Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
10 December 2024
Orange County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Joshua Grant Cobb (34, Orlando) to 25 years in federal prison for possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute them and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Cobb pled guilty on July 31, 2024.
According to court documents, law enforcement identified Cobb as a distributor of methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl who used his residence to facilitate his drug deals. A confidential source was then used to arrange a controlled purchase of fentanyl at Cobb’s residence. Cobb was detained leaving his residence for the deal. He had a loaded firearm and 55 grams of a fentanyl mixture on his person. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Cobb’s residence. Inside, agents located over 700 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 350 grams of fentanyl mixtures, $4,000 in cash, drug processing materials and equipment, and six additional loaded firearms.
Cobb was ordered to forfeit the firearms and ammunition he possessed.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
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.
North Providence Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A North Providence man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for possessing and distributing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Mark Peterson, 46, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by 15 years of federal supervised release. Peterson pleaded guilty on September 6, 2024, to an indictment charging him with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
In February 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children forwarded information to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force regarding the online distribution of child pornography. A State Police Detective determined that someone using the IP address at Peterson’s residence had sent 114 files depicting child sexual abuse over an online messaging application.
Members of the ICAC Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Peterson’s residence on April 5, 2022. A review of several cell phones seized during the search revealed more than 1,300 files consisting of videos and images of child sexual abuse, including depictions of the abuse of pre-pubescent children, infants, sadomasochism, and bestiality. Investigators also located screen recordings in which Peterson falsely portrayed himself as 15 years old.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julianne Klein and John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Massachusetts State Police.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc
The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force is comprised of members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit along with detectives from the Warwick Police Department, Cranston Police Department, East Providence Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Bristol Police Department, Middletown Police Department, and Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations.
###
North Berwick Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud after Applying for PPP Loans for Travel Agency He No Longer OwnedRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A North Berwick man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for filing fraudulent applications for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Frederick Avery, 50, to five months in prison followed by five years of supervised release including five months of home detention. He was also ordered to pay $227,667 in restitution. Avery pleaded guilty on July 15, 2024.
According to court records, between April 2020 and September 2021, Avery submitted two applications for PPP loans that claimed he was the 100% owner of Superior Cruise and Travel LLC. Avery had sold the agency to a limited liability company in Pennsylvania in November 2019. He claimed on the applications that the loans, which totaled more than $215,000, were for payroll, lease/mortgage interest, utilities, and other items. Avery submitted falsified bank statements from a non-existent account to support one of the applications.
The FBI investigated the case.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.
###
Nevada Man Sentenced for Dumping Waste into Cities’ Wastewater System and Lying to InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
A Nevada man was sentenced today for illegally discharging waste, collected by a business he managed, into a local wastewater treatment system, in violation of the Clean Water Act.
Matthew Thurman, general manager of Environmental Resources Inc., doing business as Easy Rooter Plumbing (ERP), was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay a $680,000 fine and serve one year of supervised release for knowingly violating pretreatment standards under the Clean Water Act. ERP was separately sentenced to three years of probation and a $680,000 fine.
For years, ERP and Thurman orchestrated illegal discharges of grease waste and wastewater collected from food-service businesses into the wastewater treatment system of the cities of Reno and Sparks, Nevada. Local regulators warned ERP and Thurman regarding the illegal discharges, but when the scheme continued, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened an investigation. During the investigation, Thurman lied to federal agents and falsely blamed competitors for the illegal discharges. The actions by Thurman and ERP jeopardized the integrity of the wastewater treatment system, creating significant environmental risks and increased maintenance costs which were passed on to consumers.
“This case underscores the importance of holding individuals and corporations accountable when they knowingly harm our environment and attempt to obstruct justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Violations of the Clean Water Act are serious crimes, and today’s sentencing sends a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated.”
“The defendant defrauded clients, exposed Nevada communities to contaminated sewage, and engaged in conduct that required taxpayer dollars to be spent on costly repairs," said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today's significant sentencing demonstrates that EPA will continue to bring to justice environmental criminals."
“Nevadans depend on our clean water system for everyday life. By knowingly illegally dumping waste into the treatment system, the defendants jeopardized the quality of life of our citizens in violation of the Clean Water Act,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We will continue to prosecute these crimes and hold the violators responsible.”
This case represents a collaborative effort among local, state and federal agencies to protect America’s water systems.
EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division led the investigation with assistance from the City of Reno’s Utility Services Department-Environmental Control and the City of Sparks’ Environmental Control Section.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans for the District of Minnesota, formerly of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Keenan for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
Nevada Man Sentenced for Dumping Waste into Cities’ Wastewater System and Lying to InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Nevada man was sentenced today for illegally discharging waste, collected by a business he managed, into a local wastewater treatment system, in violation of the Clean Water Act.
Matthew Thurman, general manager of Environmental Resources Inc., doing business as Easy Rooter Plumbing (ERP), was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay a $680,000 fine and serve one year of supervised release for knowingly violating pretreatment standards under the Clean Water Act. ERP was separately sentenced to three years of probation and a $680,000 fine.
For years, ERP and Thurman orchestrated illegal discharges of grease waste and wastewater collected from food-service businesses into the wastewater treatment system of the cities of Reno and Sparks, Nevada. Local regulators warned ERP and Thurman regarding the illegal discharges, but when the scheme continued, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened an investigation. During the investigation, Thurman lied to federal agents and falsely blamed competitors for the illegal discharges. The actions by Thurman and ERP jeopardized the integrity of the wastewater treatment system, creating significant environmental risks and increased maintenance costs which were passed on to consumers.
“This case underscores the importance of holding individuals and corporations accountable when they knowingly harm our environment and attempt to obstruct justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Violations of the Clean Water Act are serious crimes, and today’s sentencing sends a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated.”
“The defendant defrauded clients, exposed Nevada communities to contaminated sewage, and engaged in conduct that required taxpayer dollars to be spent on costly repairs," said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today's significant sentencing demonstrates that EPA will continue to bring to justice environmental criminals."
“Nevadans depend on our clean water system for everyday life. By knowingly illegally dumping waste into the treatment system, the defendants jeopardized the quality of life of our citizens in violation of the Clean Water Act,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We will continue to prosecute these crimes and hold the violators responsible.”
This case represents a collaborative effort among local, state and federal agencies to protect America’s water systems.
EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division led the investigation with assistance from the City of Reno’s Utility Services Department-Environmental Control and the City of Sparks’ Environmental Control Section.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans for the District of Minnesota, formerly of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Keenan for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
###
Nashville Auto Parts Seller Agrees to Settlement for Selling Emissions Defeat DevicesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that a Nashville automotive aftermarket parts distributor has agreed to pay $320,000 in civil penalties for selling illegal “defeat devices” designed to render automobile emission controls inoperative, in violation of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Under the terms of the consent decree, Diesel Performance Parts Inc. (DPPI) has also agreed to send notices to dealers and customers notifying them about the settlement. Additionally, DPPI will remove all marketing material related to defeat devices.
“Defeat devices violate the Clean Air Act and cause a vehicle to contribute significantly higher amounts of pollutants into the air,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Excess emissions tangibly worsen the air we breathe. We are committed to upholding the rule of law.”
“Defeat devices significantly increase air pollution from motor vehicles and EPA will use all of its enforcement tools to hold sellers of defeat devices like DPPI accountable until these illegal practices stop” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle for Region 4. “These illegal practices contribute to harmful air pollution and impede federal, state, and local efforts to implement air quality standards that protect public health. Emissions from mobile sources play an important role in EPA’s Southeastern region, and the use of these defeat devices hampers our ability to maintain compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.”
Since September 2018, DPPI sold at least 6,858 aftermarket defeat devices that bypassed, defeated or rendered inoperative emissions control systems that were installed in motor vehicles or in motor vehicle engines in compliance with the CAA for motor vehicles equipped with diesel engines.
A vehicle’s emission controls reduce the amount of air pollutants emitted and their harmful effects, but aftermarket defeat devices negate those controls. One EPA study found that known sales of defeat devices for certain diesel trucks between 2009 and 2020 resulted in excess emissions of more than 570,000 tons of nitrogen oxides and 5,000 tons of particulate matter over the lifetime of the trucks. The resulting health conditions include premature mortality, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, aggravation of existing asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis and decreased lung function. Numerous studies also link diesel exhaust to increased incidence of lung cancer.
Stopping aftermarket defeat devices for vehicles and engines is a top priority for EPA. Visit EPA’s website to learn more about its efforts to stop the sale of illegal defeat devices.
The consent decree was entered in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. There is a 30-day public comment period. Additional information about the agreement can be found at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
EPA investigated the case.
Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling the case.
Multiple defendants indicted on federal firearms chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Newly returned indictments in the Southern District of Georgia include charges alleging felons illegally possessed firearms, while additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal gun charges.
