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4 December 2024
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Two Years and Three Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on November 18, 2024.
Patrick Left Hand Bull, age 51, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
A federal grand jury indicted Left Hand Bull in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on August 28, 2024.
Left Hand Bull is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act as a result of a federal felony conviction in February 2014 for Abusive Sexual Contact. On March 11, 2024, he updated his sex offender registry address to the Cornerstone Rescue Mission in Rapid City. Left Hand Bull resided there intermittently between March 11, 2024, and April 23, 2024. Between April 27, 2024, and May 8, 2024, he did not live at the Cornerstone Rescue Mission and did not register or update his new address with the sex offender registry. Left Hand Bull knew of his requirement to register and knowingly failed to do so.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Left Hand Bull was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over Three Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on November 26, 2024.
Jordan Running Hawk, 21, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Running Hawk was indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 12, 2024.
In April 2024, an officer with the Rapid City Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Running Hawk. During the traffic stop, the officer discovered Running Hawk was in possession of a firearm and a firearm magazine loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition. When the officer asked Running Hawk about the firearm, Running Hawk attempted to flee but was apprehended by officers shortly thereafter and arrested. Running Hawk is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he was previously convicted of a felony crime.
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 Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Running Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Charles Merrival, age 32, was sentenced on November 22, 2024, to eight years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition was also ordered. Merrival was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2022 and pleaded guilty on July 8, 2024.
From approximately July 2021 through January 2022, Merrival was involved in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in Rapid City. Law enforcement stopped Merrival in a truck in July 2021. A search of the vehicle recovered 10 grams of methamphetamine and other drug related items. On January 12, 2022, law enforcement witnessed Merrival hand a backpack to a co-conspirator in a store parking lot. When that backpack was subsequently searched, law enforcement located 40 grams of methamphetamine, a pink semi-automatic pistol, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Merrival was found to be in possession of additional rounds ammunition. During the investigation, multiple sources confirmed Merrival’s history of violence and firearm possession. Merrival is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions. Merrival is a former member and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Ghost Dance Motorcycle Club, a support group for the Bandidos.
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 Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Troy Morley, Brian Murphy, and Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Merrival was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing. Merrival faces additional, unrelated charges in Pennington County.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on November 25, 2024.
Jacob Denker, 41, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Denker was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (fentanyl) by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on August 28, 2024.
Beginning around March 2023, Denker began obtaining fentanyl along with his girlfriend, Jamie Lee. They picked up fentanyl in Colorado and then brought it to South Dakota. In Rapid City, Denker and his girlfriend’s sub-distributors further distributed fentanyl throughout the Rapid City area and the Pine Ridge Reservation. This activity continued through September 2023. Overall, Denker and the other co-conspirators were responsible for bringing over 400 grams of fentanyl to the area. Co-defendant Eugene Giago is scheduled for trial on January 7, 2025, and co-defendant Jamie Lee is scheduled for sentencing on January 27, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Denker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Firebombing Apartment Building in FlushingRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Atahualpa Rodriguez pleaded guilty to committing arson of an apartment building in Flushing, Queens. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Allyne R. Ross. When sentenced, Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Robert S. Tucker, Commissioner New York City Fire Department (FDNY), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.
“Today, the defendant admitted that he deliberately set fire to an apartment building in the pre-dawn darkness while many tenants slept, causing the destruction of one apartment unit, damage to surrounding units and injuries to the brave first responders who battled the blaze,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “His actions showed complete disregard for human life and placed hundreds of people in grave danger over a personal dispute. Rodriguez will now face just punishment for his actions.”
“Deliberately setting a fire is an egregious crime that deserves severe punishment,” said FDNY Commissioner Tucker. “In this case, three of our firefighters were injured due to this unspeakable crime. We want to thank the NYPD’s Arson and Explosion Squad along with FDNY fire marshals and ATF agents for their diligent and swift work in this case. We are relieved Atahualpa Rodriguez will no longer be on our city’s streets.”
“Deliberate criminal activity, such as the type Mr. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to today, poses a significant threat to both first responders and private citizens and goes against everything that New York City stands for,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “I am grateful that the injuries sustained by our FDNY colleagues were not more severe, and I commend them for their dedication in maintaining the safety of all New Yorkers. I also thank our partners at the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York for their diligent efforts in ensuring that criminal actions are met with appropriate consequences.”
According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, on January 11, 2022, Rodriguez was in a dispute with the tenants of one unit in the building. On January 12, 2022, Rodriguez firebombed the multi-story building on Parsons Boulevard in Flushing, Queens, which contained approximately 175 units and hundreds of tenants. At approximately 4:40 a.m. on January, a resident of the targeted apartment unit awoke to the sound of breaking glass and heard a voice state: “F—k you all.” The resident walked out of the bedroom and saw the fire ignited by the defendant. One firefighter was injured when a section of ceiling collapsed on him, another suffered first-degree burns and a third was hospitalized after breathing contaminated air. The fire caused approximately $1 million in damages and completely destroyed the targeted apartment unit, as depicted below.
Assistant United States Attorney Adam Amir is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ATAHUALPA RODRIGUEZ
Age: 50
Flushing, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-266 (ARR)
Puerto Rico Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Leadership Role in Puerto Rico/Western Pennsylvania Region Drug Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, was sentenced in federal court to 10 years of incarceration, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction for violating federal narcotics and racketeering laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Antonio Bernacett Rodriguez, 40.
According to information presented to the Court, Bernacett Rodriguez was a leading member of an organized drug trafficking group that shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico, often mailing drug parcels through the U.S. Postal Service to co-conspirators responsible for selling the cocaine in Western Pennsylvania; Youngstown, Ohio; and elsewhere as part of an ongoing drug trafficking conspiracy. Specifically, Bernacett Rodriguez was responsible for obtaining and shipping between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Pennsylvania in 2023 and early 2024, and, in January 2024, travelled from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia and Youngstown, Ohio, to facilitate and promote the drug trafficking enterprise by receiving drug proceeds from other members of the organization.
Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to Bernacett Rodriguez’s conviction in this case in close collaboration with the Lawrence County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Castle City Police Department, Ellwood City Police Department, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Department of Agriculture, Union Township Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and Pennsylvania State Police.
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Lawrence County is one of six western Pennsylvania counties officially designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. The county received its HIDTA designation in July 2022, allowing it to receive dedicated federal resources to coordinate federal, state, and local governments in fighting drug trafficking and abuse.
Podiatrist and Patient Recruiter Sentenced for $8.5M Compounding Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A podiatrist and a patient recruiter were sentenced to 45 months and 60 months in prison, respectively, and ordered to pay over $7 million in restitution for their roles in a scheme to fraudulently bill TRICARE — the health care program for U.S. service members and their families — for compounded creams that were medically unnecessary and procured through kickbacks and bribes.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Brian Carpenter, 58, of Paradise, Texas, was a podiatrist who signed prescriptions for compounded pain and scar creams for TRICARE beneficiaries to whom he never spoke and whom he never examined or treated. Jerry Lee Hawrylak, 71, of Lake Worth, Texas, recruited Carpenter to sign the prescriptions and recruited TRICARE beneficiaries to accept the medically unnecessary creams. From November 2014 to January 2017, Carpenter, Hawrylak, and others caused the Fort Worth-based pharmacy involved in the conspiracy to fraudulently bill TRICARE approximately $8.5 million for these creams. Evidence at trial included so-called standing orders signed by Carpenter that were backdated so the pharmacy could change prescriptions after the fact to maximize TRICARE reimbursement. The prescriptions Carpenter signed and maintained in his office authorized unlimited refills and listed fake addresses for beneficiaries.
In April 2023, a jury in the Northern District of Texas convicted both Carpenter and Hawrylak of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Settle of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southwest Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Dallas Regional Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge P. J. O’Brien of the FBI Dallas Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Casey Howard of the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Central Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) South Central Field Office made the announcement.
DCIS, HHS-OIG, FBI, DOL-OIG, and VA-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Brynn Schiess and Trial Attorney Andrea Savdie 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. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps 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.
Pittsburgh Man Charged with Attempted Murder and Assault of DEA Agent and Related Drug and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of attempted murder and assault of a federal officer or employee, as well as violations of federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The five-count Superseding Indictment named Drew Gordon, 22, as the sole defendant.
According to the Superseding Indictment, on or about August 30, 2024, Gordon attempted to murder a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and assaulted the agent with a deadly and dangerous weapon (a firearm). The Superseding Indictment further charges Gordon with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and quantities of cocaine base and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.
