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9 December 2024
Five Guatemalan human smugglers charged in U.S. for 2021 mass casualty event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – An international enforcement operation has resulted in the arrest of five Guatemalan human smugglers linked to the Dec. 9, 2021, mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico, where a semi-trailer truck containing at least 160 migrants — many of whom were Guatemalan nationals — crashed, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuring over 100 more.
The operation was the result of coordination between the Justice Department and Guatemalan authorities and marks the third anniversary of the tragic event.
Authorities have now taken Guatemalan national Jorge Agapito Ventura, 32, Cleveland, into custody. He is expected to make his initial appearance Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison.
At the request of the United States, Guatemalan law enforcement also acted on provisional arrest warrants for Tomas Quino Canil, 36; Alberto Marcario Chitic, aka Alberto De Jesus, 31,; Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, aka Osvaldo ZQ, 24: and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 42. All have been indicted in the Southern District of Texas in connection with the investigation.
According to the indictment unsealed upon the arrests, from October 2021 to February 2023, all conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of migrants from Guatemala though Mexico with the intended destination of the United States. They allegedly recruited Guatemalan migrants, collected payment and arranged for travel to the United States. In some instances involving the smuggling of unaccompanied minors, they allegedly provided scripts and instructions on what to say if apprehended.
Some of the migrants they had recruited died or suffered serious bodily injury as result of the Dec. 9, 2021, crash, according to the charges.
“The Justice Department is holding accountable the individuals who we allege preyed on vulnerable migrants and are responsible for this heinous crime that resulted in the deaths over 50 people and injured over 100 more. Human smugglers should heed these charges and arrests as a warning: you will be held accountable for your deadly crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since we launched Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) more than three years ago, we have secured more than 330 domestic and international arrests and more than 275 convictions on smuggling offenses, as well as significant jail sentences and substantial forfeitures. We will continue to work across agencies and across borders to stop the scourge of human smuggling.”
“Today, the alleged perpetrators of an abhorrent crime — one that resulted in the senseless deaths of more than 50 migrants and the injury of more than 100 others — are being held accountable, thanks to the investigative work of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and our federal and international partners,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The tragedy that occurred three years ago today in Chiapas is further proof that human smugglers are ruthless, callous and dangerous — intending migrants should not believe their lies. DHS will continue to disrupt and dismantle illegal human smuggling operations and help bring those who perpetrate such horror to justice.”
“Three years ago today, in Chiapas, Mexico, a place known for natural wonder and cultural richness, a scene of unimaginable tragedy unfurled,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). “Our investigation into this catastrophic event that killed over 50 people, including children, signifies the unwavering commitment of the SDTX to hold those who engage in human smuggling accountable, irrespective of where their actions or the resultant harm occur. While this crash transpired beyond our borders, it is imperative that the pursuit of justice transcends those boundaries. Today, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring that those allegedly responsible for exploiting the vulnerabilities of families seeking refuge and opportunity face the full force of the law.”
“The indictment unsealed today alleges that the defendants conspired to smuggle Guatemalan migrants, including minors, to the United States, and that some of these migrants died when the tractor trailer they were riding in overturned in Chiapas, Mexico,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement — on the three-year anniversary of the victims’ deaths — demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to holding smugglers accountable, no matter where they may be, for their indifference to human life in their callous pursuit of profit. I am proud of the outstanding work by the prosecutors and investigators of JTFA, and I am grateful for our partnership with the Guatemalan authorities, whose assistance was essential in this investigation and prosecution.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, along with our law enforcement partners from JTFA, worked tirelessly to investigate, locate, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger. “Now, three years later, I proudly stand with our colleagues from the Justice Department to announce that we have made these apprehensions. HSI remains committed to dismantling human smuggling networks that exploit and mislead migrants, often subjecting them to dangerous and abusive conditions. These illicit organizations profit by preying on vulnerable populations, and HSI works assiduously to disrupt their operations. I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of our law enforcement partners in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico for their invaluable work to bring this investigation to fruition.”
HSI’s Global Investigation Group in Washington D.C. conducted the investigation in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit provided valuable assistance as did Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center; DHS Operation Sentinel; Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division; and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT). The Justice Department thanks Guatemalan and Mexican law enforcement officials, who were instrumental in furthering this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The indictment is the result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Justice Department, in partnership with the DHS, to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June 2024. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona and Southern District of California. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by OPDAT, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from the DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 330 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 275 U.S. convictions; over 225 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
An indictment is merely an allegation.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Five Guatemalan Human Smugglers Charged in U.S. for 2021 Mass Casualty Event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
Remote video URLView the indictment here.
View U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani's video recorded remarks here.
An international enforcement operation today resulted in the arrest of five Guatemalan human smugglers linked to the Dec. 9, 2021, mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico, where a semi-trailer truck containing at least 160 migrants — many of whom were Guatemalan nationals — crashed, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuring over 100 more. The operation was the result of coordination between the Justice Department and Guatemalan authorities and marks the third anniversary of the tragic event.
At the request of the United States, Guatemalan law enforcement acted on provisional arrest warrants for Tomas Quino Canil, 36; Alberto Marcario Chitic, also known as Alberto De Jesus, 31; Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, also known as Osvaldo ZQ, 24; and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 42. A fifth Guatemalan national, Jorge Agapito Ventura, was arrested at his residence in Cleveland, Texas. All five Guatemalan nationals have been indicted in the Southern District of Texas in connection with the investigation.
According to the indictment unsealed today, from October 2021 to February 2023, the defendants conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of migrants from Guatemala though Mexico with the intended destination of the United States. The defendants allegedly recruited Guatemalan migrants, collected payment, and arranged for travel to the United States. In some instances involving the smuggling of unaccompanied minors, the defendants provided scripts and instructions on what to say if apprehended. Some of the migrants recruited by the defendants died or suffered serious bodily injury as result of the Dec. 9, 2021, crash.
“The Justice Department is holding accountable the individuals who we allege preyed on vulnerable migrants and are responsible for this heinous crime that resulted in the deaths over 50 people and injured over 100 more. Human smugglers should heed these charges and arrests as a warning: you will be held accountable for your deadly crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since we launched Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) more than three years ago, we have secured more than 330 domestic and international arrests and more than 275 convictions on smuggling offenses, as well as significant jail sentences and substantial forfeitures. We will continue to work across agencies and across borders to stop the scourge of human smuggling.”
“Today, the alleged perpetrators of an abhorrent crime — one that resulted in the senseless deaths of more than 50 migrants and the injury of more than 100 others — are being held accountable, thanks to the investigative work of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and our federal and international partners,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The tragedy that occurred three years ago today in Chiapas is further proof that human smugglers are ruthless, callous, and dangerous — intending migrants should not believe their lies. DHS will continue to disrupt and dismantle illegal human smuggling operations and help bring those who perpetrate such horror to justice.”
“The indictment unsealed today alleges that the defendants conspired to smuggle Guatemalan migrants, including minors, to the United States, and that some of these migrants died when the tractor trailer they were riding in overturned in Chiapas, Mexico,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement — on the three-year anniversary of the victims’ deaths — demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to holding smugglers accountable, no matter where they may be, for their indifference to human life in their callous pursuit of profit. I am proud of the outstanding work by the prosecutors and investigators of JTFA, and I am grateful for our partnership with the Guatemalan authorities, whose assistance was essential in this investigation and prosecution.”
“Three years ago today, in Chiapas, Mexico, a place known for natural wonder and cultural richness, a scene of unimaginable tragedy unfurled,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “Our investigation into this catastrophic event that killed over 50 people, including children, signifies the unwavering commitment of the Southern District of Texas to hold those who engage in human smuggling accountable, irrespective of where their actions or the resultant harm occur. While this crash transpired beyond our borders, it is imperative that the pursuit of justice transcends those boundaries. Today, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring that those allegedly responsible for exploiting the vulnerabilities of families seeking refuge and opportunity face the full force of the law.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, along with our law enforcement partners from JTFA, worked tirelessly to investigate, locate, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger. “Now, three years later, I proudly stand with our colleagues from the Justice Department to announce that we have made these apprehensions. HSI remains committed to dismantling human smuggling networks that exploit and mislead migrants, often subjecting them to dangerous and abusive conditions. These illicit organizations profit by preying on vulnerable populations, and HSI works assiduously to disrupt their operations. I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of our law enforcement partners in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico for their invaluable work to bring this investigation to fruition.”
HSI’s Global Investigation Group in Washington D.C. investigated the case in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit; the Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center; Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division; and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT). The Justice Department thanks Guatemalan and Mexican law enforcement officials, who were instrumental in furthering this investigation.
Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The indictment of these defendants is the result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Justice Department, in partnership with DHS, to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona, and Southern District of California. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by OPDAT, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA, and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 330 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 275 U.S. convictions; over 225 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felon Who Pointed a Ghost Gun at Police Officer Returned to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who pointed a firearm at a police officer less than two months after he was released from federal prison was sentenced on December 2, 2024, to seven years in federal prison.
Daytrell Washington-Roby, age 26, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 1, 2024 guilty plea to possession of ammunition by a felon.
Information from sentencing showed that Washington-Roby was previously convicted of possession of a firearm by a user of a controlled substance and sentenced to federal prison in January 2020. He was released from prison on December 22, 2023. On February 18, 2024, a concerned citizen called 911 to report a man choking a woman in a car in Waterloo; Washington-Roby and his girlfriend. A police officer located Washington-Roby in the area of the call shortly thereafter. Washington-Roby raised his arms, pointing a firearm at the police officer. Washington-Roby then threw the loaded firearm into the backyard of a residence. The firearm was an un‑serialized “ghost gun.” Washington-Roby was on federal supervised release at the time.
Washington-Roby was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Washington-Roby was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment for his possession of ammunition offense. He was also sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment in his previous federal firearm case for which he was on supervised release, which was imposed consecutively to the 60-month term of imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Washington-Roby is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file numbers are 24-CR-2021 and 19-CR-0047.
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Federal Jury Convicts Registered Sex Offender on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A federal jury swiftly returned a guilty verdict on Friday, December 6, 2024, delivering a second conviction to a Cranston registered sex offender, who possessed child pornography while on supervised release following his earlier conviction by this Office for child pornography offenses, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
In December 2016, David A. Skally, 65, was convicted of possessing and accessing with the intent to view child pornography, and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. It was during this period of court-ordered supervision that he committed his current crimes.
On Friday, Skally was convicted following a four-day trial on charges of access with intent to view child pornography and possession of child pornography.
“Undeterred by his prior conviction, this defendant chose to continue in a course of conduct that victimized and contributed to the horrific abuse of children,” remarked U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. “This Office is likewise undeterred in its determination to stand up for the most vulnerable among us, and with this verdict, we have ensured that the public will be kept safe from this defendant for years to come.”
“Despite a previous federal conviction and prison time, Skally chose to again seek out child sexual abuse material knowing full well the harm it causes to children and the legal consequences he would face. A federal jury has found Skally guilty and he is once again facing significant time in federal prison,” said HSI New England’s Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “HSI works every day with our partners in Rhode Island to keep children safe and ensure predators are brought to justice.”
According to evidence presented by the government at trial, Skally underwent three examinations by a member of his sex-offender treatment team between June 5, 2020, and April 5, 2021, as part of his court-ordered supervision. During the course of those examinations, Skally admitted to viewing sexually explicit images of children “over ten times” after his release from prison while on supervised release. Further, Skally admitted some of the images he viewed depicted children 11 years of age or under engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Additional evidence showed that Skally engaged in repeated efforts to avoid monitoring software and other safeguards required during his term of probation.
Subsequent investigation and a forensic examination of Skally’s computer ultimately discovered several images of child pornography, including images of adults engaged in sexual activity with prepubescent victims. The jury ultimately concluded that Skally both possessed and accessed child pornography with the intent to view it, and specifically found that at least some of the material in question involved prepubescent children under the age of twelve.
Skally is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2024. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors; by virtue of his prior conviction, Skally is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ronald R. Gendron and Denise M. Barton, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and John P. McAdams.
This case, investigated by the U.S. Probation Department and Homeland Security Investigations, 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
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Federal Inmate Convicted of Possession of a "Shank" in Federal Transfer CenterRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted BRYAN JOSHUA TEWANEMA, 31, of Arizona, of possessing a prohibited object at the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On July 17, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Tewanema with possession of a prohibited object. On December 4, 2024, after a two-day trial, a federal jury found Tewanema guilty of the charge. Evidence presented at trial indicated that on May 29, 2024, corrections officers with the FTC discovered a sharpened piece of plexiglass, a “shank,” hidden in Tewanema’s pant leg. Evidence at trial indicated that this incident was the fourth time a “shank” has been located either on Tewanema’s person or in a cell assigned to him.