“Illegally possessed firearms increase the likelihood of violent crime in our communities,” said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners in holding accountable individuals who violate firearms laws.”
The cases are prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally possess guns.
Those indicted in December include:
- Antonio Perez Allen, 35, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Jamaughnee Duncan, 25, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
- Jakeem Bryant, 29, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
All indicted defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendants recently adjudicated on federal firearms charges include:
- Desirae Heinsler, 38, of Eastman, Ga., was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm. After officers from the Rochester (NY) Police Department recovered multiple illegally possessed firearms, the investigation determined the guns originally were purchased in Georgia by Heinsler, who provided false information to a licensed dealer in Jeff Davis County to buy the guns.
- Jordan Richardson, 24, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Interference with Commerce by Robbery, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Richardson fired multiple shots into the vehicle of a Savannah grocery store employee who was taking the day’s receipts to a bank, hitting the driver and a bystander before fleeing with the deposit bag. Richardson, who faces a sentence of up to life in prison, previously was convicted of felonies including illegal gun possession.
- Jordan Beverly Howard, 37, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, while a co-defendant, Joshua Robert Ward, 45, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Ward was on parole on state drug trafficking charges when Richmond County sheriff’s investigators searched the residence Howard and Ward shared and found drugs and two pistols.
- O’kere Shields, 22, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah police officers found a pistol in Shields’ residence while investigating a report of gunfire.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information from the ATF on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atfw-form-4473
Mississippi man sentenced to 15 years for ammunition offense involving shooting of MHP TrooperRead the Press Release
Aberdeen, MS – A federal judge sentenced Stanley Self, Jr. to fifteen years in federal prison for his illegal possession of ammunition in an incident in which a Trooper with the Mississippi Highway Patrol was shot. Self, 25 years old, had been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, including robbery and aggravated assault, and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
On May 2, 2023, a Trooper with the Mississippi Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Self in Bolivar County, Mississippi. Self fled from the Trooper, leading him on a high speed chase through Bolivar County in which speeds topped in excess of 120 miles per hour. Self’s flight from the officers occurred during the morning commute and resulted in him passing multiple school busses, endangering the students and drivers on their way to school. Self eventually lost control of his vehicle and shot the Trooper while attempting to flee on foot. The firearm was never recovered in this case after the shooting, but the shell casing of the bullets fired by Self were recovered and formed the basis of the federal charge in this matter.
U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Self in Aberdeen on Tuesday following a sentencing hearing. During the sentencing hearing, the Trooper testified about the speed of the chase, the dangerousness to the public at large during the chase, and the impact that being shot by Self has had on him. More than a year and a half has elapsed without the Trooper being able to return to active duty since being shot by Self due to the serious nature of the injuries that he suffered. Self will serve this sentence concurrently with any sentence that he receives for state offenses relating to this incident.
“This defendant received the maximum possible sentence for possessing the ammunition used in the shooting of a law enforcement officer who was engaged in the performance of his duties and protecting and serving the public,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Self’s actions on May 2nd endangered the public and took the career of a law enforcement officer. Actions such as these will not be tolerated.”
“The actions of this defendant were reckless, violent, and endangered countless lives, including the life of a Mississippi State Trooper who has dedicated himself to protecting the citizens of Mississippi. This case is a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face every day while upholding their commitment to public safety,” said Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “I commend the outstanding work of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, and our federal partners in bringing this individual to justice. We remain steadfast in our mission to hold offenders accountable and to ensure the safety of our communities.”
“Today’s sentencing means that Stanley Self, Jr. will be held accountable for engaging in violent crime in the community,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “Protecting the lives of our law enforcement partners, like our MHP Trooper in this case, and protecting the public are cornerstones of what our agency seeks to accomplish every day. No matter how long it takes, we will investigate, arrest, prosecute and ensure accountability.”
The case was investigated by the ATF Oxford, Mississippi Field Office. Valuable contributions were made by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Hampton and John Herzog, Jr. 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.
McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty to Felony Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Larry Keith Mickle, age 49, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging him with one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm.
The Indictment alleged that on June 18, 2024, Mickle assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm. The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Mickle will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.
Maui Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Trafficking Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Clare E. Connors announced that Jose Elias Camacho, 34, of Maui, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway to 144 months in prison for trafficking in fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl that resulted in an overdose death. Camacho previously pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute in June 2024.
Camacho admitted that in August 2020, he sold five fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to a 24-year-old man, who ingested the pills and overdosed. First responders revived the victim and transported him to the hospital for further treatment. The victim discharged himself later that day and contacted Camacho to buy more pills. Camacho admitted knowing the victim had just been hospitalized. Despite this knowledge, Camacho sold the victim five more pills. The following morning, the victim was found dead at his home. An autopsy report indicated that he died of a polydrug overdose. A medical toxicologist who later reviewed the case determined the victim would not have overdosed and died but for the fentanyl Camacho distributed to him.
Camacho admitted that he continued to distribute the pills after learning of the victim’s overdose death. On October 2, 2020, members of the Maui Police Department working in an undercover capacity set up a deal to purchase approximately 50 pills from Camacho, who was arrested as he left his house to conduct the transaction. Police searched him and his home and found approximately 400 light blue pills bearing the marking “M 30” and designed to resemble prescription oxycodone. The pills were tested by a lab and were found to contain fentanyl.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment, fentanyl manufactured by Mexican drug cartels is the main driver behind the ongoing epidemic of drug poisoning deaths in the United States. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that in 2022, national overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl) comprised 73,838 of the 107,941 lives lost to drug overdose deaths. The DEA’s 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment further notes that fake oxycodone pills present a particular risk—both because 7 in 10 fake pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl and because users are often unaware that the pills contain fentanyl at all.
“Camacho knew the deadly risk of selling illegal narcotics, and in particular, he knew the heightened risk associated with the tragic death in this case. Even after learning of the victim’s death, Camacho continued to sell a large quantity of the lethal pills, endangering a great number of lives,” said United States Attorney Connors. “This sentence sends a powerful message that dealers whose products contain lethal doses of illegal narcotics, including fentanyl, will face severe consequences for contributing to the scourge of overdose deaths on our community.”
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maui Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Michael Albanese prosecuted the case.
Massachusetts Construction Company Owner Sentenced for Tax Crimes and Making a False StatementRead the Press Release
A Massachusetts man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for an employment tax scheme and making a false statement at an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hearing.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Mauricio Baiense, formerly of Quincy, owned and operated Contract Framing Builders Inc. (CFB), a Medford, Massachusetts, construction business. Baiense was responsible for paying to the IRS the payroll taxes withheld from CFB employees’ wages and for filing the quarterly employment tax returns. From approximately 2013 through 2017, Baiense facilitated having approximately $11 million worth of checks drawn on CFB’s corporate bank account to purported subcontractors, which were in fact nominee entities controlled by him. Baiense then directed others to cash the checks at a check cashing business and used the money to operate an “off-the-books” cash payroll for CFB’s employees. Baiense did not report the cash wages to the IRS and did not pay employment taxes on wages paid to employees in cash. Baiense also assisted in the preparation of at least one fraudulent employment tax return that understated the actual wages paid to CFB’s employees.
When questioned under oath at an OSHA interview regarding a fatal workplace accident pertaining to an employee of Baiense’s company, Baiense made false statements to a federal investigator - falsely claiming that the deceased employee did not work for him.
In total, Baiense caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $2,824,577.45.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge William G. Young for the District of Massachusetts ordered Baiense to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $2,824,577.45 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts, Acting Regional Administrator Jeff Erskine of OSHA Region 1, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Wlodyka of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Boston Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General in Boston made the announcement.
IRS-CI, OSHA and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
Assistant Chief Thomas F. Koelbl of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Tobin for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case.
Manager of U.S. Freight Forwarding Company Indicted for Circumventing Export ControlsRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – A 12-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Natalya Ivanovna Mazulina, also known as “Natasha Mazulina,” for her alleged involvement in a scheme to circumvent U.S. export laws and sanctions on Russia. Mazulina, the Western regional manager of a freight forwarding company based in Jamaica, New York, which operated out of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK airport) in Queens, New York, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington State, was arrested earlier today in Seattle and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and James Guanci, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), Office of Export Enforcement, Boston, announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, Mazulina used her position as a manager of a freight forwarding company to facilitate unlawful exports to Russia through JFK airport,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Evading U.S export regulations presents a danger to our national security, and we will continue to use all of our law enforcement and national security tools make sure these enablers, both individuals and corporations, cannot operate in our district.”
Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, the FBI’s Seattle Field Office, and the DOC’s Boston Field Office for their assistance in this case.