During a prior detention hearing in this case, the government presented testimony and evidence that, on August 30, 2024, a special agent with the DEA was shot at multiple times while he was working on an unrelated investigation in the Carrick area of Pittsburgh. A total of 18 rounds were fired. The agent was not struck by the gunfire, but his vehicle was hit multiple times. The government further established that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with other law enforcement agencies, gathered extensive evidence tying Gordon to the shooting, including cell phone location records, cell phone data, surveillance video, and vehicle records and data. Investigators located 10 spent 9mm cartridge cases on scene, and five additional 9mm cases were recovered from the vehicle allegedly used by the defendant during the shooting.
During the prior hearing, the government further established that, later that evening, investigators executed a federal search warrant at the defendant’s residence, pursuant to which agents discovered over 100 bricks of fentanyl, approximately 85 grams of crack cocaine, approximately four ounces of powder cocaine, and approximately $10,000 in cash. Agents also seized a 9mm Glock pistol equipped with a 50-round drum magazine, an empty 9mm Glock magazine, and a .40 caliber Glock pistol equipped with an extended magazine.
“Drew Gordon allegedly fired as many as 18 shots at a DEA agent, striking the agent’s vehicle multiple times, while the agent was simply doing his job: keeping our streets safe,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Violent assaults on law enforcement, whether federal, state, or local, pose a major threat to the safety of our communities. We will pursue those who unleash gun violence into our communities—regardless of whether they target law enforcement officers or civilians—with the full weight of federal law. Today, we commend the dedication of the FBI and our other law enforcement partners—including the DEA, ATF, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police Department, and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department—for their swift work to identify the alleged shooter and build the case that led to today’s charges.”
“The attempted murder of a federal law enforcement officer, someone who dedicates their life to public safety, threatens our entire community,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The FBI and our local, state, and federal partners stand side by side in holding violent offenders accountable. Our agents, and those of our partners, operate on the front lines to protect our communities, and we will meet any attempt to harm them with the full force of justice.”
If convicted on all counts, Gordon faces a maximum sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $8 million, or both. 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 Attorneys Douglas C. Maloney and Brendan J. McKenna are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment, with assistance from several other agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; Allegheny County Police Department, and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 58 Months in Drug Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 3, 2024, Roosevelt Smith, 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 58 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Smith previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl.
According to court records, on September 21, 2023, law enforcement arrested Smith, in Burlington, Vermont, after executing a search warrant at 86 N. Champlain St. The warrant was executed shortly after Smith returned to the residence from a trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Items seized from the residence included nearly 300 grams of cocaine base and approximately 70 grams of fentanyl. Law enforcement later examined the contents of Smith’s phone, pursuant to a warrant. The examination revealed communications indicative of drug trafficking.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the exceptional investigative work of the Burlington Police Department and the Vermont State Police.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti. Smith was represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.
Own Every Dollar Gang Member Pleads Guilty to 2019 MurderRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea today of JERRIN PENA, a/k/a “Rooga,” a/k/a “Perry,” in connection with his criminal activities as a member of the violent gang Own Every Dollar (“OED”), including the 2019 murder of Hector Cruz. PENA pled guilty today to several charges, including racketeering conspiracy, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “On April 14, 2019, Jerrin Pena murdered Hector Cruz, an innocent bystander to gang violence. That murder is just one of the many acts of violence that members and associates of Own Every Dollar have committed that have terrorized Washington Heights and surrounding communities. This Office will not stop its pursuit of dangerous gangs, and violent gang members will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
PENA is a member of the violent gang OED, a subset of the Trinitarios gang based in and around the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. The Indictments in this case charge 24 members and associates of OED with numerous violent crimes, including five murders and 15 attempted murders.
On April 14, 2019, in the early evening, PENA and others drove to West 135th Street in Manhattan to shoot at members of a rival gang. PENA exited the car and shot at a rival gang member on West 135th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. He missed the rival gang member but struck bystander Hector Cruz—then age 57—in the liver. Cruz died of the gunshot wound approximately one month later.
PENA also pled guilty to an attempted murder on February 28, 2023, when he and several other inmates stabbed another inmate in the Metropolitan Detention Center; a gunpoint robbery of a drug dealer on January 22, 2022, in the vicinity of Riverside Drive and West 145th Street in Manhattan; conspiring to traffic more than four kilograms of fentanyl; and trafficking firearms from Pennsylvania to New York.
13 other OED defendants have previously pled guilty in the case, including MAYOVANEX RODRIGUEZ, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for a 2022 murder.
* * *
PENA, 23, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of attempted murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. PENA is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken on March 4, 2025.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Kevin Mead, Alexandra S. Messiter, and Ashley C. Nicolas are in charge of the prosecution.
Operations Manager at McCormick Place in Chicago Charged with Pocketing Kickbacks from Snowplow VendorRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An operations manager at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly pocketing kickbacks from a company contracted to provide snowplow services at the facility.
DOMINICK GIRONDA was employed on behalf of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which operates McCormick Place. Gironda managed contracts with vendors that provided services at the McCormick Place campus, which consists of multiple buildings, parking lots, and other spaces for conventions and trade shows. According to an indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Gironda schemed with an associate, JAMES SANSONE, to approve inflated invoices for services that were not actually provided at McCormick Place. The false invoices included compensation for individuals who had not worked on particular snow removal projects and equipment that had not been utilized, the indictment states.
After Gironda approved full payment of the false invoices, cash was kicked back to Sansone, who then passed on some or all of the money to Gironda, the indictment states. From 2022 to earlier this year, Gironda and Sansone allegedly received kickbacks totaling approximately $26,700. The indictment alleges that when Gironda, Sansone, and others texted with each other about the scam, they used coded language that referred to the kickback payments as bottles of wine.
Gironda, 54, of Bloomingdale, Ill., and Sansone, 38, of Batavia, Ill., were arrested this morning. Gironda is scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court today at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila M. Finnegan, followed by Sansone at 2:15 p.m. The indictment charges them with three counts of mail fraud, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sushma Raju and Richard Rothblatt.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
gironda_et_al_indictment.pdfOnalaska Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Michael Wilson, 46, of Onalaska, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 57 months in federal prison for possessing fentanyl intended for distribution. Wilson pleaded guilty to this charge on September 11, 2024.
On July 21, 2022, Wilson sold fentanyl to an individual in La Crosse, Wisconsin during a delivery monitored by law enforcement. One week later, La Crosse police executed a search warrant at Wilson’s home in Onalaska. In one room of the home, police found drug packaging materials and a blender coated with white powder residue, near a digital scale used to weigh drugs. Concealed in the ceiling of the room, police located 96 grams of fentanyl and 83 grams of cocaine.
At the sentencing, Judge Conley stated that his decision on the appropriate sentence was influenced by Wilson’s long, repeated history of returning to drug trafficking after multiple state court convictions reaching back to the age of 17. Judge Conley stated that the 57-month sentence plus four years of supervision following that sentence was necessary to protect the public and allow Wilson the opportunity to earnestly address addiction problems that triggered the drug trafficking.
The charge against Wilson was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the Dubuque County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson prosecuted this case.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Cocaine in Western PennsylvaniaRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Northfield, Ohio, has been sentenced to 34 months in federal prison for cocaine trafficking, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Peter Williams, 58, who previously pleaded guilty in this case to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base in early 2021. Judge Conti also ordered Williams to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
Prior to sentencing, the Court was informed that, on January 5, 2021, Williams was the subject of a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, during which it was discovered that Williams possessed with intent to distribute over 300 grams of cocaine. He has a 40-year, multi-state history of committing serious crimes, including several prior drug trafficking and weapons crimes.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Pennsylvania State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.
North Carolina Men Sentenced in International Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jeffrey Doctor, age 52, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Samuel Baker, age 46, of Laurinburg, North Carolina, were sentenced today in connection with a scheme to smuggle cut rag tobacco into Canada from the United States. Doctor was sentenced to 14 months in prison and Samuel Baker was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Harry Chavis, Acting Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office.
As part of their previously entered guilty pleas, Doctor and Samuel Baker each admitted that from approximately 2013 to 2016, they worked with co-conspirators to acquire cut rag tobacco and smuggle it into Canada, where it was used to make contraband cigarettes. Members of the conspiracy sold the contraband cigarettes, making substantial profits by avoiding taxes and duties, and used some of their profits to buy more cut rag tobacco that they sent into Canada. Cut rag tobacco is tobacco cut into fine strips and used to make smoking tobacco.
Funds to purchase the cut rag tobacco were sent from Canada, often through the Northern District of New York, to North Carolina. Once purchased, the cut rag tobacco was delivered to warehouses and buildings in the Northeastern United States, including on the St. Regis Mohawk Akwesasne Reservation, where it was staged for smuggling into Canada.