At sentencing, Tewanema faces up to five years in federal prison—which must be served consecutively to his already imposed federal sentences for second-degree murder and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Special Investigative Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Edgmon and Jordan Ganz are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Denver Man Indicted on 18 Counts for Defrauding Investment ClientsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Ian Gregory Bell, age 35, of Denver, Colorado was indicted by a federal grand jury on eight counts of wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud, and five counts of money laundering in connection with an investment scheme to defraud his clients.
According to the indictment, beginning in early 2020 and continuing through around March of 2023, Bell devised, intended to devise, and participated in a scheme and artifice to defraud investors and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. It is alleged that as a part of the scheme Bell obtained more than $1 million from more than twenty investor clients by telling them he would deliver significant returns with low risk. In nearly all cases, he spent or lost the investors’ money within days or weeks of receiving it. The indictment further alleges that Bell sent investors screenshots showing fabricated gains, and routinely solicited additional investments through false promises about how much earlier investments had grown.
The defendant made his initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service. These charges follow a parallel investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Denver Regional Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Weber.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00345-PAB-1
Deltona Man Sentenced to More Than Eight Years for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Christian Alberto Arango (33, Deltona) to 8 years and 1 month in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material. The Court also ordered Arango to register as a sex offender and forfeit a computer and cell phone, which were used to commit the offenses. Arango had entered a guilty plea on June 11, 2024.
According to court documents, Arango was identified as a purchaser of child sexual abuse material during an FBI investigation into an individual who had been producing and selling that material on the internet. On November 13, 2023, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Arango’s Deltona residence and seized his computer and cell phone. A subsequent forensic examination of those devices revealed over 500 images and over 600 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including children as young as toddlers.
On February 13, 2024, during an interview with agents, Arango admitted that he had purchased and downloaded hundreds of child sexual abuse images since approximately 2018.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
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.
Criminal Charges Unsealed in Chicago Against Two Former High-Ranking Syrian Government Intelligence Officials for War Crimes Against Americans and Other CiviliansRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An indictment was unsealed today in Chicago charging two high-ranking Syrian officials under former President Bashar al-Assad with war crimes. The indictment charges the former Syrian intelligence officials with engaging in a conspiracy to commit cruel and inhuman treatment of civilian detainees, including U.S. citizens, during the course of the Syrian civil war.
Former Syrian Air Force Intelligence officers Jamil Hassan, 72, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, 65, were each charged in connection with a conspiracy to commit war crimes through the infliction of cruel and inhuman treatment on detainees under their control, including U.S. citizens, in detention facilities at the Mezzeh Military Airport near Damascus, Syria. Warrants for the defendants’ arrest have been issued, and they remain at large.
“The perpetrators of the Assad regime’s atrocities against American citizens and other civilians during the Syrian civil war must answer for their heinous crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As alleged, these Assad regime intelligence officials whipped, kicked, electrocuted, and burned their victims; hung them by their wrists for prolonged periods of time; threatened them with rape and death; and falsely told them that their family members had been killed. The Justice Department has a long memory, and we will never stop working to find and bring to justice those who tortured Americans.”
“The Assad regime may have fallen, but our commitment to accountability continues unabated,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “For the second time in a year, the Department of Justice has brought charges against those who committed war crimes against U.S. citizens, deploying a previously unused federal law to hold accountable individuals who engaged in cruel and inhuman atrocities during armed conflict.”
“The serious human rights abuses set forth in this indictment must not go unpunished,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois. “The United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago remains steadfastly committed to bringing justice to the victims of these heinous crimes, no matter where the perpetrators are or how long it takes.”
“Torture is one of the most egregious crimes that the FBI investigates, and this historic indictment memorializes our commitment to accountability and justice,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office. “This multi-year investigation is the culmination of the tireless work by FBI personnel, both in the US and overseas, and the courage of countless victims and witnesses affected by the Assad Regime in Syria.”
“Hassan and Mahmoud allegedly oversaw the systematic use of torture and cruelty on perceived enemies of the Syrian regime, including American citizens,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI is fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners around the world to ensure these alleged war criminals are held accountable for their actions and justice is brought to the victims of these atrocities.”
“The defendants are alleged to have committed atrocities against political dissidents, including U.S. citizens, opposing a brutal and now-deposed dictatorial regime,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “War crimes such as the torture described in this indictment strike at the basic human rights that we all share. This historic indictment — the second brought under the U.S. War Crimes statute — demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to pursue accountability for those who commit war crimes and other atrocities wherever they may occur.”
According to the indictment, Hassan was the Director of Syrian Air Force Intelligence and oversaw a network of detention facilities, including the Mezzeh Prison in Damascus, where civilians perceived to be opponents of the Syrian regime were detained and subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment. Mahmoud was a Brigadier General in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence and directed operations at the Mezzeh Prison.
The indictment alleges that from 2012 to 2019, Hassan and Mahmoud conspired to identify, intimidate, threaten, punish, and kill people detained at Mezzeh Prison suspected of aiding or supporting opponents of the regime, such as those who protested, provided medical aid to opponents of the regime, or publicly criticized the regime. According to the indictment, detainees in the defendants’ custody, including U.S. citizens, were mercilessly beaten, electrocuted, and had their toenails removed. Detainees were also allegedly hung from the ceiling by their wrists and were burned with acid. The defendants allegedly conspired to create an atmosphere of terror at Mezzeh, forcing detainees to listen to the screams of tortured prisoners and share cells with the dead bodies of other detainees, while guards threatened to kill and sexually assault their family members. The detainees were also allegedly deprived of adequate food, water, and medical care.
The defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit the war crime of cruel and inhuman treatment. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Chicago Field Office investigated the war crimes allegations in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The Justice Department thanks the United Nations International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism for Syria, as well as French and German authorities, for their assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Dollear, Barry Jonas, and Ann Marie Ursini for the Northern District of Illinois, and HRSP Trial Attorneys Elizabeth Nielsen and Frank Rangoussis. HRSP historian Phil Hoffman provided assistance in the investigation and prosecution.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States or the location of the defendants named in this indictment are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or through the FBI online tip form. All are staffed around the clock, and tips may be provided anonymously.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
us_v._hassan.indictment.filed_.pdfCriminal Charges Unsealed Against Two Former High-Ranking Syrian Government Intelligence Officials for War Crimes against Americans and Other CiviliansRead the Press Release
A copy of the indictment can be found here.
An indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District of Illinois charging two high-ranking Syrian officials under former President Bashar al-Assad with war crimes. The indictment charges the former Syrian intelligence officials with engaging in a conspiracy to commit cruel and inhuman treatment of civilian detainees, including U.S. citizens, during the course of the Syrian civil war.
Former Syrian Air Force Intelligence officers Jamil Hassan, 72, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, 65, were each charged in connection with a conspiracy to commit war crimes through the infliction of cruel and inhuman treatment on detainees under their control, including U.S. citizens, in detention facilities at the Mezzeh Military Airport (Mezzeh Prison), near Damascus, Syria. Warrants for the defendants’ arrest have been issued, and they remain at large.
“The perpetrators of the Assad regime’s atrocities against American citizens and other civilians during the Syrian civil war must answer for their heinous crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As alleged, these Assad regime intelligence officials whipped, kicked, electrocuted, and burned their victims; hung them by their wrists for prolonged periods of time; threatened them with rape and death; and falsely told them that their family members had been killed. The Justice Department has a long memory, and we will never stop working to find and bring to justice those who tortured Americans.”
“The Assad regime may have fallen, but our commitment to accountability continues unabated,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “For the second time in a year, the Department of Justice has brought charges against those who committed war crimes against U.S. citizens, deploying a previously unused federal law to hold accountable individuals who engaged in cruel and inhuman atrocities during armed conflict.”
“Hassan and Mahmoud allegedly oversaw the systematic use of cruel and inhumane treatment on perceived enemies of the Syrian regime, including American citizens,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI is fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners around the world to ensure these alleged war criminals are held accountable for their actions and justice is brought to the victims of these atrocities.”
“The defendants are alleged to have committed atrocities against political dissidents, including U.S. citizens, opposing a brutal and now-deposed dictatorial regime,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “War crimes such as the torture described in this indictment strike at the basic human rights that we all share. This historic indictment — the second brought under the U.S. War Crimes statute — demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to pursue accountability for those who commit war crimes and other atrocities wherever they may occur.”
“The serious human rights abuses set forth in this indictment must not go unpunished,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois. “The United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago remains steadfastly committed to bringing justice to the victims of these heinous crimes, no matter where the perpetrators are or how long it takes.”
“Human rights abuses are among the most egregious crimes that the FBI investigates, and this historic indictment memorializes our commitment to accountability and justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office. “This multi-year investigation is the culmination of the tireless work by FBI personnel, both in the United States and overseas, and the courage of countless victims and witnesses affected by the Assad Regime in Syria.”
According to the indictment, Hassan was the Director of Syrian Air Force Intelligence and oversaw a network of detention facilities, including the Mezzeh Prison in Damascus, where civilians perceived to be opponents of the Syrian regime were detained and subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment. Mahmoud was a Brigadier General in the Syrian Air Force Intelligence and directed operations at the Mezzeh Prison.
The indictment alleges that, between January 2012 and July 2019, Hassan and Mahmoud conspired to identify, intimidate, threaten, punish, and kill people detained at Mezzeh Prison suspected of aiding or supporting opponents of the regime, such as those who protested, provided medical aid to opponents of the regime, or publicly criticized the regime. According to the indictment, detainees in the defendants’ custody, including U.S. citizens, were mercilessly beaten, electrocuted, and had their toenails removed. Detainees were also allegedly hung from the ceiling by their wrists and were burned with acid. The defendants allegedly conspired to create an atmosphere of terror at Mezzeh, forcing detainees to listen to the screams of tortured prisoners and share cells with the dead bodies of other detainees, while guards threatened to kill and sexually assault their family members. The detainees were also allegedly deprived of adequate food, water, and medical care.
The defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit the war crime of cruel and inhuman treatment. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Chicago Field Office investigated the war crimes allegations in partnership with the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The Justice Department thanks the United Nations International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism for Syria, as well as French authorities, for their assistance.
HRSP Trial Attorneys Elizabeth Nielsen and Frank Rangoussis and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Dollear, Barry Jonas, and Ann Marie Ursini for the Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case. HRSP historian Phil Hoffman provided substantial assistance in the investigation and prosecution.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States or the location of the defendants named in this indictment are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or through the FBI online tip form. All are staffed around the clock, and tips may be provided anonymously.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Conway Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Evidence presented to the court showed that agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered an Internet user associated with an address in Conway who engaged in Bitcoin transactions with a Darknet site from which users purchased CSAM. HSI discovered that the user engaged in several Bitcoin transactions with Bitcoin addresses within the website between March 2016 and August 2016 and that the username on the account was Laine Clark. HSI obtained a federal search warrant for the residence in Conway, and during the search, agents found multiple electronic devices. During a forensic examination of the seized devices, HSI found 10,910 images and 1,210 videos of CSAM. Clark was present during the search and admitted to his involvement in CSAM-related activities.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Clark to 78 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Clark was ordered to pay $41,000.00 in restitution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.
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Cinco traficantes de personas guatemaltecos acusados en Estados Unidos del siniestro masivo en 2021 en Chiapas, MéxicoRead the Press Release
Remote video URLVea la acusación here.
Vea las declaraciones videograbadas del fiscal Alamdar Hamdani here.
Una operación internacional de aplicación de la ley resultó hoy en el arresto de cinco traficantes de personas guatemaltecos vinculados al siniestro masivo del 9 de diciembre de 2021 en Chiapas, México, donde un camión semirremolque que contenía al menos 160 migrantes, muchos de ellos ciudadanos guatemaltecos, se estrelló, provocando la muerte de más de 50 personas e hiriendo a otros más de 100. El operativo fue resultado de la coordinación entre el Departamento de Justicia y las autoridades guatemaltecas, y marca el tercer aniversario del trágico suceso.
A solicitud de Estados Unidos, las autoridades guatemaltecas de aplicacion de la ley ejecutaron órdenes de arresto provisionales contra Tomás Quino Canil, de 36 años; Alberto Marcario Chitic, también conocido como Alberto De Jesús, de 31 años; Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, también conocido como Osvaldo ZQ, de 24 años; y Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, de 42 años. Un quinto ciudadano guatemalteco, Jorge Agapito Ventura, fue arrestado en su residencia en Cleveland, Texas. Los cinco ciudadanos guatemaltecos han sido acusados en el Distrito Sur de Texas en relación con la investigación.
