Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
Friday 18 October 2024
Chicago Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking a MinorRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for sex trafficking a minor in the Chicago area.
The victim was 15 years old in December 2015 when WILLIAM MCBETH enticed her to engage in commercial sex acts. McBeth advertised the sex services online and arranged for the victim to meet individuals who responded. McBeth transported the girl to hotels and residences in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs to engage in commercial sex, and on at least one occasion brought her from Wisconsin back to Illinois for that purpose. He provided the victim with illicit drugs and alcohol to keep her working. McBeth kept most of the proceeds from the encounters, spending some of the money on a new car for himself.
McBeth, 39, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of interstate transportation of an individual with the intent that she engage in prostitution. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama on Thursday ordered McBeth to pay $66,594.50 in restitution to his victim.
The sentence 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 Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Petersen.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Chattanooga Provider Settles Allegations of Improper Billing for Electro-Acupuncture DevicesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Apple Corporate Wellness, Inc., now known as Bryn Medical Center and Basket Medical PLLC (collectively “Apple”), agreed to pay $1,148,598 to resolve allegations that it knowingly and improperly billed Medicare for electro-acupuncture using auricular stimulation devices in violation of the False Claims Act (“FCA”).
Apple was an outpatient clinic located in Chattanooga, Tennessee that offered medical and chiropractic services for the treatment of pain. According to the settlement agreement, the United States contends that for dates of service between June 28, 2016, and June 19, 2017, Apple presented, or caused to be presented, to Medicare false claims for payment for the placement of electro-acupuncture devices on patients. The placement of these devices was improperly billed using Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (“HCPCS”) Code L8679, which resulted in Apple receiving payments from Medicare to which it was not entitled.
HCPCS Code L8679 is a billing code for “implantable neurostimulator, pulse generator” devices that are surgically implanted into the central nervous system or targeted peripheral nerves through procedures that are typically performed by a surgeon in an operating room. However, the United States contends that Apple falsely billed Medicare using HCPCS Code L8679 for electro-acupuncture devices it knew were not surgically implanted into their patients and for procedures that did not involve anesthesia or take place in an operating room. The underlying services for which Apple submitted the HCPCS Code L8679 claims involved application of a device used for electro-acupuncture. The electro-acupuncture devices were applied by inserting needles into patients’ ears and by taping the devices behind their ears with an adhesive. Medicare does not reimburse for electro-acupuncture devices billed as neurostimulators and did not reimburse for acupuncture during the period of the covered conduct.
This investigation resulted from a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Southeastern Unified Program Integrity Contractor.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Rodriguez represented the United States.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
###
California Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Orchestrating $23 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A California man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme that swindled investors out of $23.1 million.
SEAN GRUSD formed three funds that he claimed would invest in private financial technology companies. Beginning in 2021, Grusd provided potential investors with marketing materials containing numerous falsehoods about the funds’ purported investment history and successes. Among other things, the promotional materials falsely claimed that one of Grusd’s funds had been an early investor in successful startup companies, such as Instacart, Coinbase, and Shippo. Grusd also falsely claimed that he had graduated from a prestigious law school and that he managed the personal portfolio of the CEO of a large investment management firm. Based on these and other false representations, more than a dozen victims invested $23.1 million in Grusd’s funds.
Instead of investing the victims’ money, Grusd transferred the funds to his personal bank accounts and spent the money on a lavish lifestyle, including high-end automobiles, luxurious condos in Chicago and Montreal, and lavish travel and entertainment expenses. Many of the victims had invested a significant portion of their life savings with Grusd.
Grusd, 32, of Los Angeles, Calif., pleaded guilty last year in federal court in Chicago to a wire fraud charge. In addition to the seven-year prison term, U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis on Wednesday ordered Grusd to pay more than $21 million in restitution to his victims.
The sentence 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.
“Defendant’s fraud was brazen and unmitigated,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey B. Rubenstein argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “It was an appalling stream of deliberate choices over almost two years targeting numerous victims and resulting in huge losses.”
Bronx Attorney Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for His Attempted Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TONG HYON SUH, a/k/a “Jason Suh,” was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel for his attempted enticement of an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old. The sentencing followed SUH’s guilty plea on March 19, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Tong Hyon Suh attempted to engage in predatory behavior with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old, showing a disturbing disregard for the safety and well-being of minors. This sentencing underscores our commitment to confronting threats to minors. We will not rest until those who seek to manipulate and endanger children face the consequences of their actions. Justice for the vulnerable is not just our duty; it is a promise we intend to keep.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:
Beginning on April 24, 2022, a detective with the Greenwich Police Department (“Detective-1”), who was posing as a 14-year-old girl named “Megan,” communicated via the social platform, Kik, with SUH. During the communications, SUH identified himself as a 45-year-old Korean male living in New York City and indicated that he wanted to meet with “Megan” for the purpose of having sex. Detective-1 told SUH that she was a 14-year-old female from Connecticut.
