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12 December 2024
Louisiana Fugitive Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Sammie Ray Sewell, Jr. (43, Alexandria, LA) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Sewell to forfeit the firearm and ammunition, which were possessed during the offense. Sewell entered a guilty plea on September 16, 2024.
According to court documents, a detective from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office located Sewell at a Fort Myers hotel with a chamber loaded pistol with an extended magazine. At the time, Sewell had extraditable warrants out of Louisiana and was a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Sewell is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Long Beach Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Daylight Smash-and-Grab Robbery of Beverly Hills Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Long Beach man was sentenced today to 80 months in federal prison for participating in the March 2022 daylight smash-and-grab robbery of a Beverly Hills jewelry store in which nearly $2.7 million worth of merchandise was stolen.
Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu, who also ordered Vernon to pay $2,674,600 in restitution.
Vernon pleaded guilty on August 1 to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). He has been in federal custody since September 2022.
“This defendant took part in a blatant assault on a store operating in daylight hours, believing he could rob and intimidate others with impunity,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Now, he will serve a lengthy sentence in federal prison. Our office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate these sorts of brazen attacks on our community.”
On March 22, 2022, Vernon committed a robbery of the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills store. Vernon used heavy tools to smash the store’s display case while employees were present, causing fear of injury to people inside the store.
Vernon then removed jewelry and other items from the store display cases valued at approximately $2,674,600. The merchandise consisted of approximately 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings, and 20 watches.
After the robbery, Vernon and his accomplices ran out of the store, leaving behind their Kia vehicle – which had been reported stolen out of Long Beach four days before the robbery. During the robbery, Vernon’s cellphone fell out of his sweatpants pocket while he smashed the jewelry store’s window, was left behind and later recovered by law enforcement, according to an affidavit previously filed in this case.
Two days after the robbery, one of Vernon’s accomplices posted on his Instagram account numerous photographs that included large stacks of money and a message praising his “robbery gang,” according to court documents.
As for Vernon’s co-defendants, Deshon Bell, 22, of Long Beach, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and is serving a federal prison sentence of one year and one day. Ladell Tharpe, 39, of Long Beach, pleaded guilty on September 30 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and awaits a January 6, 2025, sentencing hearing.
The FBI and the Beverly Hills Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Kevin B. Reidy of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
LaPorte Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Matthew Frazier, 51 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after being found guilty of possession of child pornography following a one-day trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Frazier was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 7 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in September 2022, Frazier was on probation for prior state court convictions of child exploitation and possession of child pornography. A search of his residence resulted in the recovery of an electronic device which contained 18 photos and 18 videos of child sexual abuse material.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Michigan City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah T Jones and Jerome W. McKeever.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Kentucky Nurse Pleads Guilty to Opioid Diversion SchemeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jacqueline Brewster, 54, of Belfry, Kentucky, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, to obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Brewster admitted that she unlawfully accessed and used individually identifiable health information of patients at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley to divert hydromorphone, an opioid, for her personal use. Brewster was employed as a travel nurse at Raleigh General Hospital from September 2021 until February 2022.
To carry out her diversion scheme, Brewster accessed automated controlled substance dispensing machines at Raleigh General Hospital using her personal biometrics and began the process for checking out hydromorphone purportedly for a patient. Once the machine’s drawer opened, Brewster siphoned off a portion of hydromorphone from its vial, diluted the remaining hydromorphone with another substance so the vial would appear full, reattached the cap and returned the vial to the machine drawer. She subsequently canceled the transaction.
Brewster admitted that on one occasion she unlawfully accessed individually identifiable health information and obtained a hydromorphone by fraud occurred on or about February 1, 2022, at Raleigh General Hospital. Brewster further admitted that she carried out her scheme and diverted hydromorphone many times over the course of her employment at Raleigh General Hospital, and that she siphoned the hydromorphone not for any legitimate use.
Brewster is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration–Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI) Metro Washington Field Office, and the valuable assistance provided by detectives from the West Virginia State Police and the Kentucky State Police.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Owen Reynolds is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and controlled substance abuse schemes that resulted in the submission of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the enforcement action, seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-104.
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Kapaa Woman Indicted for Scheme to Defraud Coronavirus Rental and Utility Assistance ProgramRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – On December 12, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment against Kaiaulani C. Kaiawe, also known as Coty K. Duhaylongsod, 46, of Kapaa, Hawaii, charging Kaiawe with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in connection with fraudulent claims for pandemic-related rental and utility assistance.
The charges in the indictment pertain to the Kauai Coronavirus Rental and Utility Assistance (CRUA) program. In 2021, Congress authorized the creation of Emergency Rental Assistance programs within the Department of the Treasury to fund rent, utility, and other housing-related expense assistance to households that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the State of Hawaii, the County of Kauai used ERA funds to establish the CRUA program. The County of Kauai contracted with a local credit union to administer the CRUA program.
According to the indictment, Kaiawe is charged with wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the CRUA program to obtain benefit payments she was not eligible to receive. The CRUA program required eligible claimants to submit an application electronically, using its website, and to provide certain personal information of the claimant, including his or her name and date of birth, as well as a landlord or property manager contact, before certifying that the representations made in the claim were true and accurate. If the credit union approved the claim, rental payments for the claimant were sent directly to the claimant’s landlord or property manager, and utility payments were sent directly to his or her utility company.
The indictment alleges that Kaiawe submitted a false CRUA claim on her own behalf, using her former name, Coty Duhaylongsod, as the claimant, and then listing her then-current name, Kaiawe, as her landlord to improperly receive a CRUA benefit payment. The indictment further alleges that Kaiawe then submitted multiple other false CRUA claims using the personal information of others as claimants, without their knowledge and consent, and then falsely listing herself as their landlord or property manager to obtain additional benefit payments that she was not entitled to receive. Finally, the indictment alleges that Kaiawe submitted other false claims for CRUA benefits that used the identities of acquaintances as landlords or property managers, without their knowledge or consent; for these claims Kaiawe, entered a residential address for the landlord or property manager to receive payment that was within sight of her home, which allowed Kaiawe to intercept the rental assistance program check when it was delivered.
Kaiawe submitted CRUA claims seeking a total of almost $250,000 that she was not eligible to receive. According to the indictment, Kaiawe fraudulently obtained at least approximately $126,026 in CRUA assistance benefits.
“Congress appropriated critically important funds during the COVID-19 pandemic to help people in our community who were struggling,” said United States Attorney Clare E. Connors. “We continue to investigate those who fraudulently obtained federal funds at the expense of those who needed this assistance in order to remain housed, and will hold them accountable.”
Kaiawe is charged with four counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of money laundering. Each of the wire fraud counts carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Each of the aggravated identity theft counts carries a sentence of two years in prison. The money laundering count carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or up to twice the amount of criminally-derived property involved in the transaction. An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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) at 866-720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kauai Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Louisville Metro Government to Reform Louisville Metro’s and Louisville Metro Police Department’s Unconstitutional and Unlawful PracticesRead the Press Release
Remote video URLThe Justice Department announced today that it has entered into a court enforceable agreement with Louisville Metro Government (Louisville Metro) to resolve the Department’s findings that Louisville Metro and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) engage in a pattern or practice of violations of the Constitution and federal law.
The consent decree, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, sets forth a blueprint for reform by Louisville Metro and LMPD. The decree sets out specific policies, trainings, and programs that Louisville Metro and LMPD will implement to protect the rights of Louisville residents and promote public safety. The decree requires Louisville Metro and LMPD to collect and analyze data to improve as an agency and to hold officers and Louisville Metro employees accountable. The decree also requires Louisville Metro and LMPD to report on their progress publicly and to involve the community throughout the implementation process.
Under the decree, the parties will jointly recommend that the court appoint an independent monitor to assess Louisville Metro and LMPD’s implementation of the agreement. The independent monitor will regularly report to the public and the court on their progress.
“Nearly five years after Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her own home in the middle of the night by Louisville Metro Police Department officers, the Justice Department has secured an agreement to enact significant, systemic reforms to policing in Louisville,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This agreement addresses the serious violations of federal law that we uncovered during our pattern or practice investigation and puts the city of Louisville and its police department on a path to lasting reform. We are committed to honoring Breonna Taylor through our work to implement the agreement and to make Louisville a better and safer place for all of its residents.”
“In the wake of Breonna Taylor’s tragic killing, the people of Louisville fiercely advocated for racial justice, policing reform and accountability,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “City residents demanded that they receive the constitutional policing that they rightly deserve. Through this consent decree, Louisville and its police department have committed to addressing the violations of the Constitution and federal law we found during our investigation and to making Louisville a place where the police respect everyone’s rights. We look forward to working with city officials, the police department, and the people of Louisville to establish meaningful and lasting reform.”
The Justice Department and Louisville Metro have jointly requested that the court enter the consent decree as an order of the court. The reforms required by the decree will ensure that:
- LMPD officers use appropriate de-escalation techniques and attempt to resolve incidents without force when possible, and use force in a manner that is reasonable, necessary, and proportional to the threat presented;
- LMPD’s applications for residential search warrants articulate specific, individualized, and accurate facts that establish probable cause for everything to be searched and seized, and LMPD officers execute residential search warrants using safe and lawful tactics;
- LMPD officers conduct street enforcement activities, including stops, frisks, searches, and arrests, in a manner that protects people’s rights;
- LMPD enforces the law fairly and impartially, providing equal protection of the law for all people in Louisville and taking steps to reduce unlawful racial disparities in enforcement;
- LMPD officers respect the First Amendment rights of all persons, including the right to criticize and protest police conduct and to observe and record police officers in the public discharge of their duties;
- Louisville Metro and LMPD deploy non-law enforcement deflection teams to situations involving people in behavioral health crisis where police involvement is not necessary, and when it is necessary, LMPD sends specially trained officers to respond;
- LMPD responds to and investigates sexual assault, domestic violence, and sexual misconduct in a thorough, timely, trauma-informed, and bias-free manner;
- Louisville Metro operates a non-police outreach team to respond to situations involving unhoused individuals that do not warrant a law enforcement or behavioral health crisis response;
- LMPD enhances community engagement and solicits input to ensure its policing practices are responsive to community needs;
- Louisville Metro and LMPD put in place effective supervision practices and robust training for officers;
- LMPD officers receive the support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively;
- LMPD develops a recruitment and hiring program designed to attract a diverse, well-qualified array of individuals; and
- LMPD investigates allegations of officer misconduct fully, fairly, and efficiently, and holds all officers who commit misconduct accountable through fair and consistent discipline.
Along with the consent decree, Louisville Metro and the Department have entered into a new agreement in principle committing to create evaluation tools, called Performance Review methodologies, for each section of the consent decree. These tools will identify in detail the specific metrics that the independent monitor will use to determine whether Louisville Metro and LMPD have complied with the terms of the consent decree.
The Justice Department announced its findings in March 2023, following a thorough investigation into Louisville Metro and LMPD, which began in April 2021. The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky conducted the investigation, with the assistance of law enforcement professionals. The Department conducted the investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601, which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law.
The Department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting to discuss the consent decree on Monday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 pm ET. Register for the event at www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_O8uZMp10QZaMqSLP1bix2Q#/registration. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the decree.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s police reform work can be found at www.justice.gov/crt/conduct-law-enforcement-agencies.
Read the consent decree here.
Read the consent decree fact sheet here.
Read the findings report here.
Justice Department Secures Agreement to Protect Students in Washington State School District from Harassment based on Sex, Race and National OriginRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today an agreement with Ellensburg School District in Washington State to resolve the department’s investigation into allegations that students were harassed and discriminated against based on sex, race, color and national origin.
The investigation, conducted jointly by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, found that Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ students in the district had endured widespread harassment, including taunts, intimidation, humiliation, epithets, slurs and death threats. Some students also were physically assaulted by other students at school. The school district’s failure to adequately respond despite its knowledge of this harassment left students vulnerable, leading some to miss class, drop school activities, avoid areas of campus and even transfer or leave school altogether.