Según la acusación revelada hoy, desde octubre de 2021 hasta febrero de 2023, los acusados conspiraron con otros traficantes para facilitar el viaje de migrantes desde Guatemala a través de México con el destino previsto de Estados Unidos. Los acusados supuestamente reclutaron a migrantes guatemaltecos, cobraron y organizaron viajes a los Estados Unidos. En algunos casos
relacionados con el tráfico de menores no acompañados, los acusados proporcionaron guiones e instrucciones sobre qué decir si eran detenidos. Algunos de los inmigrantes reclutados por los acusados murieron o sufrieron lesiones corporales graves como resultado del accidente del 9 de diciembre de 2021.
“El Departamento de Justicia está haciendo rendir cuentas a los individuos que presuntamente se aprovecharon de migrantes vulnerables y son responsables de este crimen atroz que causó la muerte de más de 50 personas y heridas a otros más de 100. Los traficantes de seres humanos deben tener en cuenta estos cargos y detenciones como una advertencia: tendrán que rendir cuentas por sus crímenes mortales”, dijo el fiscal general Merrick B. Garland. “Desde que pusimos en marcha la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Alfa (JTFA) hace más de tres años, hemos conseguido más de 330 detenciones nacionales e internacionales y más de 275 condenas por delitos de tráfico ilícito, así como importantes penas de cárcel y cuantiosas confiscaciones. Seguiremos trabajando con todos las agencias y a través de las fronteras para acabar con la lacra del tráfico de seres humanos”.
“Hoy, los presuntos autores de un crimen abominable, uno que resultó en la muerte sin sentido de más de 50 migrantes y las lesiones de otros más de 100, están siendo responsabilizados gracias a la labor de investigación de los agentes del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) y nuestros socios federales e internacionales”, dijo el secretario de Seguridad Nacional Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “La tragedia ocurrida hoy hace tres años en Chiapas es una prueba más de que los traficantes de personas son despiadados, crueles y peligrosos, los migrantes no deben creer sus mentiras. El DHS continuará interrumpiendo y desmantelando las operaciones ilegales de tráfico de personas y ayudando a llevar ante la justicia a quienes perpetran tal horror”.
“La acusación revelada hoy alega que los acusados conspiraron para contrabandear migrantes guatemaltecos, incluidos menores, a Estados Unidos, y que algunos de estos migrantes murieron cuando el camión en el que viajaban volcó en Chiapas, México”, dijo la subdirectora fiscal general Adjunta Principal, Nicole M. Argentieri, jefa de la División Criminal del Departamento de Justicia. “El anuncio de hoy, en el tercer aniversario de la muerte de las víctimas, demuestra el compromiso de la División Criminal en hacer rendir cuentas a los contrabandistas, sin importar dónde se encuentren, por su indiferencia hacia la vida humana en su cruel búsqueda de ganancias. Estoy orgullosa del excelente trabajo de los fiscales e investigadores de la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Alfa, y estoy agradecida por nuestra asociación con las autoridades guatemaltecas, cuya asistencia fue esencial en esta investigación y proceso penal”.
“Hoy hace tres años, en Chiapas, México, un lugar conocido por sus maravillas naturales y riqueza cultural, ocurrió una escena de tragedia inimaginable”, dijo el fiscal federal estadounidense Alamdar Hamdani. “Nuestra investigación sobre este evento catastrófico que mató a más de 50 personas, incluidos niños, significa el compromiso inquebrantable del Distrito Sur de Texas de hacer rendir cuentas a quienes participan en el tráfico de personas, independientemente del lugar donde se produzcan sus actos o el daño resultante. Si bien este accidente se produjo más allá de nuestras fronteras, es imperativo que la búsqueda de la justicia trascienda esas fronteras. Hoy reiteramos nuestro compromiso de garantizar que los presuntos responsables de explotar las vulnerabilidades de las familias que buscan refugio y oportunidades enfrenten todo el peso de la ley”.
“Los agentes especiales de Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), junto con nuestros colaboradores de aplicación de la ley de JTFA, trabajaron incansablemente para investigar, localizar y detener a los responsables de este atroz acto”, dijo Katrina W. Berger, directora ejecutiva adjunta de HSI. “Ahora, tres años después, me siento orgullosa de estar junto a nuestros colegas del Departamento de Justicia para anunciar que hemos realizado estas aprehensiones. HSI mantiene su compromiso de desmantelar las redes de tráfico de seres humanos que explotan y engañan a los migrantes, frecuentemente sometiéndolos a condiciones peligrosas y abusivas. Estas organizaciones ilícitas obtienen beneficios aprovechándose de poblaciones vulnerables y HSI trabaja asiduamente para interrumpir sus operaciones. Quiero expresar mi sincero agradecimiento a todos nuestros socios de la aplicación de la ley en Estados Unidos, Guatemala y México por su invaluable trabajo para llevar a buen término esta investigación”.
El Grupo de Investigación Global de HSI en Washington D.C. investigó el caso en asociación con HSI Guatemala y HSI México. Valiosa asistencia fue brindada por la Unidad de Contrabando de Personas de HSI; el Centro Nacional de Búsqueda de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza; Operación Centinela; Patrulla Fronteriza de Estados Unidos; Alguacil del Condado de Liberty, Precinto 6; Inmigración y Control de Aduanas, Operaciones de Ejecución y Remoción, Houston; Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Este de Texas, División Beaumont; y la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales (OIA) y la Oficina de Desarrollo, Asistencia y Capacitación de Fiscales en el Extranjero (OPDAT) del Departamento de Justicia. El Departamento de Justicia agradece a los oficiales de aplicación de la ley de Guatemala y México, que desempeñaron un papel decisivo en el avance de esta investigación.
La abogada litigante Danielle Hickman de la Sección de Derechos Humanos y Procesamientos Especiales (HRSP) de la División Criminal y la fiscal federal adjunta para el Distrito Sur de Texas, Jennifer Day, están procesando el caso, asistencia sustancial de la historiadora/especialista latinoamericana de HRSP, Joanna Crandall.
La acusación de estas personas es el resultado de los esfuerzos coordinados de la JTFA. El fiscal general Merrick B. Garland creó la JTFA en junio de 2021 para unir los recursos de investigación y procesamiento del Departamento de Justicia, en asociación con el DHS, para combatir el aumento de prolíficos y peligrosos grupos de contrabando y trata que operan en México, Guatemala, El Salvador y Honduras. La iniciativa se amplió a Colombia y Panamá para combatir el tráfico de personas en el Darién en junio. La JTFA está integrada por funcionarios de las Fiscalías Federales a lo largo de la frontera suroeste, incluidos los distritos sur y oeste de Texas, el distrito de Nuevo México, el distrito de Arizona, y el Distrito Sur de California.
Numerosos componentes de la División Criminal del Departamento de Justicia, dirigidos por HRSP y apoyados por OPDAT, la Sección de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas, la Sección de Lavado de Dinero y Recuperación de Activos, la Oficina de Operaciones de Cumplimiento, la OIA y la Sección de Delitos Violentos y Extorsión, brindan apoyo dedicado.
La JTFA también depende de una inversión sustancial en materia de aplicación de la ley por parte del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, el FBI, la Administración de Control de Drogas (DEA) y otros socios. Hasta la fecha, el trabajo de la JTFA ha resultado en más de 330 arrestos nacionales e internacionales de líderes, organizadores y facilitadores importantes del tráfico de personas; más de 275 condenas en Estados Unidos; más de 225 sentencias de cárcel importantes impuestas; y decomisos de activos sustanciales.
Una acusación formal es simplemente una alegación. Se presume que todos los acusados son inocentes hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia.
Chinese citizen pleads guilty to kidnapping in case linked to human smugglingRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 33-year-old citizen of China, who was residing in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Ji Wang was arrested on May 13, 2024, in the Los Angeles area. Wang was identified as one of the kidnappers linked to the May 27, 2023, abduction and assault of a worker at a hot pot restaurant in Bellevue, Washington. U.S. District Judge James L. Robart scheduled sentencing for March 4, 2025.
According to records filed in the case, Ji Wang was involved with a ring smuggling people across the southern border into the U.S. for a fee. The victim referred people from China who wanted to cross into the U.S., for the smuggling services. The victim was supposed to collect and transfer smuggling fees from those who used the smuggling services. The victim did not collect as high a fee as the smuggling group anticipated. Wang and a co-schemer traveled to Bellevue in May and physically removed the victim from his work and forced him into a sedan.
The men beat the victim and smashed his face into the cement and dragged him down a set of stairs. Witnesses quickly alerted Bellevue Police. Officers worked with the victim’s girlfriend who placed a video call to the victim’s cellphone. Wang answered the call and showed his face. Police recorded the call and were able to identify Wang.
Wang and his associate dropped the victim at a service station in Bellevue. The victim was critically injured and needed emergency surgery for swelling of the brain. He spent weeks in Overlake hospital. He has lasting physical and cognitive damage from the assault.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will cap their recommended sentence at eight years in prison. The actual sentence is up to Judge Robart and can be any sentence allowed by law. Kidnapping is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison. Wang was not legally present in the United States and may be deported following his prison term.
The case was investigated by the Bellevue Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Marshal’s Service Task Force.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Cecelia Gregson.
Career Criminal Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Robbing Two Indianapolis BusinessesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS— Alonzo Wiatt Sansbury, 56, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to commercial robbery and attempted commercial robbery.
According to court documents, on May 17, 2024, Sansbury committed an attempted robbery at a Dollar Tree near North Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana. During the attempted robbery, he used fear and threatened force to attempt to rob the establishment. The robbery was captured on video surveillance.
Just a few hours later that same day, Sansbury committed an armed robbery at Big Lots near North Allisonville Road. Sansbury robbed the establishment using an object he insinuated was a gun, threatened violence, and obtained an unspecified amount of cash. The robbery was also captured on video surveillance.
Sansbury has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1989, including convictions for burglary, theft, and robbery. He was discharged from parole for a prior robbery conviction less than a year before he committed the robberies charged in this case.
“For more than two decades, this criminal has repeatedly demonstrated his utter disregard for the law or the safety and security of others,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Repeat, violent criminals are a top target for federal prosecution, and face significant punishment in federal court. I commend the FBI, IMPD, and our federal prosecutor for ensuring this menace to Indianapolis neighborhoods will be off our streets for the next decade.”
FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate who prosecuted this 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.
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Canadian Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for $1.4 Million Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Canadian man was sentenced today in federal district court in Boston to embezzling more than $1.4 million from his employer and its clients.
Adil Rahman, 36, of Ontario, Canada, was sentenced by United States Senior District Judge William G. Young to 20 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,473,909.50 in restitution. In September 2024, Rahman pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Rahman was charged in July 2024.
Rahman worked in Ontario, Canada as a credit analyst for Company A – a subsidiary of a large electrical distribution and services company based in Pittsburgh, Pa. As part of his job, Rahman interacted with clients of Company A concerning invoices for the company’s services. Between November 2022 and December 2023, Rahman directed certain customers of Company A to pay their invoices via ACH transfers to his personal bank account, rather than to the account of Company A.
For example, in or about November 2022, Rahman sent an email to the accounts payable department of Company B – a nonprofit municipal corporation based in Hartford, Conn. – asking if the company would be interested in paying future invoices to Company A by ACH transfer rather than by check. When Company B agreed to do so, Rahman provided his personal account information to Company B. Thereafter, under the false impression that it was sending the money to Company A to pay the invoices it owed, Company B sent at least 15 ACH transfers to Rahman’s personal account between December 2022 and June 2023.
Likewise, in May 2023, Rahman emailed the accounts payable department at Company C – a privately held provider of corporate security systems based in Andover, Mass. – asking if Company C wished to pay future invoices by ACH transfer. Once again, when Company C agreed to do so, Rahman provided his personal bank account information and Company C thereafter made 11 ACH transfers to Rahman’s personal account between May 2023 and July 2023.
In total, through this scheme, Rahman defrauded Company A and its clients of more than $1.4 million.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
California Man Indicted for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Girish Subburaman (24, California) with one count of cyberstalking. If convicted, Subburaman faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A federal grand jury indicted Subburaman on October 22, 2024.
According to the indictment, from at least September 2023, to at least October 2023, Subburaman used the internet, a social media application, and cellular telephone networks to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to the victim, while the victim was residing in Lake County, Florida. Subburaman’s actions were intended to injure, harass, and intimidate the victim.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Leesburg Police Department, and the San Diego Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.