“The defendant exploited her knowledge of the export business to falsify documents and circumvent U.S. sanctions by illegally shipping oil and gas products to Russian customers,” stated Assistant Attorney General Olsen. “American companies like the freight forwarder where Mazulina worked play a critical role in the global supply chain and movement of goods. The National Security Division will not tolerate individuals who seek to abuse their positions in these companies for financial gain at the expense of national security.”
“Collaborating with foreign actors to evade U.S. export controls is a serious national security violation,” said DOC Special Agent in Charge Guanci. “The Office of Export Enforcement, alongside its law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate efforts to illicitly fuel Russia’s wartime economy.”
As alleged in the indictment, from at least December 2022 through December 2024, Mazulina conspired with Russian freight forwarding companies and others to unlawfully ship controlled items, including industrial oil and gas equipment from the United States to Russia, through intermediary countries. At one point, in June 2023, Mazulina told colleagues that her clients were paying through bank accounts in third party countries because “[m]ost of [her] clients [were] currently sanctioned with USA.” Mazulina attempted to conceal the unlawful scheme by submitting and causing the submission of false export documents to the U.S. government, documents which should have revealed that the exported goods were destined for Russia.
Mazulina is charged with conspiracy to export controlled goods to Russia without a license, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to commit money laundering, exporting controlled goods to Russia without a license, filing false export documents with the U.S. government, and smuggling goods contrary to U.S. law. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of conspiring to export or exporting controlled goods to Russia without a license; up to 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering; up to 10 years in prison for each count of smuggling; and up to five years in prison for each count of conspiracy and filing false export documents with the U.S. government.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Artie McConnell and Matthew Skurnik are in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorneys Christopher M. Rigali and Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and with the assistance of Litigation Analyst Emma Tavangari. The Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section assisted with this investigation.
The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that, beginning in 2014, the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
The Defendant:
NATALYA IVANOVNA MAZULINA (also known as “Natasha Mazulina”)
Age: 41
Federal Way, WashingtonE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-493 (EK)
Licking Man Indicted for Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Licking, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for the sexual exploitation of a minor as well as illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms.
John P. Weaver, 42, was charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo.
Today’s indictment charges Weaver with one count of using a minor victim to produce child pornography from Jan. 22 to Feb. 5, 2024, and one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.
Weaver is also charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Weaver allegedly was in possession of methamphetamine and two Hi-Point pistols on Feb. 29, 2024.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Weaver has two prior convictions for possessing a controlled substance as well as prior felony convictions for stealing a motor vehicle, burglary, stealing, and resisting arrest by creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any person.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Pulaski County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Texas County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Leticia Russi-Shareno Pleads Guilty to Labor Union EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Leticia Russi-Shareno, 60, of Kenmore, New York, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge of wire fraud. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss released Russi-Shareno on conditions pending sentencing, which is scheduled for May 22.
On November 20, 2024, the United States Attorney filed a one-count information charging Russi-Shareno with wire fraud. Russi-Shareno pleaded guilty to the information in court today. According to the information, between approximately August 2019 and December 2020, Russi-Shareno served as president of Local 2076 of the American Federation of Government Employees. Local 2076 is a labor union whose members are employees of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security working in Vermont and upstate New York. As president, Russi-Shareno had check signing authority on Local 2076’s Vermont bank account and also received a debit card to make official purchases on behalf of the union.
According to the information, during her presidency, Russi-Shareno embezzled approximately $36,000 from Local 2076’s coffers by using the union’s debit card to make ATM withdrawals of funds for personal expenses; using the debit card to make purchases for her personal benefit; and by falsifying paperwork to obtain duplicate reimbursements for expenses incurred on behalf of Local 2076. The defendant also cashed or deposited into her own account several checks that the national AFGE union had issued to Local 2076.
Russi-Shareno faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. Her actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
This case was investigated by the Boston and Buffalo Regional Office of the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards and the Department of Homeland Security.
Russi-Shareno is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.
Leader of Child Sexual Abuse Ring Sentenced to 50 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Samuel Rappylee Bateman, 48, of Colorado City, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 50 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. On April 1, 2024, Bateman pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping.
“Protecting the most vulnerable is our highest calling as prosecutors,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Many thanks to our dedicated prosecutors and law enforcement colleagues for an expeditious investigation, and to our victim advocates for their focus on services and healing.”
“Every child should feel and be safe in their homes,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez. “Today’s sentencing brings some closure to the victims with hopes they can confidently continue the long road to living normal lives with trusted and loving adults surrounding them. Protecting our most vulnerable populations, with children at the top of the list, is and will continue to be a high priority for the FBI and our partners.”
Bateman, who represented himself as a religious prophet, was the leader of a years-long child sexual abuse conspiracy that spanned several states and victimized at least 10 children. Beginning in 2019, Bateman amassed followers in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska. In 2020 and 2021, Bateman’s followers gave their minor daughters and wards to him as child “brides” to sexually abuse. The victims were as young as nine years old. Through coercion and manipulation, Bateman regularly forced his victims to participate with him in individual and group sexual activities with adults and other children. He gave one of the victims to an adult male follower to be sexually abused, and on another occasion transmitted a live video stream of child sexual abuse to his followers. Bateman and others transported the victims between states to facilitate the sexual abuse, which continued until Bateman’s arrest on federal charges in September 2022.
Following Bateman’s arrest, his child victims were placed in the legal and physical custody of the Arizona Department of Child Safety. In November 2022, Bateman conspired with some of his followers to kidnap the victims from their custody placements. The conspirators succeeded in taking eight of the girls to California and then to Washington, where they were found by law enforcement and returned to Arizona.
Bateman was charged along with 11 of his adult followers, all of whom have also been convicted of charges related to the child sexual abuse conspiracy. Two of Bateman’s co-defendants were convicted at trial by a jury, and the others were convicted by guilty plea. Several other defendants have already been sentenced, and the remaining defendants will be sentenced in the coming months.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation-Phoenix conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. The United States Attorney’s Office continues to extend special gratitude to the Arizona Department of Child Safety for its work rescuing and protecting Arizona children impacted by this matter, the Colorado City Police Department, the Iron County (Utah) Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the St. George Resident Agency of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office for their assistance in this matter.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-8092-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-173_Bateman# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Lawrence Man Sentenced to Decade in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Lawrence man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Ronny Ramos, age 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 120 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In August 2024, Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine. A trial date for a co-defendant has been set for March 18, 2025.
“The defendant trafficked staggering amounts of methamphetamine into New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Jane Young. “Methamphetamine’s effects on individuals pose significant danger to the community and law enforcement officers who are combatting the drug epidemic in New Hampshire. Local, state, and federal law enforcement throughout the Granite State will continue to target every level of the distribution chain in an ongoing effort to address the impact of this dangerous drug on our communities.”
“As methamphetamine seizures are on the rise DEA stands committed to keeping this highly addictive drug out of New Hampshire,” said Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division. “Yesterday’s sentence not only holds Mr. Ramos accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those who attempt to distribute this poison in the Granite State.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ramos conspired to distribute approximately 50 pounds of methamphetamine from Massachusetts to New Hampshire on several occasions. From March through October 2023, Ramos received five separate orders of methamphetamine from his co-defendant, via an intermediary. The payments from his co-defendant for the methamphetamine were made via the same intermediary. The amounts per order ranged from 10-12 pounds at a price of approximately $20,000 for each order. The methamphetamine was delivered to the co-defendant in New Hampshire. On October 31, 2023, law enforcement agents arrested Ramos in Methuen, Massachusetts, and seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine destined for New Hampshire.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
###
Laredo professor charged with distribution and production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old Laredo resident has been charged with producing videos involving the sexual exploitation of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Carlos Jobany Castaneda Lechuga is expected to appear for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 10 a.m.
The complaint, filed Dec. 2, alleges authorities learned of videos that appeared to be produced in the United States and distributed on the dark web. The videos allegedly include an adult male seen with what appears to be different minor children in at least three different videos.
The charges allege law enforcement identified the male as Lechuga. He had been a private teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, and a professor in Laredo. The investigation also revealed Lechuga offers private music lessons targeted toward minors, according to the charges.
On Dec. 1, the FBI executed a search warrant on Lechuga’s residence in Laredo. The charges allege a person familiar with the house had identified Lechuga’s residence as the location where at least one of the videos was produced.
If convicted, Lechuga faces up to 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography as well as a maximum of 20 years for each count of distributing it. All charges also carry as possible penalty a $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation. If you have any information about possible victims or believe you have been victimized, please contact the FBI at 210-225-6741.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tory Sailer and Michael Makens are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Labelle Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Coercion and Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Daniel Carson Miller (30, Labelle) to 30 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, receipt of child sexual abuse material, possessing and accessing with intent to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, and transferring obscene matter to a minor. Miller was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Miller entered a guilty plea on August 20, 2024.
