hace tres años para desarticular las redes de tráfico de seres humanos que causan miseria en todo el Hemisferio Occidental”, declaró la vicefiscal general Lisa Monaco. “Hoy, una líder de una de esas redes se declaró culpable, dejando claro que a quien intente sacar provecho de la desesperación de otros, el sistema de justicia de Estados Unidos le hará responsable”.
“Hernández-Salas dirigía una prolífica organización de contrabando de personas que traía ilegalmente a migrantes de todo el mundo a los Estados Unidos, cobrando a los migrantes miles de dólares, y a menudo robándoles dinero y pertenencias adicionales”, dijo la viceasistente principal del Fiscal General Nicole M. Argentieri, jefa de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia. Estas operaciones delictivas no sólo violan la legislación estadounidense, sino que también ponen a los inmigrantes en una situación de gran riesgo personal y financiero”. El Departamento de Justicia, a través de la JTFA, se compromete a colaborar con nuestros socios extranjeros encargados de la aplicación de la ley en México y en otros países para desarticular y desmantelar peligrosas organizaciones delictivas transnacionales”.
“La extradición es una herramienta poderosa para que los líderes de las organizaciones delictivas transnacionales rindan cuentas ante la justicia estadounidense”, declaró el fiscal federal del Distrito de Arizona, Gary Restaino. “Pero requiere cooperación y colaboración con nuestros vecinos. Gracias a todas las partes interesadas de la JTFA en todo el Gobierno Federal por derribar barreras y trabajar de manera proactiva y colegiada con las autoridades mexicanas”.
Hernández-Salas se declaró culpable de conspiración para traer a un extranjero a Estados Unidos y de tres cargos sustantivos de traer a un extranjero a Estados Unidos para beneficio comercial o ganancia financiera privada. Su sentencia está prevista para el 10 de marzo de 2025 y se enfrenta a una pena máxima de 15 años de prisión. Un juez del Tribunal Federal de Distrito determinará la sentencia tras considerar las directrices de Estados Unidos para la imposición de penas y otros factores legales.
En junio de 2023, la Oficina de Control de Activos Extranjeros (OFAC) del Departamento del Tesoro de Estados Unidos impuso las sanciones correspondientes (en inglés) a la organización delictiva transnacional Hernández-Salas.
Hernández-Salas y el coacusado Raúl Saucedo-Huipio, de 50 años, fueron detenidos por las autoridades mexicanas a petición de Estados Unidos en marzo de 2023. Saucedo-Huipio permanece detenido en México.
La Oficina de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI) en Yuma está investigando el caso con la ayuda de la Patrulla Fronteriza de Estados Unidos, la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP) de Estados Unidos, el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) de Estados Unidos, el FBI y el Servicio de Alguaciles de Estados Unidos, en colaboración con la oficina de HSI en Tijuana, la INTERPOL y la Unidad contra el Contrabando de Personas de HSI en Washington D. C. El Centro Nacional de Identificación/División de la CBP contra las redes organizadas y la OFAC también han prestado una valiosa ayuda.
El codirector de la JTFA, Jim Hepburn, y el abogado litigante Patrick Jasperse, de la Sección de Derechos Humanos y Procesos Especiales (HRSP) de la División Penal, así como la fiscal federal adjunta Lisa Jennis, del distrito de Arizona, están llevando el caso.
La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales (OIA) del Departamento de Justicia brindó importante asistencia para conseguir el arresto y extradición de la acusada desde México. El Departamento de Justicia agradece a sus socios policiales, que fueron decisivos para el arresto y la extradición de Hernández-Salas.
La investigación y el procesamiento de Hernández-Salas y de Saucedo-Huipio están siendo coordinadas por medio de la JTFA. La fuerza JTFA fue creada en junio de 2021 por el fiscal general Garland, en asociación con el secretario Mayorkas, para fortalecer los esfuerzos del Departamento de Justicia para combatir el aumento del creciente y peligroso contrabando procedente de América Central que afecta a nuestras comunidades fronterizas. La meta de la JTFA es perturbar y desmantelar el contrabando de seres humanos y las redes de traficantes que operan en El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras y México, enfocándose en las redes que ponen en peligro, abusan o explotan a migrantes, que plantean riesgos a la seguridad nacional o que participan en otros tipos de delitos transnacionales organizados.
Desde su creación, la JTFA ha incrementado con éxito la coordinación y la colaboración entre el Departamento de Justicia, el DHS y con otras agencias de Estados Unidos encargadas de aplicar la ley, así como con asociados policiales extranjeros, incluyendo de El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras y México; ha apuntado a las organizaciones que tienen mayor efecto en Estados Unidos y ha coordinado varias importantes acusaciones de contrabando de personas y esfuerzos para la extradición en las fiscalías de Estados Unidos a lo ancho del país. La iniciativa fue ampliada (en inglés) a Colombia y Panamá para combatir el tráfico de seres humanos en la región del Darién. La fuerza JFTA está conformada por personal de las fiscalías federales de Estados Unidos, incluyendo a los distritos Sur y del Oeste de Texas, el distrito de Nuevo México, distrito de Arizona y el distrito Sur de California. El apoyo dedicado a este programa también es proporcionado por numerosos componentes de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia que son parte de la JFTA, liderados por la HRSP y apoyados por la Oficina de Desarrollo, Asistencia y Capacitación Fiscal en el Extranjero (OPDAT); la Sección de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas; la Sección de lavado de dinero y recuperación de activos; la Oficina de operaciones de aplicación de la Ley; la OIA y la Sección de crímenes violentos y extorsiones.