Bureau of Prisons Inmate Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2015 Murder at United States PenitentiaryRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Morgan Wayne Siler, 40, of Portsmouth, Virginia, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to two concurrent terms of life in prison. Siler pleaded guilty to Murder and Conspiracy to Murder on September 11, 2024.
On December 18, 2015, at the United States Penitentiary in Tucson, Siler – along with fellow inmate and co-conspirator David Hammer – killed another inmate who was housed at the facility. Siler and Hammer planned the murder in advance. The victim’s cause of death was determined to be from asphyxia and blunt force injuries.
At the time of the murder, Siler was in federal custody for a 2008 conviction stemming from an assault on a Bureau of Prisons corrections officer and a 2005 conviction for a series of retail establishment robberies in Virginia. Siler’s life sentences will run consecutive to the sentences already imposed in those cases. Co-conspirator Hammer passed away in 2019.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-1300-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-171_Siler# # #
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.Bay Area Home Health Agency Owner Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Veronica Katz was sentenced today to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay $543,634.34 in restitution for committing health care fraud. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable James Donato, U.S. District Judge.
Katz, 36, of San Francisco, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 17, 2023, along with two co-defendants. Katz pleaded guilty on Apr. 18, 2024, to one count of health care fraud. Katz was the owner and operator of HealthNow Home Healthcare and Hospice (HealthNow), a home health agency that provided in-home medical care to patients in the Bay Area. HealthNow billed Medicare and private insurance companies for in-home medical care. In the course of operating HealthNow, Katz submitted false documentation to Medicare in order to obtain reimbursements in violation of Medicare’s rules and regulations.
According to Katz’s plea agreement, she participated in a scheme to defraud Medicare that took a number of forms, including using the identities of licensed medical practitioners on electronic medical records and billing information without the practitioners’ knowledge or consent; directing certain individuals to prepare “Start of Care” (SOC) forms even though the individuals were not Registered Nurses (RNs), as required by Medicare; manipulating electronic patient medical records in order to make it appear as if RNs had completed the patient SOCs; and billing Medicare for physical therapy services that Katz knew had not been provided.
In addition, Katz admitted that she took steps to thwart law enforcement’s investigation into HealthNow. In October 2019, Katz met with one of her HealthNow employees, who informed Katz that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents had questioned the employee regarding the company’s billing practices and SOC assessments. Katz instructed the employee to lie to the FBI and falsely state that the employee had been trained and supervised by an RN in the course of conducting SOC assessments.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp, and Steven J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG).
In addition to the term of imprisonment and restitution, Judge Donato also sentenced Katz to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered her to pay a $50,000 fine. Defendant will begin serving her sentence on Jan. 6, 2025.
Co-defendant Vennesa Herrera pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2021, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud, and will be sentenced on Mar. 17, 2025. Co-defendant Simon Katz’s trial is scheduled for May 12, 2025.
Assistant United States Attorney Christiaan Highsmith is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Helen Yee and Mark DiCenzo. The prosecution is the result of a lengthy investigation by the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Public Health.
Arrest Made in Superseding Indictment Charging Five Individuals with Three Different Murders and a Fourth Non-Fatal Drive-By ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – This morning, the U.S. Marshals Service (“USMS”) arrested Dionzai Parker, 21, also known as “Moneybag Jefe,” on a bench warrant issued after the grand jury returned a third superseding indictment charging Parker with, among other counts, conspiracy and first-degree murder while armed for the February 25, 2023 homicide of Brice Djembissi, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.
Previously, four other men from the District and Maryland—Derrico Johnson, 20, Ronald Henderson, 19, Daveon Robinson, 18, and Demarco Robinson, 20—were arraigned on the same third superseding indictment in connection with three homicides—the April 12, 2022 murder of Clayton Marshall, the May 26, 2022 murder of Justin Johnson, and the February 25, 2023 murder of Brice Djembissi—and a fourth drive-by shooting at Alabama Convenience Store that injured two bystanders, described below.
The 33-count third superseding indictment charges each defendant with conspiracy, as well as:
- Derrico Johnson with two counts of first-degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from the April 12, 2022 murder of Clayton Marshall and May 26, 2022 murder of Justin Johnson;
- Ronald Henderson with one count of first-degree murder while armed and four counts of assault with intent to kill stemming from the May 26, 2022 murder of Justin Johnson and the January 2, 2023 drive-by shooting at Alabama Convenience Store;
- Daveon Robinson with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from the January 2, 2023 drive-by shooting at Alabama Convenience Store;
- Dionzai Parker with one count of first-degree murder while armed and two counts of assault with intent to kill stemming from the February 25, 2023 murder of Brice Djembissi.
According to the third superseding indictment, the five defendants are members of a crew called “Get Back Gang,” which is associated with the Henson Ridge neighborhood in 7D often referred to as “the Z” and part of a broader group driving violence in DC known as “Fox 5 Gang.” Over the past few years, these defendants and others participated in several homicides and non-fatal shootings, including:
- On April 12, 2022, Derrico Johnson was picked up in a stolen vehicle and driven to the 2200 block of Savannah Street SE. At approximately 12:20 p.m., Derrico Johnson briefly exited the vehicle and fired several rounds in the direction of Shipley Market. Clayton Marshall, 32, who does not appear to have been the intended target, was shot and killed and another individual was shot and injured.
- On May 26, 2022, Derrico Johnson, Ronald Henderson, and another individual walked to the Savannah Terrace Circle, which the victim, 16-year-old Justin Johnson, also known as “23 Rackz,” had posted as his location to Instagram earlier that morning. At approximately 11:20 a.m., Derrico Johnson and Ronald Henderson fired eleven (11) shots from approximately 200 feet away in the direction of Justin Johnson, who was shot twice while standing a few feet away from an infant child on a scooter, who was uninjured. Justin Johnson died a few minutes later inside of a nearby apartment building.
- On January 2, 2023, Ronald Henderson and Daveon Robinson were riding in the back seat of a vehicle, while Dionzai Parker was seated in the front passenger seat and a known juvenile associated with “Get Back Gang” was driving the vehicle. At approximately 4:48 p.m., as the vehicle approached Alabama Convenience Store, Henderson and Robinson fired several rifle and handgun rounds in the direction of Alabama Convenience Store, shooting and injuring two people. Armed Special Police Officers in the area witnessed the shooting and pursued the two shooters through the Henson Ridge neighborhood to a home, where Henderson and Robinson were subsequently arrested. Parker and the driver made good on their escape.
- On February 25, 2023, Dionzai Parker was riding inside a stolen Jeep Compass as the vehicle approached the 2200 block of Savannah Street SE. At around 3:00 p.m., Parker and two others fired approximately 70 rifle rounds in the direction of Shipley Market. During the brazen drive-by shooting, Brice Djembissi—a Prince George’s County teacher and part-time Uber driver who was dropping off a customer—was shot feet away from where Clayton Marshall was killed on April 12, 2022, while two other bystanders were shot and injured. Mr. Djembissi, 37, succumbed to his injuries on March 3, 2023.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Sellinger.
dparker_third_superseding_indictment_-_filed_redacted.pdfAlbany Man Sentenced for Trafficking Cocaine and MarijuanaRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brian Scott, age 44, of Albany, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine and 100 kilograms of marijuana, and for distributing cocaine.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James; and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Scott admitted that between June 2020 and October 2023, he was a member of a drug trafficking organization that trafficked cocaine and marijuana in the Capital Region and the North Country. Scott admitted that he and a co-conspirator routinely sent drug couriers, whom they referred to as “horses,” between the Capital Region and the North Country to transport cocaine to the North Country and marijuana to the Capital Region. Scott also admitted that he trafficked at least 7 kilograms of cocaine, which he obtained from another co-conspirator, and that he sold over 400 grams of cocaine to another person.
Scott was also ordered to forfeit $4,865 in seized drug money and to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $17,180.
FBI, New York State Police, and HSI investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Joseph Hartunian.
18th Street Gang Leader is Ninth and Final Defendant to Plead Guilty to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Junior Zelaya Canales, also known as “Terco,” a Queens-based regional leader of the 18th Street gang, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges in connection with his participation in the September 12, 2016 murder of 15-year-old Joshua Guzman in Hempstead, New York. The guilty plea proceeding was held in federal court in Brooklyn before United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez.
Zelaya Canales is the ninth and final defendant to plead guilty under a seventh superseding indictment in connection with a sprawling racketeering conspiracy that also involved the October 25, 2017 murder of 20-year-old Jonathan Figueroa in Saugerties, New York; the February 2, 2018 murder of 20-year-old Oscar Antonio Blanco Hernandez in Queens; and multiple shootings and other gang activity. Zelaya Canales’ co-defendants Walter Fernando Alfaro Pineda, Jose Douglas Castellano, Yanki Misael Cruz Mateo, Israel Mendiola Flores, Yoni Alexander Sierra, Jose Jimenez Chacon, Carolina Cruz and Eric Chavez previously pled guilty. Flores and Chacon were previously sentenced to 425 months’ imprisonment and 269 months’ imprisonment, respectively. At sentencing, each remaining defendant faces up to life imprisonment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the guilty pleas.
“Today’s guilty plea marks the end of a sweeping investigation into the violent and disturbing affairs of the 18th Street gang that removed some of the most influential, powerful and ruthless gang leaders and members from city streets across the country,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Together with our law enforcement partners around the nation and the world, my Office will not rest until the scourge of gang violence and senseless loss of life is put to an end. While these guilty pleas cannot undo the grave harm this gang has caused, we hope that it will bring a measure of closure to the victims and their families.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Dallas, the New York State Police, the Kingston Police Department, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Nassau County Police Department, the Hempstead Police Department, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their assistance during the investigation.
Today’s conviction is the latest in a series of recent convictions in this case of leaders, members and associates of 18th Street. According to court filings and proceedings, 18th Street is a well-known and well-established international criminal organization and violent street gang with members and associates residing throughout New York State including Queens and Long Island, and elsewhere throughout the United States including Houston, Texas. 18th Street members regularly engage in murder, attempted murder, assault, extortion, illegal drug and firearms trafficking, false identification document production, witness tampering and money laundering. The defendants occupied various positions within the gang:
- Alfaro Pineda was a national 18th Street gang leader based in Houston, Texas, whose power and control extended across the United States. For example, he collected illicit funds raised by gang members in New York from fees extorted from prostitution brothels and illegal drug trafficking to further promote gang activity, including by providing the money to incarcerated 18th Street members in the United States and in El Salvador. Alfaro Pineda also supplied and trafficked illegal firearms to the gang’s New York-based members.
- Zelaya Canales was a regional 18th Street gang leader based in Queens, New York, whose power and control extended across the New York City metropolitan area.
- Castellano was a senior 18th Street gang member based in Brooklyn, New York, whose influence extended to upstate New York.
- Cruz Mateo was a Queens-based 18th Street gang member.
- Flores was a Kingston, New York-based 18th Street gang associate.
- Sierra was a Queens-based 18th Street gang associate.
- Chacon was a New Jersey-based 18th Street gang member.
- Cruz was a New Jersey-based 18th Street gang associate.
- Chavez was a Queens-based 18th Street gang member.
The defendants committed multiple acts of violence in order to promote and enhance the prestige and reputation of the gang, and to maintain and increase their own membership and status in the gang, including:
September 12, 2016 Murder of Joshua Guzman
In September 2016, Zelaya Canales, then the regional leader of the Shatto Park Locos Sureños (SPLS) sect of 18th Street, ordered that Guzman be killed, in part, because the gang perceived Guzman to have been disrespectful towards 18th Street gang members. In the evening of September 11, 2016, Zelaya Canales dispatched two lower-level gang members to Long Island to lure Guzman out and murder him as part of a demonstration of their allegiance to 18th Street. On September 12, 2016 at approximately 1:03 a.m., the Hempstead Police Department received a ShotSpotter notification of gunshots fired near the intersection of Linden Avenue and Laurel Avenue in Hempstead, New York. A Hempstead Police Department officer and members of Nassau Police Department responded to the location and discovered the body of 15-year-old Guzman near the curb. Guzman was shot once in the back of the head and pronounced dead at the crime scene.
July 9, 2017 Attempted Murder of Rival Gang Members
On July 9, 2017, Zelaya Canales led a shootout in Woodside, Queens, with assistance from at least two additional 18th Street gang members, over a territorial dispute with a rival gang. At approximately 10:35 p.m., NYPD officers responded to the area after numerous calls were made to 9-1-1 concerning multiple gunshots. Multiple witnesses reported hearing gunshots and seeing approximately three to four men run towards Woodhaven Boulevard. After a canvas of the area, police officers recovered nine 9-millimeter shell casings among other evidence.