“All students, whether Black, Latino or LGBTQ+, have a right to attend school free from fear and harassment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “A school should be a place where students feel safe and supported. The department stands by these students and will ensure that schools respond quickly and effectively to protect students if they face harassment.”
“Protecting the civil rights of all students is critical to ensuring a safe learning environment,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref for the Eastern District of Washington. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the Ellensburg School District for its full cooperation throughout the investigation and its commitment to improving the educational environment for students through reforming its response to reports of harassment. This agreement will give the district tools to prevent and address harassment and create a healthier and supportive environment for student learning and development.”
The department opened the investigation in August 2023 under Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The department reviewed records from the 2021-22 through 2023-24 school years and interviewed over 100 people, including current and former students, employees and parents. The district fully cooperated during the investigation.
The department’s investigation found that the district failed to take effective action despite being aware of an environment in which Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ students experienced slurs, taunts and physical assaults based on race, national origin and sex. Black students faced frequent use of the N-word and other racial slurs by their classmates; Latino students were openly subjected to epithets like “beaner,” “wetback” and “mixed-breed”; and LGBTQ+ students endured widespread, ongoing and severe sex-based harassment by their peers, including gendered slurs, public graffiti and intimidation. The district’s insufficient response allowed the harassment to continue and even escalate, denying students equal access to the district’s educational programs.
Under the settlement agreement, Ellensburg School District will implement critical reforms including:
- Retaining a third-party consultant to support the school district in implementing the agreement and creating a discrimination-free educational environment for all students;
- Designating a district coordinator to oversee the effective resolution of reports of harassment;
- Designating a Spanish-speaking liaison to Latino families to ensure that the school district hears and responds to their complaints;
- Creating a new electronic reporting system to track and manage all reports of harassment and the district’s responses to such reports;
- Updating policies and procedures to ensure the district responds promptly and effectively to all reports of harassment and provides appropriate support services to affected students;
- Training all staff and students on how to identify and report harassment; and
- Implementing an annual climate assessment through surveys and listening sessions with students, parents, and school employees so that the district can identify and respond to harassment trends and concerns in the school community.
Enforcing civil rights laws to protect students from harassment is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
View the agreement in Spanish here.
View the summary of the agreement here.
View the summary of the agreement in Spanish here.
Justice Department Secures Agreement to Protect Students in Washington State School District from Harassment based on Sex, Race and National OriginRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today an agreement with Ellensburg School District in Washington State to resolve the department’s investigation into allegations that students were harassed and discriminated against based on sex, race, color and national origin.
The investigation, conducted jointly by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, found that Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ students in the district had endured widespread harassment, including taunts, intimidation, humiliation, epithets, slurs and death threats. Some students also were physically assaulted by other students at school. The school district’s failure to adequately respond despite its knowledge of this harassment left students vulnerable, leading some to miss class, drop school activities, avoid areas of campus and even transfer or leave school altogether.
“All students, whether Black, Latino or LGBTQ+, have a right to attend school free from harassment, intimidation and death threats,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “A school should be a place where students feel safe and supported. The department stands by these students and will ensure that schools respond quickly and effectively to protect students if they face harassment.”
“Protecting the civil rights of all students is critical to ensuring a safe learning environment,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref for the Eastern District of Washington. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the Ellensburg School District for its full cooperation throughout the investigation and its commitment to improving the educational environment for students through reforming its response to reports of harassment. This agreement will give the district tools to prevent and address harassment and create a healthier and supportive environment for student learning and development.”
The department opened the investigation in August 2023 under Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The department reviewed records from the 2021-22 through 2023-24 school years and interviewed over 100 people, including current and former students, employees and parents. The district fully cooperated during the investigation.
The department’s investigation found that the district failed to take effective action despite being aware of an environment in which Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ students experienced slurs, taunts and physical assaults based on race, national origin and sex. Black students faced frequent use of the N-word and other racial slurs by their classmates; Latino students were openly subjected to epithets like “beaner,” “wetback” and “mixed-breed”; and LGBTQ+ students endured widespread, ongoing and severe sex-based harassment by their peers, including gendered slurs, public graffiti and intimidation. The district’s insufficient response allowed the harassment to continue and even escalate, denying students equal access to the district’s educational programs.
Under the settlement agreement, Ellensburg School District will implement critical reforms including:
- Retaining a third-party consultant to support the school district in implementing the agreement and creating a discrimination-free educational environment for all students;
- Designating a district coordinator to oversee the effective resolution of reports of harassment;
- Designating a Spanish-speaking liaison to Latino families to ensure that the school district hears and responds to their complaints;
- Creating a new electronic reporting system to track and manage all reports of harassment and the district’s responses to such reports;
- Updating policies and procedures to ensure the district responds promptly and effectively to all reports of harassment and provides appropriate support services to affected students;
- Training all staff and students on how to identify and report harassment; and
- Implementing an annual climate assessment through surveys and listening sessions with students, parents, and school employees so that the district can identify and respond to harassment trends and concerns in the school community.
Enforcing civil rights laws to protect students from harassment is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
View the agreement in Spanish here.
View the summary of the agreement here.
View the summary of the agreement in Spanish here.
Justice Department Secures Agreement Preventing Animal Welfare Act Violations at Ohio Auction HouseRead the Press Release
In a consent decree entered today by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Mt. Hope Auction Co. agreed to monitoring and future restrictions to prevent it from violating the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) through future auctions of exotic or other AWA-regulated animals.
In September, the United States filed a complaint against Mt. Hope Auction, alleging that it was placing animals in serious danger and violating the AWA and its regulations and standards during the Mid-Ohio Alternative Animal and Bird Sales that it held three times a year. Each of these auctions featured thousands of animals, including over 200 different species ranging from parrots to exotic cattle breeds to animals listed under the Endangered Species Act like ring-tailed lemurs.
At the time of the complaint, Mt. Hope had been cited for 69 AWA violations in less than two years, including repeat violations for failing to provide veterinary care to sick or injured animals, allowing unsafe or unsanitary animal enclosures, and allowing the public to touch animals — including potentially dangerous coyotes, fox and bobcats — without proper barriers or employee supervision. The complaint also alleged that Mt. Hope had accepted hundreds of animals from sellers who did not hold the required license from the Department of Agriculture (USDA), becoming a hub for unlawful and poorly documented sales that could proliferate the inhumane care of animals.
The court entered a temporary restraining order against Mt. Hope on Sept. 13, requiring the auction company to comply with several AWA requirements at its September Alternative Animal and Bird Sale. Mt. Hope canceled that sale. Mt. Hope’s USDA license was set to expire at the end of the September, and after failing to demonstrate compliance at two inspections, Mt. Hope declined the third and final opportunity for a re-licensing inspection and terminated the re-licensing process.
“In recent years, Mt. Hope Auction has auctioned off more than 5,000 animals annually, which underscores the widespread effect of their violations,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The company’s ‘business as usual’ approach — risking injury, illness and harm to the animals at its auctions — will not continue. It is important for auction houses dealing in regulated animals to abide by the Animal Welfare Act and provide humane treatment to the animals that come through their doors.”
“USDA is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of animals protected under the Animal Welfare Act,” said Deputy Administrator Sarah Helming for USDA’s Animal Care program. “The partnership between USDA and DOJ helps to ensure enforcement of the AWA regulations for those who put regulated animals at risk.”
“Despite numerous opportunities to correct their business practices, Mt. Hope Auction chose not to comply,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Their complete disregard for the laws regarding animal welfare and treatment placed both these animals and the public at large in danger. As this case demonstrates, we will hold accountable businesses that seek to profit from treating animals inhumanely.”
Under the consent decree, Mt. Hope Auction agrees to not deal in or exhibit AWA-regulated animals without a license, and to allow the Department of Agriculture (USDA) access to ensure compliance with this provision. Moreover, if Mt. Hope Auction applies for and obtains a new USDA license within the next three years, it agrees to enter a two-year probationary period.
During the probationary period, Mt. Hope Auction agrees to comply with AWA requirements to provide adequate veterinary care to animals consigned at the auctions; handle animals carefully; prevent the public from contacting animals without a responsible employee present; ensure that all facilities and enclosures are sanitary, in good repair and meet the minimum AWA standards; and create and maintain complete and accurate records. Mt. Hope also agrees to maintain veterinary records to allow for future monitoring of veterinary care. If Mt. Hope is found to have repeatedly violated the same AWA regulations and standards during the probationary period that were the subject of the United States’ claims, its AWA license will be permanently revoked.
USDA investigated the case and filed a parallel administrative enforcement action.
Senior Trial Attorney Devon Flanagan and Trial Attorneys Kamela Caschette and Taylor Mayhall of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section prosecuted the case, with support from USDA’s Office of General Council and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Andrachik and Elizabeth Deucher for the Northern District of Ohio.
Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by the Mount Vernon, New York, Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department (MVPD) engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights secured by the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
Specifically, the Justice Department finds that MVPD:
- Uses excessive force in numerous ways, including by unnecessarily escalating minor encounters and by overusing tasers and closed-fist strikes, particularly against individuals who have already been taken to the ground, are controlled by many officers or are already fully or partially restrained;
- Conducted unlawful strip searches and body cavity searches of individuals until at least 2023; and
- Makes arrests without probable cause.
The department also identified serious concerns with MVPD’s practices regarding vehicle stops and evidence collection, as well as serious concerns that MVPD practices may result in discriminatory policing. Deficiencies in policies, training, supervision and accountability systems contribute to MVPD’s unlawful practices.
“Our investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department reveals a pattern and practice of unlawful conduct that can and must be addressed,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “While officials have undertaken preliminary actions to address some areas of concern, the city and police department must institute comprehensive measures that will fully and finally bring an end to these unconstitutional practices. It will require commitment and hard work by the leadership of the city and the police department as well as by rank-and-file officers. We stand ready to work with Mount Vernon officials to achieve constitutional policing and to strengthen community trust. Police reform will not happen overnight. Across the country, the department’s investigations, findings reports and resulting reform measures help law enforcement agencies become the departments that their citizens need and deserve.”
“Our investigation has found reasonable cause to believe that MVPD engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the constitutional rights of the citizens it has sworn to protect,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “The systemic deficiencies we identified have resulted in a pattern of MVPD officers using excessive force; making illegal arrests; and, for many years, regularly conducting unlawful strip searches and body cavity searches. We are encouraged by the recent steps the City of Mount Vernon and the MVPD have taken that evince a commitment to constitutional policing, and we look forward to continued cooperation to ensure that MVPD keeps its community safe from crime while respecting its citizens’ constitutional rights.”
The Justice Department opened this investigation on Dec. 3, 2021. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The department interviewed MVPD command staff and supervisors, patrol officers, police union representatives, Mount Vernon residents, prosecutors from the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, defense attorneys and local civic associations. The department also reviewed MVPD’s arrest reports, use-of-force reports, stops, search, and arrest data, policies, training materials and internal affairs files.
The department met regularly throughout the investigation with city and MVPD officials to provide feedback on the observations by the department and the department’s policing experts. The city and MVPD cooperated throughout the investigation.
The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law.
MVPD has implemented a number of changes since the opening of the investigation. For example, MVPD is working with the city to equip all officers with body-worn cameras and less-lethal weapons. MVPD also has made progress in connection with strip and cavity searches, including by revising its policy and offering training on it. The department’s findings report outlines additional remedial measures necessary to address its findings.
The City has pledged to work cooperatively with the Justice Department to address the findings.
The Justice Department will be conducting outreach to members of the Mount Vernon community for input on remedies to address the investigation’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-866-985-1378.
Since January 2021, the Justice Department has opened 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601, and has been actively monitoring over a dozen agreements with law enforcement agencies that were secured prior to that period. Since 2021, the department has successfully concluded agreements and portions of consent decrees with the Yonkers, New York Police Department; the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Police Department; the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department; the Portland, Oregon, Police Bureau; and the Seattle Police Department. The department has issued findings reports concerning several agencies including: Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department; the Minneapolis, Minnesota, Police Department; the Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department; the Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department; the Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department; the Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department; and the Worcester, Massachusetts, Police Department. Investigations are ongoing regarding the Louisiana State Police; the New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Police Department; and the Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is available at www.justice.gov/usao-sdny.