La JTFA también depende de inversiones sustanciales para aplicar la ley procedentes de DHS, el FBI, la Administración de control de Drogas (DEA) y de otros asociados. Hasta el momento el trabajo de la JTFA ha resultado en más de 345 arrestos en el país e internacionales de líderes, organizadores e importantes facilitadores del contrabando de seres humanos; más de 290 condenas en Estados Unidos; la imposición de 240 importantes sentencias de cárcel y la incautación de importantes activos.
La investigación también tiene el apoyo del programa Grupo Especial contra los Viajes Delictivos Extraterritoriales (ECT), una asociación entre la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia y la Unidad contra el Contrabando de Personas de HSI. El programa ECT se enfoca en las redes dedicadas al contrabando de personas que puedan presentar riesgos particulares a la seguridad nacional o la seguridad pública, así como plantear graves preocupaciones humanitarias. El ECT ha dedicado recursos de investigación, de inteligencia y para el procesamiento. El ECT también coordina y recibe ayuda de otras agencias del Gobierno de Estados Unidos y así como de autoridades policiales en el extranjero.
Esta traducción se proporciona como una cortesía y únicamente debe considerarse fidedigna la fuente original en inglés.
Ukrainian National Sentenced to Federal Prison in “Raccoon Infostealer” Cybercrime CaseRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – Ukrainian national Mark Sokolovsky was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.
According to court documents, Sokolovsky, 28, conspired to operate the Raccoon Infostealer as a malware-as-a-service or “MaaS.” Individuals who deployed Raccoon Infostealer to steal data from victims leased access to the malware for approximately $200 per month, paid for by cryptocurrency. These individuals used various ruses, such as email phishing, to install the malware onto the computers of unsuspecting victims. Raccoon Infostealer then stole personal data from victim computers, including log-in credentials, financial information, and other personal records. Stolen information was used to commit financial crimes or was sold to others on cybercrime forums.
In March 2022, concurrent with Sokolovsky’s arrest by Dutch authorities, the FBI and law enforcement partners in Italy and the Netherlands dismantled the digital infrastructure supporting the Raccoon Infostealer, taking its then existing version offline. Sokolovsky was extradited from the Netherlands in February 2024 after being indicted for crimes related to fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.
As part of his plea in October, Sokolovsky agreed to forfeit $23,975 and pay at least $910,844.61 in restitution.
"Mark Sokolovsky was a key player in an international criminal conspiracy that victimized countless individuals by administering malware which made it cheaper and easier for even amateurs to commit complex cybercrimes,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Today’s outcome is the result of tireless investigative efforts by multiple law enforcement agencies in several countries and we reiterate our thanks to our international partners for their essential work. My office will not stop in its efforts to hold cybercriminals accountable for their misdeeds."
“Sokolovsky’s infostealer was responsible for compromising more than 52 million user credentials, which were then used in furtherance of fraud, identity theft, and ransomware attacks on millions of victims worldwide,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “We want to thank our Cyber Task Force and international partners for their assistance in bringing Sokolovsky to justice. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a financial scam to go to www.IC3.gov.”
The FBI’s Austin Cyber Task Force investigated the case with the assistance of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Austin Police Department, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Round Rock Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Karthik Srinivasan prosecuted the case.
Victims of the Raccoon Infostealer can find more information at www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/victim-assistance-raccoon-infostealer.
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Two South Carolina Women Convicted of Human Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary, 24, of Clinton, and Rebecca Melanie Perry, 30, of Columbia, have pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy in federal court in Columbia.
According to evidence presented in court, from at least December 2022 through August 2023, Gary and Perry worked together with co-defendants Antonio Marquis Nicholson and Terrell Counts to exploit three minors in the commercial sex trade, despite several members of the conspiracy knowing they were minors.
Nicholson and Perry recruited one minor victim when they encountered her at a hotel as a runaway. They drove her across state lines, told her that she was going to work in commercial sex, bought her lingerie, took photos of her, advertised her for commercial sex on the internet, and arranged for customers to exploit her at hotels in the Columbia area and elsewhere in the state. Nicholson set prices, collected proceeds, decided which minor victims would receive some portion of the proceeds, and how much they would receive. Gary chatted with customers as if she was a minor victim, transported a minor to another city to be exploited, collected proceeds, and turned them over to Nicholson, and intervened with customers when problems arose, all while the minor was multiple states away from her family. Perry helped in a similar way.