Samuel Baker admitted that he laundered more than $19 million as part of the scheme, and previously agreed to an administrative forfeiture of $738,442 in proceeds from his crime. Samuel Baker was also fined $100,000.
Doctor admitted that he obtained more than $503,850.66 in unrecovered proceeds, which he agreed to forfeit as a money judgment.
Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 2-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release on each defendant.
Edgar M. Baker, age 51, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, was sentenced today to three years of probation and a $75,000 fine following his prior guilty plea to misprision of a felony, for failing to report the conspiracy to authorities once he learned about it.
Carey Terrance, another co-conspirator involved in the same scheme, was previously sentenced to time served and to pay a $350,000 fine.
HSI and IRS-CI, along with the Canadian Border Services Agency and the Sûreté du Québec, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen J. Vickey and Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping prosecuted this case.
New York Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Transnational “Grandparent Scam” Operated from Dominican RepublicRead the Press Release
A New York man pleaded guilty yesterday to serving as a courier for a Dominican Republic-based “grandparent scam” that targeted elderly Americans.
Victor Anthony Valdez, 40, of the Bronx, New York, was charged in District of New Jersey with one count of wire fraud conspiracy for his role in the scam. According to the indictment, returned over the summer by a grand jury sitting in Newark, New Jersey, the scam operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic, making phone calls to elderly American victims purporting to be the victim’s grandchild, an attorney representing the grandchild in criminal proceedings, court personnel, or other persons associated with the legal system. Co-conspirators told the victims that their grandchildren had been arrested and needed cash for bail or other expenses. Once victims were convinced through lies and falsehoods, coconspirators instructed the victims to provide cash to couriers, including Valdez, who went to victims’ homes to pick up the money.
While acting as a courier for the scam between August 2020 and August 2021, Valdez is alleged to have retrieved, or attempted to retrieve, tens of thousands of dollars from defrauded victims at their homes in New York and New Jersey. Valdez was an employee of the Social Security Administration, New York Region, at the time he committed the offense.
“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through fraudulent schemes like the one in which the defendant here participated,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Those who aid transnational criminals in deliberately targeting vulnerable consumers in the United States will be held accountable.”
“The defendant admitted today to his role in a scam targeting vulnerable seniors,” said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “The defendant and his co-conspirators took advantage of grandparents’ love and concern for their grandchildren they believed to be in trouble, convincing them to pay thousands of dollars. My office will continue to protect the rights of all victims, and we will relentlessly prosecute those who target and cheat vulnerable seniors.”
“Mr. Valdez intentionally conspired to defraud the elderly of their money and property through a cruel, international grandparent scam,” said Acting Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the Social Security Administration. “The vast majority of the victims are Social Security beneficiaries, who live on a fixed income. We will continue to aggressively pursue such intolerable criminal activities. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting this case.”
Valdez pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in a hearing in Newark before the Honorable Claire C. Cecchi of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Valdez is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Joshua Ferrentino of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Alison Thompson for the District of Jersey are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Mitchell Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Aggravated Identity Theft. The sentencing took place on December 2, 2024.
Jeremy Zwetzig, age 44, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $1,935.90, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Zwetzig was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 29, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on January 23, 2023, when Zwetzig stole mail in Mitchell. One piece of mail contained a check that was not addressed to him. He then used the banking information from that legitimate business check to create a fraudulent check drawn on that same account, unbeknownst to the actual holder of the account. Zwetzig made the fraudulent check payable to an actual person and then negotiated the fraudulent check by depositing it into a bank account that he fraudulently opened using the name of the actual account holder so he could draw the funds and spend them.
This case was investigated by the Mitchell Police Department, the U.S Postal Inspection Service, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Zwetzig was allowed to self-report to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service by December 30, 2024.
Middle District of Florida Law Enforcement Personnel Receive U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. Award recipients in the Middle District of Florida recipients included Detective Matthew Newbold of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Stephen Malandro, Officer Trevor Stamper, and Specialist Todd Nutbrown of the Largo Police Department.
This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety.
“Community policing is essential to building trust and ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “These officers have gone above and beyond their duty to foster partnerships with the communities they serve. Their work is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the profound impact law enforcement can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and society.”
Detective Matthew Newbold of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was recognized for his diligent work, study and understanding of new technologies, and commitment to pursuing the truth. Detective Newbold was able to crack a cold case that had gone unsolved for 36 years. Over his 24 years of service, Detective Newbold’s steadfast commitment has delivered justice to countless victims and their families, leaving an indelible mark on the community.
Officer Stephen Malandro, Officer Trevor Stamper, and Specialist Todd Nutbrown of the Largo Police Department were honored for their extraordinary efforts that have transformed the lives of over 500 individuals experiencing homelessness. In addition to this team’s creative solutions like partnering with a homeless shelter or drafting new city ordinances, they have also shown their dedication, their deep understanding of the nature of these challenges, and their unwavering commitment that has made such a change for the community.
“Working collaboratively with communities to address concerns and reduce crime is the cornerstone of effective policing,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “The law enforcement personnel recognized in our district today are among the best in the nation. Their active engagement and innovative approaches towards public safety has greatly improved the quality of life for the citizens of our district.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Department of Justice commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
Michigan City Man Sentenced to 151 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Gregory Morrison, 54 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Morrison was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by 6 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in the summer of 2023, on 8 separate occasions, Morrison distributed, a total of 122 grams of cocaine. A search of Morrison’s house in September 2023 resulted in the recovery of an additional 148 grams of cocaine and $1,700. This is Morrison’s fourth conviction for a drug distribution offense.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the DEA North Central Laboratory with assistance from the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, the Michigan City Police Department, and the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle.
Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 4 Months for Illegally Reentering the United States After Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced Ulises Casterjon-Gallegos, 39, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 4 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. Casterjon-Gallegos pleaded guilty to this charge on September 11, 2024.
On January 29, 2024, Casterjon-Gallegos was arrested in Barron County, Wisconsin for possessing methamphetamine. He was originally removed from the United States in 2008 and was subsequently removed four additional times prior to his recent drug arrest.
Judge Conley addressed Casterjon-Gallegos’s substance abuse issues and his prior conviction and arrests for domestic abuse. Judge Conley urged him to take a lengthy period of sobriety and to reevaluate his treatment of the women in his life. Judge Conley warned him that now that he has a conviction for illegal reentry, he would face much higher consequences should he illegally reenter the country again.
The charge against Casterjon-Gallegos was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Barron County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted this case.
Maryland “Ghost Preparer” Pleads Guilty to Preparing and Filing False Tax Returns for ClientRead the Press Release
A White Plains, Maryland, man pleaded guilty today to preparing and filing a false tax return for a client.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Anthony Judd was a full-time special police officer staffed at the National Archives and Records Administration and a part-time return preparer. Since at least 2013, Judd prepared and filed more than 40 false tax returns for individual clients which reduced the amount of taxes they owed and inflated their refunds. These returns reported losses for businesses that the clients did not actually have, and deductions for expenses — such as transportation and job-related expenses — that the clients did not actually incur. Judd prepared and filed each client’s tax return as a “ghost preparer,” meaning that he did not identify himself as the preparer on the returns. Judd caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $484,525.
Judd is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Jorge Almonte and Trial Attorney Evan C. Mulbry of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Marshfield Woman Sentenced to Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Shandel L. Mohr, 32, Marshfield, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to twelve months and one day in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. The prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. Mohr pleaded guilty to this charge on August 20, 2024.
In February 2022, Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force officers began investigating a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization operating in Wausau, Wisconsin. The multi-year investigation involved the seizure of drug-laden packages from the mail, controlled purchases of narcotics, and seizures of firearms and large quantities of drugs from residence searches. From the investigation, officers believe the drug trafficking organization was distributing kilograms quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Shandel Mohr was identified as a regional cocaine dealer for the drug trafficking organization in the Marshfield area. During the investigation, officers learned that the prior cocaine distributor in Marshfield had been arrested. Intercepted phone calls and communications revealed the leaders of the drug trafficking organization recruited Mohr and her friend to take over distribution in Marshfield. Mohr was ultimately arrested and admitted during her interview that she sold cocaine. During the time of the investigation and while she was distributing cocaine, Mohr was out on bond, and later convicted and placed on probation for a domestic abuse case.
At sentencing, Judge Conley found that Mohr joined a serious drug trafficking conspiracy and took over an important distribution point in Marshfield, even though it was for a shorter duration than many of her co-defendants.