According to court documents, from June through December 19, 2023, Miller sought out and chatted with minors over the internet through the use of a social media application. In June 2023, a parent notified law enforcement that Miller, claiming to be 16 years old, had been chatting with a 13-year-old child using a social media application and soliciting sexually explicit images of the minor. At Miller’s urging and direction, the teen sent sexually explicit photos and videos to Miller.
In November 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant for Miller’s social media account. The account records revealed numerous conversations that Miller had with minors in which Miller asked the minors for explicit images of themselves. Miller also sent photos of his genitals to minors.
In December 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Miller’s residence. Miller agreed to speak with agents and admitted to using a social media application to request child sexual abuse material from minors. He estimated that he had requested the material from approximately 100 minors and admitted to sending a photo of his genitals to approximately 200 minors. Miller admitted that at times he would threaten self-harm in order to receive sexually explicit images from minors. A forensic examination of Miller’s cellphones and laptop revealed images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
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.
Kearney Man Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Shelby Olson, age 46, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced December 10, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for distributing 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Olson to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Olson is released from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On June 23, 2022, a confidential informant (CI) purchased 57.2 grams of meth from Olson. On June 30, 2022, the CI purchased 57.6 grams of meth from Olson. On July 7, 2022, the CI purchased 60.2 grams of meth from Olson.
All purchases were audio and video recorded with a positive identification of Olson. The first purchase occurred in a commercial motor vehicle, and Olson was recorded smoking meth while he was driving.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tracey Brown, 45, of Chelyan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about December 12, 2023, Brown obtained approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine in the Dayton, Ohio, area and transported the controlled substance to an Elkview, West Virginia, residence where he was living. Brown admitted that he distributed approximately 1 pound of the methamphetamine and intended to distribute the remaining methamphetamine with another person in the Southern District of West Virginia.
On December 13, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Elkview residence and seized the remaining methamphetamine.
Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to live in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine.
“This case is the result of determined investigative work by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Their outstanding efforts prevented a staggering amount of methamphetamine from reaching our streets and poisoning our community.”
The U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force consists of members of the Mingo County Sheriff's Office, the Logan County Sheriff's Office, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, and the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-16.
###
Justice Department and EPA Announce Settlement with Cahokia Heights, Illinois, for Improper Operation of the City’s Sanitary Sewer SystemRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Illinois today announced a settlement with the City of Cahokia Heights, Illinois, resolving violations of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Act resulting from the city’s failure to properly operate its sanitary sewer system. The settlement requires that Cahokia Heights pay a $30,000 civil penalty and implement an estimated $30 million in extensive compliance measures.
The complaint against Cahokia Heights alleges that on more than 300 occasions since November 2019, Cahokia Heights discharged sanitary sewage from an overflow point in its sewer system to nearby waterways in violation of section 301 of the Clean Water Act. The city also discharged untreated sewage from other locations throughout the community, including into ditches, roads, yards and homes. Sanitary sewer overflows can damage property and harm water quality when they enter waterbodies. Discharges of raw sewage, or sanitary sewer overflows, also carry bacteria, viruses and other harmful organisms.
“We are taking action to ensure that the City of Cahokia Heights operates its sewer system in a way that complies with the Clean Water Act, and to protect human health and the environment in the community,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This settlement reflects the United States’ commitment to advancing environment justice.”
“Cahokia Heights failed to maintain its aging sewer system, resulting in hundreds of illegal sanitary sewer overflow discharges that created public health risks and contaminated homes and the environment,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement, which benefited from significant input from the local community, includes an estimated $30 million infrastructure investment that will put Cahokia Heights on a path to significantly reduce overflows and ensure effective operation of the sewer system.”
“Cahokia Heights residents have had to endure these threats to their health and their environment for far too long,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Residents are worried that the change can’t come soon enough. This consent decree is a significant step forward, bringing meaningful improvements to the community.”
“For too long, the neglected and aging sewer system in Cahokia Heights has forced local residents to deal with raw sewage in their basements, in their streets and in local waterways,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “I am proud of my office’s collaboration with the Department of Justice and local and state entities as we work toward a solution to solve this real environmental and public health threat. I will continue to partner with all levels of government to enforce Illinois’ environmental laws and protect our communities.”
“For far too long, residents of Cahokia Heights have been plagued by frequent sanitary sewer overflows as the result of the improperly maintained sewer system,” said Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings. “It is our hope that this settlement and the significant actions it includes provide residents with further assurance that federal and state government entities are committed to addressing these historic infrastructure issues and the proper maintenance of their sewer system. Illinois EPA remains dedicated to ensuring the City of Cahokia Heights continues work to rehabilitate and repair the deteriorated system.”
Under the settlement, the city will conduct more than 80 near-term capital improvement projects, such as constructing an interceptor to reroute wastewater flow, system-wide repairs and various investigations and assessments. The city is also required to keep the community informed about the work, have plans in place for emergencies and update its operations such as creating digital maps and monitoring in real-time known overflow points.
The proposed consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, is subject to a 60-day comment period and final court approval. Information on submitting comment and access to the settlement agreement is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
EPA investigated the case.
Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section and the Illinois Attorney General’s office are handling the case.
Justice Department Sues Tax Preparation Business and Its Owners to Stop Alleged Tax Preparation FraudRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a civil injunction suit today in federal court in Tyler, Texas. The lawsuit seeks to bar Hudrell Lemontez Jones, Brenda Jackson Thomas and D&B Professional Tax Services LLC from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others.
According to the complaint, Jones operated and prepared returns through an unincorporated business, D&B Professional Tax Services, starting in 2020 before forming D&B Professional Tax Services LLC in 2022. Additionally, according to the complaint, Thomas has prepared returns in connection with Jones since 2020 and is an owner of or has otherwise shared in the profits generated by D&B Professional Tax Services LLC.
The complaint alleges that Jones and Thomas prepare and file tax returns that falsely reduce their customers’ taxable income and falsely increase their customers’ refunds, while profiting by charging their customers substantial return preparation fees — at the expense of the Treasury. The complaint alleges that the defendants engage in misconduct, including:
- Fabricating businesses and related business income and expenses,
- Claiming false mortgage interest deductions,
- Claiming fabricated COVID-19-related tax credits, and
- Improperly concealing their status as preparers of certain returns by using the names and ID numbers of other preparers.
The Tax Division reminds taxpayers that the IRS has information, tips and reminders on its site for choosing a tax preparer carefully (Choosing a Tax Professional and How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer) and has launched a free directory of credentialed federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers taxpayers tips to protect their identities and wallets when filing their taxes.
In addition, IRS Free File, a public-private partnership, offers free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner websites for individuals whose adjusted gross income is under $79,000. For individuals whose income is over that threshold, IRS Free File offers electronic federal tax forms that can be filled out and filed online for free. The IRS has tips on how seniors and individuals with low to moderate income can get other help or guidance on tax return preparation, too.
In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained civil injunctions and criminal convictions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Jones Complaint for PI.pdfIllinois Man Sentenced to More Than 23 Years in Prison for Selling Fatal FentanylRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a man who sold the fake Percocet pills that killed a man in St. Louis County in 2022 to 23 years and eight months in prison.
“I’m going to send a message to other drug dealers,” said Judge Schelp, who also ordered Deontae’ Tre’Von Overall to pay $21,736 in restitution to his victim’s family.
Evidence and testimony at Overall’s trial in September showed that the victim contacted Overall’s cell phone on Dec. 3, 2022, seeking the prescription pain pill Percocet. The victim bought three pills that appeared to be Percocet from Overall at Overall’s St. Louis home. The victim died later that evening from fentanyl intoxication caused by ingesting the fake Percocet. He was discovered the following day by his parents and a sister.
To find out who sold the drugs, investigators with the St. Louis County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration contacted Overall’s phone to arrange additional purchases of counterfeit Percocet. Overall sold fentanyl to an undercover task force officer on July 19, 2023, and fentanyl and methamphetamine to the officer on July 26. A court-approved search of Overall’s home in Belleville on August 3, 2023, found drug paraphernalia and dozens of pills resembling those sold to the victim and the undercover officer.
On September 6, the Friday before his trial began, Overall admitted the July 26 sale of drugs to the undercover task force officer and pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly and intentionally distributing one or more controlled substances to another person.
Jurors found Overall, 28, guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
In court Tuesday, Judge Schelp said Overall “glorified” the drug trade, referring to a music video in which he discusses selling drugs while on house arrest and displays his ankle monitor.