NYPD subsequently went to Zelaya Canales’s apartment in Queens to execute two arrest warrants unrelated to the shooting. During the execution of the warrants, NYPD recovered a 9-millimeter Ruger with a defaced serial number, 4 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition, 56 rounds of .357 magnum ammunition, 34 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition and 23 rounds of .38 ammunition. Subsequent forensic ballistics examination revealed that the Zelaya Canales’s 9-mm Ruger was the same weapon that fired the 9-millimeter shell casings found at the crime scene of the July 9, 2017 shootout in Woodhaven.
September 20, 2017 Assault of John Doe
On September 20, 2017, Chavez, together with another 18th Street gang member, approached an individual (John Doe) on the street and shot him because they believed he was a member of the rival gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). John Doe survived and was treated for a gunshot wound at a local hospital.
October 25, 2017 Murder of Jonathan Figueroa
By October 2017, gang members in New York suspected Jonathan Figueroa, a fellow 18th Street gang member, of cooperating with law enforcement in connection with the investigation of the murder of Guzman. Senior gang members, including Castellano, sought Alfaro Pineda’s authorization to murder Figueroa. Alfaro Pineda’s authorization was sought because Alfaro Pineda had initiated Figueroa into 18th Street in Houston, Texas, and because murdering a fellow gang member required approval from a senior member of the gang, such as Alfaro Pineda. With Alfaro Pineda’s authorization, Castellano activated gang members based in Kingston, New York, and directed them to coordinate with Queens-based gang members to see to Figueroa’s execution. Gang members in Kingston then began digging a grave in Turkey Point State Forest in anticipation of Figueroa’s arrival.
In the late-night hours of October 24, 2017, Cruz Mateo lured and travelled with Figueroa from Queens to Kingston, New York. Upon their arrival in Kingston, they were met by Flores and other 18th Street members and associates who, into the early morning hours of October 25, 2017, brought Figueroa to Turkey Point State Forest, brutally stabbed him to death and buried him in the makeshift grave. Cruz Mateo ordered the murder to be video-recorded—capturing multiple 18th Street members and associates repeatedly stabbing Figueroa, slashing his throat, amputating his ear and dragging his body. In the video, Cruz Mateo stated that Figueroa was being murdered for “being a rat.” Cruz Mateo then sent the video to other 18th Street members as a warning to other gang members who might disrespect the gang or cooperate with law enforcement. Figueroa’s body was discovered in February 2018 by the FBI, along with state and local law enforcement authorities, in a five-foot deep grave in Turkey Point. He sustained more than 100 stab wounds including at least one stab wound to the head that appears to have fractured his skull, and a slash to his throat that ruptured his trachea.
February 2, 2018 Murder of Oscar Antonio Blanco Hernandez
On February 2, 2018, several gang members killed Blanco Hernandez because they believed he was a member of the rival MS-13 gang. Chacon had met Blanco Hernandez weeks earlier through their mutual employer, a New Jersey-based house painting company. On the morning of the murder, Cruz and Chacon picked up Blanco Hernandez at his home in New Jersey under the guise of going to smoke marijuana as friends. Cruz and Chacon drove Blanco Hernandez to Queens where they met 18th Street gang members including Cruz Mateo and Sierra who entered the rear passenger seat of Cruz’s car on opposite sides, sandwiching Blanco Hernandez between them. Cruz drove Chacon, Cruz-Mateo, Sierra and Blanco Hernandez a short distance to a quiet residential neighborhood. Cruz-Mateo, Sierra and Blanco-Hernandez got out of the car and started walking, while Cruz and Chacon stayed behind with the car. After walking for a few minutes, Cruz-Mateo drew a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun and shot Blanco-Hernandez in the back of the head, killing him instantly. Blanco Hernandez’s body was discovered on a residential street in the Jamaica Hills section of Queens. He sustained three gunshot wounds: two gunshots to the torso and one to the head.
* * * * *
This case is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan P. Lax, Erin Reid, Margaret Schierberl, Adam Amir and Rebecca Urquiola are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Tareva Torres and Samuel Ronchetti.
The Defendant:
JUNIOR ZELAYA-CANALES, also known as “Terco”
Age: 28
Jamaica, New YorkCo-Defendants Previously Convicted:
WALTER FERNANDO ALFARO PINEDA, also known as “Clever”
Age: 45
Houston, TexasYANKI MISAEL CRUZ MATEO, also known as “Yenki Misael Cruz Mateo,” “Yankee Mateo,” “Doggy” and “Wino”
Age: 25
Jamaica, New YorkISRAEL MEDIOLA FLORES, also known as “Chapito” and “Sinaloa”
Age: 29
Kingston, New YorkYONI ALEXANDER SIERRA, also known as “Arca,” “Arc Angel” and “Wasson”
Age: 26
Jamaica, New YorkJOSE JIMENEZ CHACON, also known as “Little One”
Age: 26
New Brunswick, New JerseyCAROLINA CRUZ, also known as “La Fiera”
Age: 31
Elizabeth, New JerseyJOSE DOUGLAS CASTELLANO, also known as “Chino”
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New YorkERIC CHAVEZ, also known as “Lunatico”
Age: 25
Jamaica, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-139 (S-7) (HG)
6 December 2024
York Resident Charged with Distributing and Possessing Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of York, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Israel Washington, 33, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, Washington distributed material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor on March 31, 2022, and April 6, 2022, and possessed such material on March 7, 2024.
The law provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years of imprisonment on each of the distribution charges and up to 10 years of imprisonment on the possession charge. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney William Guappone is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wire fraud, extortion indictment highlights dangers of elder fraudRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Chinese national has been indicted for his role in a multi-state scheme that swindled more than $1 million by targeting senior citizens.
Xiao Kun Cheung, 58, is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, Receiving the Proceeds of Extortion, and Possession of Controlled Substances, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison and substantial financial penalties, followed by a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This indictment uncovers a financially devastating scheme that targeted seniors up to 92 years old. It represents just a fraction of the multitude of victims of elder fraud each year in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to protecting vulnerable citizens from the predation of scam artists.”
Originally indicted in September, the superseding federal indictment returned in December by the Southern District Grand Jury alleges that Cheung was part of a conspiracy that targeted elderly victims in multiple cities including Savannah and Pooler, Georgia; Naples, Florida; and Cleveland, Tennessee. The conspirators initially contacted seniors through phone calls or pop-up messages on their computers, falsely claiming that the victim’s computer or financial accounts had been compromised.
The conspirators, claiming to provide assistance to the seniors, then persuaded the elderly victims to withdraw large sums of money, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars to deliver to a conspirator for safekeeping by a government agency. Cheung was arrested in March while attempting to pick up approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler.
As discussed in court documents and testimony, Cheung is a previously deported Chinese national illegally present in the United States. He currently is being held in federal custody awaiting further court proceedings.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), in 2023, victims older than age 60 represented the largest single age group targeted by fraud, losing more than $3.5 billion – an almost 11 percent increase from 2022, with more than $92 million in losses to senior victims in Georgia alone. The average dollar loss of each elderly victim was nearly $34,000. Significantly, law enforcement officials believe the amount of fraud is significantly higher than reported because many victims are embarrassed or afraid to report the crime.
Scams commonly targeting older adults include:
- Government imposter fraud, in which individuals falsely claim to represent a government agency such as Social Security, the Internal Revenue Service, Medicaid, or local, state, or federal law enforcement, contact a person to “warn” them of alleged suspicious activity and take possession of money or other items of value from the victim for “safekeeping”;
- Tech support scams, with telemarketers claiming to help “hacking” victims, or notifying the victim of false lottery winnings or other prizes; and,
- Romance scams, in which scammers use dating sites, social networks, or chat rooms to contact older adults and build online relationships so the scammer can persuade the victim to send them money.
To avoid falling victim to these and other scams, the Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative advises potential victims and their caregivers to:
- Accept computer or other technical support only from known, trusted individuals or from a person you’ve hired for that purpose;
- Scammers falsely claim you must act immediately; before taking any action to purportedly help a grandchild or other relative or friend, check with that person or that person’s relation by phone to validate the request;
- If a caller claims to be from an established organization such as a charity or law enforcement, look up the number of the organization independently and call them to verify the request;
- Consider it a red flag if the caller insists on secrecy. Never allow anyone to discourage you from seeking information, verification, and counsel from family or friends before making any financial transaction;
- The federal government will never call you on the phone to ask for personal information or to threaten you;
- Do not send money, gift cards, or wire transfers to anyone you’ve met only online; and,
- Do not click on links sent to you in unsolicited emails or text messages.
Those who believe they have been, or who may know, victims of elder fraud are asked to call 911 in an emergency, or contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). Educational resources on elder fraud and abuse are available online at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
This case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Pooler Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and Matthew A. Josephson.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Sentencing in Shiprock Homicide CaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Pine Hill man has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for a fatal stabbing of John Doe in 2023 during a gathering in Shiprock, New Mexico.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 31, 2023, Kirtie Cohoe, 48, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fatally stabbed John Doe during a gathering at a relative's home in Shiprock, New Mexico. During an altercation in the relative’s kitchen, Cohoe lost self-control and attacked Doe with a knife.
After the incident, Cohoe fled the scene on foot, taking the weapon with him. The Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations (NDCI) and the FBI found John Doe deceased at the home with multiple stab wounds. Cohoe was later apprehended in nearby woods, where he was found with blood on his clothing. The knife was recovered near Cohoe’s wallet, and DNA analysis later linked Cohoe to the knife's handle. Cohoe has admitted to causing John Doe's death.
Upon his release from prison, Cohoe will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
This case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Meg Tomlinson and Mark Probasco are prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney Simonton Statement on Methamphetamine SentencingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Leigha Simonton today released the following statement in response to The Dallas Morning News' December 2024 methamphetamine series:
Federal judges, prosecutors, and agents work each day to do justice, which includes protecting our North Texas communities from defendants who seek to spread methamphetamine throughout our region. As they tackle headline-grabbing drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine – a drug disproportionally trafficked by armed white supremacist gang and cartel members – continues to wreck lives. Research shows the methamphetamine mortality rate has increased 50-fold over the past decade as more traffickers mix meth with other drugs, and that Texas has the second-highest number of meth users in the United States. North Texas in particular has a plethora of interstate highways running north-to-south and east-to-west, and for decades we have seen meth and other deadly substances come to and through our cities at an alarming rate not seen in most of the rest of America.
Understanding the toll of methamphetamine, federal officials work doggedly to hold traffickers accountable, exhibiting leniency where appropriate. But importantly, each case – and each defendant – is different. The high sentences specifically cited by The News were impacted by various circumstances not mentioned in the articles: At least one defendant outright admitted to membership in the white supremacist gang Aryan Circle, while others worked with Mexican drug cartels like Los Zetas and others. Several lied on the stand, not only about their involvement in methamphetamine trafficking, but about where certain cash came from, the purpose of certain drug paraphernalia, their general knowledge of the drug, and even conversations they’d had with attorneys. One defendant even placed online advertisements for “ice skating,” common parlance for traffickers exchanging meth for sex during drug binges.
Calculating average methamphetamine sentences in North Texas, comparing them to meth sentences nationwide, exploring certain evidentiary standards, and even probing the fairness of the sentencing guidelines promulgated by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, are well within the bounds of objective journalism. But labeling federal judges and prosecutors “accomplices,” as if they are involved in something nefarious when in fact they are sincerely committed to justly applying the law and taking account of all the facts involved in a particular case, is misleading and offensive. While the press certainly retains the freedom to critique our system of justice, it remains the best system the world has ever known. That system, and our rights, crumble without the noble efforts of our federal Judges and Assistant United States Attorneys. I am proud to stand with them.
Twenty-Five Charged in Connection with Multi-State Fentanyl and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Twenty-five individuals have been charged in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl and cocaine with activity that spanned across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Over 2.3 kilograms of fentanyl, 12 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and cocaine, 300 grams of cocaine, six firearms and approximately $400,000 was seized during the investigation.
“Communities across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island are safer today because of this takedown that dismantled a sophisticated and large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in plain sight. We allege that these defendants exploited addiction for personal profit and with full knowledge that the drugs they were peddling could be lethal. They allegedly raked in $20,000 a day at the expense of the lives and safety of people suffering from drug addiction,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This case should send an unmistakable message: together with our federal, state and local partners, we will not allow drug traffickers to profit while our communities suffer, and we are committed to disrupting these criminal enterprises.”