The Justice Department will hold a virtual community meeting on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. ET. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings. Please register to join the meeting at www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_jxTvdftFR_KZtUwFvH1ADQ.
Justice Department Announces an Organizational Assessment of the Sacramento, California, Police Department under the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform InitiativeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced that it will provide an Organizational Assessment of the Sacramento, California, Police Department through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. This is a voluntary program that is offered at the request of law enforcement agencies that are seeking to improve their services and operations. Over the next year, the Sacramento Police Department will work in partnership with the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team to focus on:
- Organizational Structure and Workload Analysis
- Civilianization and Alternate Response
- Calls for Service Analysis
- Community Policing
- Technology
“It is exciting to see a department voluntarily taking a close look at how it can improve in critical areas,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “The shared goals of public safety and community trust are essential for agencies that want to continue to serve their residents to the best of their ability.”
“Departments that prioritize this internal work end up strengthening both their agencies and their relationship with those they serve,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. “Taking on this type of work demonstrates a true commitment to excellence.”
Regular updates on the team’s work with the Sacramento Police Department will be provided at cops.usdoj.gov/active-oa-site-sacramento-ca-police-department as part of the transparency and public accountability of this new Organizational Assessment effort.
The Collaborative Reform Initiative encompasses three programs offering expert services to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies: the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment programs (complete details of these programs can be found at cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform). Managed out of the COPS Office, this continuum of services is designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness; enhance officer safety and wellness; build agencies’ capacity for organizational learning and self-improvement; and promote community policing practices nationwide.
The Organizational Assessment program provides the most intensive form of technical assistance on the continuum, involving in-depth assessments and long-term assistance to improve the fairness, effectiveness, and efficacy of agency operations that build trust with communities. A continual assessment and implementation process ensures that time and resources are used to focus on identifying areas for improvement, reinforcing agency strengths, and assisting with the implementation of improvements expeditiously. At the same time, the process provides transparency and accountability with routine public reporting and community input. Each engagement will be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment team composed of subject matter experts with diverse experience and perspectives, including in law enforcement, community engagement, research and evaluation, program management, and organizational reform.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.
Jury finds Wilkes-Barre Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on December 10, 2024, a federal jury found Michael Jones, Jr, age 44, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, guilty on all 10 counts of an indictment charging conspiracy to distribute in excess of 40 grams of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute in excess of 40 grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of a stolen firearm; and maintaining a drug involved premises. The guilty verdicts were returned following a six-and-one-half day trial before United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on April 27, 2021, Jones was traveling from Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barre when he was stopped by the Pennsylvania State Police. Law enforcement found drugs hidden inside a stereo speaker in the trunk of Jones’ car which led to the search of Jones’ stash house. Law enforcement seized additional amounts of drugs, packaging materials, a stolen firearm, and $20,000 in cash at Jones’ stash house.
During the trial, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office presented testimony of 22 witnesses, including a DNA expert.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Todd Hinkley are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life 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.
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Jury Convicts Man for Anti-LGBTQ Assault Against Two Men and Threats to a Female Club Employee in NW DCRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Franklin Siate, 42, of Washington, D.C., was convicted today of assaulting two local men near U Street, NW, because of their perceived LGBTQ-status, and making violent threats against the woman in charge of security at the 9:30 Club while she was protecting patrons in line for a Taylor Swift dance party, announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The two assault charges carry a bias-related hate crime enhancement. The verdict followed a jury trial in Superior Court of the District of Columbia before Judge Jennifer Di Toro. Sentencing will take place on February 10, 2025.
On the night of August 3, 2024, Siate verbally and then physically accosted multiple people outside of the 9:30 Club. First, he approached a line of patrons waiting to enter the concert venue for a Taylor Swift Dance Party and started yelling at them. He then turned his attention to a 9:30 Club employee and threatened to rape and murder her. He then saw two men walking by, holding hands, and acting affectionately towards one another. Siate followed them down the block saying, “Gays cannot hold hands in my city,” “You’re in my living room,” and yelling a slur at them. He then picked up a sign outside of another establishment, lifted it over his head, and charged the two men. An MPD police officer arrived just in time to stop Siate from attacking the men.
Siate was arrested on Augst 3, 2024, and released on personal reconnaissance. Siate was then arrested on new, unrelated charges on August 31, 2024, and has been in custody since September 9, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari B. Rubin and Douglas Maggs.
Jury Convicts Granite City Woman of Conspiring to Commit Arson on Residential Properties for Insurance PayoutsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A southern Illinois jury convicted a woman of conspiring to burn properties in East St. Louis, Illinois, and Florissant, Missouri, and setting fire to an apartment in St. Louis to collect insurance benefits.
Evette B. Osuegbu, 62, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, ten counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit arson and one count of use of fire to commit a federal felony. Osuegbu’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 23, 2025.
Co-defendant Rufis A. Jefferson, 47, of Venice, pleaded guilty in January and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 6, 2025, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.
“The pair are guilty of conspiring together to commit arson to collect fraudulent insurance benefits, and they put unsuspecting neighbors in danger for their own callous greed,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I appreciate ATF’s efforts to lead an extensive investigation to bring these perpetrators to justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, the pair admitted to conspiring to set Osuegbu’s St. Louis apartment on fire on Dec. 31, 2022. Osuegbu filed a claim with her insurance and collected an estimated $30,000.
Osuegbu and Jefferson were also recorded discussing plans to burn two additional buildings in Granite City and Venice but ultimately did not commit the arsons.
“Arson is a dangerous act of violence that not only destroys property but also places firefighters, first responders, and the public at great risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen, Kansas City Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). “This conviction sends the message to anyone who considers conducting this type of violent act, it will not be tolerated. ATF is committed to ensuring that our communities are safe and that those who commit these dangerous acts are held accountable.”
Convictions for conspiracy to commit arson are punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
ATF led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Burke and Peter Reed prosecuted the case.
Jackson man found guilty of receiving cocaine for redistribution in the mailRead the Press Release
Oneil Anthony Findley, 28, of Jackson, Wyoming, was convicted by a federal jury on Dec. 11 of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug offense, and drug conspiracy. The trial lasted three days and was held before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, while investigating a possible drug distribution network in Jackson, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and United States Postal Inspection Service learned that cocaine was being shipped to the area. Postal Inspectors intercepted a package that contained over a pound of cocaine and was being shipped to Findley’s P.O. Box under a fictitious name. Findley attempted to pick up the package and was taken into custody for questioning. Findley claimed he was unaware that the package contained cocaine, but made inconsistent statements as it related to the fictitious name used on the package and who shipped the cocaine. Phone data showed the Defendant communicating with the individual who shipped the cocaine, checking the United States Post Office website for information related to the shipment, and Findley discussing the distribution of narcotics with other individuals. The Government was able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Findley knew the package contained the illegal substance and he intended to distribute it.
Acting United States Attorney Eric Heimann said, “This conviction makes it clear that drug traffickers will be prosecuted and punished for poisoning Wyoming communities. I want to thank the Postal Inspection Service and DCI for their work on this investigation.”
“USPIS Denver Division Inspector-in-Charge Bryan Musgrove said: “United States Postal Inspectors are dedicated to maintaining the sanctity of trust placed in the US Mail. We will aggressively pursue anyone who uses the US Mail to transport and distribute deadly drugs which impacts the safety of postal employees and postal customers. We thank our law enforcement partners for working with us to combat these crimes in hopes of making our communities a safer place to live and work.”
Sentencing has been set for February 28, 2025. Finley faces up to 44 years in federal prison with three years to life of supervised release, up to a $2.25 million fine, and a $300 special assessment.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case.
Case No. 24-CR-00131
Jackson Man Sentenced to over 2 years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 2 years and a month in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on October 11, 2021, Joshua Hart, 42, was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition by the Jackson Police Department when an officer approached his vehicle after observing it being driven erratically and suspiciously. Hart, a passenger in the vehicle, had a previous felony conviction for aggravated robbery out of the state of Texas and an outstanding warrant at the time of this stop. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Hart to possess ammunition or any firearm.
Hart was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 16, 2021. He pled guilty on September 9, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Mississippi – A Jackson man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On December 11, 2024, after eight days of trial in federal court, Marcus Davis, 44, pled guilty to his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Prosecutors presented evidence and testimony at trial that Davis conspired with another individual to possess with intent to distribute two-and-one-half pounds of methamphetamine over a nine-day period in December of 2019.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shundral Cole and Samuel Goff are prosecuting the case.
Indictment Charges Waterbury Man with Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging JOSE ANTONIO MOLINA-MONTALVO, 36, of Waterbury, with the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The indictment was returned on November 25, 2024. Molina-Montalvo appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
The indictment alleges that from October 11 to October 15, 2024, Molina-Montalvo unlawfully possessed a Harrington & Richardson 1871 INC. Handi Rifle.
The indictment further alleges that Molina-Montalvo’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for assault, possession with intent to sell narcotics, strangulation, harassment, burglary, and larceny. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Molina-Montalvo has been detained since his arrest on unrelated state charges on October 21, 2024.
This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont through 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.
Honduran National Charged with Illegally Using Social Security Number to Obtain EmploymentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CESAR ALVAREZ-ESPINAL (“ALVAREZ-ESPINAL”), age 31, a native of Honduras, was charged on December 6, 2024 in a bill of information with illegally using a social security number in order to obtain employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).
According to filed documents, on or about November 13, 2024 in the Eastern District of Louisiana, ALVAREZ-ESPINAL fraudulently used a social security number that was not assigned to him.
ALVAREZ-ESPINAL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Harrison County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Timothy Robert Wilson, 38, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 92 months in federal prison for the distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Wilson was selling methamphetamine in Clarksburg. He has prior convictions for drug trafficking, battery, and domestic battery.
Wilson will serve four years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Harrisburg Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over 24 Years in Prison for Hiring Gunmen to Protect Thousands of Pounds of Marijuana Trafficked Through the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Texidor, age 37, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 11, 2024, to 292 months by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for trafficking over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of marijuana and hiring gunmen to protect his illegal activities.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Texidor was previously convicted of drug trafficking, weapons, and violence after a six-day jury trial in May 2024. Judge Wilson relied upon the evidence introduced at the trial when noting that this was more than just an illicit marijuana trafficking operation. According to the Judge, Texidor engaged in dangerous and violent conduct that endangered the community.
The evidence introduced at trial showed that between October 2018 and May 2020, Texidor and his codefendants operated a marijuana smuggling operation out of Fastlane Auto Sales, a used car lot located on Paxton Street in Harrisburg. Texidor and his codefendants arranged to have his drug source in California mail hundreds of parcels full of marijuana to Harrisburg through the U.S. Mail. In the same way, they regularly mailed tens of thousands of dollars in cash back to the California source. Texidor and his codefendants used a sophisticated system of GPS tracking devices, which they placed in their parcels, to keep track of their drugs and money. Through this the scheme, over 9,000 thousand pounds of suspected marijuana parcels, worth millions of dollars, were brought to the Harrisburg area.
Texidor and his codefendants used guns, robbery, and kidnapping as tools to keep their criminal operation running. At the trial, the jury heard evidence of the violence that Texidor and his codefendants used to try and stop a thief from stealing their marijuana. In late 2019, a thief began stealing their marijuana from parcels shipped to them. By using tracking devices in their parcels and attaching tracking devices to vehicles, they identified the person that they suspected was stealing their marijuana. Texidor and his codefendants then hired gunmen to stop the thefts. From December 2019 to February 2020, the gunmen went after the suspected thief. In December the gunmen shot up a truck in Harrisburg connected to the suspected thief; they shot into an occupied home in Susquehanna Township where the suspected thief was sleeping; and they shot into an occupied home in Steelton that they guessed was connected to the suspected thief. In February 2020, they robbed the suspected thief at gunpoint in Highspire.
The jury convicted Texidor of conspiracy to traffic more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to use a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, use of a means in interstate communication to commit a crime of violence, and drug trafficking.