Two additional minor victims were recruited near a high school, and they were exploited on days they were not in school. Members of the conspiracy used the internet to advertise the minors, communicate with customers, arrange encounters, and collect proceeds.
The conspiracy exercised high levels of control over the operation, one minor victim was subjected to physical assault, and several of the members of the conspiracy carried firearms and distributed drugs around the minor victims.
Gary and Perry face a penalty of up to life in prison. They also face a fine of up to $250,000 and lifetime supervision to follow a term of imprisonment and mandatory sex offender registry requirements. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Gary and Perry agreed to pay restitution to the victims.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Gary and Perry after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
The indictment remains pending against Nicholson and Counts. Charges in an indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, West Columbia Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, and Jefferson County (Alabama) Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore are prosecuting the case.
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Two Men Sentenced for Firearms Illegally PossessedRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Denzel Givens, 31 years old, and Christopher Rucker, 34 years old, both of South Bend, Indiana, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty this week after each previously pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Givens was sentenced to 92 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Rucker was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in January 2024, Givens drove to an apartment complex parking lot in South Bend and backed the car into a parking spot facing a lane. Rucker was in the car with Givens. When a specific car drove down the lane, Givens started shooting two firearms at the car, and that car’s occupant returned fire. Givens fired nearly 20 rounds, with some entering the occupied car and some entering the occupied apartment buildings behind the car. After the shooting was over, Rucker took both guns fired by Givens and hid them in a nearby apartment. Both Givens and Rucker had previously been convicted of felony offenses, and as such, both were prohibited from possessing the firearms in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office, and Indiana State Police Laboratory Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Joseph P. Falvey.
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.
Two Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Admit Fentanyl Analogue Distribution and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two Essex County men today admitted their respective roles as members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Defendants Thomas Padovano, 50, and Bartholomew Padovano, 72, of Newark, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to drug trafficking conspiracy and international promotional money laundering conspiracy.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Thomas Padovano and Bartholomew Padovano admitted that from approximately January 2014 through September 2020, they and other members of the drug trafficking organization agreed to import and distribute various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, methylone, and ketamine. Members of the conspiracy placed orders with a source in China and agreed to distribute, and did distribute, the controlled substances and analogues in New Jersey, both in bulk and in the form of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that actually contained fentanyl analogues. The Padovano defendants additionally admitted to having engaged in financial transactions aimed at concealing the origin and true ownership of more than $500,000 in drug proceeds.
The charge of drug trafficking conspiracy to which Thomas Padovano pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of drug trafficking conspiracy to which Bartholomew Padovano pleaded carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of domestic concealment money laundering conspiracy to which both Padovano defendants pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for May 6, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) – Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked HSI in Philadelphia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Newark Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Newark Police Department, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Hasapidis-Sferra of the Criminal Division in Newark and Trial Attorney Stephen Sola, Chief of the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. The case is being prosecuted jointly by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) of the United States Department of Justice.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
padovano.sinformation.pdf padovanoetal.3rdsindictment.pdf
Two Colorado Men Charged with Operating Multi-Million-Dollar Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A grand jury in Denver returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging two Colorado men with wire fraud, conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering related to their operation of a multi-million-dollar investment fraud scheme called the “ROI Cash Flow Fund.”
According to the indictment, from about January 2023 to February 2024, Timothy McPhee, of Estes Park, Colorado, and Heath Posey, of Denver, caused more than 50 investors to send approximately $8 million to bank accounts they controlled based on the false representation that the investors’ money would be sent to a borrower and leveraged for foreign exchange or “forex” trading. McPhee and Posey also allegedly told ROI Cash Flow Fund investors that they would receive a 3% monthly return on their principal investment from the forex trading profits.
As the indictment further alleges, however, McPhee and Posey did not send the investors’ funds to a borrower to be leveraged for forex trading. Instead, they allegedly used investor funds to make monthly payouts to other investors and misappropriated millions of dollars in investor funds for their own financial gain. From about June 2023 to December 2023, McPhee and Posey allegedly transferred more than $2 million in investor funds to a bank account McPhee controlled. McPhee then spent those funds on personal expenses and investments. Likewise, in February, McPhee and Posey allegedly transferred nearly half a million dollars to a bank account they controlled and used for expenses related to their other mutual business endeavors, including to pay Posey’s salary.
If convicted, McPhee and Posey face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Lauren K. Pope and Amanda R. Scott of the Tax Division 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.
Indictment - U.S. v. McPhee et al._0.pdfTwo Aryan Brotherhood Prison Gang Members Sentenced to Two Consecutive Life Terms in Prison for RICO Conspiracy and Murder in Aid of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ronald Yandell, 62, of Pinole, and William Sylvester, 56, of Norco, were each sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to two consecutive life terms in prison for murder in aid of racketeering and various other RICO-related crimes, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between 2011 and 2016, Aryan Brotherhood members and associates engaged in racketeering activity, committing multiple acts involving murder, conspiracies to murder, and drug trafficking crimes. The trial evidence showed that Aryan Brotherhood members oversaw a significant heroin and methamphetamine trafficking operation from their California prison cells using smuggled cellphones to direct drug trafficking activities, order murders, and oversee other criminal activities inside and outside of the prisons.