During their communications, SUH told Detective-1, among other things, that he “find[s] the age gap hot tbh” and “tbh on the down low I want a young submissive slut.” He also told “Megan,” “I can destroy your pussy on the [weekend]” and asked “Megan” for some “slutty pics” that she could “delete after taking.” SUH identified himself as a a New York attorney with an office in the Bronx, New York, and said he had been a lawyer since he was 26 years old.
During their communications, SUH made a plan to meet with “Megan” to engage in sexual activity with her. He told “Megan” that he would take a train to Greenwich, Connecticut, use a ride service to pick “Megan” up at her house, and then they would travel together to a residence he would rent. SUH said that “as soon as the doors close you’re sucking my dick,” “I’m going to keep drilling that little pussy,” and “we’ll record our own little porno, it’ll be fun.” “Megan” gave SUH an address in Greenwich, Connecticut, and told him that she lived in an apartment located at that address. “Megan” requested that SUH bring condoms, lollipops, and marijuana.
On May 27, 2022, SUH traveled to Greenwich, Connecticut, via a northbound Metro North train. He went to the address provided by “Megan,” where he was arrested. SUH’s briefcase contained a laptop computer, a thumb drive, sneakers, matches, marijuana, toiletries, clothing, an unopened package of lollipops, and six condoms.
At the time of his arrest, “TONG-HYON SUH” was registered as an active attorney in New York with a business address in the Bronx.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, SUH, 47, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Westchester Safe Streets Task Force and the Greenwich Police Department in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer N. Ong and Marcia S. Cohen are in charge of the prosecution.
Bloods Gang Member Sentenced to 40 Years’ Imprisonment for Double Homicide at Bay Shore Long Island Railroad StationRead the Press Release
Earlier today at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Lameek Everette, also known as “La,” a member of the Bloods Street gang, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gary R. Brown, to 40 years’ imprisonment. On November 27, 2017, Everette was convicted of racketeering, including predicate acts of murder, robbery and attempted robbery. Those charges stemmed from his participation in the September 2, 2016 murders of David Arzu and Janelle Curella, who were each shot by Everette during a robbery as the victims walked to the Long Island Rail Road train station in Bayshore, New York.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Robert Waring, Acting Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.
“What started out as a robbery, turned into a double murder with the defendant pulling the trigger over and over to kill his victims simply because they resisted a holdup. Today the defendant faced a reckoning for the devastating harm he has caused,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Gang members’ violent choices will not go unpunished in our district. The substantial sentence handed down today provides some measure of justice following the defendant’s senseless murder of a young man and woman whose families still grieve for the loss of their loved ones. I hope it will also deter others from joining gangs and committing brutal crimes that terrorize our community.”
“Lameek Everette’s blatant disregard for human life was clear not only by the execution of two young victims in cold blood, but also by his decision to spend the remainder of his night at a local club,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Walker. “While no amount of time or justice can bring back David Arzu and Janelle Curella, preventing future violence is of the utmost priority for HSI New York. We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue violent street gangs and bring them to justice for the greater good of our Long Island community.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy stated, “Lameek Everette personally appraised the lives of two innocent victims to be less than the potential value of their belongings. His callous actions demonstrate the senseless gang violence that can target random civilians. May today's sentencing reflect the FBI's unwavering commitment to eradicate all gang members threatening the welfare of our communities.”
“Gang violence has no place in Suffolk County, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable dangerous individuals like Everette whose plan for robbery escalated to murder,” stated Acting SCPD Commissioner Waring. “I hope today’s sentence brings some sense of closure to the victims’ family and serves as a reminder we will pursue justice for all victims.”
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 2, 2016, David Arzu, Janelle Curella and two friends were walking towards the Bay Shore train station. Unbeknownst to them, Everette and a fellow Bloods member had devised a plan to rob them at gunpoint, and were lying in wait for them. When Everette and his coconspirator spied Arzu, Curella and their friends, they approached the group, brandished firearms and demanded the victims’ money and valuables. Arzu resisted, and a struggle ensued. When Curella attempted to come to Arzu’s assistance, Everette shot and killed her. Everette then shot Arzu multiple times, killing him. Everette later posted pictures of himself of Facebook, flashing hand signals that signified his affiliation with the Bloods and wearing a necklace he had stolen from Arzu when he murdered him.
Everette’s coconspirator in the robbery, Taheem Smith, was previously sentenced to 27 years’ incarceration for his role in the killings.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of a renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Misorek and Anthony Bagnuola are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
LAMEEK EVERETTE
Age: 31
Bay Shore, Long IslandE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-504 (GRB)
Avon, NY, police trainee charged with attempted kidnapping, cyberstalking, and multiple child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Casey Medina, 33, of Rochester, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with attempted kidnapping, distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography, cyberstalking, and aiding and abetting. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2024, the Onondaga County, NY, Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a 31-year-old female (victim), who reported that she had been receiving text messages from unknown numbers that included photographs depicting her face superimposed on various pornographic images made to appear as if she had been engaging in sexual acts. In addition, the victim reported being threatened by the unknown numbers, including being kidnapped, raped, sexually abused and/or killed. In August 2024, the victim indicated to investigators that the text messages in May occurred over the course of approximately 26 days, and, after short break, continued sporadically through June and July 2024. The victim stated that the messages were becoming very concerning, and she had no idea who they were coming from.