Texidor was also sentenced for committing pandemic related unemployment fraud. While he was released awaiting trial for the drug trafficking case, Texidor submitted a fraudulent application for pandemic relief. He got over $20,000 in pandemic unemployment relief. He was charged with wire fraud for that episode and later pled guilty. When imposing sentence for drug trafficking, weapons, and violence offenses, Judge Wilson also imposed a 20-year sentence for defrauding the United States. Judge Wilson noted as an aggravating factor that Texidor committed this fraud with his co-defendants in the marijuana trafficking case and that they all did it while out on release awaiting trial.
Texidor’s codefendants, Jamie Valenzuela, William Kuduk, Jonathan Cobaugh, Justin Laboy, Jose Laboy, and Julio Arellano have pleaded guilty. Codefendant Jamie Valenzuela pleaded guilty to being the marijuana source from California. He was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. Codefendant Jose Laboy as sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment marijuana trafficking and weapons offenses. Codefendant Jonathan Cobaugh was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for marijuana trafficking and pandemic fraud. Codefendant Julio Arellano was sentenced to 156 months’ imprisonment for weapons offenses and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. Codefendants William Kuduk and Justin Laboy are awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Consiglio and Scott Ford prosecuted the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life 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.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Hammond Man Found Guilty After 3-Day Jury TrialRead the Press Release
HAMMOND –Michael Swiger, age 41, of Hammond, Indiana was convicted of distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography after a three-day jury trial before United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Swiger was charged with distributing videos of child sexual abuse material over a social media application on April 4, 2022, and was also charged with possessing images and videos of child sexual abuse material on April 5, 2022.
This case was the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (Chicago and St. Paul) with assistance from the Hammond Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily A. Morgan, Caitlin M. Padula, and Thomas M. McGrath.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Guatemalan National Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Guatemalan national was sentenced to 5 years in prison for illegally re-entering the United States after being convicted and deported for a felony.
According to court documents, Marcos Perez-Hernandez, 25, was found illegally present in Rankin County, Mississippi on May 23, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a felony and deported from the United States in 2018. Perez-Hernandez was stopped by a Rankin County Sheriff’s officer for careless driving, driving under the influence and no driver’s license.
Perez-Hernandez pled guilty on September 5, 2024, to illegal reentry after being deported following a state felony conviction for kidnapping in Tennessee.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Field Office Director Mellisa B. Harper of Immigration and Customs (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New Orleans, made the announcement.
The case was investigated by ICE ERO.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted the case.
Granger Man Sentenced to 121 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Timothy Wyllie, 60 years old, of Granger, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Wyllie was sentenced to 121 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in April 2023, Wyllie was released from prison after serving two terms totaling nearly 20 years for state child molestation and federal distribution of child pornography convictions. Within two months of his release from incarceration, while under federal supervised release and state parole, he began uploading numerous files of child sexual abuse material to various social media platforms and also downloaded hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material from the internet.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah T Jones and Joseph P. Falvey.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Gloversville Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Lamont McWhite, age 51, of Gloversville, New York, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division, made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, McWhite admitted that he distributed cocaine on four occasions between June and August 2022, and on December 14, 2022, possessed and intended to distribute approximately 292 grams of methamphetamine, 506 grams of cocaine, 49 grams of cocaine base, and 37 grams of fentanyl.
Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 5-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release.
DEA investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda prosecuted the case.
Glendale Woman and Lakewood Man Found Guilty of $3.2 Million Hospice Fraud Scheme Involving Kickbacks for Patient ReferralsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Glendale woman and a Lakewood man have been found guilty by a jury of paying and receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks for patient referrals that resulted in the submission of approximately $3.2 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for purported hospice care, the Justice Department announced today.
Nita Palma, 75, of Glendale, was found guilty late Wednesday of 12 counts of health care fraud and 16 counts of paying illegal kickbacks for health care referrals. Percy Abrams, 74, of Lakewood, also was found guilty late Wednesday of six counts of receiving illegal kickbacks for health care referrals.
According to evidence presented at a six-day trial, Palma was excluded from Medicare, a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, because of prior federal convictions for receiving illegal kickbacks. While she was excluded from Medicare, Palma purchased Magnolia Gardens Hospice through her daughter in 2015 and concealed her ownership interest in Magnolia Gardens Hospice from Medicare.
Palma then paid “marketers”, including Abrams, hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks for patient referrals that Palma could bill to Medicare for purported hospice care.
Hospice is only for those who are terminally ill and have a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice provides comfort care to a patient instead of trying to cure the patient’s illness, and a patient forfeits certain benefits under Medicare when electing hospice.
Consistent with instructions provided by Palma, Abrams falsely represented to prospective patients that they did not need to be dying to be on hospice. After collecting personal identifying information from prospective patients that were not dying, Abrams sent the information to Nita Palma so she could bill Medicare for purported hospice care.
Through Magnolia Gardens Hospice, Palma caused the submission of approximately $3.2 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare in 2015 and 2016 for purported hospice care for patients that were not dying. Palma received approximately $6,000 each month a patient was billed to Medicare for hospice. In turn, Palma paid Abrams and other marketers up to $1,000 per month in illegal kickbacks for each patient referred to her that was billed to Medicare for hospice. Many of the patients that were billed to Medicare through Magnolia Gardens Hospice did not know they were signed up for hospice, and some patients only found out after they were denied medical coverage for services they needed.
During the health care fraud scheme, Medicare requested additional documentation from Magnolia Gardens Hospice to support the purported hospice claims. In response, Palma and her husband directed employees to create fake patient charts and had those fake patient charts submitted to Medicare. Court documents allege that while awaiting trial in this matter, Palma took control of three other hospices and caused the submission of approximately $4.8 million in claims for purported hospice care.
United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 23, 2025, at which time Palma and Abrams will each face a sentence of up to decades in federal prison.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Roger A. Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section and Matt Coe-Odess of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Gang Leader Ivan James Sentenced T0 420 Months on Drug Conspiracy and Possession of Firearms Used to Murder Rival Gang MemberRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Ivan James, 40, Joh Williams, 38, Malachi Benjamin, 28, Ariel Petersen, 28, and Jahkiebo Joseph, 26, all of St. Croix, were sentenced by District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy led by Ivan James from his Estate LaGrange compound in Frederiksted, St. Croix.
“The Ivan James Organization was a violent and lawless gang that terrorized and victimized the people of the Virgin Islands for over a decade,” stated United States Attorney Delia Smith. “The tremendous work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Patrol, Virgin Islands Police Department and the Bureau of Corrections delivered the ultimate reward to the people of St. Croix – just and lengthy sentences of imprisonment to those involved. These sentences demonstrate that the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners are committed to combating the threat of gang violence”, Smith said.
“The sentencing of Ivan James to 420 months of incarceration should send a powerful message: justice will prevail against those who threaten the safety and stability of our communities. This victory is a testament to the relentless commitment and seamless collaboration between federal and local law enforcement. Together, we are dismantling violent criminal networks and transnational drug organizations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, ensuring that those who sow violence and chaos will face the full weight of the law” stated Special Agent in Charge Denise Foster, DEA Caribbean Division.
“These sentences speak volume and are credited to the extensive collaboration between federal and local law enforcement partners. Our joint efforts are essential in the U.S. Virgin Islands towards combatting violent crimes and illicit activities of transnational criminal organizations in our area of responsibility,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos.
According to evidence introduced at trial, the investigation into the James drug trafficking organization began in January 2013 after Bureau of Corrections officers at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility seized an iPhone from then inmate Joh Williams. Asearch of the cell phone seized from Williams revealed text messages related to smuggling and distribution of narcotics in the prison. Thereafter, Drug Enforcement Administration obtained authorization to intercept calls from a second cell phone used by Williams while incarcerated. The wire investigation revealed evidence of cocaine and marijuana distribution within the facility by Williams which was supplied by Ivan James. The investigation further revealed that Vivian Ford, a former corrections officer, was a member of James’ organization who smuggled narcotics into Golden Grove in food containers for distribution by Williams.
At trial, Tillisa Ceaser and Luis Ortiz, Jr. testified they were members of the James’ drug trafficking organization. Ceaser testified that between 2015 and 2018, she used her secured access at the Henry Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix to smuggled approximately six kilograms of cocaine per week onboard commercial aircrafts destined for the continental United States. Ceaser further testified that she recruited couriers, including Ortiz, because Kai James wanted to increase the number of bricks of cocaine being smuggled through the airport. Trial evidence further revealed that, during the course of the conspiracy, Ivan James and Kai James caused several hundred kilograms of cocaine to be smuggled to the mainland utilizing the operation at the airport.
Cooperating witness, Robert Brown, a member of a rival racketeering enterprise led by Paul Girard, testified that Vivian Ford traveled from St. Croix to St. Thomas on several occasions to purchase kilogram quantities of cocaine from Keith Lewis on behalf of Ivan James and Kai James. Brown further testified that Ivan James ordered members of his gang, including Jermaine Williams, to rob Brown of five kilograms of cocaine and that Brown was pistol whipped by Williams during the attack. In retaliation, Brown murdered Williams as he sat in his vehicle in the parking lot of his child’s preschool. Thereafter, in March 2016, Ivan James ordered members of his gang to murder Brown in retaliation for Williams’ murder. On March 14, 2016, Brown and another individual were ambushed by at least three gunmen as their vehicle exited the Good Hope community. Both occupants sustained multiple gunshot wounds but survived the attacked. Brown pled guilty to Williams’ murder and faces a sentence of life imprisonment on his conviction.
On May 25, 2017, one day after Joh Williams was released from Golden Grove correctional Facility, Virgin Islands Police officers responded to a shooting at D. Hamilton Jackson Terrace, where they found an unresponsive adult male, later identified as Levar Pogson, a rival gang member. An eyewitness testified at trial that Ivan James, Joh Williams, and an individual identified as “Fire” approached the playground at D. Hamilton Jackson Terrace and that James and Williams were armed with a handgun and a rifle. The witness testified that James and Williams stood over Pogson’s body and fired more than 50 times. A medical examiner testified that Pogson sustained 78 gunshots wounds to his head, neck, torso and extremities.
Testimony at trial further revealed that on July 14, 2017, federal agents conducted a marijuana eradication operation at James’ LaGrange Compound in St. Croix after discovering six marijuana grow sites on the property. At trial, the government introduced a social media posting made on July 14, 2017, by Ivan James as he confronted law enforcement during the marijuana eradication. In the video, James called the agents “thieves” and stated they “gone with a thousand.” The official count of the marijuana plants seized from the James compound was 1,005. Thereafter, on August 3, 2017, federal agents executed a search warrant on James’ LaGrange compound where they seized a loaded Glock 22 .40 firearm, a loaded .223 caliber Olympic arms AR-15 rifle with two magazines attached, two loaded .40 caliber pistols, and an AK-47 rifle. Forensic analysis later revealed that Ivan James’ DNA was found on the Glock 22 pistol and the Olympic Arms AR-15 rifle. Ballistic testing further revealed that the shell casings collected from Pogson’s homicide crime scene on May 25, 2017, matched the casings fired from the Glock 22 pistol and Olympic Arms AR-15 rifle seized from James’ compound on August 3, 2017.
A federal jury found Ivan James guilty on drug conspiracy, possession of 1,000 marijuana plants, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug conspiracy and possession of firearms resulting in the death of Legar Pogson. On his conviction, Judge Kearney sentenced James to 420 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Joh Williams was also found guilty on drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 90 months of imprisonment, followed by seven years of supervised release. Ariel Petersen, and Jahkiebo Joseph pleaded guilty to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug conspiracy and importation of firearms. Petersen was sentenced to 93 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and Joseph was sentenced to 68 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Malachi Benjamin pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Tillisa Ceaser and Luis Ortiz, Jr. both pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. Williams was acquitted on the firearm possession resulting in Pogson’s death and James and Williams were acquitted on the local charge of first-degree murder. The trial of Kai James is scheduled for January 22, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Patrol, Virgin Islands Police Department and the Bureau of Corrections and was prosecuted by United States Attorney Delia Smith and Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Payne and Adam Sleeper. The investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Fourteen North Korean Nationals Indicted for Carrying Out Multi-Year Fraudulent Information Technology Worker Scheme and Related ExtortionsRead the Press Release
Note: View the indictment here and FBI Wanted Posters here.