Yandell’s murder in aid of racketeering
According to evidence presented at trial, on August 15, 2015, two inmates carried out a brutal murder of another inmate at CSP-Sacramento on Yandell’s order. Before the murder, Yandell offered the two inmates membership in the Aryan Brotherhood if they were able to execute the killing. About a year after the murder, DEA intercepted calls made by Yandell over a contraband cellphone in which he bragged about directing the murder and sponsoring the killers for membership in the gang. Yandell also directed that money earned from Aryan Brotherhood criminal activities be directed to support the two murderers.
Sylvester’s murder in aid of racketeering
According to evidence presented at trial, on October 7, 2001, Sylvester murdered another inmate at CSP-Sacramento to earn his membership in the Aryan Brotherhood. In particular, Sylvester murdered the other inmate because the victim was a member of a gang that refused to recognize the Aryan Brotherhood’s authority and, as a result, members of the victim’s gang were marked for death.
To carry out the murder, Sylvester and another inmate used substantial planning and premeditation to carry out the attack within an extremely-restrictive prison environment. They used inmate-manufactured weapons and surprised the victim with multiple lethal stab wounds to the victim’s body. Sylvester earned membership in the gang for carrying out the killing.
In April 2024, following a nine-week trial before, a federal jury found Yandell, Sylvester, and co-defendant Danny Troxell, 71, guilty of RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to murder, murder in aid of racketeering, and multiple counts of drug trafficking. Troxell will be sentenced on February 18, 2025.
Charges remain pending against one defendant, Kevin MacNamara, 44, of La Palma.
The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Vallejo Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt, Ross Pearson, and David Spencer are prosecuting the case.
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.
Tencent Removes Two Directors from Epic Games and Relinquishes Its Right to Unilaterally Appoint Directors or Observers in Response to Justice Department ScrutinyRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that two directors of Epic Games Inc. (Epic), who had been appointed by Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Tencent), resigned from the Epic board after the Antitrust Division expressed concerns that their positions on both the Epic and Tencent boards violated Section 8 of the Clayton Act. Tencent owns a minority interest in Epic. The interlock was created because Tencent also is the parent company of a gaming competitor to Epic, Riot Games Inc. Tencent also decided to amend its shareholder agreement with Epic to relinquish its unilateral right to appoint directors or observers to the Epic board in the future. This is the latest of the division’s ongoing Section 8 enforcement efforts, which to date have unwound or prevented interlocks involving at least two dozen companies.
“Scrutiny around interlocking directorates continues to be an enforcement priority for the Antitrust Division,” said Deputy Director of Civil Enforcement Miriam R. Vishio of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Due to the hard work of our tremendous staff, our increased enforcement around Section 8 over the last few years has achieved substantial results and become part of our fabric.”
Section 8, which Congress made a per se violation of the antitrust laws, prohibits directors and officers from serving simultaneously on the boards of competitors, subject to limited exceptions. No company or individual has admitted to liability in connection with this investigation. The division will continue to monitor the industry, and other industries, for violations of the antitrust laws, including Section 8.
Tencent is one of the largest multimedia and video game companies in the world. It is incorporated and domiciled in the Cayman Islands and has its headquarters in Shenzhen, China. Tencent owns Riot, is a minority shareholder in Epic and has equity investments in other video game and media companies.
Epic is a privately held video game and software developer and publisher based in Cary, North Carolina.
Riot is an American video game developer, publisher, and esports tournament organizer with headquarters in Los Angeles.
Anyone with information about potential interlocking directorates or any other potential violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or [email protected].
Suburban Chicago Man Charged with Embezzling Millions from Nonprofit OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The former Executive Director of a Chicago-area nonprofit organization has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars in cash and real estate interests belonging to the organization.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER served as executive director of a nonprofit organization that developed and provided affordable housing to low-income residents and senior citizens in the Chicago area and Florida. From 2018 to 2022, Schneider fraudulently transferred cash and real estate interests from the nonprofit to himself, concealing the fraud by fabricating documents that falsely reflected the transfers had been authorized, according to an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The real estate interests included the rights to use the roof of a senior living facility owned by the nonprofit in Northlake, Ill., as a location for a cell phone tower, the indictment states. In early 2022, Schneider caused the nonprofit to assign its interest in a cell phone tower lease to a company owned and controlled by Schneider, in exchange for no money or other consideration, the indictment states. Shortly thereafter, Schneider sold the interest in the roof to a third-party real estate company for approximately $500,000, the indictment states.
The charges also allege that Schneider solicited and obtained kickbacks or bribes from brokerage and architectural firms retained by the nonprofit for development projects in Illinois and Florida. Schneider also schemed to take complete financial control of a senior living facility in Calumet Park, Ill. that had been owned and developed by the nonprofit, the charges allege.