Also in August 2024, law enforcement received a tip from an individual that he had communicated with another individual with username “crcdal” via social media. The other individual, later identified as Medina, was looking for someone to help to harass the victim. Medina provided the individual with the victim’s personal information, including her place of employment, home address, personal cell phone number, and a variety of photos. The individual provided law enforcement with several screenshots of communications with Medina, which included discussions of abducting, drugging, and raping the victim. An undercover law enforcement officer then began communicating with Media online, during which they also discussed abducting, drugging, and raping the victim.
On August 22, 2024, Medina was an Avon Police Department trainee, and was arrested by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office at the Rural Police Training Academy in Livingston County on multiple state charges. Investigators executed a search warrant on Medina’s cell phone and recovered the communications discussing the abduction, drugging, and raping of the victim as well as images and videos of child pornography that Medina shared online.
The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Onondaga County, NY, Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Tobias Shelley, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Associate of Violent Gang Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Home Invasion RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the violent Boston gang Cameron Street was sentenced yesterday for committing an armed home invasion robbery with fellow gang members.
Brendon Amado, 27, of Randolph, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 70 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In February 2024, Amado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence.
Amado was identified as an associate of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence, including murder and attempted murder, to preserve, protect and expand their territory.
In July 2018, Amado, along with Cameron Street members and co-defendants Deronde Bethea and Michael Nguyen, committed a home invasion robbery with firearms of two victims at the home of a rival drug dealer in Canton. Amado, Bethea and Nguyen broke into the home through the back door, wearing masks and dark hoodies and carrying firearms. One victim ran out of the front door of the house and called 911. The second victim was brought into the living room, punched in the head, had a gun put to her head. as the men ransacked the house demanding, “where’s the stuff, where’s the money, where’s your boyfriend?” Amado, Bethea and Nguyen later fled the house in a silver pickup truck after stealing $2,000 in cash and a safe. Among other evidence, Amado and Bethea were identified on convenience store surveillance footage shortly before the robbery took place.
In December 2023, Nguyen pleaded guilty and in March 2024 he was sentenced to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Bethea pleaded guilty in February 2024 and in June 2024 was sentenced to 250 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, and Boston Police Commissioner Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Anchorage man charged with firearm, drug trafficking crimesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment this week charging an Anchorage man with trafficking firearms and illicit drugs in Alaska.
According to court documents, from May 29 to Sept. 6, 2024, Donte Richard Rocreec Outwater, 19, allegedly engaged in dealing firearms without being a licensed dealer, and while believing that the firearms would be used illegally. The documents also allege that on five occasions between July 3 and Aug. 13, the defendant distributed controlled substances along with firearms. On all five occasions, he allegedly possessed a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of the drug trafficking crimes he was committing. Outwater is also charged with illegally possessing a machinegun.
A criminal complaint previously filed against the defendant alleges that Outwater began selling firearms to an undercover law enforcement officer in June 2024. In total, Outwater illegally sold undercover law enforcement 18 firearms. One of the firearms was a fully automatic machinegun, and several of them were reported as stolen.
Outwater was arrested by the Anchorage Police Department on July 26, 2024, after fleeing from a traffic stop. According to court documents, within an hour of his release from custody, he contacted the undercover officer to arrange further firearm sales.
Outwater is charged with one count of unlicensed dealing in firearms, one count of trafficking firearms, five counts of distribution of controlled substances, five counts of using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and one count of illegal possession of a machinegun. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on Oct. 22 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for each count of using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and up to 20 years in prison for his other alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais made the announcement.
The ATF Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshal Service and Anchorage Police Department, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Klugman is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal Land Offenses
Michael A. Tunis, age 66 of West Yellowstone, Montana, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a 5-year period of probation, with a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time, for a DUI per se and open container violation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Oct. 11, in Mammoth, Wyoming.
Darrell C. Osterhout, age 63 of New Brighton, Minnesota, was sentenced to 7 days in jail and 1 year of probation, with a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time, for DUI per se and interference with law enforcement functions. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Oct. 16, in Mammoth, Wyoming.