A federal court in St. Louis, Missouri, yesterday indicted 14 nationals of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK or North Korea) with long-running conspiracies to violate U.S. sanctions and to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Specifically, the conspirators, who worked for DPRK-controlled companies Yanbian Silverstar and Volasys Silverstar, located in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation (Russia), respectively, conspired to use false, stolen, and borrowed identities of U.S. and other persons to conceal their North Korean identities and foreign locations and obtain employment as remote information technology (IT) workers for U.S. companies and nonprofit organizations.
The conspirators, some of whom were ordered by their superiors to earn at least $10,000 per month, generated at least $88 million throughout the approximately six-year conspiracy. In multiple instances, the conspirators supplemented their employment earnings by stealing sensitive company information, such as proprietary source code, and then threatening to leak such information unless the employer made an extortion payment. Ultimately, the conspirators used the U.S. and PRC financial systems to remit the proceeds of their activity to accounts in the PRC for the ultimate benefit of the DPRK government.
“To prop up its brutal regime, the North Korean government directs IT workers to gain employment through fraud, steal sensitive information from U.S. companies, and siphon money back to the DPRK,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “This indictment of 14 North Korean nationals exposes their alleged sanctions evasion and should serve as a warning to companies around the globe — be on alert for this malicious activity by the DPRK regime.”
“Yesterday’s indictment is the latest in a series of actions under a National Security Division initiative launched earlier this year to disrupt North Korea’s efforts to generate revenue by duping American companies into hiring its citizens for remote work,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s for National Security Division. “This indictment and associated disruptions highlight the cybersecurity dangers associated with this threat, including theft of sensitive business information for the purposes of extortion.”
“The fourteen conspirators indicted yesterday victimized companies across the United States, as well as many Americans whose identities they stole, to generate revenue for the North Korean regime,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to expose and mitigate these fraudulent IT schemes and provide unwavering support to victims of North Korean cyber actors.”
“North Korean IT workers pose a sophisticated and persistent threat, especially to businesses seeking to employ large numbers of contract workers quickly,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming for the Eastern District of Missouri. “North Korean IT workers continue to find ways to evade detection, so businesses need to closely vet employees to avoid having their sensitive data stolen and unwittingly funding North Korea’s government.”
“While we have disrupted this group and identified its leadership, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The government of North Korea has trained and deployed thousands of IT workers to perpetrate this same scheme against U.S. companies every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley T. Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Field Office. “Protect your business by thoroughly vetting fully remote IT workers. One of the ways to help minimize your risk is to insist current and future IT workers appear on camera as often as possible if they are fully remote.”
Today’s charges are the most recent step in an ongoing, two-year Department effort to disrupt this specific group of conspirators, one of multiple such DPRK groups attempting to generate revenue for the DPRK government through such schemes. Prior Department actions against this group include: (i) a January court authorized seizure of approximately $320,000 (unsealed today); (ii) a July court authorized seizure of approximately $444,800 (unsealed today); (iii) previously announced October 2022 and January 2023 court-authorized seizures of approximately $1.5 million; and (iv) previously announced October 2023 and May 2024 court-authorized seizures of 29 internet domains used by the same group to increase the bona fides and appeal of their assumed identities to prospective employers.
In addition to these actions, the State Department announced today a reward offer of up to $5 million for information on these companies, the individuals identified, their illicit activities, and/or those of associated individuals and entities. The identified individuals are: Jong Song Hwa (정성화), Ri Kyong Sik (리경식), Kim Ryu Song (김류성), Rim Un Chol (림은철), Kim Mu Rim (김무림), Cho Chung Pom (조충범), Hyon Chol Song (현철성), Son Un Chol (손은철), Sok Kwang Hyok (석광혁), Choe Jong Yong (최정용), Ko Chung Sok (고충석), Kim Ye Won (김예원), Jong Kyong Chol (정경철), and Jang Chol Myong (장철명). The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program has a standing rewards program for information that leads to the disruption of financial mechanisms of persons engaged in certain activities that support the North Korean government, including work by highly skilled North Korean nationals sent abroad whose income generates funds for the DPRK regime.
The DPRK has dispatched thousands of skilled IT workers around the world, earning revenue that contributes to the North Korean regime with the aim of deceiving U.S. and other businesses worldwide into hiring them as remote IT workers to generate revenue in violation of U.S. and U.N. sanctions. DPRK IT worker schemes involve the use of pseudonymous email, social media, payment platform and online job site accounts, as well as false websites, proxy computers, virtual private networks, virtual private servers and unwitting third parties located in the United States and elsewhere. As described in a May 2022 tri-seal public service advisory released by the FBI and its partners, which was updated in October 2023, such IT workers can individually earn up to $300,000 annually, generating hundreds of millions of dollars collectively each year, on behalf of designated entities, such as the North Korean Ministry of Defense and others directly involved in the DPRK’s UN-prohibited weapons of mass destruction programs.
The indictment alleges that the 14 conspirators worked for sanctioned North Korean-controlled companies Yanbian Silverstar and Volasys Silverstar in capacities ranging from senior company leaders to IT workers. These two organizations collectively employed at least 130 North Korean IT workers — referred to within these organizations as “IT Warriors.” As alleged in the indictment, Yanbian Silverstar and Volasys Silverstar organized periodic “socialism competitions” for their employees. During these competitions, IT workers would compete to generate money for the DPRK. Bonuses and other prizes were awarded to the top performers during these competitions. As part of their scheme, North Korean IT workers obtained salaried employment at numerous U.S.-based companies and nonprofit organizations. In some instances, U.S. employers unwittingly employed North Korean IT workers for years and paid them hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary.
The conspirators used many techniques to conceal their North Korean identities from employers. These included using stolen identities belonging to U.S. persons and others to apply for jobs; paying U.S. persons to attend job interviews and work meetings remotely under fake identities; and registering web domains and designing phony websites to convince prospective employers that the false identities were experienced, qualified, and previously employed by reputable contracting firms. As described in court documents, these websites contained indicia that should have aroused suspicion about their bona fides. For example, some of the physical addresses listed on the websites were home addresses, not office buildings; contact telephone numbers listed on the fake companies’ websites did not correspond to area codes of business locations; and the websites’ content included disjointed or nonsensical phrases, such as, “Nor, moreover, is there anyone who loves pain because it is pain, pursues it, wants to gain it, but.”
The conspirators also sought to avoid detection by paying U.S. persons to receive, set up, and host laptops sent from employers to the U.S. persons’ home addresses (often referred to as laptop farms). After these laptops were set up, the conspirators instructed the U.S. persons to install software that allowed them to access the laptops from overseas. By arranging to have laptops physically located in the United States, conspirators made it appear as if the fake U.S.-based employees were accessing laptops to do work, when in fact the IT workers were located outside the United States.
In some instances, the conspirators leveraged their access to proprietary corporate information to extort their U.S.-based employers for additional payments. These threats were not empty — IT workers would at times publish the business’s information online if they were not paid. One employer, for example, sustained hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages after it refused the extortion demand of a conspirator who then publicly released the employer’s proprietary information.
All 14 conspirators are charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to commit identity theft. Eight conspirators are charged with aggravated identity theft. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum statutory penalty of 27 years in prison.
The FBI St. Louis Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Cyber Division.
Trial Attorneys Jacques Singer-Emery and Alexandra Cooper-Ponte of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Drake for the Eastern District of Missouri are prosecuting the case. Substantial assistance was also provided Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman for the Eastern District of Missouri.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Fort Wayne Woman Sentenced to 50 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE–Dora T. Boyd, 33 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Boyd was sentenced to 50 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release and was also ordered to pay $166,292.00 in restitution to the victim of the offense.
The United States Congress had passed legislation establishing the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or ERAP, which made funding available to assist households and individuals unable to pay their rent or utilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. These federal funds were provided to state and local governments for administration of the program. From March through November 2021, Boyd engaged in a scheme to defraud the City of Fort Wayne by submitting false applications for ERAP payments to which she was not entitled.
Boyd used a purported charitable organization to file at least 30 fraudulent ERAP applications. She falsely claimed to be the landlord for numerous tenants residing in the Fort Wayne area when there was no actual landlord/tenant relationship. In these applications, she included fake leases and fake tax documents. Although she attempted to steal over $400,000 in assistance money, she received $166,292.00, and she has been ordered to pay back this money as restitution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General for the United States Department of Treasury, and the City of Fort Wayne Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller.
Fort Myers Felon Sentenced for Possessing A Loaded Firearm During A Traffic StopRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Marquis Lamar Kitchen (38, Fort Myers) to two years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Kitchen to forfeit a firearm and ammunition, which were possessed during the offense. Kitchen pleaded guilty on September 18, 2024.
According to court documents, on March 21, 2024, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle after observing it moving side to side. The vehicle slow rolled for a few blocks before coming to a stop. Officers gave loud commands for the driver to roll down all off the vehicle’s windows. An officer watched a male jump from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat, and a female jump from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat. When officers asked the occupants to get out of the vehicle, they found Kitchen in the passenger seat.
As the occupants were exiting the vehicle, an officer spotted a pistol on the driver’s side floorboard protruding from underneath the driver’s seat. DNA analysis linked Kitchen to the trigger, rough areas, and loading port of the pistol. At the time, Kitchen was a previously convicted felon making him prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Fort Dodge Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy ConvictionRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on December 12, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Amanda Johnson, f/k/a Amanda Adams, 35, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on July 31, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. In 2020, Johnson was convicted in federal court of the same conduct - conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting another in the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, for which she was on supervised release during her commission of this offense.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings, showed Johnson’s involvement in a conspiracy that distributed more than 1500 grams of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge area for six months in 2023. On November 15, 2023, Johnson and another distributed about ¼ pound methamphetamine in a controlled drug purchase transaction in Waterloo, Iowa. On December 4, 2023, Johnson distributed approximately 2 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover agent, after making an agreement to distribute ¼ pound methamphetamine in a controlled drug purchase and then fled the scene.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Johnson was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of eight years of supervised release following the imprisonment. Johnson was also sentenced to an additional 24 months’ imprisonment, consecutive to her sentence in this case, for revocation of her supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Johnson remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, Fort Dodge Iowa Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and the Waterloo, Iowa, based Tri-County Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3005. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Former airman sentenced to federal prison for possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A former U.S. Air Force airman has been sentenced to federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse images.
Jacob Christian Butler, 33, of Augusta, was sentenced to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Butler to register as a sex offender and to serve 15 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Possessing child pornography perpetuates the victimization of child sexual abuse survivors,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to protect our most vulnerable citizens.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Butler was a U.S. Air Force Airman First Class assigned to Fort Eisenhower with a high level of security clearance. A security system at a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) detected a prohibited cellular device in Butler’s possession when he entered the facility, and security personnel seized the phone.
Investigators searched the device and found multiple images of child sexual abuse. Additional devices containing hundreds of similar images and videos later were found during a search of Butler’s residence.
While Judge Hall determined restitution is owed to victims identified in the images, he agreed to delay the final determination of restitution pending further investigation.
“This prosecution is another example of law enforcement working together to protect our children,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Ozden. “FBI Atlanta will continue to pursue predators and hold them accountable for their actions.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. Blanchard and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Counsel.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
Former Syrian Prison Official Charged with TortureRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging a former Syrian government official with torture.
The superseding indictment adds three counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture to the visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud charges that were the subject of the initial indictment against Alsheikh in August.
According to court documents, Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 72, of Lexington, South Carolina, was the head of Damascus Central Prison, colloquially known as Adra Prison, from approximately 2005 through 2008. In that role, Alsheikh allegedly ordered subordinates to inflict and was sometimes personally involved in inflicting severe physical and mental pain and suffering on political and other prisoners.