Eight others were also charged in connection with this drug trafficking organization. Teala Kumbera was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and sentenced by Judge Conley on November 14, 2024, to 54 months in federal prison. Tommie Haney, Quo Vadis Lewis, Craig C. Gates, and Troy A. Olsen have all pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months. Cases against Edwin Lewis, Samuel A. Teague, and Shelby Gutch are still pending and the three are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge against Mohr was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Marathon County Sheriff's Office, Portage County Sheriff's Office, Everest Metro Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations.
Marietta Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jukobie Allen Ramsey, age 22, of Marietta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction.
The Indictment alleged that beginning in May 2021, and continuing until April 29, 2024, Ramsey used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing and transmitting a visual depiction of such conduct in interstate commerce via the internet.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Love County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Ramsey will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak Cohen represented the United States.
Man who Supplied Drugs that Killed Jail Inmate Sentenced to 16 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced the man who supplied the fentanyl that killed a St. Francois County jail inmate to 16 years in prison.
Garry W. Triplett, now 38, supplied drugs including fentanyl to jail inmate Timothy L. Noll, 35, of Park Hills, Missouri. Noll had arrived at the jail on July 27, 2021, and instructed an intermediary to get the drugs from Triplett and conceal them in a Bible. Triplett supplied at least three grams each of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Noll planned to sell the drugs inside the facility.
When on August 2, Noll discovered he was being sent to state prison and couldn’t bring the Bible, he had jail staff give it to his cellmate. His cellmate died two days later of mixed drug intoxication, including from a lethal dose of fentanyl.
Triplett pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with death resulting and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Noll pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with death resulting and one count of distribution of a controlled substance with death resulting.
The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone prosecuted the case.
Madison Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Possessing Fentanyl Intended for DistributionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Corvalis Stewart, 37, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 16 years in federal prison for possessing 400 or more grams of fentanyl intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 8 years of supervised release. Stewart pleaded guilty to this charge on September 1, 2024.
On the evening of February 8, 2024, Stewart and his codefendant Larry Williamson landed a rented Cessna 172 aircraft at the Middleton Municipal Airport, in Middleton, Wisconsin. Williamson was a private pilot who had rented the aircraft to fly to Phoenix, Arizona, to pick up drugs. Stewart was the passenger. Federal and state law enforcement received information about the flight and about Williamson and Stewart’s suspicious behavior in Arizona.
Law enforcement tracked the aircraft as it returned to Middleton and landed at approximately 10:55 p.m. Williamson and Stewart got out of the airplane and walked to the parking lot. Stewart was carrying three bags, which he put in the back of his vehicle. Law enforcement detained the men and searched the bags.
Two of the bags contained 19 pounds of methamphetamine. The third bag contained approximately 200,000 fentanyl pills known on the street as M30’s, which are counterfeit Oxycodone pills. This was the largest fentanyl seizure in Dane County, with an estimated street value of $2,000,000. The investigation revealed text messages showing that it was Stewart who arranged the drug pick up in Phoenix.
Judge Peterson remarked that this case involved a “startling quantity of drugs” and that fentanyl was the leading cause of overdoses. Judge Peterson found that additional aggravating factors were present in the case, including Stewart’s serious criminal history, the fact that he was on federal supervision at the time of this offense, and the fact that Stewart planned the crime.
Stewart has multiple felony convictions, including five convictions for gun- related offenses. At the time of this offense, Stewart was on federal supervision for a felon in possession of a firearm conviction. Stewart’s supervised release was also revoked at the sentencing and Judge Peterson sentenced him to 2 years in prison to run concurrently with the drug sentence.
Stewart’s co-defendant, Larry Williamson, pleaded guilty on June 18, 2024, to possessing 500 or more grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution. On October 31, 2024, Williamson was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
The charges against Stewart and Williamson were the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the Middleton Police Department, with the assistance of the Air Marine Operations Center in Riverside, California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Louisville Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced this week to 11 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Chief Paul Humphreys of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, on December 2, 2024, Dion Brown, 31, was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and five counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
Brown’s codefendants were previously sentenced.
On October 24, 2024, Raheem Richardson, 32, of Louisville, was sentenced to 11 years and 4 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, five counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Richardson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On October 28, 2014, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Richardson was convicted of wanton endangerment in the first degree (three counts).
On August 15, 2024, Jamesha Hickman, 31, of Louisville, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
On August 1, 2024, Demeeko Johnson, 30, of Louisville, was sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
On August 15, 2024, Samuel Keene, 35, of Louisville, was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misprision of a felony. Keene was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.
On or about January 30, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Keene was convicted of assault under extreme emotional disturbance.
On August 15, 2024, Tyrece Clark, 31, of Louisville, was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misprision of a felony. Clark was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.
On June 5, 2020, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Clark was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense - heroin.
On May 16, 2024, Hubert Brown, 54, of Louisville, was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misprision of a felony. Brown was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense.
On November 2, 1989, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Brown was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, first offense - cocaine.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The DEA, HSI, and the Louisville Metro Police Department investigated the case with the assistance from the Kentucky State Police, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisville Airport Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez prosecuted the case with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic.
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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Louisville Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Louisville man, Nathan Cole, 28, was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years in prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of 40 grams of more of a mixture containing fentanyl.
According to his plea agreement, on April 21, 2023, Cole sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a restaurant in London. Cole sold the informant 1,000 pills containing fentanyl and weighing approximately 111 grams . Cole also sold the informant 237 grams of methamphetamine.
Under federal law, Cole must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Little Rock Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Edmond Quatrell Blue, a multi-convicted felon caught with more than a kilogram of fentanyl, will spend the next 18 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr.
In addition to the 18 years’ imprisonment, Judge Marshall sentenced Blue, 33, of Little Rock, Arkansas, to five years of supervised release. Blue was indicted on April 5, 2023, in a one-count indictment charging possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and pleaded guilty on July 29, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revealed that on June 10, 2022, DEA agents conducted surveillance on Blue near the area of an apartment complex on Napa Valley Drive in Little Rock. During the surveillance, DEA agents observed a red Mazda pull into the parking lot with Blue arriving in the parking lot a short time later. Blue exited his vehicle and got in the back seat of the Mazda. A short time later, Blue exited the Mazda holding a plastic McDonald’s bag and walked to an unknown apartment.
Blue was then observed leaving the area but returning later in the afternoon in a black Ford F-250. He then went inside an apartment and returned to the Ford F-250 with a purple duffle bag. Blue put the duffle bag into the black Ford F-250 and left the area in the passenger seat of the truck. The Arkansas State Police (ASP) stopped the truck for a traffic violation at the front entrance of an apartment complex near Kanis and Barrow Road.
Blue exited the passenger side of the truck with the purple duffle bag and fled on foot, running west through the complex. A DEA Task Force Officer (TFO) who observed Blue flee drove to the west side of the complex where he observed Blue throw the purple duffle bag into a construction dumpster. Officers pursued Blue on foot, while the TFO climbed into the construction dumpster to retrieve the purple duffle bag. In the duffle bag the TFO found a plastic McDonald’s bag that contained a large plastic bag of a solid white powder substance and a “brick” or kilogram of a solid white powder substance, which were tested and confirmed by the DEA to be 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl. Officers located Blue hiding in a vacant apartment and took him into custody.
Blue’s prior criminal history includes felony convictions for possession of cocaine with the purpose to deliver, multiple convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, multiple convictions for possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, illegal possession of a firearm, and felony fleeing.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA with assistance from ASP and the Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, James Allen Brown, 26, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 165 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for the distribution of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, from June 2022 to March 2023, Brown used multiple Instagram accounts to send and receive child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement also located evidence of sexually explicit depictions of minors stored on Brown’s cell phone and accessed on a cloud storage system. During an interview, Brown admitted to law enforcement that he used Instagram and Telegram to trade child pornography with others.
Under federal law, Brown must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Kennewick Detective Recognized with Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Richland, Washington - Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, including Detective Liz Grant of the Kennewick Police Department.
This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety.
Guided by exceptional instincts and an unwavering commitment to justice, Detective Grant connected a series of sexual assaults to a single individual. Her painstaking investigative work, combined with her compassion for victims and ability to earn their trust, led to the suspect receiving a 226-year prison sentence – an outcome that underscores the power of her dedication to pursuing justice.
“Detective Grant’s extraordinary investigative abilities and dedication to supporting victims makes a powerful impact on the Tri-Cities community. Through her skill, compassion, and work ethic, she builds trust with victims and delivers impressive case results in the courtroom,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “Detective Grant’s engagement with her community makes it a safer and strong place to live. I extend my heartfelt congratulations for this well-deserved recognition.”