The indictment charges Schneider, 54, of Antioch, Ill., with five counts of wire fraud and two counts of mail fraud. Arraignment in U.S. District Court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey B. Rubenstein.
Each count in the indictment is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
schneider_indictment.pdfStafford Man Indicted After Alleged Attempt to Smuggle 294 Pounds of Meth into TexasRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A federal grand jury in Del Rio returned an indictment today charging a Stafford man with four charges related to trafficking methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Yobany Vega, 24, attempted to enter the United States from Mexico through Eagle Pass Camino Real Bridge 2 on Dec. 6. The indictment alleges that Customs and Border Protection Officers noticed a non-factory compartment during secondary inspection and discovered 41 bundles hidden in the vehicle. The bundles contained 294 pounds or 133.63 kgs of methamphetamine.
Vega is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine, and one count of importation of methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison and a maximum $10,000,000 fine for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Kass is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Sioux City Man Sentenced to 106 Months in Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Sioux City man was sentenced yesterday to 106 months in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine and a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
According to public court documents, Rodney Lamard Hall, II, 31, was found in possession of a distribution quantity of pills containing approximately 37 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, and a loaded nine-millimeter pistol with an extended magazine. At the time he committed this offense, he was on probation for possessing a firearm and marijuana in April 2023, with the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Hall will be required to serve a four-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 Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
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.
Schenectady Woman Indicted on Social Security Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Destiny Brown, age 45, of Schenectady, New York, was indicted this month on Social Security fraud charges.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office, made the announcement.
The charges relate to Brown’s alleged misuse of her deceased wife’s children’s Social Security benefits that she applied for and received after Schenectady County Department of Social Services removed the children from her custody.The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Brown was arraigned on the indictment in Albany and ordered released pending further proceedings.
If convicted, Brown faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised of up to 3 years. Brown would also have to pay restitution to the victims of her criminal conduct. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General investigating this case and Special Assistant United States Attorney Paul Tuck is prosecuting this case.
Sarasota Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Engage in Sexual Activity with A MinorRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Javier Chavez (34, Sarasota) today pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor. Chavez faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to court documents, on May 15 and 16, 2024, Chavez communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as both the mother of a 14-year-old girl and her 14-year-old daughter. After learning of the girl’s age, Chavez engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the girl and sent her explicit videos of himself. Chavez was apprehended by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office when he arrived at a home in Lee County with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with the girl. Chavez later admitted to deputies that his intentions with the girl were sexual.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 39 Months Prison for Using Stolen Credit Card Numbers to Buy Gift CardsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Steven Raymon Waller, 46, of Sacramento, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 39 months in prison for access device fraud.
According to court documents, between November 2017 and March 2019, Waller used stolen credit card numbers to buy at least $927,000 worth of gift cards from a national retailer.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Drozd ordered Waller to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $927,000 in restitution to the retailer.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg prosecuted the case.
Rupert Man Sentenced to 13.5 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Jose Luis Arteaga, 39, of Rupert, was sentenced to 13 and a half years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on August 22, 2023, detectives with the Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force served a search warrant at Arteaga’s home in Rupert and located 368 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm in Arteaga’s bedroom. Detectives also located smaller amounts of cocaine, marijuana, and fentanyl in Arteaga’s bedroom. Arteaga was previously convicted of federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses in the District of Idaho. In 2011, Arteaga was sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of an unregistered firearm, and in 2016, he was sentenced to 32 months forpossession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
A federal grand jury sitting in Pocatello indicted Arteaga on March 26, 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 19, 2024. On December 17, 2024, as part of his sentence, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Arteaga to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force, which is made up of detectives from the Minidoka and Cassia County Sheriff’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted the case.
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Rochester business owner pleads guilty to food stamp fraudRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Zina Amba Mbile Mbile, 45, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to food stamp fraud before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) uses federal tax dollars to help low-income individuals purchase food. Eligible individuals are provided with a debit card from which they can make food purchases at authorized food stores. Businesses authorized to accepts SNAP benefits, can only do so for the sale of eligible food products. It is unlawful to accept SNAP benefits for non-food items such as cigarettes, beer, or for cash. Between March 1, 2020, and July 23, 2024, Mbile, who operated the Beni Food convenience store on Dewey Avenue in Rochester, accepted SNAP benefits from customers in exchange for non-food items, such as cosmetic products. Mbile also exchanged cash for food stamp benefits, resulting in a profit for Mbile. In total, Mbile fraudulently caused $246,890.00 to be deposited into Beni Food’s bank accounts for food that was never purchased.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Charmeka Parker, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Monroe County Department of Human Services, under the direction of Commissioner Thalia Wright.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2025, before Judge Wolford.