“The victim of this man’s illegal business was poisoned by a pill. No one could have known was in it,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey, head of Drug Enforcement Administration operations in Eastern Missouri. "DEA works tirelessly to warn people of the danger of taking pills not prescribed by a doctor or a pharmacy, and we are being heard. Drug-induced deaths are down 14.5% nationwide as of June 2024, and pills tested by DEA labs with a lethal dose of fentanyl have decreased to five out of 10. DEA and our partners will keep working to make those numbers better.”
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Epplin and Jerome McDonald prosecuted the case.
Interpol Washington’s Keith Hood Honored as 2024 Global Mvp by Homeland Security TodayRead the Press Release
INTERPOL Washington proudly announces that Keith Hood, Deputy Assistant Director of the Border Security Division, has been awarded the prestigious Global Most Valuable Player Award by Homeland Security Today at the 2024 Homeland Security Holiday Hero Awards Gala on December 5. This award recognizes Hood’s extraordinary leadership in strengthening international border security through innovative strategies, including his work advancing Project TERMINUS.
"This recognition is a testament to the incredible team I have the privilege of leading,” said Hood. “Their unwavering commitment and innovative spirit have made it possible to deliver tangible, impactful solutions to some of the world’s most pressing security challenges. I share this honor with each of them.”
Project TERMINUS, spearheaded by Hood, identifies and closes information-sharing gaps that hinder global law enforcement efforts to detect and deter the illicit travel of foreign terrorist fighters and transnational criminals. It has also fortified partnerships with nations worldwide, integrated INTERPOL’s critical data into select countries’ law enforcement systems and fostered global collaboration for safer borders.
“Keith’s work has bolstered the abilities of key partner countries to stop threats at their borders - and before they reach ours,” said INTERPOL Washington Acting Director Jeffrey A. Grimming. "His leadership exemplifies the highest standards of excellence in public service. His vision and tireless efforts have not only strengthened international partnerships but also made the world a safer place.”
Hood’s accomplishments under Project TERMINUS include guiding Nigeria to become the first African nation to automate reporting stolen and lost travel documents to INTERPOL’s global database, overseeing transformative system implementations in Kyrgyzstan and Indonesia, and significantly increasing database records in Panama. These efforts have enhanced the security capabilities of partner nations and set new benchmarks for international law enforcement collaboration.
Great Falls man admits trafficking fentanyl pills in communityRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man today admitted to distributing fentanyl and other drugs in the community while he was on state probation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Michael Shawn O’Neill, 59, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. O’Neill faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 10, 2025. O’Neill detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Sept. 4, 2023, O’Neill, a convicted felon on state supervision, possessed thousands of fentanyl pills for redistribution, as well as four firearms, methamphetamine and heroin. O’Neill was arrested on Sept. 4, 2023 on a warrant for traveling outside of the district without permission. An investigation led to searches of his vehicle and residence. Law enforcement found 6,500 fentanyl pills, meth, U.S. currency, four firearms and 1,300 rounds of ammunition in his vehicle and additional fentanyl pills and U.S. currency in his residence. Later, officers located heroin and U.S. currency in a backpack retrieved from O’Neill’s vehicle. O’Neill told law enforcement he drove to Spokane to get his supply and believed he was one step away from the Cartel through a third party. He also said he had just spent $12,000 in Spokane on the drugs found in his backpack.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force, Montana Probation and Parole and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
XXX
Former United Medical Center Employee Sentenced for Criminal Abuse of a Vulnerable AdultRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Eleanor Flowers, 76, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in Superior Court for one count of criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult and attempted threats, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
Superior Court Judge Deborah J. Israel sentenced Flowers to 24 months of probation. As part of the sentencing, Flowers must also stay away from the victim and is prohibited from working, volunteering, or participating in any activity involving the elderly, vulnerable, cognitively disabled, or children, to include activities in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors’ offices, urgent care, and daycare.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Flowers was employed as a Patient Sitter at United Medical Center, a hospital in Southeast Washington. On January 4, 2021, while attempting to change the soiled clothing of a 68-year-old patient under her care, Flowers struck the patient repeatedly with the hospital bed’s remote controller. The victim, who had previously suffered a stroke, was paralyzed on one side of his body, unable to speak, and classified as a “vulnerable adult” under D.C. Code § 22-932.
The assault was captured on cellphone video by another Patient Sitter in the room, who witnessed the abuse. The video showed Flowers’ repeated strikes, causing visible distress to the victim. Flowers was terminated from her position following the incident, which was reported to hospital authorities and subsequently investigated by the D.C. Office of Inspector General.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Initiative partners with the D.C. Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), which is statutorily responsible for investigating and prosecuting District Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse or neglect of residents in health care facilities and board and care facilities and of District Medicaid beneficiaries in noninstitutional or other settings.
In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves and Inspector General Lucas commended the efforts of those who investigated and prosecuted the case, including the D.C. OIG Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They also acknowledged the contributions of Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Facci, detailed from the D.C. OIG, who prosecuted the case.
Studies show that for every incident of abuse reported to authorities, nearly 24 additional cases remain undetected. (See https://ncea.acl.gov/prevalenceofeldermistreatment#gsc.tab=0).
If you have information about individuals committing these types of offenses, please call the D.C. Office of the Inspector General at 202-724-TIPS [202-724-8477].
Former Postal Worker Admits Stealing Gifts Cards from the MailRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A former U.S. Postal Service letter carrier on Tuesday admitted stealing gift cards from the mail.
Joseph S. Wilkins, 56, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of embezzlement of mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee. Wilkins admitted stealing approximately 10 to 12 gift cards from customers’ mail between December 2023 and April 2024. Wilkins made personal purchases with the cards, which had a total value of approximately $500.
The investigation began after someone in California mailed a Christmas card containing two Amazon gift cards to a home in Cape Girardeau. The card never arrived. An investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General revealed that Wilkins, a city carrier at the Cape Carrier Annex in Cape Girardeau, had used the gift cards.
In a later interview, Wilkins told investigators that he manipulated customer mail to identify any gift cards inside.
Wilkins is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2025. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton is prosecuting the case.
Former Naval Weapons Instructor Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing Silencers and A Short-Barrel RifleRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Rocco Joseph Frakes (50, Middleburg) has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing unregistered silencers and an unregistered short-barrel rifle. Frakes faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on July 25, 2024, federal agents executed a search warrant at Frakes’s home and located a .22 caliber rifle with a threaded barrel, three silencers, a rifle with a 7 ½ inch long barrel, and a .45 caliber machinegun in Frakes’s bedroom. Contrary to federal law, none of these devices were registered to Frakes in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record—a database maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Frakes is retired from the United States Navy, where his primary duty was as a weapons instructor for Atlantic Fleet squadrons.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.
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.
Former Houston park ranger charged with sexual assault and extortion of multiple victimsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 34-year-old Houston resident has been federally indicted for repeatedly abusing his authority as a City of Houston urban park ranger by stopping, detaining and assaulting victims who visited city parks late at night, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Dec. 3 charging Joey Lamar Ellis with 20 counts representing accusations of civil rights violations perpetrated against eight victims.
He is expected to make his initial appearance at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison.
According to the charges, Ellis positioned his city-issued vehicle behind the victims’ vehicles to prevent them from leaving. In many instances, he allegedly confiscated their driver’s licenses and/or cell phones. Ellis falsely accused his victims of committing various crimes and threatened their cars would be towed or they would be arrested, according to the charges.
As the encounter progressed, Ellis allegedly offered the victims a way out of being towed, charged and arrested. On some occasions, Ellis allegedly demanded money. On others, he assaulted his victims and at times demanded sexual acts, such as groping one victim, forcing another to strip naked and sexually assaulting another, according to the charges. During multiple instances, Ellis allegedly utilized his firearm in such a way to threaten his victims. He also instructed at least one victim to not tell anyone, according to the charges.
“The indictment accuses Ellis of leveraging his authority to intimidate victims, demanding money or, in more disturbing instances, forcing them into unwanted sexual acts,” said Hamdani. “This alleged breach of public trust underscores the horror of those using their power for alleged unlawful gains, leaving communities questioning the integrity of their protectors.”
If you believe you have been a victim or know someone who has, please fill out a quick this quick Seeking Victims online FBI form or contact the FBI Houston Field Office at 713-693-5000.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharad Khandelwal and Rebekah Saunders are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former Coast Guard Servicemember Sentenced to More Than 11 Years for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A former Coast Guard member was sentenced to 133 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for receiving child pornography after an investigation found that he had solicited child pornography from multiple women. Stephen Lamond Lollis, 36, pled guilty to the charge on August 19, 2024.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Lollis was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Coast Guard after a former romantic partner reported him to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In her tip, the woman reported that Lollis had shown her the child pornography he possessed and had made graphic comments about his desire to sexually abuse her and her son.