In particular, Alsheikh allegedly ordered some prisoners to Adra Prison’s “Punishment Wing,” where prisoners were beaten while suspended from the ceiling with their arms extended and were subjected to a device known as the “Flying Carpet,” which folded their bodies in half at the waist, causing excruciating pain and sometimes resulting in fractured spines.
“The allegations in this superseding indictment of grave human rights abuses are chilling,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Our country will not be a safe harbor for those accused of committing atrocities abroad.”
“Samir Alsheikh is charged with torturing political dissidents and other prisoners to deter opposition to the regime of then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Alsheikh later allegedly lied about his crimes to obtain a U.S. green card. The victims of such violent treatment continue to suffer long after the physical acts of torture have ceased. The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting perpetrators of such crimes and will not allow them, through lies and concealment, to hide in the United States.”
Alsheikh allegedly held a variety of positions in the Syrian police and the Syrian state security apparatus, was associated with the Syrian Ba’ath Party that ruled Syria, and was appointed governor of the province of Deir Ez-Zour by then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011. The superseding indictment alleges that Alsheikh immigrated to the United States in 2020 and applied for U.S. citizenship in 2023.
“When it comes to pursuing our criminal investigations, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has a long reach and an even longer memory,” said Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang of the HSI Los Angeles Field office. “Almost 20 years ago, the defendant was accused of torturing prisoners in Syria and, today, we are one step closer to holding him accountable for those heinous crimes. The United States will never be a safe haven for those who commit human rights abuses abroad.”
“The allegations in this superseding indictment reveal unconscionable crimes and a clear violation of human rights,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners across the globe to uncover the truth and ensure those who engage in unlawful and inhumane criminal activity face the full consequences of their actions.”
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Alsheikh faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit torture charge, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the three torture charges, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each of the two immigration fraud charges.
HSI and the FBI are investigating the case, with support from the HSI-led Human Rights Violators and War Criminals Center and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The Justice Department thanks the Swedish Police Authority; Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing, Pacific Region; and authorities in Belgium for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua O. Mausner of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Patrick Jasperse and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case. HRSP historian Phil Hoffman provided substantial assistance in the investigation and prosecution.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or complete the FBI online tip form or the ICE online tip form.
Former Syrian Prison Official Charged with TortureRead the Press Release
Note: View a copy of the superseding indictment here.
A federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned a superseding indictment today charging a former Syrian government official with torture.
According to court documents, Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 72, of Lexington, South Carolina, was the head of Damascus Central Prison, colloquially known as Adra Prison, from approximately 2005 through 2008. In that role, Alsheikh allegedly ordered subordinates to inflict and was sometimes personally involved in inflicting severe physical and mental pain and suffering on political and other prisoners. In particular, Alsheikh allegedly ordered some prisoners to Adra Prison’s “Punishment Wing,” where prisoners were beaten while suspended from the ceiling with their arms extended and were subjected to a device known as the “Flying Carpet,” which folded their bodies in half at the waist, causing excruciating pain and sometimes resulting in fractured spines.
“Samir Alsheikh is charged with torturing political dissidents and other prisoners to deter opposition to the regime of then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Alsheikh later allegedly lied about his crimes to obtain a U.S. green card. The victims of such violent treatment continue to suffer long after the physical acts of torture have ceased. The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting perpetrators of such crimes and will not allow them, through lies and concealment, to hide in the United States.”
“The allegations in this superseding indictment of grave human rights abuses are chilling,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Our country will not be a safe harbor for those accused of committing atrocities abroad.”
Alsheikh allegedly held a variety of positions in the Syrian police and the Syrian state security apparatus, was associated with the Syrian Ba’ath Party that ruled Syria, and was appointed governor of the province of Deir Ez-Zour by then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011. The superseding indictment alleges that Alsheikh immigrated to the United States in 2020 and applied for U.S. citizenship in 2023.
“When it comes to pursuing our criminal investigations, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has a long reach and an even longer memory,” said Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang of the HSI Los Angeles Field office. “The defendant is accused of torturing prisoners in Syria almost 20 years ago, and today, we are one step closer to holding him accountable for those heinous crimes. The United States will never be a safe haven for those who commit human rights abuses abroad.”
“The allegations in this superseding indictment reveal unconscionable crimes and a clear violation of human rights,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners across the globe to uncover the truth and ensure those who engage in unlawful and inhumane criminal activity face the full consequences of their actions.”
The superseding indictment adds three counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture to the visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud charges that were the subject of the initial indictment against Alsheikh in August. If convicted, Alsheikh faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit torture charge, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the three torture charges, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each of the two immigration fraud charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI and the FBI are investigating the case, with support from the HSI-led Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The Justice Department thanks the Swedish Police Authority; Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing, Pacific Region; and authorities in Belgium for their invaluable assistance.
Trial Attorneys Patrick Jasperse and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua O. Mausner for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case. HRSP historian Phil Hoffman provided substantial assistance in the investigation and prosecution.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or complete the FBI online tip form or the ICE online tip form.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Palmetto Railways CEO Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. —Jeffrey McWhorter, 63, of Awendaw, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, which was committed during his time as President and CEO of Palmetto Railways.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that McWhorter introduced a known co- conspirator, referred to as T.B., to a company headquartered in Texas. T.B. hoped that McWhorter’s introduction would facilitate him being awarded a contract for work in the Charleston area by the Texas company.
Prior to the contract being awarded to the Texas Company, McWhorter, TB, and an employee of the Texas company (Employee 1), had meetings and discussions about T.B. paying McWhorter and Employee 1 if his company was awarded the contract.
McWhorter and his known coconspirators further agreed that T.B. would send money to a to Employee 1, and evidence revealed that TB did in fact wire the money to a bank account was in Employee 1’s wife’s business name. The agreement was that Employee 1 would then pay McWhorter his portion in cash.
Throughout the course of the conspiracy, the evidence revealed that the payment McWhorter and Employee 1 were receiving caused, or could have caused, economic harm to the Texas company.
T.B. ultimately wired at least $400,000 to Employee 1 in Texas and McWhorter received at least $90,000 of this in cash.
McWhorter faces a maximum penalty of five in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge David C. Norton accepted the guilty plea and will sentence McWhorter after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.
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Former Memphis Law Firm Office Manager Indicted for Embezzling over $1.2 Million DollarsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee recently returned an indictment charging a Memphis resident, Catherine Corrine Daly, 54, with embezzlement from a local law firm. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.
According to the indictment in the case, Daly was employed by a local law firm as its office manager. As office manager, she had access to the firm’s bank accounts, including the firm’s operating account, which was used to pay the firm’s operating expenses. The operating account was both opened and located at a Memphis branch of what was then known as SunTrust Bank.
Daly had two American Express (AmEx) charge accounts in her name with a total of five AmEx charge cards issued through the two accounts to Daly and two of her relatives. The cards were used to purchase various goods and services such as clothing, shoes, designer handbags, and jewelry; fixtures and furnishings for Daly’s residence; food purchased at restaurants; personal services at nail and beauty salons; and travel expenses.
As these charges were made, Daly is alleged to have used the money in the firm’s operating account to pay the amounts due on her personal AmEx charge accounts. She conducted the embezzlement scheme from June 2019 until October 2021, allegedly making multiple payments on her personal AmEx bills directly from the law firm’s operating account. Using this method, Daly embezzled and converted $1,289,085.00 of the law firm’s funds to her own use.
Daly is charged with six counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314. This statute makes it a crime to transfer money in interstate commerce that has been “stolen, converted or taken by fraud.” Each count of the indictment is punishable by a term of up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of no more than $250,000.00, or both, as well as a term of court-supervised release of no more than three years.
The United States Secret Service is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joe Murphy for the Western District of Tennessee is 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.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Former Kentucky Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A former Manchester Police Department officer, Shawn Curry, 36, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 18 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for deprivation of rights under color of law.
According to his plea agreement, on September 3, 2021, Curry was on duty and acting as a police officer with the Manchester Police Department. He and other officers were made aware of a 911 call from a pool hall outside the Manchester city limits, indicating that someone was fighting the owner of the pool hall and would not leave. Curry and two other officers arrived at the pool hall and encountered the owner, who was holding a pool stick, and the victim, who was fighting with the owner. The owner ran away from Curry, who then tased him in the back and used force on him.
After his use of force on the owner, Curry went into an adjoining room, where other officers were attempting to arrest the victim. Instead of attempting to place handcuffs on the victim, Curry grabbed the victim’s hair and delivered five blows to his head and face. Curry admitted to knowing from his training and experience that this use of force was unreasonable and unlawful, but he used the unlawful force anyway.
When interviewed later, Curry knowingly lied to law enforcement, falsely telling them that he hit the victim in the shoulder and claiming he only made incidental contact with the victim’s face once, by accident. Curry also omitted any mention of his use of force on the owner of the pool hall or the victim in his incident report and use of force memorandum, even though he knew he was required to report them.
Under federal law, Curry must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for two years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo and Trial Attorney Tara Allison from the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Former Hulbert Schools Treasurer Sentenced for Theft of Federal Education FundsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leslie Shannon Mack, age 54, of Hulbert, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a term of 12 months and one day imprisonment for one count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds. As part of the sentence, the Court ordered Mack to pay $372,808.09 in restitution.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Education – Office of Inspector General.
On February 1, 2023, Mack pleaded guilty. According to investigators, from June 2019 until October 26, 2021, while Treasurer of Hulbert Public Schools, Mack issued herself and another individual excessive payroll payments above and beyond their district-authorized salaries. Mack also allowed another individual access to the financial accounting system. Their combined actions resulted in an ultimate loss to the Hulbert Public School District exceeding half a million dollars.
“The OSBI appreciates the great work conducted by all our law enforcement partners who assisted with this investigation,” said Hunter McKee, Public Information Manager for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. “Providing justice to the victims impacted by this case is vital to our agency.”
“I’m proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners for holding Ms. Mack accountable for her criminal actions,” said Edd Cole, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Central Regional Office. “This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who intentionally steals or misappropriates Federal education funds: you will be caught and held accountable for your unlawful actions.”
“As Treasurer, the defendant was entrusted with the obligation to ensure that taxpayer funds were utilized to provide students a quality education. Mack’s scheme to defraud the school district of thousands of dollars broke faith with students, fellow employees, and the public,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I commend the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Education-OIG for their stellar investigative work in bringing the defendant to justice.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Mack was instructed to self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility by January 10, 2025, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kara Traster and Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Former Hoboken Director of Health and Human Services Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement, Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Pantaleo “Leo” Pellegrini, the former Hoboken Director of Health and Human Services and Director of the Department of Environmental Services, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court to an information charging him with embezzling money from the City of Hoboken and filing a false tax return.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
While working for the City of Hoboken, Pellegrini embezzled money from the City of Hoboken by diverting payments intended for the City of Hoboken to bank accounts he controlled. Pellegrini also embezzled money from the City of Hoboken by submitting invoices for his personal business expenses, which City of Hoboken unknowingly paid. Additionally, Pellegrini did not report the embezzled money on his personal tax returns, and thereby made and subscribed a false personal tax return.
Pellegrini had oversight over the City of Hoboken’s Division of Cultural Affairs’ Division of Health; Division of Parks, Recreation & Public Works; Division of Rent Leveling and Stabilization; and Division of Senior Services. He therefore had oversight responsibilities related to certain public recreational facilities, including soccer fields that could be reserved by both Hoboken and non-Hoboken residents for a fee paid to the City of Hoboken. Through this arrangement, the City of Hoboken Department of Parks, Recreation & Public Works sponsored a non-profit recreation soccer league open to all Hoboken residents aged 5 to 13 (the “Youth Soccer League”), which was funded by the City of Hoboken and participant fees. Also during the charged time period, an adult soccer league open to Hoboken and non-Hoboken residents (the “Adult Soccer League”) was in operation, which was funded from participant fees.