Production of Child Pornography
Robert Wayne Eaker, 38, of Boulder, Wyoming, was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison for production of child pornography with 15 years of supervised release. The court also ordered the defendant to pay $36,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. According to court documents, Eaker is a registered sex offender for prior offenses involving the sexual abuse of minors. In September 2023, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force were conducting an online investigation for people sharing child pornography. Agents discovered a Wyoming IP address sharing numerous files of child pornography and traced it back to Eaker. Agents later received a search warrant for the house where he was living. Agents found Eaker had produced lewd and lascivious files of a child. Eaker admitted to producing the files without the child’s knowledge. In addition, investigators found hundreds of files of child pornography containing prepubescent children on multiple devices belonging to Eaker. DCI-ICAC investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Eaker was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 25, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 16, in Cheyenne.
Drug and Firearm Offenses
Brady Mitchell, 33, a transient, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for being a felon and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on April 13, Cheyenne Police Officers contacted Mitchell who was asleep in his van in a gas station parking lot. During questioning, officers saw a hatchet under his seat and smelled marijuana. They asked him to step out of his van so they could secure the weapon and conduct a search. Officers found a .22 revolver on Mitchell and approximately 12 ounces of marijuana, 3.31 grams of Xanax, 3.75 grams of fentanyl, and 1.13 grams of methamphetamine in his van. Mitchell is a previously convicted felon and not allowed to possess a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Cheyenne Police Department investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Mitchell was indicted on April 13, pleaded guilty on July 11, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 15, in Cheyenne.
llegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Luis Barajas-Morales, 46, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days for deportation for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 26, Barajas-Morales was arrested by the Teton County Sheriff’s Department for the charge of contempt of court. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Barajas-Morales was in the U.S. illegally and had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in December 2003. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Oct. 15, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00106.About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Acting U.S. Attorney Appoints District Election Officer to Ensure Voting Integrity in West TennesseeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Will Crow will lead District efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.
AUSA/DEO Crow has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Tennessee, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy,” said Acting United States Attorney Fondren. “We have a duty to ensure that every citizen who chooses to exercise their right to vote can do so without interference or discrimination and that those votes are counted in a fair and free election.”
Fondren added, “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. Our office and the Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying, and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
Acting United States Attorney Fondren said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
AUSA/DEO Crow will be on duty while the polls are open to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities. He can be reached by the public at 901-544-4231.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The Nashville Division of the FBI, which covers the entire state of Tennessee, can be reached by the public at 865-544-0751.
Anyone with specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud should make that information available to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
However, if you witness a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
50-Year Prison Term Handed Down for Man in Double Shooting at a Temp Labor AgencyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Matthew Walker, 25, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today, to 50 years in prison for shooting two men, killing one, at a temporary labor agency in Northeast Washington D.C. on February 14, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Walker was convicted at trial in January 2024 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
In addition to the 50-year prison term, Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo also ordered Walker to serve five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 5:45 a.m. on February 14, 2019, Walker walked into Trojan Labor, a temporary labor agency in Northeast Washington D.C. Once inside, Walker ran directly to the agency’s dispatch office, where he repeatedly shot David Remen, one of the agency’s workers and Michael Hardy, the manager of the agency. Walker then fled away from the scene and discarded his clothing, mask, and firearm nearby. Mr. Remen died on scene. Mr. Hardy died in 2022. DNA evidence from the clothing, mask and firearm, as well as ballistic, video, and other evidence linked the defendant to the shooting.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Prava Palacharla who investigated and indicted the case, Deputy Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon Donavan for providing forensic DNA expertise, Paralegal Specialist Grazy Rivera, Victim/Witness Advocate Karina Hernandez, Supervisory IT Specialist Leif Hickling, and IT Specialist Charlie Bruce.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Seidel and Alec Levy, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Thursday 17 October 2024
Wyoming County Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Anthony C. Donnora, Sr., age 79, of Forkston Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted on October 15, 2024, by a federal grand jury and charged with drug trafficking and firearm offenses.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges Donnora with the distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. The alleged offenses occurred in Wyoming County between August 6, 2021 through February 27, 2024.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations– Scranton Office, ATF, the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Tunkhannock Borough Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The maximum penalty under federal law is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
# # #
Wabash Man Sentenced to 100 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Roy Skeens, 40 years old, of Wabash, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after being found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a 2-day jury trial in July of 2024, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Skeens was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in November 2020, Skeens possessed a handgun while at a home in Wabash County. Specifically, police were called after multiple rounds were heard having been shot outside the basement of the home. When police arrived, Skeens refused to leave the home and a standoff ensued. He was later taken into custody and the firearm was recovered. Skeens has 13 prior felony convictions, any one of which prohibit him from possessing the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Wabash Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Joseph P. Falvey.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate ThreatRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Sebastian Reigle, 24, of Woodbridge, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 4, 2023, Reigle used a cell phone while in Virginia to leave a voicemail message for an individual living within the Southern District of West Virginia. In the message, Reigle threatened to injure the individual and leave the individual unconscious.
Reigle is scheduled to be sentenced on January 16, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-134.