“Community policing is essential to building trust and ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “These officers have gone above and beyond their duty to foster partnerships with the communities they serve. Their work is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the profound impact law enforcement can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and society.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Department of Justice commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Senior Living Provider to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured a settlement agreement with Watercrest Community Management LLC (Watercrest) resolving the department’s determination that Watercrest violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) at its Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, location. The department determined that Watercrest discriminated against a non-U.S. citizen worker by rejecting her valid document showing her permission to work and asking for additional and unnecessary documents because of her citizenship status.
“Under federal law, employers cannot discriminate based on citizenship status when verifying an individual’s ability to work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting workers from citizenship status discrimination and removing unnecessary barriers to work in the United States.”
After opening an investigation based on a worker’s complaint, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) determined that Watercrest improperly refused to honor the valid document that a non-U.S. citizen provided to prove her permission to work in the United States. IER’s investigation also revealed that Watercrest asked the worker for additional and unnecessary documents that Watercrest said were required by the commercial Form I-9 software program the company used. Watercrest improperly and repeatedly asked for those documents. Form I-9 is a government form that employers and workers are required to complete that verifies that a worker has the ability to work in the United States.
An employer must follow all legal requirements when verifying someone’s permission to work, and using a software program to electronically complete this process does not guarantee compliance with federal law. Under the INA, employers cannot reject valid documentation or request more documents than necessary when verifying a worker’s permission to work because of a worker’s citizenship or immigration status.
Under the terms of the settlement, if Watercrest encounters difficulty using its software program to complete an employee’s Form I-9, it will complete a physical Form I-9 for that employee rather than reject the employee’s valid documents showing permission to work. Watercrest also will pay a civil penalty to the United States, train its employees on the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to monitoring by the department.
IER is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee, unfair documentary practices and retaliation and intimidation.
Find more information about how employers can avoid discrimination when verifying someone’s permission to work on IER’s website. Information regarding how to avoid unlawful discrimination and other Form I-9 violations when using commercial or proprietary programs to electronically complete the Form I-9 or participate in E-Verify is also available. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a live webinar; watch an on-demand presentation; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
Justice Department Proposes Regulations Implementing the Bipartisan Safer Communities ActRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced it has submitted to the Federal Register two notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that, if finalized, will fully implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 (BSCA), the most significant gun safety legislation in over 30 years.
Following the language of the BSCA, the Firearm Handlers Rule proposes that federal firearm licensees (FFLs), such as gun stores, be allowed to use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to voluntarily conduct employment background checks for certain employees. Current NICS regulations prohibit FFLs from initiating background checks for any purpose other than the transfer of firearms. Under the Firearm Handlers NPRM, FFLs will be permitted to request NICS background checks for current or prospective employees who may handle firearms, ammunition, or related materials. The Firearm Handlers Rule NPRM details the scope of employees eligible for background checks, as well as new NICS statuses proposed for such checks.
The second NPRM, known as the Under-21 Rule, would codify enhanced NICS background check procedures for prospective firearm purchasers under 21 years of age, among other changes. Under the BSCA, NICS is required to conduct enhanced background checks for such under-21 purchasers, by contacting certain state and local entities to determine if a juvenile record, such as a criminal conviction or mental health record, may disqualify the purchaser from possessing a firearm. The FBI began performing these enhanced checks in late 2022 and has denied nearly 1,000 transactions solely because of enhanced outreach.
View the Firearm Handlers NPRM here.
View the Under-21 Rule NPRM here.
Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by Memphis Police Department and City of MemphisRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and City of Memphis (City) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
Specifically, the Justice Department finds that:
- MPD uses excessive force.
- MPD conducts unlawful stops, searches and arrests.
- MPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law.
- The City and MPD unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities.
The Justice Department also identified serious concerns about MPD’s treatment of children. Finally, the Department identified deficiencies in policy, training, supervision and accountability that contribute to MPD’s and the City’s unlawful conduct.
“The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our exhaustive investigation found that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, conducting unlawful stops, searches and arrests and discriminatory policing of Black people and residents with behavioral health disabilities. Our investigation also identified troubling policing practices that impact some of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents — its children. We acknowledge Memphis’ cooperation during our investigation and look forward to instituting reforms that will address the harms we identified.”
“This process and these findings uncovered that our city has a lot of work to do,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Memphians are rightly concerned with gun violence and violent crime. They are also rightly concerned about the collective approach that we must take to tackle these issues. We hope to work with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the Memphis Police Department and our Memphis partners to move forward.”
The City and MPD cooperated fully with the Justice Department’s investigation. The department provided a comprehensive written report of its investigative findings to the City and MPD. The report acknowledges the changes already made by the City and MPD, and it identifies additional remedial measures that the department believes are necessary to fully address its findings.
The department opened this investigation on July 27, 2023. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The team conducted numerous onsite tours; interviewed MPD officers, supervisors and command staff; spoke with City officials and employees; accompanied behavioral crisis responders and officers on ride-alongs; reviewed thousands of documents; and reviewed hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates and service providers in the Memphis area.
The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil pattern or practice investigation and are separate from the department’s criminal cases against former MPD officers for federal crimes related to the death of Tyre Nichols.
The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Memphis community for input on remedies to address the department’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at [email protected] or by phone at 888-473-3730. The department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Please use this link to register for the event: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_hf-KK_oOTpWQ6qinosSN2w. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings.
This is one of 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Justice Department under Section 12601 since April 2021. In 2023 and 2024, the department issued findings reports regarding five of those investigations: the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department, and Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department. The five other ongoing investigations cover the Louisiana State Police; Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department; New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; Oklahoma City Police Department; and Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
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Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by Memphis Police Department and City of MemphisRead the Press Release
Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and City of Memphis (City) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
Specifically, the Justice Department finds that:
- MPD uses excessive force.
- MPD conducts unlawful stops, searches and arrests.
- MPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law.
- The City and MPD unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities.
The Justice Department also identified serious concerns about MPD’s treatment of children. Finally, the Department identified deficiencies in policy, training, supervision and accountability that contribute to MPD’s and the City’s unlawful conduct.
“The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our exhaustive investigation found that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, conducting unlawful stops, searches and arrests and discriminatory policing of Black people and residents with behavioral health disabilities. Our investigation also identified troubling policing practices that impact some of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents — its children. We acknowledge Memphis’ cooperation during our investigation and look forward to instituting reforms that will address the harms we identified.”
“This process and these findings uncovered that our city has a lot of work to do,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Memphians are rightly concerned with gun violence and violent crime. They are also rightly concerned about the collective approach that we must take to tackle these issues. We hope to work with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the Memphis Police Department and our Memphis partners to move forward.”
The City and MPD cooperated fully with the Justice Department’s investigation. The department provided a comprehensive written report of its investigative findings to the City and MPD. The report acknowledges the changes already made by the City and MPD, and it identifies additional remedial measures that the department believes are necessary to fully address its findings.
The department opened this investigation on July 27, 2023. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The team conducted numerous onsite tours; interviewed MPD officers, supervisors and command staff; spoke with City officials and employees; accompanied behavioral crisis responders and officers on ride-alongs; reviewed thousands of documents; and reviewed hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates and service providers in the Memphis area.
The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil pattern or practice investigation and are separate from the department’s criminal cases against former MPD officers for federal crimes related to the death of Tyre Nichols.
The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Memphis community for input on remedies to address the department’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at [email protected] or by phone at 888-473-3730. The department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Please use this link to register for the event: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_hf-KK_oOTpWQ6qinosSN2w. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings.
This is one of 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Justice Department under Section 12601 since April 2021. In 2023 and 2024, the department issued findings reports regarding five of those investigations: the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department, and Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department. The five other ongoing investigations cover the Louisiana State Police; Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department; New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; Oklahoma City Police Department; and Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
Justice Department Announces Recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety.
“All 21 of today’s awardees have demonstrated what community-oriented policing looks like in practice,” said Attorney General Garland. “They come from all different parts of the country. They represent communities of all shapes and sizes. Their typical days might not all look the same. But they are united by a deep commitment to protecting their communities.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
“Today, we stand in the presence of extraordinary individuals who exemplify the very best of what it means to protect and serve,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “We celebrate a remarkable truth: the profound and positive impact that law enforcement officers and deputies have on the communities they serve every single day. These awards honor those who exemplify the very best of the profession and showcases these individuals as pillars of trust, empathy, and unity.”
The 2024 award recipients are:
Category: Criminal Investigations
- Detective Matthew Newbold of the Polk County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
- Detective Liz Grant of the Kennewick, Washington, Police Department;
- Detective Tyler Norman of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Police Department; and
- Police Officer Reece Walno of the Spearfish, South Dakota, Police Department.