As a result of this tip, HSI agents executed a search warrant on Lollis’ residence, which resulted in four devices being seized that contained contraband. On those devices, law enforcement found images and videos of child pornography. Additionally, law enforcement found conversations on his devices in which Lollis encouraged women to sexually abuse their own children and then to send him videos and images of the abuse. Lollis had engaged in this coercive behavior to solicit child pornography from multiple women, including the woman who ultimately reported him to law enforcement.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded. U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan presided over the sentencing. The Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-21-FL-RN.
Firearms dealer pleads guilty; surrenders federal licenseRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to selling a firearm to a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Ricardo Estevis Jr. was the operating officer of Rick’s Armory LLC in Laredo and admitted to illegally manufacturing firearms without a license.
On Feb. 15, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at his home and business. It resulted in the discovery of at least 13 firearms that Estevis made in violation of several federal laws and was incompatible with his dealer-only federal firearms license.
Estevis admitted making the firearms - some of which were illegal to make or possess without a special license - and had them for sale at his home business.
After his arrest, Estevis surrendered his federal firearms license on behalf of the business and personally agreed to stop acquiring firearms inventory and transferring firearms to the public as of April 24.
“Estevis abused the privilege of a federal firearm license by intentionally selling a pistol to a five-time convicted felon and by making illegal firearms and lying about it,” said Hamdani. “He pursued financial profits over the safety of our citizens. The protection of our communities from criminals with guns is one of my primary responsibilities, something I take very seriously.”
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Estevis faces up to 15 years for selling the pistol. The conviction also carrys up to $250,000 maximum possible fine.
Estevis was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case which is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Robert Lee Moran, 46, of Mount Hope, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 29, 2024, Moran distributed approximately 1 gram of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Beckley.
Moran is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-141.
###
Drug Trafficker and Money Launderer Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yvette Porras-Ochoa, 42, of Wittmann, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 180 months in prison. Porras-Ochoa pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Cocaine, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Prescription Controlled Substances Oxycodone and Promethazine-Codeine, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering on August 22, 2024.
Porras-Ochoa was the head of an Arizona-based drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of cocaine and prescription drugs. To fraudulently obtain the prescription drugs, Porras-Ochoa used an Arizona-licensed medical practitioner’s authorization to prescribe controlled substances and recruited others to pick up prescription drugs from Arizona-based pharmacies. After receiving the prescription drugs, she sold them, as well as cocaine, to out-of-state customers. Porras-Ochoa arranged payment for the drugs in a variety of sophisticated ways so as to avoid detection and subsequently laundered some of the drug proceeds through real estate transactions.
During a year-and-a-half long investigation, investigators were able to seize several large loads of drugs connected with Porras-Ochoa and confirm her involvement in the distribution of 884.2 grams of oxycodone, 33,330 units of promethazine-codeine, 4,690 units of alprazolam, 27,200 units of tramadol, 63,900 units of midazolam, and 2.96 kilograms of cocaine.
This investigation was 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.
In other words, OCDETF is a holistic approach to prosecuting organized crime. Deterrent criminal justice sentences are only a part of the District’s strategy to dismantle criminal entities. Sometimes, as here, it includes coordination with state and local partners. On other occasions it involves the use of sensitive investigative techniques like court-authorized interceptions of communications, or responsible use of civil and criminal asset forfeiture to disgorge illicit gains, or extradition of leadership from foreign nations, or collaboration with federal regulatory entities like the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Unites States Postal Service, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation in this case.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-1265-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-172_Porras-Ochoa# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Des Moines Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines woman was sentenced on November 15, 2024 to 12 years in federal prison for distribution of a pill containing fentanyl that resulted in a victim’s death.
According to public court documents, Nevaeh Simone Botts, 21, sold pills containing fentanyl to a 16-year-old victim who subsequently overdosed and died. Botts also sold fentanyl pills to an undercover police officer three times. In July 2023, during the execution of a search warrant at Botts’s apartment, law enforcement found hundreds of fentanyl pills and two firearms.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Botts will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Botts was also ordered to pay $5,574.09 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Fentanyl deaths for youth ages 15 to 24 more than doubled between 2018 and 2022. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to 144 Months in Federal Prison for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on November 8, 2024 to 12 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl.
According to public court documents, Luca Joseph Roberts, 25, provided pills containing fentanyl to a victim on October 20, 2022. The victim used the pills, overdosed, and died. Law enforcement identified Roberts as the source of supply for those pills and purchased from Roberts additional pills containing fentanyl.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Roberts will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Roberts was also ordered to pay $5,796.00 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Fentanyl deaths for youth ages 15 to 24 more than doubled between 2018 and 2022. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
Cut Bank man admits assaulting teen on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Cut Bank man today admitted to assaulting a teenage girl and breaking her jaw in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Elijah John Bullcalf, 21, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Bullcalf faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 10, 2025. Bullcalf was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on May 25, 2023, Bullcalf assaulted the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was 17 years old, at a residence in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The two got into an argument, and Bullcalf struck Doe in the face, breaking her jaw. Doe was treated the next day for the injury. About a month after the assault, Bullcalf struck Doe again in the same part of the jaw, causing pain and bleeding. In early 2024, Doe and her mother reported the assault to law enforcement, and Bullcalf admitted to the assault.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
XXX
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Trying to Illegally Buy A PistolRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Jason Harris (43, Palm Coast) to two years and four months in federal prison for making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm. Harris entered a guilty plea on April 10, 2024.
According to court documents and records, on May 22, 2023, Harris attempted to purchase a .22 caliber pistol from a gun store in Bunnell. At the time, Harris had multiple prior felony convictions, including robbery, felony battery and sale of cocaine. During the attempted purchase, Harris made a false statement on an ATF Form 4473, indicating that he was not a convicted felon. Because of his prior convictions, Harris is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This is another case identified through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.
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.
Colorado Springs Nurse Practitioner Agrees to Pay $90K to Resolve Allegations of Improper Prescribing of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
DENVER—The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Monica Preston, N.P., has agreed to pay $90,000 to resolve allegations that she unlawfully prescribed controlled substances, including dangerous opioids and drug combinations, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act.
The United States alleges that Ms. Preston, while working as a Nurse Practitioner at the now-defunct Colorado Institute for Pain Management in Colorado Springs, wrote prescriptions for controlled substances that were in dosages, at frequencies, and in combinations with other controlled substances that were outside the course of her professional practice, were not reasonable and necessary, and were not for a legitimate medical purpose. The United States alleges that Ms. Preston’s conduct departed from well-established prescribing guidelines and that she also fraudulently represented to the Center for Medicare Services that improper prescriptions were reasonable and necessary. The United States alleges that this conduct violated the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act.
As part of the settlement, Ms. Preston agreed to pay $90,000 in damages and civil penalties. Ms. Preston also agreed to permanently forgo holding a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration, which will prevent her from prescribing any controlled substances in the future.
“Nurse practitioners entrusted with prescribing authority must be careful not to ignore red flags that suggest that the opioids they prescribe are being misused or abused,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch. “When nurse practitioners do not adhere to well-established prescribing guidelines or falsely represent that improper prescriptions were reasonable and necessary, we will hold them accountable.”
“The DEA is proud to relentlessly pursue practitioners not acting in their patients’ best interests,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “Our investigators – along with other federal partners – worked diligently on this case, and as a result, Ms. Preston will never again be allowed to legally prescribe opioids or other controlled substances.”
“Medical providers who write prescriptions for controlled substances, including powerful opioids and dangerous drug combinations, that are outside the course of professional practice endanger the safety and wellbeing of patients and communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “This settlement highlights HHS-OIG’s commitment to work closely with our state and federal partners to protect federal health care programs and the people served by those programs.”
The claims against Ms. Preston are allegations, and in agreeing to settle this matter, she did not admit to any liability.
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General and was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Ross.
Collin County man convicted in oil and gas fraud scheme in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Murphy man has been convicted of federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Sameer Praveen Sethi, 42, was convicted of seven counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering by a jury following a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 10, 2024.
According to information presented in court, over several years, Sethi engaged in fraud scheme targeting investors of oil and gas joint ventures. Evidence presented at trial showed that Sethi would create a joint venture, prepare investment documents along with his staff, have his sales staff market the investments, and then the money raised from investors would be spent almost entirely on personal and business expenses. Evidence showed the investment documents contained significant misrepresentations and false statements. Although over $4 million was raised over the course of the joint ventures, investors received almost no returns.
"The United States Attorney's Office will continue to lead investigations into oil and gas investment schemes and other types of white collar crime that cause real harm to victims in Texas and around the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “The investors in this case were misled into providing their hard-earned money to a scheme that collapsed as the defendant was living well off of the money brought in by his joint ventures.”
Sethi faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Texas State Securities Board, and the FBI.