###
United States Attorney’s Office Observes Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
Providence, RI — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, reflecting our steadfast commitment to supporting survivors, raising awareness, and promoting justice for all those affected by domestic violence, announced U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month serves as an important opportunity to shed light on the profound impacts that domestic violence has on victims, families, and communities, and to emphasize the importance of collective action. Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by intimate partner violence, and far too many families endure the tragic consequences of domestic abuse. This Office is committed to ensuring that survivors are heard and perpetrators are held accountable and to strengthening partnerships with communities to prevent domestic violence.
This year marks a particularly significant commemoration of efforts to combat domestic violence because it is also the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. In 1994, the passage of this landmark, bipartisan legislation transformed the way our nation addresses domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by increasing protections for survivors, providing critical federal resources to support a coordinated community response to these crimes, and awarding grants at the local, state, territory, Tribal, and national levels.
“Domestic and intimate partner violence is insidious, and it takes a devastating toll on our communities, transforming homes that should be places of refuge into scenes of abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha. “I am determined to expand our efforts to use federal law enforcement tools to seek justice for the victims of these crimes, and hold the perpetrators accountable – the survivors of domestic violence deserve no less.”
This year, on September 18th, 2024, the office announced the launch of a DOJ initiative with local law enforcement partners to reduce domestic incidents in Rhode Island cities of Woonsocket, Pawtucket, and Central Falls. The initiative was a provision for each district to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecution of domestic violence offenders prohibited from owning firearms.
Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking can have long-lasting impacts and consequences, and survivors in underserved communities are disproportionately impacted due to the lack of resources or barriers to accessing services. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence.
We also encourage everyone to learn more about domestic violence and take steps to support friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors who may be affected. By understanding the signs of abuse, providing a safe space for survivors, and connecting them to available resources, we can all play a role in creating safer communities.
Victims of domestic violence deserve safety, dignity, and justice. We are committed to prosecuting those who violate federal laws, collaborating with local law enforcement and prosecutors to identify domestic violence offenders who violate federal firearms prohibitions, and ensuring survivors have access to the resources they need for safety and healing. Together, we can bring hope to those in need and build a future free from domestic violence. For more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Month or to access resources, please visit https://ricadv.org/.
United States Attorney's Office to Monitor Election Day ComplaintsRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee announced today that Criminal Chief Ben Schrader will lead the United States Attorney’s Office’s efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. Criminal Chief Schrader has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Middle District of Tennessee, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
Acting United States Attorney Jaworski said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
Acting United States Attorney Jaworski stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Criminal Chief/DEO Schrader will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (615) 736-5151.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The Nashville Division of the FBI, which covers the entire state of Tennessee, can be reached by the public at (865) 544-0751.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
Acting United States Attorney Jaworski said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
#####
United States Attorney Designates District Election Officer for November 2024 General ElectionRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Harry M. Jacobs will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Jacobs has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Minnesota, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Luger said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Luger stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Jacobs will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (612) 253-0948.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (763) 569-8000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Luger said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison Appoints Patrick Martin as District Election OfficerRead the Press Release
DETROIT - United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Patrick Martin will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Martin has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Michigan, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Ison said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Ison stated that: “Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Martin will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (313)226-9168.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (313)965-2323.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Ison said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
United States Attorney Announces Election Day ProgramRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – United States Attorney Sean P. Costello announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) John P. Hutchins, III will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Hutchins has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Alabama, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Costello said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Costello stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Hutchins will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (251) 415-7139.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The Mobile FBI field office can be reached by the public at (251) 438-3674.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Costello said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Sentencing of Albuquerque Woman for 2023 AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque woman was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury after a drunk driving incident left a woman permanently disabled on the Navajo reservation.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 18, 2023, Jacquelyn Moore, 48, a certified member of the Navajo Nation, drove into the To'hajiilee Chapter House building after consuming alcohol. Multiple witnesses saw Moore enter the parking lot driving slowly, rev her engine, accelerate her vehicle, and jump a concrete parking curb before driving into a group of four women outside of the To'hajiilee Chapter House. Moore’s vehicle struck Jane Doe, pinning her against the building wall. Moore also injured two other women.
After the crash, Moore tried to flee, laughed at her actions, and yelled perceived threats. Due to Moore’s repeated drunk driving history, the Court found that Moore acted deliberately and intentionally.
The collision resulted in severe injuries to Jane Doe, including the amputation of her leg. Jane Doe's husband applied an emergency torniquet, probably saving her life. Jane Doe, who has endured 11 surgeries and will undergo continued physical therapy and treatment, as well as the other two women who were injured by Moore, continue to persevere through their injuries.