Category: Field Operations
- Deputy Sheriff Jahmar Robinson of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
- Lance Corporal Justin Boyd of the Columbia, South Carolina, Police Department; and
- Detective/Community Policing Officer Stephen Leacroy of the La Marque, Texas, Police Department.
Category: Innovations in Community Policing
- Corporal Adrian Maldonado, Deputy James Mackey, Deputy Jason Coker, Deputy Tammy Fox, and Deputy Yanick Exceus of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
- Detective Edwin Hugh and Police Officer Thomas Joy of the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department;
- Officer Stephen Malandro, Officer Trevor Stamper, and Specialist Todd Nutbrown of the Largo, Florida, Police Department;
- Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn of the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department;
- Master Police Officer Thomas Rodriquez of the Manassas City, Virginia, Police Department; and
- Master Officer Shauna Moller of the Manassas City Police Department.
“It is an honor to share the stage with these recipients,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). “I am inspired by their actions and service.”
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Justice Department commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.
Justice Department Announces Recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
MIAMI — U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida is delighted to share Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s announcement today regarding the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety. The award recipients include deputies who protect and serve communities in the Southern District of Florida.
“All 21 of today’s awardees have demonstrated what community-oriented policing looks like in practice,” said Attorney General Garland. “They come from all different parts of the country. They represent communities of all shapes and sizes. Their typical days might not all look the same. But they are united by a deep commitment to protecting their communities.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
“Today, we stand in the presence of extraordinary individuals who exemplify the very best of what it means to protect and serve,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “We celebrate a remarkable truth: the profound and positive impact that law enforcement officers and deputies have on the communities they serve every single day. These awards honor those who exemplify the very best of the profession and showcases these individuals as pillars of trust, empathy, and unity.”
The 2024 award recipients are:
Category: Criminal Investigations
Detective Matthew Newbold of the Polk County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
Detective Liz Grant of the Kennewick, Washington, Police Department;
Detective Tyler Norman of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Police Department; and
Police Officer Reece Walno of the Spearfish, South Dakota, Police Department.
Category: Field Operations
Deputy Sheriff Jahmar Robinson of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
Lance Corporal Justin Boyd of the Columbia, South Carolina, Police Department; and
Detective/Community Policing Officer Stephen Leacroy of the La Marque, Texas, Police Department.
Category: Innovations in Community Policing
Corporal Adrian Maldonado, Deputy James Mackey, Deputy Jason Coker, Deputy Tammy Fox, and Deputy Yanick Exceus of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office;
Detective Edwin Hugh and Police Officer Thomas Joy of the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department;
Officer Stephen Malandro, Officer Trevor Stamper, and Specialist Todd Nutbrown of the Largo, Florida, Police Department;
Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn of the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department;
Master Police Officer Thomas Rodriquez of the Manassas City, Virginia, Police Department; and
Master Officer Shauna Moller of the Manassas City Police Department.
“It is an honor to share the stage with these recipients,” said Director Hugh T. Clements of the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). “I am inspired by their actions and service.”
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Justice Department commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.
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Heavily Armed Sellersburg Career Criminal Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison for Selling Methamphetamine and GunsRead the Press Release
NEW ALBANY— Todd Nance, 40, of Sellersburg, has been sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, armed drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Todd Nance was a known drug dealer and was observed by law enforcement selling at least 263 grams of methamphetamine and various firearms out of his residence located in Sellersburg, Indiana. During a portion of that time, Nance was on pretrial release for multiple drug charges in state court, including felony possession of methamphetamine.
On April 29, 2024, Nance sold a .38 revolver and approximately 115 grams of methamphetamine to another person in exchange for $1,550 cash. During the transaction, Nance was carrying a 9mm handgun in his waistband.
On May 30, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a court-authorized search of Nance’s residence. Investigators found and seized 50 grams of methamphetamine and seven firearms, including a 12-gauge sawed off shotgun, a Ruger 9mm with an extended magazine, cocaine, fentanyl, and assorted pills. Nance is prohibited from ever legally possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions for Possession of Methamphetamine and Residential Entry.
“This violent felon sold guns, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs in our community—all while illegally armed with an arsenal that included a sawed-off shotgun and a semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Deadly drugs and deadly weapons in the hands of repeat offenders cause tremendous damage to every community, large and small. Every neighborhood deserves to be safe from career criminals like Nance, and I commend the FBI, Clarksville Police Department, and our federal prosecutors for their efforts to take him off our streets. The fifteen-year federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that these very serious crimes will result in very serious consequences.”
“The defendant threatened the safety of the community and endangered lives through his choice to engage in the illegal sale of guns and drugs. This sentence sends a very clear message – those who choose to profit from violence and drug addiction will find themselves facing lengthy prison time,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to ensuring those who engage in this illegal and destructive behavior will be held accountable for their actions.”
The FBI and the Clarksville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Oliver, who prosecuted this case.
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Grand Jury Returns Multiple Firearms IndictmentsRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury has returned indictments, charging five individuals with federal firearms violations.
Dustin Allen Wayne Plants, 31, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was indicted for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, Plants was found with a firearm and ammunition in Marshall County. Plants was previously convicted of two felony charges of entering of a building in Marshall County, prohibiting him from possessing firearms.
David Earl Ellis, 44, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to the indictment, Ellis is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior domestic violence conviction in Ohio County.
Jakob Barnes, 38, of Wheeling, West Virginia, is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, Barnes, prohibited from having firearms because of a prior malicious assault conviction in Ohio County, had two firearms in his home.
Adam Jamal Ramadan, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was indicted for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, Ramadan was found with a firearm and ammunition during a traffic stop in Ohio County. Ramadan is prohibited from possessing guns due to prior convictions for robbery, receiving stolen property, and a firearms offense.
Tomez Faulkner, 38, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, Faulkner is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior drug and aggravated assault convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office; the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office; and the Wheeling Police Department.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Fort Cavazos Soldiers Arrested on Human Smuggling Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
ALPINE, Texas – Three Fort Cavazos soldiers were arrested on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle undocumented noncitizens.
According to court documents, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent initiated a vehicle stop in Presidio on Nov. 27. The vehicle fled as the agent approached the passenger side and struck a second USBP vehicle, injuring an agent inside, according to the filed criminal complaint. Presidio County Deputies and Presidio Police Officers eventually stopped the vehicle and apprehended four individuals, three of whom were undocumented noncitizens—one Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals. The fourth individual was Emilio Mendoza Lopez, who claimed to be the front seat passenger in the vehicle. The driver, alleged to be Angel Palma, fled on foot and was located the following day at a hotel in Odessa.
Mendoza Lopez and Palma allegedly traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio for the purpose of picking up and transporting undocumented noncitizens. A third individual, Enrique Jauregui, is alleged to be the recruiter and facilitator of the human smuggling conspiracy. Data extracted from Palma’s phone through a search warrant revealed messages between the three soldiers indicating collaboration in the smuggling operation.
Mendoza Lopez made his initial appearance Dec. 2 in Alpine before U.S. Magistrate Judge David B. Fannin. Mendoza Lopez is charged with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens.
Palma and Jauregui were both arrested Dec. 3 on Fort Cavazos. They are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske for their initial appearance hearings in Waco on Dec. 6. The two codefendants are charged in a separate criminal complaint with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens and one count of assaulting a federal agent. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
HSI, USBP and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Cayton is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former high school teacher sent to prison for possessing images and videos depicting sexual abuse of childrenRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Emilio Santiago De Los Santos pleaded guilty April 16.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered De Los Santos to a total of 97 months in prison. He was further ordered to pay restitution to the victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. De Los Santos will also be ordered to register as sex offender.
“As a high school teacher, De Los Santos held a special trust, charged with watching over the children in his care. At the same time, he was sharing his own stash of child pornography with like-minded offenders and that’s what makes this crime especially abhorrent,” said Hamdani. “The exploitation of children has no place in our community and my office will vigorously prosecute those involved in the distribution and possession of child pornography to the fullest extent of the law, in particular a teacher like De Los Santos.”
“The FBI’s violent crimes against children squad consists of very special individuals who work every day to identify, investigate and arrest predators like De Los Santos,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI’s Houston Field Office. “Today’s sentencing is another testament to their commitment and dedication to protect our children from these types of monsters.”
De Los Santos came to the attention of law enforcement after he shared multiple child pornography files in various subgroup chatrooms on the Keybase application. Authorities obtained a search warrant for De Los Santos’s residence and seized his electronic devices.
A forensic examination of those devices resulted in the discovery of 853 images and 380 videos of child pornography. The material included depictions of sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, sadistic and masochistic conduct involving children under the age of 12 and bestiality.