Pellegrini developed a scheme to divert the Adult Soccer League’s participant fee payments intended for the City of Hoboken to a business account on which he was a signatory (the “Pellegrini Soccer Business Account”) and which was registered to a soccer-related entity linked to him (the “Pellegrini Soccer Business Entity”). At various times, Pellegrini told an individual who operated the Adult Soccer League–“Individual-1”—to sign checks for the rental of public recreation facilities but leave the payee blank for Pellegrini to fill in later. Pellegrini later filled in the name of the Pellegrini Soccer Business Entity and deposited the checks into the Pellegrini Soccer Business Account, without the knowledge of Individual-1.
During the relevant time period, Pellegrini was also the Owner and President of a private travel soccer club that was open to Hoboken residents and non-Hoboken residents (the “Pellegrini Private Soccer Club”). Pellegrini also submitted or caused the submission to the City of Hoboken invoices associated with the Pellegrini Private Soccer Club, which Pellegrini falsely or fraudulently represented to the City of Hoboken as invoices eligible for reimbursement by the City of Hoboken. As a result, the City of Hoboken—at Pellegrini’s direction—unknowingly paid tens of thousands of dollars to the Pellegrini Private Soccer Club’s vendors for the Pellegrini Private Soccer Club’s expenses, and also unknowingly paid tens of thousands of dollars directly to Pellegrini through the Pellegrini Private Soccer Club.
Pellegrini intentionally did not disclose and report the income from the above-described embezzlement scheme, thereby causing his tax returns to understate a substantial amount of the income he received.
The count of embezzlement carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. The count of filing a false tax return carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. McCarren and Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.
pellegrini.information.pdf
Former Cruise Line Employee Guilty of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on December 10, 2024, PANKAJ SINGH BOHRA (“BOHRA”), age 35, a foreign national of the Republic of India, pled guilty on December 10, 2024 to Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). BOHRA faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release of up to life, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
According to court documents, BOHRA was previously employed by Carnival Cruise Lines and was arrested in July 2024 after special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, found BOHRA in possession of child pornography at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal in New Orleans.
Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for March 11, 2025 before United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Former California Man Sentenced for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
A former California resident was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for conspiring to file false claims against the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2016 to 2020, Richard Jason Mountford, now of Las Vegas, conspired with another person to submit false individual income tax returns seeking refunds to which they were not entitled. Mountford and his co-conspirator filed false income tax returns in their own names, as well as in the names of two other unwitting individuals, that falsely reported they received wages from which taxes were withheld, and then claimed a refund based on those withholdings. Most of the returns filed as part of the scheme also falsely reported the payment of alimony to increase the refund amount.
As a result of his criminal conduct, Mountford and his co-conspirator received $873,723.53 from the IRS. Mountford deposited $757,075.53 of those funds into his own bank accounts and subsequently purchased nearly $360,000 worth of new cars. Mountford also distributed about $170,000 in cash and gold bars to his co‑conspirator as compensation for his role in the scheme.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley for the Eastern District of California ordered Mountford to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $757,075.53 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys John C. Gerardi and Charles A. O’Reilly of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma for the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case.
Former California Man Sentenced for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Richard Jason Mountford, formerly of Monterey County and now of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced today by U.S. Chief District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 27 months in prison for conspiring to file false claims against the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California made the announcement.
“Tax fraud schemes like the defendant’s cost the government millions of dollars a year and can lead to substantial prison time,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with IRS Criminal Investigation and other law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute tax fraud.”
“Richard Mountford is a serial tax cheat who repeatedly schemed to steal from American taxpayers, including two people whose identities he used to file fraudulent tax returns, to the sum of nearly $875,000 in refunds,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “People like Mr. Mountford undermine the tax system and place additional burden on honest taxpayers, and IRS-CI will remain ever-vigilant to ensure people like him face justice.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2016 to 2020, Mountford conspired with another person to submit false individual income tax returns seeking refunds to which they were not entitled. Mountford and his co-conspirator filed false income tax returns in their own names, as well as in the names of two other unwitting individuals, that falsely reported they received wages from a bogus employer from which taxes were withheld and then claimed a refund based on those withholdings. Most of the returns filed as part of the scheme also falsely reported alimony payments to increase the refund amount.
As a result of his criminal conduct, Mountford and his co-conspirator received $873,723.53 from the IRS. Mountford deposited $757,075.53 of those funds into his own bank accounts and subsequently purchased nearly $360,000 worth of new cars. Mountford also distributed about $170,000 in cash and gold bars to his co‑conspirator, as compensation for his role in the scheme.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Nunley ordered Mountford to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $757,075.53 in restitution to the United States.
This case was the product of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation. Trial Attorneys John C. Gerardi and Charles A. O’Reilly of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma prosecuted the case.
Final men convicted in brutal human smuggling schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Efrain Rodriguez-Mendoza is last of six to be convicted as part of the scheme that resulted in the death of two people. Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez, 52, a citizen of El Salvador illegally residing in Houston, entered his plea Dec. 9.
“These defendants violated the trust of victims when they agreed to transport them to a safe place in the United States,” said Hamdani. “Instead, they brutalized them and beat them to death, all because they could not pay to be released. These violent criminals will no longer be able to prey on victims and their families.”
“In my 29 years working in law enforcement, I’ve unfortunately had to witness some unspeakable horrors, but what these men did to these migrants is pure evil and among the most reprehensible and vile criminal actions I’ve ever encountered,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Thanks to the dedicated special agents and law enforcement officers who tirelessly worked to uncover their identities and connect them to these crimes, they will be held accountable for their actions, but I plead with anyone thinking of relying on human smugglers to illegally enter the United States to stop and think about the potential consequences. Not only are you jeopardizing your ability to ever obtain legal status in the country, you’re putting your life in the hands of merciless transnational criminal organizations that routinely assault, kidnap and even murder the people they are paid to supposedly help.”
Between Nov. 6-17, 2006, Rodriguez-Mendoza and Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez engaged in a scheme together and with others to harbor illegal aliens in Houston. They would then transport them to locations within Texas and throughout the United States for the purpose of financial gain.
Duran-Gomez operated a warehouse business in Houston where conspirators held illegal aliens until they paid their smuggling fees or had transportation arranged. While held there, they were placed in two groups - paid and unpaid. Those in the unpaid group were beaten and accused of trying to escape the warehouse. They were also not given food or water or even allowed to use the restroom. Some were naked and had their hands bound.
Conspirators would call their families to demand payment of smuggling fees. They said the aliens were being beaten and would be killed if their fees were not paid.
Two of those in the unpaid group were subjected to the most brutal of the beatings and died as a result of days of assaults. Following the deaths, Rodriguez-Mendoza, Duran-Gomez and Jose Bolanos wrapped the two victims with blankets, loaded them onto a truck and dosed the bodies with gasoline. They drove to a field in Fort Bend County and attempted to set the truck on fire, but failed. They left the truck in the field with the victims’ bodies inside the vehicle.
Authorities located the victims approximately Nov. 16, 2006.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the pleas and set sentencing for March 2025. At that time, they face up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Both men have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Jenkins Stotts and Lisa M. Collins prosecuted the case.
Final men convicted in brutal human smuggling schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Efrain Rodriguez-Mendoza is last of six to be convicted as part of the scheme that resulted in the death of two people. Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez, 52, a citizen of El Salvador illegally residing in Houston entered his plea Dec. 9.
“These defendants violated the trust of victims when they agreed to transport them to a safe place in the United States,” said Hamdani. “Instead, they brutalized them and beat them to death, all because they could not pay to be released. These violent criminals will no longer be able to prey on victims and their families.”
“In my 29 years working in law enforcement, I’ve unfortunately had to witness some unspeakable horrors, but what these men did to these migrants is pure evil and among the most reprehensible and vile criminal actions I’ve ever encountered,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Thanks to the dedicated special agents and law enforcement officers who tirelessly worked to uncover their identities and connect them to these crimes, they will be held accountable for their actions, but I plead with anyone thinking of relying on human smugglers to illegally enter the U.S. to stop and think about the potential consequences. Not only are you jeopardizing your ability to ever obtain legal status in the country, you’re putting your life in the hands of merciless transnational criminal organizations that routinely assault, kidnap and even murder the people they are paid to supposedly help.”
Between Nov. 6-17, 2006, Rodriguez-Mendoza and Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez engaged in a scheme together and with others to harbor illegal aliens in Houston. They would then transport them to locations within Texas and throughout the United States for the purpose of financial gain.
Duran-Gomez operated a warehouse business in Houston where conspirators held illegal aliens until they paid their smuggling fees or had transportation arranged. While held there, they were placed in two groups - paid and unpaid. Those in the unpaid group were beaten and accused of trying to escape the warehouse. They were also not given food or water or even allowed to use the restroom. Some were naked and had their hands bound.
Conspirators would call their families to demand payment of smuggling fees. They said the aliens were being beaten and would be killed if their fees were not paid.
Two of those in the unpaid group were subjected to the most brutal of the beatings and died as a result of days of assaults. Following the deaths, Rodriguez Mendoza, Duran Gomez and Jose Bolanos wrapped the two victims with blankets, loaded them onto a truck and dosed the bodies with gasoline. They drove to a field in Fort Bend County and attempted to set the truck on fire, but failed. They left the truck in the field with the victims’ bodies inside the vehicle.
Authorities located the victims approximately Nov. 16, 2006.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the pleas and set sentencing for March 2025. At that time, they face up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Both men have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Jenkins Stotts and Lisa M. Collins prosecuted the case.
Federal and Local Law Enforcement Agencies Conduct Round-Up of Defendants from Concordia Parish Indicted on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown, along with Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Percy Giles, III, and Concordia Parish Sheriff David Hedrick, held a press conference today to announce that 13 individuals have been arrested on federal charges following an investigation into drug trafficking activities in the Concordia and Rapides Parish area.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI and local law enforcement officers with the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office. The indictment alleges that these 13 individuals conspired together to distribute and possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The defendants named in the indictment and their charges are as follows:
Defendant NameChargesHenry M. Jefferson, Sr.
Age 47
Katy, Texas
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
- Jefferson, Sr., who has a prior federal drug trafficking conviction, is also charged with a sentencing enhancement based on his criminal history
Henry M. Jefferson, Jr.
Age 30
Katy, Texas
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
- Distribution of methamphetamine – one count
Michael Thompson
Age 26
Ferriday, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
Tommy L. Piercefield
Age 45
Ferriday, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
Tony L. Bethley
Age 28
Ferriday, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
Terrell Harbor
Age 43
Ferriday, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
Zamarion Rosenthal
Age 30
Ferriday, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
Ramon Martin
Age 30
Ferriday, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
Donteale Carter
Age 27
Ferriday, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
- Carter, who has a prior state manslaughter conviction, is also charged with a sentencing enhancement based on his criminal history
Selena Walker
Age 48
Vidalia, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
Gerald White
Age 50
Ridgecrest, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
Bradley Welch
Age 38
Ridgecrest, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
Jamari Randall
Age 25
Vidalia, LA
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count
These defendants have all been arrested and will be arraigned in federal court, with the exception of Zamarion Demon Rosenthal who remains a fugitive. If you know the whereabouts of Rosenthal, notify the FBI, Louisiana State Police, or Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office.
“Our local communities suffer greatly when the trafficking of drugs takes place there, wreaking havoc on individuals who live and work in those communities,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “It is our duty as law enforcement agencies to work diligently together to try and put a stop to these drugs entering our communities. The indictment of these 13 individuals is the result of a long-term investigation that could not have happened without the cooperation and support of local, state and federal law enforcement. This is an ongoing investigation, and we are committed to continuing our joint efforts to keep these drugs off of our streets.”
“In this case, thirteen is a very lucky number for the communities impacted by the individuals named in this indictment," said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "The FBI will continue to work with its strong partners in Concordia Parish and the U.S. Attorney's Office to drive those who deal in illicit drugs and their associated violence out of our neighborhoods.”
“We will continue to work diligently to remove those dealing drugs from our parish. Their actions negatively impact our youth, our families and our communities and we will not look the other way and allow this activity to occur,” said Concordia Parish Sheriff David Hedrick. “I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, Louisiana State Police, and the CPSO Narcotics Unit for their relentless efforts during this two-year endeavor.”