Upon her release from prison, Moore will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
# # #
U.S. Attorney’s Office Appoints District Election Officer to Monitor Federal Election Law Violations in Southern District of IndianaRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Zachary A. Myers announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Tiffany J. Preston will lead the efforts of the Southern District of Indiana’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Preston has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Indiana, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
U.S. Attorney Myers said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
U.S. Attorney Myers stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, DEO Preston will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 317-226-6333.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 317-595-4000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Myers said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
###
U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentencing of Repeat Domestic Violence OffenderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Bosque Farms man has been sentenced to three years in prison for domestic assault by a habitual offender.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on August 9, 2022, Daniel Vincent Olguin, 38, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta, assaulted his intimate partner by striking her in the head, causing a concussion. The assault occurred on the Isleta Pueblo. Olguin had previously been convicted by the Isleta Tribal Court of aggravated assault against an intimate partner in 2012 and in federal court of assault against an intimate partner in 2016.
Upon his release from prison, Olguin will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Isleta Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case.
# # #
U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Pleas from Zuni Couple for AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni couple pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon for a brutal 2023 assault in the presence of minors.
According to the plea agreements, on September 3, 2023, Shannon Concho, 46, and LouAnn Johnson, 28, both enrolled members of the Pueblo of Zuni, assaulted John Doe at his residence on the Zuni Pueblo. The incident began as a verbal altercation but quickly escalated to physical violence when Johnson repeatedly slapped the victim across the face. Concho and Johnson then prevented John Doe from calling for help by taking away two of his phones and attempting to enter a bedroom where a witness and two minor children were located.
As the attack escalated, Concho beat John Doe over the head with a chair almost to the point of unconsciousness. Concho then directed Johnson to kick Doe in the head because she was wearing boots at the time. After Johnson kicked Doe in the head, Concho continued the beating until Johnson alerted him that a witness called the police. Concho and Johnson then fled the scene and were on the run before eventually being apprehended.
At sentencing, Concho and Johnson each face up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro.
# # #
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref Appoints Election Officer for the Eastern District of WashingtonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - United States Attorney Vanessa Waldref announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Frieda Zimmerman will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Zimmerman has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Washington, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Waldref said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Waldref stated that: “The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to this right can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Zimmerman will be on duty in this District on election day. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (509) 353-2767.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (509) 458-8100.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Waldref said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over ballot drop boxes, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan Issues Press Release Relating to the November 2024 General ElectionRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan announced today that an Assistant U.S. Attorney will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) and lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Department of Justice’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. The DEO is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with the Department of Justice’s Headquarters in Washington.
“Every eligible citizen must be free to vote without interference or discrimination and have that vote counted as part of a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Critical to the preservation of this sacred right is our duty to ensure that election officials and staff, many of whom are elder members of our communities, be permitted to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice performs an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
U.S. Attorney Buchanan added, “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We must all endeavor to guarantee that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise this right if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt or interfere with this right are brought to justice.”
To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, the District’s AUSA/DEO will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. The DEO can be reached by the public at (404) 581-6001.
In addition, the FBI will assign special agents to be available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 770-216-3000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can also be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC via a complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate,” said U.S. Attorney Buchanan. “It is important that anyone aware of specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud makes that information available to the Department of Justice.”
But please note that in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, you should call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg Appoints Election Officer for the Middle District of FloridaRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States Roger B. Handberg announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Frank Talbot will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Talbot has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Middle District of Florida, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“It is essential to our democratic principles that every citizen be able to exercise their right to vote without interference or discrimination and that officials and staff responsible for facilitating that process be able to perform their duties without fear of intimidation, threats, or violence,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “Anyone who has specific information about election discrimination, interference, or fraud should make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Frank Talbot will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (904) 301- 6284.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. Local FBI field offices can be reached by the public at (813) 253-1000 (Tampa/Orlando Division) or (904) 248-7000 (Jacksonville Division).
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at (800) 253-3931.
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona Appoints Election Officer for the Northern District of AlabamaRead the Press Release
Birmingham, Ala. – United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona announced today that an Assistant U.S. Attorney will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) and lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Department of Justice’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. The DEO is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with the Department of Justice’s Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
U.S. Attorney Escalona added, “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.”
To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, the District’s AUSA/DEO will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. The DEO can be reached by the public at 205.244.2001.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 205-326-6166.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
But please note that in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, you should call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
U.S. Attorney Office for Eastern District of Kentucky Observes Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky commemorates and emphasizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) this October, by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to supporting survivors, raising awareness, and promoting justice for those affected by domestic violence.
DVAM serves as a crucial opportunity to shed light on the profound impacts of domestic violence and emphasize the importance of collective action. Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by intimate partner violence, and far too many families endure the tragic consequences of domestic abuse. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that survivors are heard, perpetrators are held accountable, and to strengthening partnerships with communities to prevent domestic violence.
This year’s commemoration of DVAM is special because it also marks the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. In 1994, the passage of this landmark, bipartisan legislation transformed the way our nation addresses domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, by increasing protections for survivors, providing critical federal resources to support a coordinated community response to these crimes, and awarding grants at the local, state, territory, Tribal, and national levels.