“Fentanyl and cocaine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of Massachusetts. The DEA will continue to work each day alongside our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are responsible for distributing deadly drugs in order to profit while endangering the lives of others."
The following defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and have been apprehended. Six defendants remain at large and remain under seal:
1. Yulial Cuello-Reynoso a/k/a “Sonny,” 33, of Leominster; 2. Yordania Abel Rivera a/k/a “Mommy,” 33, of Leominster; 3. Jorge Vizcaino Vizcaino a/k/a Yeison Vizcaino Vizcaino a/k/a “Jason” a/k/a “Libreta” a/k/a Yeikel Perez-Tejeda, 24, of Boston; 4. Rafael Concepcion a/k/a “Menor,” 34, of Boston; 5. Alinson Joel Ortiz Arias, 32, of Boston; 6. Axel Brea Baez, 25, of Boston; 7. Denly Soto-Tejeda, 25, of Manchester, N.H.; 8. Yeiron Vizcaino Vizcaino a/k/a “Boli,” 28, of Boston; 9. Alberto Gonzalez, 36, of Boston; 10. Luis Guerrero, 25, of Lawrence; 11. Mariela Cuello Reynoso, 30, of Boston; 12. Elisbania Tejeda-Soto a/k/a “Lisbania,” 25, of Boston; 13. Rubert Adrian Jimenez a/k/a “Soga,” 24, of Boston; 14. Adrian Suncar-Gonzalez, 38, of Boston; 15. Johangel Mejia-Hernandez, 22, of Boston; 16. Francisco Tavarez Contreras, 43, of Boston; 17. Santo Franco-Sanchez, 42, of Brookline; 18. Carlos Abel Rivera, 34, of North Smithfield, R.I.; and
19. Anthony Cuoco, 43, of Barnstable.According to the charging documents, in March 2022, law enforcement began an investigation into a large-scale drug dispatch service operating in and around Boston. Over the course of the investigation, undercover drug purchases and intercepted communications established that the defendants allegedly distributed fentanyl and cocaine throughout eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Specifically, it is alleged that the drug trafficking organization is led by Yulial Cuello-Reynoso, who operated a drug customer order telephone and employed distributors and stash house operators to process, store and distribute narcotics. The organization allegedly distributed approximately $20,000 worth of drugs per day and maintained multiple stash locations simultaneously. The organization also allegedly employed a color-coding system to differentiate between the drugs (fentanyl, crack cocaine and powder cocaine) it sold and frequently concealed drugs in socks within the engine compartments of cars driven by distributors. Some of the defendants openly discussed the dangers of the drugs they were distributing. For example, when referring to drug customers, Tejeda-Soto allegedly stated in an intercepted call, “Those people like the stuff that kills them.” During the course of the investigation, over 2.3 kilograms of fentanyl and 300 grams of cocaine was seized. In addition, approximately 12 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and cocaine, six firearms and approximately $400,000 was seized during searches in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
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.
U.S. Attorney Levy, DEA Acting SAC Belleau and Michael Cox, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department made the announcement. The Massachusetts State Police; The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted in the investigation. Special assistance was provided by the Arlington and Medford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson, Deputy Chief of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Admit to Drug Trafficking in Monongalia CountyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three individuals admitted to their roles in a drug trafficking organization that supplied large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to North Central West Virginia.
Those who entered pleas are:
- James People, II, 28, of Pennsauken, New Jersey, who pled guilty to the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
- Jeffrey Marsh, 45, of Morgantown, West Virginia, who pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and
- William Durnall, 60, of Elkins, West Virginia, who pled guilty to the distribution of methamphetamine;
Durnall also pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in a separate case.
According to court documents, the three defendants were part of a drug trafficking organization, responsible for large-scale distribution in and about North Central West Virginia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. The task force consists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia State Police; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; the Morgantown Police Department; the WVU Police Department; the Granville Police Department; and the Star City Police Department.
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.
U.S. Magistrate Michael John Aloi presided.
Texas Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Possession with the Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Marco Godinez, age 36, of Houston, Texas, to 60 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. The Court further sentenced Godinez to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on November 8, 2022, Godinez was pulled over by an Iberville Parish law enforcement officer for a traffic violation. He voluntarily consented to a search of his vehicle after being advised that he would receive a traffic warning violation. During the search of Godinez’s truck bed, officers found five kilograms of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jene C. Clayton.
Telemarketer Sentenced for $67M Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud Medicare by billing over $67 million for medically unnecessary genetic testing.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jose Goyos, 38, of West Palm Beach, was employed at a call center that engaged in deceptive telemarketing calls targeting thousands of Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians. Goyos managed the so-called “doctor chase” division of the call center, which contacted the primary care physicians of targeted Medicare beneficiaries and tricked these medical providers into ordering medically unnecessary genetic tests based on medical paperwork that the call center created. For example, Goyos directed call center employees to falsely represent to providers that the Medicare beneficiaries were “mutual patients” who had requested these genetic tests and that the beneficiaries had medical conditions justifying genetic testing, when neither statement was true.
Goyos and his co-conspirators then used those doctors’ orders to submit claims to Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary genetic tests. The results of these tests often were not sent to the Medicare beneficiaries’ primary care physicians and were not used in the treatment of the beneficiaries.
In total, between May 2020 and July 2021, Goyos and his co-conspirators submitted over $67 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid over $53 million.
In October 2023, a jury convicted Goyos of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Nine additional Florida residents were previously sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy:
- Daniel M. Carver, 38, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison.
- Thomas Dougherty, 42, of Palm Beach, was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
- John Paul Gosney Jr., 42, of Parkland, was sentenced to seven years and 11 months in prison.
- Galina Rozenberg, 42, of Hollywood, was sentenced to four years in prison.
- Michael Rozenberg, 61, of Hollywood, was sentenced to four years in prison.
- Ethan Macier, 25, of Boynton Beach, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
- Louis “Gino” Carver, 33, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
- Ashley Cigarroa, 32, of North Lauderdale, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
- Timothy Richardson, 31, of Lantana, was sentenced to two years in prison.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Stephen Mahmood of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Andrew Tamayo, along with former Trial Attorney Patrick J. Queenan, of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Klco, Marx Calderon, and Sandra Dermici for the Southern District of Florida are handling asset forfeiture.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. HHS-OIG and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services work collaboratively as Strike Force partners to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Telemarketer Sentenced for $67M Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI — A Florida man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud Medicare by billing over $67 million for medically unnecessary genetic testing.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jose Goyos, 38, of West Palm Beach, was employed at a call center that engaged in deceptive telemarketing calls targeting thousands of Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians. Goyos managed the so-called “doctor chase” division of the call center, which contacted the primary care physicians of targeted Medicare beneficiaries and tricked these medical providers into ordering medically unnecessary genetic tests based on medical paperwork that the call center created. For example, Goyos directed call center employees to falsely represent to providers that the Medicare beneficiaries were “mutual patients” who had requested these genetic tests and that the beneficiaries had medical conditions justifying genetic testing, when neither statement was true.
Goyos and his co-conspirators then used those doctors’ orders to submit claims to Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary genetic tests. The results of these tests often were not sent to the Medicare beneficiaries’ primary care physicians and were not used in the treatment of the beneficiaries.
In total, between May 2020 and July 2021, Goyos and his co-conspirators submitted over $67 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid over $53 million.
In October 2023, a jury convicted Goyos of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Nine additional Florida residents were previously sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy:
Daniel M. Carver, 38, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison.
Thomas Dougherty, 42, of Palm Beach, was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
John Paul Gosney Jr., 42, of Parkland, was sentenced to seven years and 11 months in prison.
Galina Rozenberg, 42, of Hollywood, was sentenced to four years in prison.
Michael Rozenberg, 61, of Hollywood, was sentenced to four years in prison.
Ethan Macier, 25, of Boynton Beach, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
Louis “Gino” Carver, 33, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
Ashley Cigarroa, 32, of North Lauderdale, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
Timothy Richardson, 31, of Lantana, was sentenced to two years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Stephen Mahmood of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Klco, Marx Calderon, and Sandra Dermici for the Southern District of Florida are handling asset forfeiture. Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Andrew Tamayo, along with former Trial Attorney Patrick J. Queenan, of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. HHS-OIG and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services work collaboratively as Strike Force partners to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
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St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison After Girlfriend’s Violent AssaultRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Friday sentenced a man who was caught with a gun after a violent attack on his girlfriend to 12 years in prison.
On July 11, 2022, Justin L. Collins took his then-girlfriend’s phone and cash and refused to let her out of the car during an argument. When she tried to get out, Collins threatened her at gunpoint, his plea agreement says. He punched her in the face and pistol-whipped her before driving her to a park where his sister and another woman assaulted her.
During the resulting investigation, when St. Louis County Police Department officers found Collins and approached the car he was driving, Collins attempted to run away, but was caught and arrested. Police found a 9mm handgun in plain view between the driver's seat and center console in the vehicle. Collins is a felon and is thus barred from possessing a firearm.
Collins, now 31, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in January to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag 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.
South Hampton Roads drug trafficker sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamineRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, from June 2020 to January 2021, Adam Donley Greenberg, aka Adam Brandon, 39, obtained methamphetamine for redistribution from Michael Wade Kozak, 57, who resided in the Atlanta area. Kozak used FedEx to ship meth from Georgia to Greenberg in Virginia, and Greenberg used Cash App and other means to pay Kozak. Greenberg and Kozak used a social media app to communicate and arrange shipments and payments.
On Nov. 11, 2020, Greenberg received a meth parcel from Kozak through FedEx at an apartment in Norfolk. On Nov. 14, 2020, narcotics detectives with the Chesapeake Police Department located Greenberg among several individuals in room 616 at a hotel in Norfolk and took him into custody on an outstanding warrant. During a search of the room, the police discovered 85.24 grams of meth hidden behind a wall painting.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-88.
Second Member of Multi-State Gas Pump Skimming Device and Fuel Theft Ring Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft and Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Luis Edel Trujillo Pena (29, Miami) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Pena faces up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud count, up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy count and a minimum penalty of 2 years in prison on the aggravated identity theft count, and payment of restitution to the victims he and his co-defendants defrauded. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Pena and his co-conspirators worked together to install skimmers on gas pumps at gas stations in Alabama, Louisiana, and Northern Florida, including the Florida Panhandle. The conspirators used the skimmers to illegally obtain credit and debit card account numbers connected with the purchase of fuel by customers at the gas pump. Using the account numbers stolen by the skimmers, Pena and his co-conspirators made counterfeit credit and debit cards. Pena then distributed the counterfeit credit and debit cards to his co-conspirators to purchase large amount of diesel fuel.
During the conspiracy, Pena and others drove vehicles that contained a fuel bladder system. This system allowed the conspirators to fake pumping gas into the vehicle’s gas tank when in fact the diesel fuel was being pumped into the fuel bladder system. Analysis by law enforcement of fuel purchases, vehicle tracker data, gas station video surveillance, and real time surveillance of the conspirators determined that Pena and other conspirators drove to multiple gas stations throughout Northern Florida. After obtaining the gas, Pena directed the conspirators to offload the stolen fuel into 9,500-gallon tanker trucks at a fuel yard. The stolen fuel was then sold to a gas station associated with one of the co-conspirators.
Deonelky Tabares Cid (36, Tampa) previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy, four counts of wire fraud, six counts of access device fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft for his role in this case. He is pending sentencing.
Deyvis Hernandez (37, Miami), Luis Ernesto Vigil Ochoa (32, Miami), and Isvaldo Guerra Perdomo (38, Jacksonville) are set for trial in January 2025.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, U.S. General Services Administration - Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Salamanca man arrested, charged with attempted production of child pornography and attempting to have sex with a 12-year-old girlRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jack Sherlock, 55, of Salamanca, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempted production of child pornography and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Franz M. Wright, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on November 7, 2024, the Salamanca Police Department contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and advised that a Pennsylvania-based citizens group engaged in undercover chats with Sherlock, who had initiated sexual communications with a Facebook account controlled by the citizens group purporting to belong to a 12-year-old female living in Salamanca. During these communications, Sherlock stated that he wanted the 12-year-old to send him nude images and had expressed a desire to meet in person to engage in sexual activity.
On November 20, 2024, investigators took over the Facebook account from the citizens group and engaged in conversation with Sherlock. During the conversation, an investigator, posing as the 12-year-old girl, stated that a “cousin,” also a 12-year-old girl, was with her. The investigator then sent Sherlock a link to a Facebook account for the “cousin.” Sherlock accepted and soon began a sexually oriented conversation with the “cousin.” He asked for sexually explicit images and planned to meet in person to have sex. On December 4, 2024, Sherlock was arrested as he attempted to meet up with the 12-year-old girl.