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Robber Pleads Guilty to Stealing 87-Year-Old’s Wallet at a McDonald’s in NW DCRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Aaron Herndon, 39, of Suitland, MD pleaded guilty yesterday to robbery of an 87-year-old in Northwest D.C., on May 5, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The Honorable Judge Jason Park scheduled sentencing for February 18, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 1:00 p.m., on May 5, 2024, the 87-year-old victim was purchasing gift cards from the McDonald’s restaurant located at 4100 Wisconsin Avenue NW. Video footage from the restaurant shows the defendant approach the victim from behind, as he was exiting the restroom, and reach into the victim’s jacket pocket, and take his wallet. Multiple witnesses observed Herndon flee on foot. Herndon was subsequently arrested later on the same day by law enforcement wearing the same clothing he wore at the time of the robbery.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Negar Kordestani and Trisha Jhunjhnuwala of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Skopicki.
Revere Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robberies of Two Local Convenience StoresRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Revere man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to the armed robberies of two Boston-area convenience stores in less than one week.
Jaquan Barrows, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery interfering with interstate commerce, commonly referred to as Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2025. In April 2024, Barrows was charged by criminal complaint.
On the morning of March 29, 2024, a male wearing a mask, dark clothing and an orange safety vest entered a Revere convenience store brandishing a handgun. The suspect walked behind the counter, demanded cash from the cash register drawer, additional cash and a cell phone from the store clerk. The suspect struck the clerk in the head with the firearm, took an ice cream bar from a store freezer and fled the scene.
Less than one week later, on the morning of April 4, 2024, a male wearing a black mask and dark clothing entered an Everett convenience store and appeared to be shopping. After being asked to pay for his items, the suspect brandished a handgun, pointed it at the store clerk and demanded cash from the cash register drawer and fled the scene.
A subsequent investigation identified a Honda Pilot captured in the vicinity of the Revere convenience store. The vehicle was registered to an individual who resided with Barrows. Surveillance footage obtained from the Revere convenience store and from Barrows’ residence showed Barrows wearing clothing similar to the robber. During a search of Barrows’ residence on April 4, 2024, clothing items matching the robber from the Revere robbery, as well as a handgun were found. Barrows was immediately taken into custody.
The charge of Hobbs Act robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 250,000. The charge of using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison to be served consecutively to the penalty for the underlying crime, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Revere and Everett Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Registered sex offender sentenced to 35 years in prison for exchanging videos & images of child torture for child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A registered sex offender was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 420 months in prison for possessing and distributing images and videos depicting the torture, mutilation and murder of children.
Jeremiah Morrison, 38, of Columbus, obtained the material on the dark web and traded it for images and videos of sexual abuse of young children.
“The horrors in the files that Morrison collected, viewed, possessed, distributed and discussed on the dark web are so devoid of humanity, it is truly hard to put into words. The abhorrent content he sought included child mutilation and death, sadistic and masochistic torture of babies and toddlers, infants subjected to anguish and agony, all for the sexual gratification of sexually deviant individuals like Morrison,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “We cannot allow individuals like Morrison to remain in society. He’s a danger to society and should be imprisoned. May today’s sentencing provide justice for the victims and their families.”
The Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information in April 2023 related to Morrison uploading child pornography.
While executing a search warrant in June 2023, investigators discovered Morrison’s cell phone contained 3,000 images and 900 videos of child sexual abuse material that generally depicted prepubescent children, toddlers or infants engaged in sex acts with adults. The images and videos depicted the sexual assault of infants and children under 6 years old.
In addition to the child sexual abuse material recovered on the device, investigators also discovered numerous images and videos depicting the torture, mutilation and killing of children. Morrison would obtain these videos to trade with others in order to collect child sexual abuse material for himself.
Morrison has been convicted of crimes against children two other times, including a 2012 conviction for filming an 11-year-old boy under a bathroom stall divider at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
Morrison was indicted and arrested on the most recent charges in September 2023, and has been in custody since. He pleaded guilty in April 2024. He was sentenced to remain under court supervision for life after completion of his prison sentence. He was also sentenced to pay restitution to victims of at least $3,000 per victim. The number of victims and actual restitution will be determined by the Court.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie M. Salazar, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit (HSI); Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
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Raytown Man Indicted for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Raytown, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today after federal agents found large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in his residence along with several firearms.
Jauan D. Pratt, 30, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Pratt on Dec. 6, 2024.
The federal indictment charges Pratt with one count of possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, approximately eight kilograms of fentanyl pills and 15 kilograms of fentanyl powder were seized by DEA investigators in Garden City, Kansas, on June 8, 2024. The narcotics were discovered in a water cooler box in the back seat of a car bound for Kansas City, Mo. Along with the narcotics, an Apple air tag that belonged to Pratt was located in the water cooler box.
On Dec. 5, 2024, federal agents executed a search warrant at Pratt’s residence. In the bedroom where Pratt and his child were sleeping, agents found 1,680 grams of methamphetamine, 3,478 grams of fentanyl, a Good Times Outdoor .223-caliber/5.56mm AR-style semi-automatic rifle loaded with a double drum-style magazine, a Noreen Firearms multi-cal 5.56mm AR-style semi-automatic rifle that had been reported stolen, a loaded FN 57x223-caliber bull-pup style semi-automatic rifle, and a large amount of cash in different dresser drawers.