“Domestic violence accumulates a massive toll, not only on its victims, but also on the friends, families, and communities that surround them,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Home is where people go to feel safe and secure, not where fear, abuse, and violence should engulf their lives. We remain committed to doing our part to combat this destructive threat, to making our communities safer, and to holding people responsible for these shameful acts of violence and abuse.”
Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking can have long-lasting impacts and consequences, and survivors in underserved communities are disproportionately impacted due to the lack of resources or barriers to accessing services. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence.
We also encourage everyone to learn more about domestic violence and take steps to support friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors who may be affected. By understanding the signs of abuse, providing a safe space for survivors, and connecting them to available resources, we can all play a role in creating safer communities.
Victims of domestic violence deserve safety, dignity, and justice. We are committed to prosecuting those who violate federal laws, collaborating with local law enforcement and prosecutors to identify domestic violence offenders who violate federal firearms prohibitions, and ensuring survivors have access to the resources they need for safety and healing. Together, we can bring hope to those in need and build a future free from domestic violence. For more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Month or to access to local resources, please visit https://www.sos.ky.gov/safe-at-home/Pages/Survivor-Resources.aspx
— END —
U.S. Attorney Moore Appoints Election OfficerRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - United States Attorney Teresa Moore announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Nicholas Heberle will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Heberle has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Missouri, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Moore said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Moore stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Heberle will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (816) 426-4233.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (816) 512-8200.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC, by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Moore said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten Announces District Election Officer, Hotline, Website to Help Ensure Safe, Secure November 2024 ElectionRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Austin Hakes will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Hakes will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Michigan, overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In addition, U.S. Attorney Totten announced a hotline, 616-808-2140, and website for members of the public to make a complaint or share information related to voting rights concerns.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
WATCH: Voting Rights Video Message from U.S. Attorney Mark Totten
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Totten stated: “Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who have the right to vote can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.”
To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Hakes will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
United States Attorney Totten said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
# # #
U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Indian Government Employee in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate U.S. Citizen in New York CityRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States, Anne Milgram, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Christopher A. Wray, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, announced the filing of murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against Indian government employee VIKASH YADAV, a/k/a “Vikas,” a/k/a “Amanat,” in connection with his role in directing a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City. The charges are contained in a Second Superseding Indictment unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. YADAV’s alleged co-conspirator, NIKHIL GUPTA, was previously charged and extradited to the United States on the charges contained in the First Superseding Indictment. YADAV is at large. The case is pending before U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Last year, this Office charged Nikhil Gupta for conspiring to assassinate a U.S. citizen of Indian origin on U.S. soil. But, as alleged, Gupta did not work alone. Today, we announce charges against an Indian government employee, Vikash Yadav, who orchestrated the plot from India and directed Gupta to hire a hitman to murder the victim. The right to exercise free speech is foundational to our democracy, and predicated on the notion that we can do so without fear of violence or reprisal, including from beyond our borders. Let this case be a warning to all those who would seek to harm and silence U.S. citizens: We will hold you accountable, no matter who and where you are.”
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “The Justice Department will be relentless in holding accountable any person – regardless of their position or proximity to power – who seeks to harm and silence American citizens. As alleged, last year, we foiled an attempt by Vikash Yadav, an Indian government employee, and his co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, to assassinate an American citizen on U.S. soil. Today’s charges demonstrate that the Justice Department will not tolerate attempts to target and endanger Americans and to undermine the rights to which every U.S. citizen is entitled.”
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said: “Today’s charges are a grave example of the increase in lethal plotting and other forms of violent transnational repression targeting diaspora communities in the United States. To the governments around the world who may be considering such criminal activity and to the communities they would target, let there be no doubt that the Department of Justice is committed to disrupting and exposing these plots and to holding the wrongful actors accountable no matter who they are or where they reside.”
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said: “DEA foiled this assassination attempt last year and has continued to trace this case back to an employee of the Indian government whom we charge was an orchestrator of this intricate murder-for-hire scheme. DEA did not relent, and today’s indictment names Vikash Yadav as that alleged mastermind. We charge that Yadav, an employee of the Indian government, used his position of authority and access to confidential information to direct the attempted assassination of an outspoken critic of the Indian government here on U.S. soil. This case was led by the DEA New York Division’s Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of DEA, the New York State Police, and the New York City Police Department, and is a true testament to the tenacity and determination of our team.”
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said: “The defendant, an Indian government employee, allegedly conspired with a criminal associate and attempted to assassinate a U.S. citizen on American soil for exercising their First Amendment rights. The FBI will not tolerate acts of violence or other efforts to retaliate against those residing in the U.S. for exercising their constitutionally protected rights. We are committed to working with our partners to detect, disrupt, and hold accountable foreign nationals or others who seek to engage in such acts of transnational repression.”