Members of the public who have specific information related to this case are urged to contact the HSI Buffalo Office at 716-945-2330.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Salamanca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jamie Deck, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Romanian National Involved in 2007 Connecticut Home Invasion Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEFAN ALEXANDRU BARABAS, 38, a citizen of Romania, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 84 months of imprisonment for his involvement in a 2007 Connecticut home invasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court in this case and related cases, shortly before midnight on April 15, 2007, Barabas, Emanuel Nicolescu, and Alexandru Lucian Nicolescu, wearing masks and brandishing knives and facsimile firearms, entered a home in South Kent, Connecticut. The intruders bound and blindfolded two adult victims and injected each with a substance the intruders claimed was a deadly virus. The intruders ordered the victims to pay $8.5 million or else they would be left to die from the lethal injection. When it became clear that the victims were not in position to meet the intruders’ demands, the intruders drugged the two residents with a sleeping aid and fled in the homeowner’s Jeep Cherokee.
The stolen Jeep Cherokee was abandoned the next morning at a Home Depot in New Rochelle, New York. On April 21, 2007, an accordion case washed ashore in Jamaica Bay. The content of the case included a stun gun, a 12-inch knife, a black plastic Airsoft gun, a crowbar, syringes, sleeping pills, latex gloves, and a laminated telephone card with the South Kent address of the victims.
In 2010, an investigator from the Connecticut State Police connected a partial Pennsylvania license plate, seen by a witness near the victims’ estate on the night of the crime, to a car owned by Michael N. Kennedy. Kennedy had formerly shared an address with Emmanuel Nicolescu, who had been employed by the victim. The investigator then discovered that the data for the cell tower near the New Rochelle Home Depot contained a call by a phone number registered to Emmanuel Nicolescu, minutes after the Jeep was abandoned. Shortly after that, investigators from the State Police and FBI gathered Emanuel Nicolescu’s DNA and found that it partially matched a sample from the Jeep’s steering wheel.
As to the accordion case, investigators learned that Kennedy’s father was a professional accordion player, and witnesses later identified the knife in the accordion case as a gift given to Emanuel Nicolescu by his father-in-law.
The investigation revealed that Emanuel Nicolescu and Kennedy worked with Barabas and Alexandru Nicolescu to commit the crime. Barabas’ co-conspirators planned the home invasion, which included the research and purchase of implements necessary for the crime, such as two-way radios, stun guns and imitation pistols. On the night of April 15, 2007, Kennedy drove Barabas, Emanuel Nicolescu, and Alexandru Nicolescu to a location near the South Kent home, and then picked them up the following morning in New Rochelle at the location where the intruders abandoned the stolen Jeep.
Barabas, Emanuel Nicolescu, Alexandru Nicolescu, and Kennedy fled the U.S. during the investigation. Emanuel Nicolescu returned to the U.S. and was arrested in Illinois in January 2011. Emanuel Nicolescu and Kennedy were charged by indictment in February 2011, and Barabas and Alexandru Nicolescu were charged by indictment in November 2012.
Barabas was a fugitive until his arrest in Hungary on August 16, 2022. On June 18, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.
Barabas has been detained since his arrest.
On March 22, 2012, a jury in New Haven found Emanuel Nicolescu guilty of attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, and possession of a stolen vehicle. On August 17, 2012, he was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment.
Alexandru Nicolescu was arrested on November 14, 2013, in the United Kingdom. On January 8, 2016, he pleaded guilty to attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion. On May 15, 2019, he was sentenced to 121 months of imprisonment.
Kennedy, also known as Nicolae Helerea, a dual citizen of Romania and the U.S., voluntarily returned to the U.S. from Romania and, on November 5, 2012, pleaded guilty to attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion. On May 4, 2016, he was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police and New York City Police Department. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and law enforcement authorities in Hungary and the United Kingdom for their assistance in this case.
This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.
Rochester man arrested, charged for having sexual relations with 12-and 14-year-old sistersRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Ahmed Yaqoob, 24, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of 30 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on October 18, 2024, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Town of North Collins, to follow up on a report concerning the rape of a minor. The investigation determined that a 12-year-old (victim 1) began communicating with Yaqoob on October 17, 2024, through the dating application “Pure.” Yaqoob and victim 1 made arrangements to meet at the victim’s residence in North Collins. When Yaqoob arrived, the victim and her 14-year-old sister (victim 2) got into Yaqoob’s vehicle. The complaint states that Yaqoob drove both girls to the area of Zoar Valley Road in the Town of Concord, where Yaqoob had sexual relations with victim 1 and victim 2. Investigators believe Yaqoob recorded the sexual activity on his cell phone. On October 24, 2024, investigators searched Yaqoob’s cell phone and recovered two videos that had been recorded and deleted from the device on their respective dates and times. The videos included the victims engaged in sexual relations with Yaqoob.
Members of the public who have specific information related to this case are urged to contact the FBI Buffalo Office at 716-856-7800.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Ravenel Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Derrick Santell Brown, 33, of Ravenel, was sentenced to 1o years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 12, 2023, an officer with the Goose Creek Police Department conducted a traffic stop on an SUV for having an inoperable headlight. Immediately upon stopping in a nearby parking lot, Derrick Brown, the defendant, and sole occupant, exited the vehicle. After a brief interaction with the officer, Brown fled the traffic stop. He was apprehended by another officer about 300 yards away. Brown had more than $10,000 in cash, 43 grams of marijuana split in two bags, and two cell phones on his person. A search of the car revealed an AK-47 style firearm with an extended magazine containing 48 rounds.
United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Brown to 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Goose Creek Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case.
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Portsmouth sailor pleads guilty to receiving child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A former U.S. Navy sailor pled guilty today to receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, from January 11, 2023, to March 23, 2023, Gabriel Benjamin Hester, 27, who at the time was an active-duty service member stationed in Portsmouth, uploaded seven files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
On Aug. 22, 2023, investigators with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) executed a Command Authorized Search and Seizure for Hester’s cellphone aboard the USS John Warner Barge. On Aug. 25, 2023, NCIS executed a search warrant for Hester's phone. NCIS recovered 206 pictures and 62 videos of CSAM and 71 images of child erotica. An additional 60 files of CSAM were recovered from the Snapchat folder "my eyes only."
The search of Hester's phone revealed that Hester received, purchased, traded, and distributed CSAM using the Telegram messaging app. For example, on April 27, 2023, Hester asked another Telegram user, "You have cp?" and requested to exchange files. Hester then sent two videos of CSAM and asked, "Bueno?" Hester then received three CSAM videos and thanked the sender. Hester followed by asking the user in Spanish if he had more CSAM videos. Hester sent two more CSAM videos and asked the user to trade. Hester received four more CSAM video files.
Hester is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-127.
Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced and Ordered to Pay Restitution for Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on December 5, 2024, to 30 months of probation and ordered to pay $95,100 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA) on a charge of theft of government property, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on William Moriarty, 72, of Pittsburgh’s Central Northside neighborhood.
According to information presented to the Court, Moriarty was employed and received income during the period August 2010 through May 2018 from a home healthcare company owned by a family member while also receiving disability benefits from the SSA. He repeatedly failed to inform the SSA of his employment, ensuring his receipt of at least $95,100 in disability payments to which he was not entitled.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Moriarty.
Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Large-Scale Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug and firearms charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Dante Webb, 43, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan to one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture containing fluorofentanyl, heroin, and fentanyl; 100 grams or more of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl; a quantity of a mixture containing cocaine base; and a quantity of a mixture containing cocaine. Webb also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession with intent to distribute various quantities of controlled substances.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on June 3, 2022, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police responded to a residence in Pittsburgh, from which Webb fled upon law enforcement’s arrival. After learning that Webb stored both controlled substances and firearms in the residence, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the residence, resulting in the seizure of digital scales, cellular phones, firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a safe from a closet, which contained a garbage bag of packaged controlled substances. Law enforcement seized over 26,000 glassine bags (each generally considered a single dose) from Webb’s residence, which contained mixtures of fluorofentanyl, heroin, and fentanyl. Officers also seized packaged cocaine and crack.
In addition to the controlled substances, law enforcement seized eight firearms from the residence, some of which were loaded with attached extended magazines. Two of the firearms were Polymer 80 pistols, which are untraceable due to the lack of a serial number. A forensic scientist examined the firearms and determined that one of these pistols only operated as a fully automatic firearm. Many of the firearms were easily accessible from a duffle bag located under a bed in the residence, and they were recovered in close proximity to the safe containing the packaged controlled substances. Prior to the seizure, Webb was twice convicted of aggravated assault related to shootings in Allegheny County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
On June 7, 2022, law enforcement located and attempted to arrest Webb in the Bloomfield area of Pittsburgh. Webb again fled from police, running in and out of traffic. After falling while jumping a low wall, Webb was arrested, with a search incident to arrest upon Webb’s person and a bag in his possession resulting in the seizure of approximately $6,000, a digital scale, an owe sheet, a flip phone, and packaged controlled substances. The glassine bags seized from Webb bore similar markings to the bags recovered from Webb’s safe on June 3, 2022, and a search of Webb’s phone revealed numerous photographs of Webb posing with large amounts of cash and multiple firearms inside his residence.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2025. The maximum sentence for the drug trafficking crime committed on June 3, 2022, is not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. The maximum sentence for possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime is not less than five years and up to life in prison, which must be served consecutively to the sentence imposed on the drug trafficking crime, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to the crime of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, the maximum sentence is up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to the drug trafficking crime committed on June 7, 2022, the maximum sentence is up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, Judge Ranjan ordered Webb remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Justin E. Lewis are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Webb.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of five counts of Assault on a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on December 2, 2024.
Jeremy Crow, age 31, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release on each count and ordered to pay a total of $500 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for the five convictions. The prison sentences and periods of supervision were ordered to be served concurrently.
Crow was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City in September of 2024.
On December 22, 2023, a 911 call was placed by an unknown caller in a residential area of Pine Ridge. Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety was dispatched to the area. A lone tribal officer arrived on scene and observed Crow and an unknown female with apparent facial injuries. The officer made contact with Crow, who was observed to have uncontrollable movements and believed to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The officer attempted to detain Crow, who immediately resisted and assaulted the officer by pushing him backwards. Crow then jumped into the police vehicle and was going to drive off until the officer jumped in and pushed the ignition switch to off. Crow was forcibly removed from the police vehicle and actively resisted law enforcement’s efforts to detain him. After numerous commands, Crow was eventually tased, but the tasing did not entirely subdue Crow. A bystander noticed the officer was struggling to detain Crow and called for backup for the officer. Additional officers arrived on scene and during the process of handcuffing Crow, the original officer was bit on his right bicep. After securing Crow into the backseat of the patrol car, Crow spat on a female officer. Crow was eventually taken to jail. Two days later, on December 24, 2023, a corrections officer attempted to provide food and a drink to Crow. When the cell door opened, Crow rushed through the door forcing his way out. Crow resisted attempts by the corrections officers to capture him and bit two corrections officers on their hands.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Crow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pike County Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A Jonancy, Ky., woman, Sasha Adkins, 37, was sentenced on Thursday, to 135 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to her plea agreement, on June 16, 2023, law enforcement seized approximately 360 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 28 grams of fentanyl, $4,975 in cash, and 12 firearms, from Adkins’ residence. Adkins possessed the methamphetamine and fentanyl and intended to distribute the drugs.
Under federal law, Adkins must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she 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, Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Pediatric Dentist Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Paul Kim, a pediatric dentist, has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing thousands of images and videos of minors, including some 12 years old and younger, engaging in sexually-explicit activity.
“Parents entrusted their children to Kim for pediatric care, while unbeknownst to them, he was amassing thousands of images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our Office is committed to prioritizing the prosecution of sexual predators who exploit and abuse children and to achieving a measure of justice for families impacted by these horrific sex crimes.”
“This case is particularly disturbing because it is an example that child predators come from all walks of life,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing demonstrates that no person is above the law. Regardless of employment, wealth, or social status, the FBI will continue to seek out all individuals who seek to abuse children and victimize them through the downloading and possession of child pornography.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: An FBI investigation of Paul Kim resulted from a broader investigation into a commercial sexual exploitation ring which advertised and sold child pornography on several online platforms. FBI Special agents identified Kim as one of the suspected purchasers of the material.
In December 2023, the agents executed a search warrant for Kim and his residence in Sandy Springs, Georgia, seizing approximately 30 electronic devices. The agents located about 1,948 images and 798 videos of child sexual assault material on these devices. Several videos in Kim’s possession depicted prepubescent girls forced to engage in sexual acts with adult males or objects.