Agents also found, in other parts of the residence, an additional 1,754 grams of fentanyl, 877 grams of heroin, 35 grams of ecstasy, nine pounds of marijuana, a loaded Palmetto State Armory 9mm semi-automatic pistol that had been reported stolen, and a kilogram hydraulic brick press.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Baker. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Putnam County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Edward Leon Sowards, 35, of Hurricane, pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Sowards admitted that he purchased a Taurus model Public Defender Judge Poly .45-caliber/.410-gauge revolver from an individual in June 2023. Sowards further admitted that he knew the individual had stolen the firearm. Sowards was later confronted about the stolen firearm being in his possession. On June 21, 2023, Sowards met with the individual in a Hurricane parking lot and returned the firearm. Sowards admitted that he knew the serial number had been removed from the firearm at the time he returned it to the individual.
Federal law prohibits a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Sowards knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior conviction for domestic battery in Putnam County Magistrate Court on April 20, 2012.
Sowards is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-147.
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Production of Child Pornography Lands Yukon Man in Federal Prison for 25 YearsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, LYNN EDWARD STOKES, 46, of Yukon, was sentenced to serve 300 months in federal prison for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On April 16, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a three-count Indictment against Stokes, charging him with production, receipt, and possession of child pornography. According to public record, on March 6, 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant for Stokes’s home and electronic devices, after they identified Stokes as a suspected collector of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) due to his membership in a group chat where CSAM was being exchanged. HSI agents later discovered that Stokes sexually abused and exploited a minor to produce CSAM for him.
On August 9, 2024, Stokes pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment, and admitted he persuaded a minor to produce CSAM and send the files to his phone.
Today, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Stokes to serve 300 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life. In announcing his sentence, Judge Russell noted the egregious nature of Stokes’s conduct, and the need for a long sentence to remove the threat Stokes poses to society.
“The repulsive actions of this predator to sexually exploit children cannot and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “The lengthy sentence imposed in this case sends a clear message to deter others from victimizing children. I commend the efforts by both investigators and prosecutors and their deep commitment to protecting children.”
“HSI is committed to leveraging our forensic and investigative expertise to apprehend criminals who exploit the most vulnerable members of society,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard, who oversees HSI operations in North Texas and Oklahoma. “Due to the collaborative efforts of the special agents and law enforcement partners of the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation Task Force, this defendant will spend the next 25 years behind bars right where he belongs.”
This case is the result of an investigation by HSI and the Yukon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz prosecuted the case.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation Task Force, which is led by HSI. The Tornado Alley Child Exploitation Task Force is an implementation of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Private Asset Manager, Majority Owner Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Improper Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – Lafayette RE Management LLC, a private asset manager based in New York City, and Thibault Adrien, Lafayette’s founder and majority owner, have agreed to pay $680,000 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly making false certifications to the government in applying for, and receiving forgiveness of, a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible businesses could obtain short-term, low-interest, forgivable loans, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), to spend on payroll costs, rent or mortgage, and other specified business expenses. Applicants were required to make certain affirmative certifications in order to be eligible to obtain the PPP loan, including that (1) “current economic uncertainty” made the loan necessary to support the applicant’s ongoing operations, and (2) the funds will be used to retain workers, maintain payroll, or for other authorized purposes prescribed by Congress and the SBA.
The United States alleged that Lafayette and Adrien applied for and received a $335,000 PPP loan by falsely certifying that the loan was economically necessary due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The United States further contended that Lafayette and Adrien’s application to SBA seeking forgiveness of the entire loan amount contained false statements.
The allegations in this case were initially brought by Jesus Nunez-Unda in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party known as a relator can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a share of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Nunez-Unda v. Lafayette RE Management LLC, Brandywine Homes USA LLC, and Thibault Adrian, No. 5:22-cv-000659 (W.D. Tex.).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel M. Shapiro represented the United States in the settlement.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Prior felon sentenced to more than 24 years in prison on new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christopher Gostick, 30, of Lancaster, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography by a person having a prior conviction relating to possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 292 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who handled the case, stated that on June 9 and 10, 2023, Gostick attended a sleepover birthday party, during which he kissed a minor victim (Minor Victim 1), who was nine years old, on the lips. Minor Victim 1 told her parents, which resulted in police officers responding to the residence and taking possession of cellular telephones and a tablet that belonged to Gostick. A review of one of the cellphones uncovered a surreptitiously recorded video of Minor Victim 1 using the bathroom. In addition to the video of Minor Victim 1, law enforcement also found on Gostick’s other cellphone a screen recording of a Snapchat conversation between Gostick and a second minor victim (Minor Victim 2), who was 10 years old at the time. During that conversation, Gostick, who was posing as an 11-year-old female, instructed Minor Victim 2 to send him a sexually explicit video, which Minor Victim 2 did. A review of Gostick’s devices also recovered approximately 613 images and two videos containing child pornography. Previously, in August 2019, Gostick was convicted on a state charge of Attempted Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
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Prior felon going back to prison on fentanyl chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Alexis Javier Centeno-Baez, 30, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that in March 2017, Centeno-Baez was sentenced to 63 months in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, following a jury trial. Centeno-Baez was also sentenced to four years of supervised release. On October 17, 2022, a United States Probation Department officer was conducting a random home contact at Centeno-Baez’s residence. During the contact, Centeno-Baez was questioned about a brown paper bag in the kitchen. Centeno-Baez said the bag contained heroin and he also admitted to engaging in drug trafficking. A subsequent search of the residence resulted in the seizure of a quantity of fentanyl, tramadol tablets, a quantity of methamphetamine, a quantity of marijuana, digital scales, $46,550 in cash and ammunition.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, and the United States Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Timothy C. Englerth.