###
Clinton County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Receive and Distribute Child Pornography and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Richard Hockersmith, age 65, of Plattsburgh, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to receive and distribute child pornography and possession of child pornography announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
As part of his guilty plea, Hockersmith admitted that in August of 2022, he began conspiring with his co-defendant, Jack Kelly, about exchanging child pornography. Hockersmith further admitted that he and his co-defendant decided to exchange their child pornography by mailing an SD card containing the child pornography back and forth, which each of them did. Hockersmith also admitted that during a search of his residence on September 12, 2024, he still possessed the SD card he and his co-defendant used to receive and distribute child pornography via the U.S. mail, which still contained images and videos of child pornography.
At sentencing, which is currently scheduled for April 9, 2025, in Albany, New York before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, Hockersmith faces a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years and up to 20 years, a supervised release term of between 5 years and life, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Hockersmith will also be required to pay restitution to the victims of his offenses and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The case is being investigated by HSI with assistance from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Clewiston Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Felix Alberto Quinones (26, Clewiston) to six years in federal prison for distributing cocaine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense. Quinones pleaded guilty on August 28, 2024.
According to court documents Quinones pleaded guilty to selling cocaine and a firearm to an undercover ATF agent on October 3, 2023. Quinones also pleaded guilty to selling cocaine to an undercover ATF agent on October 11, 2023.
This case was investigated by 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.
Chinese nationals indicted for conspiracy to grow marijuana in two south Georgia locationsRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: Eight Chinese nationals have been indicted on felony charges after investigators discovered massive indoor marijuana growing operations in rural south Georgia.
All eight defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Conviction on those charges carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to life, along with fines of up to $10 million and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This investigation alleges the discovery of a massive clandestine operation illegally growing marijuana on two locations hidden in plain sight,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Our exceptional law enforcement partners identified these illicit operations and are working to hold these defendants accountable.”
As described in court documents and in initial court hearings, the investigation identified two large-scale indoor marijuana growing facilities on two tracts of land in Pierce and Brantley Counties.
The defendants indicted in USA v. Huang et al. all are Chinese nationals, including:
- Hiawen Huang, 54;
- Yim Hung Yuen,61;
- Chen Hui Shu, 35;
- Jen Peng Ma, 34;
- Zhu Sheng Bing, 64;
- Wei Sheng Deng, 42;
- Lecai Huang, 67; and,
- Zhi Yong Ma, 52.
In addition to the conspiracy and drug possession charges, Shu, Ma, Bing, and Deng also are charged with Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Similarly, Lecai Huang and Ma are charged with a separate count of Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
Hiawen Huang and Yim Hung Yuen are believed to have left the United States. The remaining defendants have made their initial appearance hearings in U.S. Magistrate Court and await further court proceedings.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was initiated by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and also investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and Darron J. Hubbard.
Chinese National and U.S. Legal Permanent Resident Charged for Illegal Scheme to Export Controlled Data and Defraud the Department of DefenseRead the Press Release
A four-count indictment was unsealed today charging Hang Sun, also known as Cody Sun, with conspiracy, wire fraud, smuggling, and a violation of the Arms Export Control Act for his role in an illegal scheme to send export-controlled defense-related technical data to China and to unlawfully supply the Department of Defense (DOD) with Chinese-origin rare earth magnets for aviation systems and military items.
The indictment alleges that between January 2012 and December 2018, the defendant conspired to send approximately 70 drawings containing export-controlled technical data to a company located in China without a license from the U.S. government, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The technical data drawings were the property of two U.S. companies and related to end-use items for aviation, submarine, radar, tank, mortars, missiles, infrared and thermal imaging targeting systems, and fire control systems for DOD.
The indictment further alleges that Quadrant Magnetics imported rare earth magnets that were smelted and magnetized by a company in China. Quadrant then sold these magnets to two U.S. companies which included them in components sold to DOD for use in the F-16, the F-18, and other defense assets in violation of the Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DFARS). Under the DFARS specialty metal clause, rare earth magnets sold to DOD must be produced in the United States or an approved country. China is not an approved country. Quadrant Magnetics and three of its employees were separately charged in a superseding indictment filed in the Western District of Kentucky on Dec. 5, 2023.
If convicted, Sun faces statutory maximum penalties of up to five years in prison for conspiracy; 20 years in prison for wire fraud; 20 years in prison for exporting technical data without a license; and 10 years in prison for smuggling goods from the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Director Kelly P. Mayo of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cincinnati Field Office, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud made the announcement .
The DCIS, FBI, HSI, IRS-CI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Christopher Tieke for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorneys Alexander Wharton and Leslie Esbrook with the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
XXX
China-Based Hacker Charged for Conspiring to Develop and Deploy Malware That Exploited Tens of Thousands of Firewalls WorldwideRead the Press Release
A federal court in Hammond, Indiana, unsealed an indictment today charging Guan Tianfeng, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for his involvement in a conspiracy to hack indiscriminately into firewall devices worldwide in 2020. Guan and his co-conspirators worked at the offices of Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Ltd. to discover and exploit a previously-unknown vulnerability (an “0-day” vulnerability) in certain firewalls sold by U.K.-based Sophos Ltd. (Sophos) – an information technology company that develops and markets cybersecurity products. The malware that exploited the vulnerability discovered by Guan was designed to steal information from infected computers and to encrypt files on them if a victim attempted to remediate the infection. In total, Guan and his co-conspirators infected approximately 81,000 firewall devices worldwide, including a firewall device used by an agency of the United States.
“The defendant and his co-conspirators exploited a vulnerability in tens of thousands of network security devices, infecting them with malware designed to steal information from victims around the world,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today’s indictment reflects the Justice Department’s commitment to working with partners across government and across the globe to detect and hold accountable malicious cyber actors based in China or elsewhere who pose a threat to global cybersecurity.”
“The defendant and his conspirators compromised tens of thousands of firewalls and then continued to hold at risk these devices, which protect computers in the United States and around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The Department of Justice will hold accountable those who contribute to the dangerous ecosystem of China-based enabling companies that carry out indiscriminate hacks on behalf of their sponsors and undermine global cybersecurity.”
“Our law enforcement actions, technical expertise, and enduring partnerships with private companies, like Sophos, demonstrate the reputation of the FBI as being a reliable and effective partner for stopping this malicious activity,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Complementary actions prevented further victimization of U.S. businesses and individuals while contributing to the safety of U.S. citizens as they use the internet.”
“Today’s indictment underscores our commitment to protecting the public from malicious actors who use security research as a cover to identify vulnerabilities in widely used systems and exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators placed thousands of computer networks, including a network in the Northern District of Indiana, at risk by conducting this attack.”
“The zero-day vulnerability Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators found and exploited affected firewalls owned by businesses across the United States, including in Indiana,” said Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “If Sophos had not rapidly identified the vulnerability and deployed a comprehensive response, the damage could have been far more severe. Sophos’s efforts combined with the dedication and expertise of our cyber squad formed a powerful partnership resulting in the mitigation of this threat.”
The Conspiracy to Exploit Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) 2020-12271
As alleged in the indictment, in 2020, Guan and his co-conspirators developed, tested, and deployed malware that targeted approximately 81,000 Sophos firewalls using a 0-day vulnerability that existed on those devices. The 81,000 Sophos firewalls were located throughout the world, including within victim organizations located in the Northern District of Indiana. The vulnerability was later designated CVE 2020-12271.
Guan and his co-conspirators designed the malware to steal information from firewalls. To better hide their activity, Guan and his co-conspirators registered and used domains designed to look like they were controlled by Sophos, such as sophosfirewallupdate.com. Sophos discovered the intrusion and remediated its customers’ firewalls in approximately two days, which caused the co-conspirators to modify their malware. As modified, the malware was designed to deploy encryption software from a ransomware variant in the event the victims attempted to remove the malware. Their encryption efforts did not succeed, but demonstrated the conspirators’ disregard for the harm that they would cause to victims.
Guan Tianfeng’s Employment and Sichuan Silence’s Relationship with the PRC Government
According to court documents, Guan worked for Sichuan Silence, a PRC-based private company that has provided services to the PRC Ministry of Public Security, among other PRC organizations. According to Sichuan Silence’s website, it developed a product line which could be used to scan and detect overseas network targets in order to obtain valuable intelligence information.
In October, Sophos released a number of articles chronicling its separate long-running investigation, "Pacific Rim.” Sophos detailed PRC-based advanced persistent threat groups targeting its networking appliances for over five years, which it described as “unusually knowledgeable about the internal architecture of the device firmware.” One of the attacks described in the Pacific Rim report involved CVE-2020-12271.
Soon after the Sophos announcements in October, the FBI issued a call for information regarding computer intrusions into Sophos edge devices. The FBI continues to solicit information on PRC-sponsored malicious actors targeting edge devices and network security appliances.