Paul Bogeun Kim, 31, of Sandy Springs, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to three years, two months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was convicted of possession of child pornography, after he pleaded guilty to the charge on August 23, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. prosecuted the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Operator of Sober Homes Pleads Guilty to Fraud Schemes Involving Sober Home Client, Mortgage Fraud and Mass Save Program and COVID-19 Business LoansRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The operator of numerous sober homes in Massachusetts, who also operated insulation companies receiving funds through the Mass Save Program, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his involvement in four different fraud schemes involving sober homes in the Greater Boston area, the Mass Save Program, mortgage lenders and a federal loan program that assisted businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Daniel Cleggett, 38, of Kingston, formerly of Braintree and Quincy, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy; one count of conspiracy to make false statements to a mortgage lending business (mortgage fraud conspiracy); 25 counts of wire fraud; six counts of unlawful monetary transactions (money laundering); and three counts of making false statements to a mortgage lending business. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for March 31, 2025. Cleggett was arrested and charged in March 2023 along with co-conspirator Nicholas Espinosa.
Espinosa pleaded guilty to his role in the fraud schemes on Oct. 3, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2025.
Cleggett was the founder of the sober home business A Vision From God LLC (AVFG). Established in November 2016, AVFG owned and operated sober homes in Boston, Wakefield, Quincy and Weymouth under trade names including Brady’s Place, Lakeshore Retreat and Lambert House. Espinosa managed the day-to-day affairs of Cleggett’s sober home business.
Cleggett, Espinosa and a sober home client entered into a conspiracy to defraud a New York-based family trust that was paying for the client’s room and board at Brady’s Place, located in Quincy. Specifically, Cleggett and Espinosa overcharged the family trust for room and board by up to $12,500 per month by submitting false and fraudulent invoices to the family trust. Cleggett and Espinosa would then issue “refund” checks to the client in furtherance of the fraud scheme.
From approximately October 2019 to December 2021, Cleggett personally, and through straw purchasers including Espinosa, purchased the three residential properties in Weymouth and Boston to use as sober homes. Cleggett, Espinosa and others submitted false information and fraudulent documentation including falsely representing that the three properties were intended to be purchased as primary residences when, in reality, each was intended to be a sober home.
In addition to the sober home business, Cleggett operated numerous insulation contracting companies that participated in the Mass Save Program: Green Save Energy Corporation; Environmental Construction Objective Inc. (ECO); Green Giants, LLC; and Insulation Situation, LLC. Mass Save is a Massachusetts public/private partnership sponsored by gas and electric utility companies that funds energy conservation projects and improvements via energy efficiency funds charged to Massachusetts residents’ utility bills. Specifically, Green Save and ECO received millions of dollars for residential insulation work from a lead vendor company under the Mass Save program. From 2018 through mid-2021, Green Save and ECO fraudulently billed the vendor company for required permits that were not actually obtained. Green Save and ECO were ultimately terminated from participating in the lead vendor company’s program in June 2021, and Cleggett was banned from participating in the Mass Save program. In response to this, Cleggett, Espinosa and other co-conspirators formed Insulation Situation and Green Giants to enter as new lead vendors with the same company under straw owners. As a result, Cleggett obtained a total of $954,443 in payments from the company to Green Giants and Insulation Situation, despite him being banned from participating in the Mass Save program.
Additionally, on April 1, 2020, Cleggett submitted three Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications to the Small Business Administration for AVFG, the Daniel Cleggett Sole Proprietorship and Green Save. Cleggett obtained a total of $794,900 in EIDL loans and advances. In the applications, Cleggett falsely denied involvement in illegal activity despite his involvement in the sober home wire fraud scheme and the mortgage fraud scheme involving one of his Weymouth sober homes. Cleggett’s Sole Proprietorship EIDL application was false because the Daniel Cleggett Sole Proprietorship did not exist. Despite certifying that EIDL proceeds would only be used for “working capital” for the entity seeking the loan, Cleggett used tens of thousands of dollars from the funds to pay for personal expenses including EZ-Pass bills, gym membership fees, pet expenses, airline tickets, car rentals, vacation trips to Yellowstone, Montana and Aruba, and thousands of dollars in hotel resort stays for Cleggett and his girlfriend – which included spa fees as well as a wine and caviar dinner, among other expenses. Cleggett also used Green Save EIDL funds for $37,997 in wedding expenses.
The charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making false statements to a mortgage lending business provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jonathan Wlodyka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Kingston, Randolph and Quincy Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys and John T. Mulcahy and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
Oldsmar Man Pleads Guilty to Producing and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse and AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Justin Ryan Culmo (40, Oldsmar) has pleaded guilty to three counts of production of child sexual abuse material, one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material, one count of possession of child sexual abuse material, and one count of production of child sexual abuse material that is an adapted or modified depiction of a minor. Culmo faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Culmo produced child sexual abuse imagery involving children as young as infants and toddlers, and produced thousands of images of child sexual abuse using generative artificial intelligence (AI). Culmo possessed approximately 85,00 images of child sexual abuse material, 845 videos of child sexual abuse material, and 8,500 AI-generated images of child sexual abuses.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Nine Eastern District of New York Employees and One Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Receive the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) Director's AwardRead the Press Release
Seven Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), a Public Affairs Officer, a Victim Witness Specialist, and a former AUSA from the Eastern District of New York, were among those recognized by the Director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) as recipients of the 39th Annual Director’s Awards.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stated: “I am filled with pride and admiration for the honorees whose outstanding work has furthered the mission of our Office and the Department of Justice through aggressive, fair, and compassionate enforcement of the law, and dedication to crime prevention and reentry initiatives.”
EOUSA Director Stephanie Hinds stated: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to all the award recipients. This recognition is a testament to your hard work, tireless dedication, and unwavering commitment for advancing the Department of Justice’s mission.”
Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney – Civil Division
AUSAs David Cooper and Dara Olds are recognized for their exceptional work defending the government’s interest in Campos, et al. v. Kijikazi. The case involved the Social Security Administration’s response to the global pandemic and the continuation of benefits for those in the Supplemental Security Income program.
Superior Performance by a Litigative Team – U.S. v. UBS Securities LLC et al.
AUSAs Michael Castiglione, Richard Hayes, Edward Newman, Bonni Perlin and former AUSA Melanie Speight, together with AUSAs Austin Hall and Andres Sandoval from the Northern District of Georgia and Special Agents Joseph Della Penna and Ines Cabral with the Federal Housing Finance Agency—Office of Inspector General, are recognized for reaching a $1.435 billion settlement to resolve claims that UBS made misrepresentations to investors in the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities. The settlement redressed UBS’s fraudulent conduct and serves to deter similar conduct in the future.
Superior Performance in Prevention and Reentry Activities
In support of the Office’s commitment to rehabilitation, community reintegration and reducing recidivism, the Reentry Team of AUSA Nomi Berenson, Public Affairs Officer Danielle Blustein Hass and Victim Witness Specialist Gladian Rivera guided the 2023 launch of the Eastern District’s Reentry Initiative. The groundbreaking initiative includes establishing the RAISE court, which is short for Reentry Assistance and Initiatives Supporting Everyone. Presided over by the Honorable LaShann DeArcy Hall, this court helps to provide resources to formerly incarcerated federal inmates identified as being at the highest risk of violence and recidivating. The team also conducts quarterly forums at Brooklyn House, the local federal Residential Reentry Center, in which returning citizens share their post-prison reentry experiences and service providers advise of available reentry services. In addition, the team has hosted reentry simulations for the Office and outside organizations to improve community understanding of the challenges encountered by individuals returning to society after incarceration.
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorney’s offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny.
Nicaraguan National Indicted for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that FRANDER ULISES ESPINOZA-RUGAMA (“ESPINOZA-RUGAMA”), age 27, a native of Nicaragua, was indicted on December 5, 2024 for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
According to court documents, on or about June 30, 2024, ESPINOZA-RUGAMA, an individual unlawfully present in the United States, was found in possession of a Smith & Wesson Model SW9VE, nine-millimeter handgun. He was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations officers for violating immigration laws.
If convicted, ESPINOZA-RUGAMA faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Weapons OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DARNELL DOUCET (“DOUCET”), age 26, was charged on December 5, 2024, in a four-count indictment, with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts.
DOUCET is charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, tapentadol, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. He is charged in Count 2 with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, tapentadol, and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D). He is charged in Count 3 with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). He is charged in Count 4 with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, on September 24, 2024, DOUCET possessed cocaine, tapentadol, and marijuana with the intent to distribute those substances, and possessed four firearms in furtherance of that drug-trafficking crime: a Zastava Model ZPAP92, 7.62 caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-15, multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol; a Glock Model 27, 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and a Glock Model 48, nine-millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol.
As to each of the drug trafficking charges in Counts 1 and 2, DOUCET faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to the charge of possessing a firearm, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in Count 3, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm in Count 4, he faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Hampshire Man Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Stalking JournalistsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to harass and intimidate two journalists employed by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR). The harassment and intimidation of the victims included the vandalism – on five separate occasions – of the victims’ homes and the home of one of the victims’ parents with bricks, large rocks and red spray paint.
Keenan Saniatan, 36, of Nashua, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2024, Saniatan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit stalking using a facility of interstate commerce and one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce. Saniatan was charged in June 2023 along with co-conspirators Tucker Cockerline and Michael Waselchuck. In September 2024, Saniatan, Cockerline and Waselchuck were indicted by a federal grand jury along with a fourth New Hampshire man, Eric Labarge.
In March 2022, an NHPR journalist (Victim 1) published an article detailing allegations of sexual and other misconduct by a former New Hampshire businessperson, identified in the charging document as Subject 1. Another NHPR journalist (Victim 2) also contributed to the article, which appeared on NHPR’s website during and after March 2022. In response to this reporting, Labarge – who is a close personal associate of Subject 1 – Saniatan, Cockerline and Waselchuck agreed to harass and intimidate Victims 1 and 2 and their immediate family members.
Saniatan was responsible for vandalizing two homes connected to the NHPR journalists in April 2022, at Labarge’s request. On the evening of April 24, 2022, Saniatan spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front door of Victim 2’s home in Concord, N.H. He also threw a large rock at the exterior of the home. That same evening, Saniatan threw a softball-sized rock through an exterior window and spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front of Victim 1’s parents’ home in Hampstead, N.H. Separately, and at Labarge’s request, Cockerline and Waselchuck vandalized Victim 1’s home, a home where Victim 1 used to reside and Victim 1’s parents’ home using bricks and red spray paint in three separate incidents in April and May 2022.
In November 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani sentenced Labarge to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Earlier this year, Cockerline and Waselchuck received prison sentences of 27 months and 21 months, respectively. Each sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Concord, Hampstead and Hanover, New Hampshire Police Departments, the Melrose, Massachusetts Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and Torey B. Cummings of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Nashville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison on Weapons and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Terrence Devol London, II, 34, of Nashville, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee. London was convicted by a federal jury in March 2023 of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and controlled substances offenses.
In 2018, London was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, on federal drug and weapons charges. After being released from federal custody, London repeatedly violated the terms of his supervised release, including by cutting off an electronic monitoring device and leaving home confinement. When Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested London, they found him in possession of a loaded firearm, fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and over $9,000 in cash.
“The prosecution of those under court supervision who re-offend are among our highest priorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski. “Offenders like London, like those we prosecute under Operation Bond Watch, need to know that if they are already on court supervision and don’t respect the law, they will be held accountable and there will be serious consequences.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the Gallatin Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rascoe Dean and Nicholas J. Goldin prosecuted the case.
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Myrtle Beach Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for $1.2M Wire Fraud and Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. —Troy Benjamin Bittner, 55, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that from November 2020 to December 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bittner was employed as a general manager at the Carolina Pines RV Resort in Conway. During that time, when it was not uncommon for guests to cancel reservations, he fraudulently generated $828,516.00 in customer refunds that were neither authorized nor requested by guests for completed reservations. After generating the fraudulent refunds, Bittner then wired the refunds to his personal bank accounts. Bittner also stole cash from the Carolina Pines RV Resort’s cloud-based point-of-sale system and documented it as refunds. In addition, in both 2020 and 2021, Bittner electronically filed with the IRS a Form 1040 in which he substantially understated his total income for calendar years 2020 and 2021, resulting in a total tax loss of $281,727.00.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Bittner to 37 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Bittner was ordered to pay a total of $1,219,894.72 in restitution.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the IRS Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.
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