If convicted, Henry M. Jefferson, Sr. and Donteale Carter each face a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. The remaining 11 defendants each face a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, if convicted.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, Louisiana State Police, and Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog.
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Federal Jury Convicts Man of Enticement to Meet A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Jordan Franklin Trexler (30, Casselberry) guilty of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and two counts of production of child sexual abuse material. Trexler faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 12, 2025.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Trexler groomed the minor victim to engage in sexual activity when she was 14 years old and reached out to her via social media and offered her marijuana. After they met in person, Trexler got the victim heavily intoxicated then sexually abused her. Over the course of approximately two weeks, Trexler and the victim exchanged messages on a social media application discussing plans to meet and the type of sexual activity that Trexler wanted the 14-year-old to engage in with him. During that time, Trexler and the victim met nearly every night and engaged in sexual activity. During one of those nights, Trexler video recorded his sexual abuse of the victim. Additionally, Trexler produced a sexually explicit image of the victim when she was asleep and partially nude in his car.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Tampa Division - Orlando Resident Agency, the Oviedo Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kaley Austin-Aronson and Stephanie McNeff.
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.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo para proteger a los estudiantes en un distrito escolar del estado de Washington contra el acoso por motivos de sexo, raza u origen nacionalRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy un acuerdo con el Distrito Escolar de Ellensburg en el estado de Washington para resolver la investigación del departamento de las acusaciones de que los estudiantes fueron acosados y discriminados por motivos de sexo, raza, color de piel y origen nacional.
La investigación, realizada conjuntamente por la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia y la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Este de Washington, encontró que los estudiantes negros, latinos y LGBTQ+ del distrito habían sufrido acoso generalizado, incluidos burlas, intimidación, humillación, epítetos, calumnias y amenazas de muerte. Algunos estudiantes también fueron agredidos físicamente por otros estudiantes de la escuela. El hecho de que el distrito escolar no respondiera adecuadamente a pesar de su conocimiento de este acoso hizo que los estudiantes fueran vulnerables, lo que llevó a algunos a faltar a clase, abandonar las actividades escolares, evitar áreas del campus e incluso trasladarse a otra escuela o abandonarla por completo.
«Todos los estudiantes, ya sean negros, latinos o LGBTQ+, tienen derecho a asistir a la escuela sin acoso, intimidación ni amenazas de muerte», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Una escuela debe ser un lugar donde los estudiantes pueden sentirse seguros y apoyados. El departamento apoya a estos estudiantes y se asegurará de que las escuelas respondan de forma rápida y eficaz para proteger a los estudiantes si se enfrentan a acoso».
“La protección de los derechos civiles de todos los estudiantes es fundamental para garantizar un entorno de aprendizaje seguro», comentó Vanessa Waldref, la Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Este de Washington. «La Fiscalía Federal elogia al distrito escolar de Ellensburg por su plena cooperación durante toda la investigación y su compromiso a mejorar el entorno educativo para los estudiantes mediante la reforma de su respuesta ante denuncias de acoso. Este acuerdo proporcionará al distrito herramientas para prevenir y abordar el acoso y crear un entorno más saludable que apoye el aprendizaje y el desarrollo de los estudiantes».
El departamento inició la investigación en agosto del 2023 en virtud de los Títulos IV y VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 y el Título IX de las Enmiendas de Educación de 1972. El Departamento revisó los registros de los años escolares 2021-22 a 2023-24 y entrevistó a más de 100 personas, incluidos estudiantes, empleados y padres actuales y anteriores. El distrito cooperó plenamente durante la investigación.
La investigación del Departamento encontró que el distrito no tomó medidas eficaces a pesar de ser consciente de un entorno en el que los estudiantes negros, latinos y LGBTQ+ experimentaron calumnias, burlas y agresiones físicas por motivos de su raza, origen nacional y sexo. Los estudiantes negros se enfrentaron a un uso frecuente de la palabra despectiva que empieza por «N» y otros comentarios racistas por parte de sus compañeros de clase; los estudiantes latinos fueron expuestos abiertamente a epítetos como « frijolero», «mojado» y «mixed-breed» [de raza mexclada]; y los estudiantes LGBTQ+ soportaron acoso extendido, continuo y grave basado en el sexo por parte de sus compañeros, incluidos insultos de género, grafiti público e intimidación. La respuesta insuficiente del distrito permitió que el acoso continuara e incluso se intensificara, lo que negó a los estudiantes el acceso igualitario a los programas educativos del distrito.
En virtud del acuerdo de conciliación, el Distrito Escolar de Ellensburg implementará reformas críticas que incluyen:
- Contratar a un consultor externo para apoyar al distrito escolar en la implementación del acuerdo y la creación de un entorno educativo libre de discriminación para todos los estudiantes;
- Designar a un coordinador a nivel del distrito para supervisar la resolución eficaz de los informes de acoso;
- Designar a un oficial de enlace de habla hispana para las familias latinas para garantizar que el distrito escolar escuche y responda a sus quejas;
- Crear un nuevo sistema de denuncia electrónica para rastrear y gestionar todas las denuncias de acoso y las respuestas del distrito ante dichas denuncias;
- Actualizar los procedimientos y políticas para garantizar que el distrito responda de manera rápida y eficaz a todas las denuncias de acoso y proporcione servicios de apoyo adecuados a los estudiantes afectados;
- Capacitar a todo el personal y a los estudiantes sobre cómo identificar e declarar el acoso; y
- Implementar una evaluación anual del entorno a través de encuestas y sesiones de escucha con estudiantes, padres y empleados escolares para que el distrito pueda identificar y responder a las tendencias y preocupaciones de acoso en la comunidad escolar.
La aplicación de las leyes de derechos civiles para proteger a los estudiantes del acoso es una prioridad principal de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. Puede encontrar información adicional sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en www.justice.gov/crt, e información adicional sobre el trabajo de la Sección de Oportunidades Educativas está disponible en www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Los miembros del público pueden informarnos de posibles infracciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
El resumen del acuero está aquí.
Early Bitcoin Investor Sentenced for Filing Tax Returns that Falsely Reported His Cryptocurrency GainsRead the Press Release
An Austin, Texas, man was sentenced today to two years in prison for filing a tax return that falsely underreported the capital gains he earned from selling $3.7 million in bitcoins.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2017 and 2019, Frank Richard Ahlgren III, filed false tax returns that underreported or did not report the sale of $4 million worth of bitcoins in which he had substantial gains. All taxpayers are required to report any sale proceeds and gains or losses from the sale of cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin, on a tax return.
Ahlgren was an early investor in bitcoins and purchased bitcoins as early as 2011. In 2015, Ahlgren bought approximately 1,366 bitcoins using his accounts with Coinbase. The highest price bitcoins sold for that year was approximately $495.56. In October 2017, Ahlgren sold approximately 640 bitcoins trading at approximately $5,807.53 per bitcoin for a total of $3.7 million, and used the proceeds to purchase a house in Park City, Utah. Most of the bitcoins used to purchase the house came from bitcoins Ahlgren bought in 2015 using his Coinbase account. When it came time to prepare his 2017 federal income tax return, Ahlgren lied to his accountant by submitting a false summary of his gains and losses from the sale of his bitcoins. To conceal the full extent of his gain, Ahlgren claimed that he bought the bitcoins at prices much higher than he actually did — indeed, his claimed purchase prices were greater than the highest price bitcoins sold for in the market prior to the purchase of the Utah house. Ahlgren then filed a false 2017 federal income tax return that substantially inflated the cost basis of the bitcoins, thereby underreporting his true capital gain from his sale of bitcoins.
In 2018 and 2019, Ahlgren sold bitcoins for more than $650,000, and did not report these sales at all on his 2018 and 2019 tax returns. For these years, Ahlgren took several sophisticated steps to attempt to conceal his transactions on the bitcoin blockchain by moving his bitcoins through multiple wallets, meeting an individual in person to exchange bitcoins for cash, and using mixers, which are designed to conceal the individual who made the particular transaction. Indeed, in May 2014, Ahlgren had blogged about his knowledge of mixers as ways to add anonymity to bitcoin transactions. In total, the tax loss from Ahlgren’s criminal conduct was over $1 million.
“Frank Ahlgren III earned millions buying and selling bitcoins,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division “But instead of paying the taxes he knew were due, he lied to his accountant about the extent of a large portion of his gains, and sought to conceal another chunk of his profits through sophisticated techniques designed to obscure his transactions on the bitcoin blockchain. That conduct today earned him a two-year sentence.”
“Ahlgren will serve time because he believed his cryptocurrency transactions were untraceable. This case demonstrates that no one is above the law. My team at IRS Criminal Investigation has the expertise and tools to track financial activity, whether it involves dollars, pesos, or cryptocurrency,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan of IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Houston Field Office. “This case marks the first criminal tax evasion prosecution centered solely on cryptocurrency. As the prices for cryptocurrency are high, so is the temptation to not pay taxes on its sale. Avoid the temptation and avoid federal prison.”
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman for the Western District of Texas ordered Ahlgren to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $1,095,031 in restitution to the United States.
IRS-CI and the Texas Office of Attorney General are investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Michael C. Boteler and Trial Attorney Mary Frances Richardson of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Harris for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
Drug trafficker who assisted stepson with trafficking ring tied to Aryan prison gangs sentenced to over six years in prisonRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 66-year-old Tacoma man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 75 months in prison for his leadership role in a drug distribution ring tied to the white supremacist Aryan Family prison gang, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Ronnie Griffin is the stepfather of drug ring leader Jesse Bailey. The two were documented in multiple wiretapped phone calls discussing their distribution of dozens of pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills. Griffin acted as a redistributor and confidant for Bailey and is documented as a member of the Peckerwoods prison gang. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo told Griffin, “You have a terrible history, there’s no doubt about it.”
According to records filed in the case, over a two-year investigation of the drug trafficking ring, agents seized an estimated 223 pounds of methamphetamine, an estimated 830,000 fentanyl pills, multiple-pound quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, $338,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 48 firearms from members of the conspiracy. In addition, during the coordinated arrests of the DTO members in March 2023, law enforcement seized approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 pounds of fentanyl in pill and powder form, six pounds of heroin, more than $330,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 177 additional firearms. Two of those firearms were seized from Griffin. They were found hidden in a toilet at his residence.
Asking for a ten-year sentence, prosecutors noted that Griffin has been in and out of prison most of his adult life, but shorter sentences do not seem to have deterred his criminal conduct. “This history includes convictions for theft, obstructing a public servant, possession of stolen property, forgery, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, attempting to elude police vehicles, unlawful possession of a weapon, identity theft, harassment, and fourth degree assault,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. In imposing the sentence, Judge Estudillo told Griffin, “You’ve been in front of a judge on many occasions…. I’m sure they’ve offered you assistance of some sort…. It is kind of scary someone in their 50’s doing something someone in their 30’s would do, like running from law enforcement.”
On August 1, 2024, Griffin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He has been in custody at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since his arrest in March 2023.
Griffin is the sixth member of the drug ring to be sentenced. Some defendants have received prison sentences of as much at 13 years in prison. Less culpable defendants have been sentenced to 20-50 months in prison. Drug ringleader Jesse James Bailey pleaded guilty last month and is scheduled for sentencing on February 28, 2025.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Max Shiner and Zach Dillon.
Dillon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Kenyatta Defondrael McLaughlin, 45, of Dillon, was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that, on the evening of Sept.16, 2022, an officer with Dillon Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven and solely occupied by McLaughlin. As McLaughlin exited the car, a loaded 9mm handgun fell from his lap. As the officer approached the car, he saw what appeared to be a marijuana joint in plain view in the car center console. Law enforcement searched the vehicle, finding approximately 25 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of crack cocaine, and 219 grams of suspected marijuana. At the time of the traffic stop, McLaughlin was a convicted felon who could not legally possess either the firearm or the ammunition with which it was loaded.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III, sentenced McLaughlin to 35 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dillon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
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