The U.S. Department of State also announced rewards today of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Guan or any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also announced sanctions on Sichuan Silence and Guan today.
Trial Attorneys Jacques Singer-Emery and George Brown of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Lupa for the Northern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.
The FBI continues to investigate Sichuan Silence’s hacking activities and intrusions into various edge devices.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
China-Based Hacker Charged for Conspiring to Develop and Deploy Malware That Exploited Tens of Thousands of Firewalls WorldwideRead the Press Release
Note: View the indictment here and FBI Wanted Poster here.
A federal court in Hammond, Indiana, unsealed an indictment today charging Guan Tianfeng, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for his involvement in a conspiracy to hack indiscriminately into firewall devices worldwide in 2020. Guan and his co-conspirators worked at the offices of Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Ltd. to discover and exploit a previously-unknown vulnerability (an “0-day” vulnerability) in certain firewalls sold by U.K.-based Sophos Ltd. (Sophos) – an information technology company that develops and markets cybersecurity products. The malware that exploited the vulnerability discovered by Guan was designed to steal information from infected computers and to encrypt files on them if a victim attempted to remediate the infection. In total, Guan and his co-conspirators infected approximately 81,000 firewall devices worldwide, including a firewall device used by an agency of the United States.
“The defendant and his co-conspirators exploited a vulnerability in tens of thousands of network security devices, infecting them with malware designed to steal information from victims around the world,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today’s indictment reflects the Justice Department’s commitment to working with partners across government and across the globe to detect and hold accountable malicious cyber actors based in China or elsewhere who pose a threat to global cybersecurity.”
“The defendant and his conspirators compromised tens of thousands of firewalls and then continued to hold at risk these devices, which protect computers in the United States and around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The Department of Justice will hold accountable those who contribute to the dangerous ecosystem of China-based enabling companies that carry out indiscriminate hacks on behalf of their sponsors and undermine global cybersecurity.”
“Our law enforcement actions, technical expertise, and enduring partnerships with private companies, like Sophos, demonstrate the reputation of the FBI as being a reliable and effective partner for stopping this malicious activity,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Complementary actions prevented further victimization of U.S. businesses and individuals while contributing to the safety of U.S. citizens as they use the internet.”
“Today’s indictment underscores our commitment to protecting the public from malicious actors who use security research as a cover to identify vulnerabilities in widely used systems and exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators placed thousands of computer networks, including a network in the Northern District of Indiana, at risk by conducting this attack.”
“The zero-day vulnerability Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators found and exploited affected firewalls owned by businesses across the United States, including in Indiana,” said Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “If Sophos had not rapidly identified the vulnerability and deployed a comprehensive response, the damage could have been far more severe. Sophos’s efforts combined with the dedication and expertise of our cyber squad formed a powerful partnership resulting in the mitigation of this threat.”
The Conspiracy to Exploit Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) 2020-12271
As alleged in the indictment, in 2020, Guan and his co-conspirators developed, tested, and deployed malware that targeted approximately 81,000 Sophos firewalls using a 0-day vulnerability that existed on those devices. The 81,000 Sophos firewalls were located throughout the world, including within victim organizations located in the Northern District of Indiana. The vulnerability was later designated CVE 2020-12271.
Guan and his co-conspirators designed the malware to steal information from firewalls. To better hide their activity, Guan and his co-conspirators registered and used domains designed to look like they were controlled by Sophos, such as sophosfirewallupdate.com. Sophos discovered the intrusion and remediated its customers’ firewalls in approximately two days, which caused the co-conspirators to modify their malware. As modified, the malware was designed to deploy encryption software from a ransomware variant in the event the victims attempted to remove the malware. Their encryption efforts did not succeed, but demonstrated the conspirators’ disregard for the harm that they would cause to victims.
Guan Tianfeng’s Employment and Sichuan Silence’s Relationship with the PRC Government
According to court documents, Guan worked for Sichuan Silence, a PRC-based private company that has provided services to the PRC Ministry of Public Security, among other PRC organizations. According to Sichuan Silence’s website, it developed a product line which could be used to scan and detect overseas network targets in order to obtain valuable intelligence information.
In October, Sophos released a number of articles chronicling its separate long-running investigation, “Pacific Rim.” Sophos detailed PRC-based advanced persistent threat groups targeting its networking appliances for over five years, which it described as “unusually knowledgeable about the internal architecture of the device firmware.” One of the attacks described in the Pacific Rim report involved CVE-2020-12271.
Soon after the Sophos announcements in October, the FBI issued a call for information regarding computer intrusions into Sophos edge devices. The FBI continues to solicit information on PRC-sponsored malicious actors targeting edge devices and network security appliances.
The U.S. Department of State also announced rewards today of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Guan or any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also announced sanctions on Sichuan Silence and Guan today.
Trial Attorneys Jacques Singer-Emery and George Brown of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Lupa for the Northern District of Indiana are prosecuting the case.
The FBI continues to investigate Sichuan Silence’s hacking activities and intrusions into various edge devices.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Matthew L. Farmer, 33, of Charleston, was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 8, 2023, law enforcement officers had reason to believe Farmer was carrying a firearm and encountered him while patrolling Charleston’s West Side. Officers asked Farmer if he had a firearm, and Farmer told them he had a firearm in his back pocket. Officers retrieved a Firearms Import Export (FIE) model Titan .25-caliber handgun from Farmer’s back pocket. The firearm had a magazine inserted that contained seven rounds of ammunition.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Farmer knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery in Monongalia County Circuit Court on October 7, 2015, and grand larceny in Wetzel County Circuit Court on January 26, 2011.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-202.
###
Broward Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Jean Volvick Moise was sentenced today in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to 36 months in prison for orchestrating a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing false income tax returns.
According to court record, to include the factual proffer in support of the defendant’s guilty plea, Moise, 39, of Fort Lauderdale, prepared false tax returns on behalf of his clients, causing his clients to get larger refunds than the refunds to which they were entitled. Moise accomplished this goal by preparing tax returns which included, among other false statements, false dependents, false Form 1099 withholdings, false educational credits, and false Schedules C business expenses, often for businesses which did not exist. Moise’s fee for his service was larger than the typical fee charged by a tax preparer. All told, Moise filed hundreds of false returns which caused the IRS to issue over $574,000 in fraudulent refunds to which the individuals were not entitled.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Hipkins of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
The IRS CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertha R. Mitrani prosecuted this case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60057.
###
Biddeford Man Faces up to 20 Years After Being Found with Cocaine While on State Probation for Unlawfully Possessing CocaineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Biddeford man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.
According to court records, in September 2024, a Biddeford police officer encountered Gage Barton, 26, walking in the early morning hours. Barton was on probation for unlawful possession of cocaine, and was also on bail conditions in the State of Maine District Court in York County. The officer searched Barton under his bail conditions. Barton was wearing a sling bag under his coat, and when the officer felt the bag he discerned something hard that he believed to be a weapon. When the officer looked inside the bag, he discovered a small digital scale and several clear plastic bags containing cocaine.
Barton faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine up to $1 million to be followed by three years to life of supervised release.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case with assistance from the Biddeford Police Department.
###
Bessemer Man Convicted in Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Bessemer man has been convicted at trial in an elder fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
The jury returned a guilty verdict against Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, after two days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco. Pruitt was convicted of two counts of wire fraud.
According to evidence presented at trial, in September 2023, Pruitt executed a Power of Attorney over an elderly family member with dementia, without the victim’s knowledge or permission. Between September 2023 and December 2023, Pruitt devised a scheme to defraud the victim by becoming a joint account holder on the victim’s bank accounts, changing the address on the victim’s bank accounts from the victim’s address to his address, removing two payable on death (POD) beneficiaries from one of the accounts, and adding two POD beneficiaries to another account. Pruitt then transferred $550,000 in funds from the victim’s accounts to his personal bank accounts. Pruitt used some of these funds for his own personal benefit, and he moved $500,000 to a new bank account that did not include the victim as an account holder. When confronted, Pruitt told various, inconsistent stories attempting to excuse his conduct.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan S. Rummage and Brett Janich are prosecuting the case.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and attempted fraud is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov. Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324.
Ashland Man Sentenced for Armed Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – An Ashland man, Dennis Hall, 49, was sentenced on Monday, to 130 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of 50 gram or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to his plea agreement, on March 4, 2024, law enforcement observed a vehicle speeding and executed a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and the passenger, Hall, also had a warrant for his arrest. A search of the vehicle revealed a bag of 71.5 grams of methamphetamine located between Hall’s legs. Additionally, officers located a loaded firearm between the passenger seat and center console. Hall admitted that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Hall had previously been convicted of burglary second degree in Greenup Circuit Court in 2012.
Under federal law, Hall 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 five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief William Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Ashland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
– END –