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Prince George’s County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for a Series of Armed Commercial RobberiesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Andrew Trayvon Hale, 27, of Prince George’s County, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, in connection with 11 armed commercial robberies and the discharge of a firearm during one of the robberies.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Malik Aziz, Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Richard Bowers, Greenbelt Police Department; and Chief Pamela Smith, Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia.
According to Hale’s plea agreement, between June 19, 2022, and July 23, 2022, he, and co-conspirator Antoine Javon Hare, committed at least 11 separate robberies of at least 10 retail establishments in the District of Columbia and Maryland. At least one of the robbers used a firearm in each robbery.
Specifically, Hale admitted that on June 19, 2022, and through the course of the next month, he and Hare committed armed robberies of various convenience stores located in Maryland and the District of Columbia. After their final robbery, Prince George’s County Police Department officers and a Guardian helicopter tracked Hale and Hare’s vehicle as they fled. The robbers led officers on a high-speed chase into the District of Columbia. Eventually, they lost control of their vehicle and crashed, leading to their arrest. Officers recovered Hale and Hare’s firearms along with proceeds from at least one of their robberies.
Additionally, Hare pled guilty to his involvement in the abovementioned crimes on December 11, 2024. Sentencing for Hare is scheduled for March 27, 2025.
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.
U.S. Attorney Barron praised the FBI, Prince George’s County Police Department, Greenbelt Police Department, and the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick D. Kibbe and Megan S. McKoy who are prosecuting the 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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Priest Sentenced for Sending His Sister $100,000 in Stolen Church FundsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A retired priest in Jefferson City, Mo., who admitted to writing himself a $200,000 check from the bank account of the Wardsville, Mo., church he pastored, was sentenced in federal court today for sending his sister a check for $100,000 stolen from the church’s account.
The Rev. Ignazio C. Medina, also known as “Ignatius,” 73, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to three months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Medina to pay a fine of $7,500.
On July 9, 2024, Medina pleaded guilty to transporting stolen property across state lines.
Medina, a Catholic priest, was pastor at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Wardsville from 2013 to 2021. Some financial irregularities arose at St. Stanislaus in 2018, and in the course of investigating the diocese discovered the parish had a bank account that was not previously reported on the budget or annual report. Medina was asked to include this bank account in the parish’s annual report, and in 2020 he reported an account balance of about $358,000.
After Medina was transferred to a different parish in 2021, it was discovered that he had emptied that bank account. While some expenditures from the account appeared to be church-related, on June 10, 2021, Medina had written a $100,000 check to his sibling in Tucson, Arizona. The next day, he had also written a $200,000 check payable to himself.
Medina, when confronted, claimed the bank account was funded by donations that were not intended for the parish itself, but rather were intended for his own discretionary use. Donors who had contributed checks deposited into the bank account contradicted Medina’s statement. Several individuals told investigators the checks they wrote to St. Stanislaus were intended for parish purposes, and that they never had any conversations with Medina authorizing a different use of the funds. One donor told investigators he intended his donation to be used in the school in memory of a deceased friend.
Medina also claimed he was refunding donations and that his sibling in Tucson was one of the donors. In fact, his sibling was not a source of donations to the account, and told investigators that Medina had said that the money was intended to care for their ailing mother.
This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the FBI.
Oshkosh Man Indicted for Illegal Possession and Theft of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury issued a two count indictment alleging that Donta E. Bradshaw (age: 42) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, violated Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 922(u), 924(i)(1), and 924(a)(8).
According to the indictment, on or about November 19, 2024, Bradshaw knowingly stole a Ruger semi-automatic 9mm pistol from a federally licensed firearms dealer located in Oshkosh. As a convicted felon, Bradshaw is prohibited from ever possessing a firearm under state and federal law. If found guilty, Bradshaw faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession charge and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the theft of the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, and the Milwaukee office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Omaha Man Sentenced for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Justin Burney, age 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced December 18, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Burney to 104 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Burney’s release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
On August 15, 2022, Omaha police stopped a car driven by Burney. As officers approached the vehicle, they could see a baggie of meth in the driver’s area. Later search of the car uncovered a total of two baggies of meth, empty individual baggies, and a digital scale. Burney also had $870 cash.
Laboratory testing of the meth confirmed the baggies contained 26 grams of actual meth. At the time of the offense, Burney was on parole for a felony meth conviction from Douglas County District Court.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.