At the time of his arrest, De Los Santos was a high school teacher in the greater Houston area.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Former children’s hospital employee sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for sharing, receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Nationwide Children’s Hospital employee who treated child burn victims was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 210 months in prison for downloading, exchanging and receiving child pornography.
Ryan Ramos, 38, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in May 2024 to one count of distributing and receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
Ramos possessed a large quantity of child sexual abuse material, including more than 42,000 images and approximately 8,500 videos. As part of this case, more than 700 victims have been identified.
Ramos worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital from 2018 until 2020 and then at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in the ICU in burn trauma until 2023.
According to court documents, a 2020 FBI investigation in their Brooklyn-Queens office led agents to discover Ramos’s participation in a Signal app group dedicated to the exchange of child pornography.
Ramos shared hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse, including abuse of young boys and infants, to the chat group.
Further investigation into Ramos revealed that, in 2018, he had paid a sexual offender in New York City and received child pornography created by the offender in exchange for his payment. Ramos sent more than $500 via PayPal to the child exploiter.
Ramos’s iPhone contained more than 346,000 Signal, Telegram and other online chat messages, in most of which Ramos was distributing, seeking, receiving or discussing child pornography.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
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Former Social Security Administration Employee Admits to Role in Transnational “Grandparent Scam” Operated from Dominican RepublicRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man who previously worked as a claims specialist with the U.S. Social Security Administration admitted yesterday to acting as a courier for a Dominican Republic-based “grandparent scam” that targeted elderly Americans.
Victor Anthony Valdez, 39, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with wire fraud conspiracy.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, the scam operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic, making phone calls to elderly American victims purporting to be the victim’s grandchild, an attorney representing the grandchild in criminal proceedings, court personnel, or other persons associated with the legal system. Conspirators told the victims that their grandchildren had been arrested and needed cash for bail or other expenses. Once victims were convinced through lies and falsehoods, coconspirators instructed the victims to provide cash to couriers, including Valdez, who went to victims’ homes to pick up the money.
While acting as a courier for the scam between August 2020 and August 2021, Valdez is alleged to have retrieved, or attempted to retrieve, tens of thousands of dollars from defrauded victims at their homes in New York and New Jersey.
“The defendant admitted to his role in a scam targeting vulnerable seniors. The defendant and his coconspirators took advantage of grandparents’ love and concern for their grandchildren they believed to be in trouble, convincing them to pay thousands of dollars. My office will continue to protect the rights of all victims, and we will relentlessly prosecute those who target and cheat vulnerable seniors.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through fraudulent schemes like the one in which the defendant here participated,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Those who aid transnational criminals in deliberately targeting vulnerable consumers in the United States will be held accountable.”
“Mr. Valdez intentionally conspired to defraud the elderly of their money and property through a cruel, international grandparent scam,” said Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Acting Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “The vast majority of the victims are Social Security beneficiaries, who live on a fixed income. We will continue to aggressively pursue such intolerable criminal activities. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting this case.”
Valdez faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 9, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the special agents of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Alison Thompson, and Trial Attorney Joshua Ferrentino of the Civil Division's Consumer Protection Branch and are prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through OVC, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
valdez.indictment.pdf
Former Regions Bank Manager Sentenced to 30 Months for Embezzlement and Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Eric Jason Schouest, age 53, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, to 30 months in federal prison following his convictions for embezzlement and bank fraud. The Court further sentenced Schouest to serve two years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered Schouest to pay $86,375.89 in restitution.
Schouest was employed at Regions Bank from 2010 to 2021 as a branch manager overseeing business transactions and practices at the Regions Bank Plank Road branch. In his capacity as branch manager, he had the authority to access customer accounts, instruct others to open and close accounts, issue cashier’s checks, and transfer funds in and out of customer accounts.
Schouest exploited his position of trust at Regions Bank to embezzle funds from customers and deposit the money into his personal bank accounts. He also sent false and fraudulent emails and forged documents to conceal his scheme from other Regions Bank employees. Some of the traceable fraudulent funds were used to make loan payments on personal items such as a house and a car. Through his scheme, Schouest misappropriated more than $250,000 from Regions customer accounts.
This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner, who also serves as Deputy Criminal Chief.
Former Ohio Jail Deputy Charged with Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
A three-count indictment was unsealed yesterday charging a former Franklin County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office deputy with two counts of depriving an inmate of his civil rights and one count of conspiring to do the same.
According to the indictment, in March 2022, Matthew Carey, 27, of Grove City, Ohio, was employed as a deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and he worked in the Franklin County Corrections Center. While he was working, it is alleged that Carey intentionally disclosed a pretrial detainee’s pending charges to another detainee.
The indictment details that Carey knew the victim detainee had been charged with a sex offense, and that individuals charged with sex offenses were at increased risk of being physically assaulted by other detainees. It is alleged that the other detainee understood Carey’s words and gestures to be directing and authorizing an attack on the victim.
The indictment charges that Carey had no legitimate law enforcement reason to disclose the victim’s charges, and that, after disclosing that information, Carey took no reasonable steps to protect the victim from the predictable and expected assault by other inmates that Carey had set in motion.
In addition to the conspiracy, Carey is charged with two counts of depriving the victim of his constitutional rights under color of law, first by depriving the detainee of his right to be free from unreasonable force and second by depriving the detainee of his right to be free from a deputy’s deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of serious harm. The indictment charges that the crimes resulted in bodily injury.
If convicted, Carey faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Cincinnati Field Office investigated the case.
Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Long Island Resident Pleads Guilty to Massive Fraud Scheme Involving Sports BettingRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Cory Zeidman pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a yearslong scheme to defraud prospective sports bettors in New York and Florida by claiming to have inside information on sporting events. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst. When sentenced, Zeidman faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as forfeiture and restitution of approximately $3.6 million.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York (USPIS) and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), announced the guilty plea.
“Zeidman and his partners baited unsuspecting victims with false claims of an edge in sports betting only to feed them lies and pocket millions of dollars from their savings and retirement accounts,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s guilty plea sends a message to all those who would prey upon the public by falsely advertising gambling as an ‘investment opportunity’: the only sure bet here is that this Office will work tirelessly to root out sources of disinformation and fraud and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Sports bettors sought Corey Zeidman’s advice before gambling their money— but it was Zeidman himself who was scoring big through his deceptive practices, outright lies, and high-pressure tactics that exploited unsuspecting clients,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Walker. “Today, HSI New York and our law enforcement partners brought Zeidman’s racket to an end. The public deserves to know the truth concerning where their money is going, and HSI is committed to working with our partners to protect the community wherever and whenever possible from illicit schemes.”
“Today’s guilty plea is proof that this individual gambled and lost when he thought his illegal activities would fly under the radar,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Brubaker. “Illegal gambling is not a victimless crime, Zeidman and his partners were able defraud so many individuals with their lies and had them pay these exorbitant fees for nothing. USPIS will continue to investigate individuals who are intentionally skirting federal regulations for their own selfish desires. I would like to thank Homeland Security Investigations, Nassau County Police Department, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York for their collaborative effort on this massive investigation,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Brubaker.
“The guilty plea of defendant Cory Zeidman is a reminder that crimes against our residents will not go unpunished. Numerous victims lost millions of dollars after being given fraudulent and misleading information regarding online betting. We need to set an example and continue to investigate and arrest offenders who commit fraud and any other crimes against our residents. I would like to thank the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance in this case,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder.
As alleged in court documents, Zeidman helped run an organization that placed national radio advertisements to lure prospective bettors to retain the organization for sports betting advice. Using fake names and high-pressure sales tactics, Zeidman and his partners falsely led the bettors to believe that their organization had access to non-public information—bettors were often told, for example, that Zeidman’s organization had access to non-public player injury information, “dirty” referees, or that professional sporting events were “fixed” and that media executives’ shares predetermined outcomes with Zeidman’s organization. This information, the bettors were told, made gambling on sporting events a low or no-risk proposition. Victims were required to pay exorbitant fees to obtain this supposedly privileged information which, unbeknownst to them, was fictitious or based on the conspirators’ open-source internet research. Over the course of several years, Zeidman and his partners reaped millions in fees from victims.
Any individuals who believe they may have been the victim of the alleged crimes perpetrated in connection with this release can contact HSI at 1-866-347-2423.
In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including the sort of predatory fraud perpetrated by Zeidman and his partners.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Anthony Bagnuola are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder and FSA Supervisory Paralegal Melissa Thorpe.
The Defendant:
CORY ZEIDMAN
Age: 63
Boca Raton, FloridaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-228 (JS)
Former Chairman of Health Care Company Board of Directors Sentenced to Prison for Selling Unregistered SecuritiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former chairman of Massachusetts-based company Arch Therapeutics, Inc. was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for three felony securities offenses, two of which concerned his undisclosed sale of over $1.3 million worth of company shares.
Avtar Singh Dhillon, 63, of Long Beach, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to four months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, with the first six months on home detention. Dhillon was also ordered to forfeit $1,493,500. In December 2022, Dhillon pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to disclose stock sales, one count of aiding and abetting the sale of unregistered securities and one count of touting compensation nondisclosure conspiracy.
Dhillon and his then attorney, Daniel V. Martinez, placed 2.75 million Arch Therapeutics shares that Dhillon beneficially owned into a limited liability company that Martinez created. Dhillon and Martinez then worked together to sell the shares in the open market without a valid exemption under the relevant securities laws and to distribute the approximately $1.34 million in proceeds. The proceeds were distributed primarily to third parties for Dhillon’s benefit, with a small portion distributed to Martinez directly. Dhillon thereafter willfully failed to report the stock sales to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the investing public, as he was required to do.
In October 2023, Martinez was sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. Martinez was also ordered to pay a fine of $7,500 and forfeit $110,999.
Separately, Dhillon also participated in a securities conspiracy involving the nondisclosure of compensation paid to a subscription newsletter analyst. Specifically, Dhillon agreed with others to cause Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals (EHP), a life sciences company in San Diego, to indirectly compensate a subscription newsletter analyst to tout a securities offering by EHP without the analyst or the newsletter disclosing the compensation, as required under securities laws. Dhillon was both a one-time board member of and an indirect shareholder in EHP, which raised tens of millions of dollars in the securities offering.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission headquarters, Boston and Los Angeles regional offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Former Box Elder Teacher’s Aide Indicted and Detained for Sexual Exploitation and Enticement of a Minor StudentRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Box Elder, South Dakota, woman for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography.
In August 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Duncan Sioux Witt, age 28, originally from Kansas. She was extradited from South Carolina after being arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service while working in a private school. Witt appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on November 22, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Witt was previously employed at Douglas High School in Box Elder as a special education paraprofessional teacher’s aide. The alleged victim was a student receiving special education services at the time of Witt’s crimes. In February 2024, Witt began sending the boy sexually explicit messages, and sexually explicit images and videos of herself, using Snapchat. She induced the boy to send her sexually explicit pictures and videos of himself, which she saved in her Snapchat account.
The charges are merely accusations and Witt is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation is being conducted by the Box Elder Police Department and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case.
Witt was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for January 28, 2025.
Foreign national sentenced to prison after escaping custody to avoid deportationRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Salvadoran national was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison for obstructing an agency proceeding.
According to court documents, in July 2016, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials encountered Dennis Arnoldo Zeledon Hernandez at the U.S.-Mexico border near Hidalgo, Texas. Zeledon claimed to ICE officials that he feared gang members in El Salvador. ICE officials served Zeledon with a Notice to Appear and a warning that failure to appear may result in a removal order and arrest and detention by the Department of Homeland Security. On Sept. 13, 2016, an Immigration Judge ordered Zeledon released on bond.
In May 2018, the Immigration Court mailed a Notice of Hearing to Zeledon’s address, notifying him of his master hearing in Immigration Court on Dec. 9, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia. In addition, Zeledon made a phone call to an Immigration Court hotline that informed him of the date, time, and location of his master hearing. Zeledon failed to appear at the Dec. 9, 2019, hearing, however, and the Immigration Court ordered Zeledon removed in absentia.
On May 14, 2023, Zeledon was arrested in York, Virginia, for driving under the influence, carrying a concealed weapon, and child neglect. ICE officials received notice that Zeledon had been arrested and issued a Warrant of Removal, resulting in Zeledon’s transfer to the Caroline Detention Facility (CDF) in Bowling Green, Virginia, under ICE custody on May 17, 2023.
On July 2, 2023, Zeledon exited a building within CDF, ran across a field, scaled a fence using sheets he had tied to serve as rope, and climbed onto the roof of CDF’s Administration Building. He ran across the roof to a side facing a public parking lot, jumped to the ground, and ran across the parking lot into the nearby woods.
After Zeledon escaped from CDF, he walked for two or three days until he met a Spanish-speaking man in a parking lot outside of a restaurant. The man allowed Zeledon to use his cell phone, which Zeledon used to call his friend who lived in North Carolina. Zeledon’s friend agreed to travel to pick up Zeledon and take him back to North Carolina.
Over 100 members of law enforcement, including state, local, and federal officials, participated in the fugitive search for Zeledon. On July 7, 2023, members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested Zeledon in an apartment complex in Durham, North Carolina.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Liana Castano, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Day and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike C. Moore 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. 3:23-cr-122.
Florida Inmate Pleads Guilty to Mailing Threats to Prosecutor and JudgeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Taylor Ryan Hill (27, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to mailing threatening communications. Hill faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on February 12, 2024, Hill was a state inmate at Hardee Correctional Institution in Bowling Green. On that date, he mailed a threatening letter to an Assistant State Attorney in Clay County who had prosecuted Hill for his underlying convictions of violent crimes. The letter threatened to have that prosecutor, as well as the judge who had sentenced him, killed. It was signed “Taylor Ryan Hill” and was mailed in an envelope with a return address of Taylor Hill, his inmate number, and the address for the Hardee Correctional Institution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the Office of the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Lasry and Michael J. Coolican.
Fatal Stabbing of 23-year-old Northeast Man Results in Guilty PleaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Matthew Walker, 26, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today in Superior Court to the charge of second-degree murder while armed, stemming from the April 29, 2019 stabbing of 23-year-old Jamal Greenlee, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. As a result of the stabbing, Mr. Greenlee was left paralyzed and ultimately passed away from his injuries on November 4, 2020.
Walker will be sentenced by Judge Marisa Demeo on January 10, 2025.
Earlier this year, Walker was sentenced to 50 years of incarceration after being found guilty during a bench trial of, among other charges, the first-degree murder of David Remen, which occurred on February 14, 2019, at Trojan Labor, 1717 Hamlin Street NE.
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Seidel, who prosecuted the case.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un proveedor de viviendas para ancianos que resuelve acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con Watercrest Community Management LLC (Watercrest), el cual resuelve la determinación del Departamento de que Watercrest infringió la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) en su sucursal en Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. El Departamento determinó que Watercrest discriminó a una trabajadora no ciudadana de los EE. UU. al rechazar su documento válido que muestra su permiso para trabajar y solicitar documentos adicionales e innecesarios debido a su estatus de ciudadanía.
«En virtud de las leyes federales, los empleadores no pueden discriminar en función del estatus de ciudadanía al verificar el permiso de una persona para trabajar», dijo Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles se compromete a proteger a los trabajadores de la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y a eliminar barreras innecesarias al trabajo en los Estados Unidos».
Después de iniciar una investigación basada en la queja de una trabajadora, la Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés), de la División de Derechos Civiles, determinó que Watercrest se negó, de forma indebida, a respetar el documento válido que una no ciudadana de los EE. UU. proporcionó para demostrar su permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. La investigación de la IER también reveló que Watercrest pidió a la trabajadora documentos adicionales e innecesarios que Watercrest dijo que eran requeridos por el programa de software comercial que la empresa utilizó para el Formulario I-9. Watercrest solicitó esos documentos de forma incorrecta y repetida. El Formulario I-9 es un formulario gubernamental que los empleadores y trabajadores deben completar y que verifica que un trabajador tiene permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos.
Un empleador debe seguir todos los requisitos legales a la hora de verificar el permiso de trabajo de alguien y el uso de un programa de software para completar este proceso electrónicamente no garantiza el cumplimiento con las leyes federales. En virtud de la INA, los empleadores no pueden rechazar documentación válida ni solicitar más documentos de los necesarios al verificar el permiso de trabajo de un trabajador debido a la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio de tal trabajador.
Según los términos del acuerdo, si Watercrest encuentra dificultades para usar su programa de software para completar el Formulario I-9 de un empleado, completará un Formulario I-9 impreso para ese empleado en lugar de rechazar los documentos válidos del empleado que muestren su permiso para trabajar. Watercrest también pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos, capacitará a sus empleados en cuanto a los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA, revisará sus políticas de empleo y se someterá a supervisión por parte del Departamento.
La IER es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Obtenga más información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación al verificar el permiso de alguien para trabajar en el sitio web de la IER. También hay información disponible sobre cómo evitar la discriminación ilegal y otras infracciones del Formulario I-9 al utilizar programas comerciales o de propiedad exclusiva para completar el Formulario I-9 electrónicamente o participar en E-Verify. Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda mediante este vídeo corto. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; visualizar una presentación a la carta; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.