FBI Assistant Director James E. Dennehy said: “As alleged in today’s indictment, Vikash Yadav, a senior field officer with the government of India’s Research and Analysis Wing, along with Nikhil Gupta, planned to murder a political activist and prominent critic of the Indian government who is an American citizen in New York City. The United States government was able to disrupt this abhorrent plot to silence an American before it could be carried out. Today’s charges make clear the FBI, in conjunction with our DEA and SDNY partners, will not tolerate a foreign government attempting to violate our laws and our sovereignty here in New York or anywhere.”
As alleged in the Second Superseding Indictment and other public court documents:[1]
Last year, YADAV, working together with others, including GUPTA, in India, and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on U.S. soil an attorney and political activist who is a U.S. citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City (the “Victim”). The Victim is a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads a U.S.-based organization that advocates for the secession of Punjab, a state in northern India that is home to a large population of Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India. The Victim has publicly called for some or all of Punjab to secede from India and establish a Sikh sovereign state called Khalistan, and the Indian government has banned the Victim and his separatist organization from India.
During times relevant to the Second Superseding Indictment, YADAV was employed by the Government of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses Indian’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing. YADAV has described his position as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence.” YADAV also has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer[] training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.” YADAV is a citizen and resident of India, and he directed the plot to assassinate the Victim from India.
In or about May 2023, YADAV recruited GUPTA to orchestrate the assassination of the Victim in the United States. GUPTA is an Indian national who resided in India and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with YADAV and others. At YADAV’s direction, GUPTA contacted an individual whom GUPTA believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA (the “CS”), for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder the Victim in New York City. The CS introduced GUPTA to a purported hitman, who was in fact a DEA undercover officer (the “UC”). YADAV subsequently agreed, in dealings brokered by GUPTA, to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the Victim. On or about June 9, 2023, YADAV and GUPTA arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder. YADAV’s associate then delivered the $15,000 to the UC in Manhattan.
In or about June 2023, in furtherance of the assassination plot, YADAV provided GUPTA with personal information about the Victim, including the Victim’s home address in New York City, phone numbers associated with the Victim, and details about the Victim’s day-to-day conduct, which GUPTA then passed to the UC. YADAV directed GUPTA to provide regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot, which GUPTA accomplished by forwarding to YADAV, among other things, surveillance photographs of the Victim. GUPTA directed the UC to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but GUPTA also specifically instructed the UC not to commit the murder around the time of the Indian Prime Minister’s official state visit to the United States, which was scheduled to begin on or about June 20, 2023.
On or about June 18, 2023, approximately two days before the Indian Prime Minister’s state visit to the United States, masked gunmen murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar was an associate of the Victim, and, like the Victim, was a leader of the Sikh separatist movement and an outspoken critic of the Indian government. On or about June 19, 2023, the day after the Nijjar murder, GUPTA told the UC that Nijjar “was also the target” and “we have so many targets.” GUPTA added that, in light of Nijjar’s murder, there was “now no need to wait” on killing the Victim. On or about June 20, 2023, YADAV sent GUPTA a news article about the Victim and messaged GUPTA, “[i]t’s [a] priority now.”
* * *
YADAV, 39, and GUPTA, 53, of India, have been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Counterintelligence Division of the FBI’s New York Field Office. Mr. Williams also thanked the DEA’s Special Operations Division, the DEA’s Vienna Country Office, the FBI’s Prague Country Office, the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Czech Republic’s National Drug Headquarters for their assistance. The DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force comprises agents and task force officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit, Violent and Organized Crime Unit, and Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille L. Fletcher, Ashley C. Nicolas, and Alexander Li are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Trial Attorney A.J. Dixon of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The charges contained in the Second Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
yadav_superseding_indictment_s2_23_cr._289.pdf[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Second Superseding Indictment and the description of the Second Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
U.s. Attorney Announces Election Day Program & District Election OfficerRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Christopher J. Ladwig will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Ladwig has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Haanstad said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Ladwig will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 414-297-4103.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. In the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the FBI can be reached at 414-276-4684, option 7.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
###
For further information contact:
Public Information Officer
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on Twitter
Two Men Charged with the Murder of a USPS Mail CarrierRead the Press Release
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – An indictment was unsealed charging two Ohio men with the murder of an on-duty United States Postal Service (USPS) Letter Carrier in March of 2024.
According to the indictment, on March 2, 2024, Kaprise Sledge, 24, of Warren, Ohio, and Thomas Sledge, 44, of Youngstown, Ohio, used a firearm to kill the mail carrier during the course of his official employment with the USPS.
Kaprise Sledge and Thomas Sledge are each charged with one count of murder of an officer and employee of the United States and one count of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.
If convicted, they face a penalty of mandatory life in prison for first-degree murder, and a penalty of 10 years, up to life imprisonment for discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case. The Warren Police Department, Trumbull County Action Group Drug Task Force, FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, and Trumbull County Emergency Management also assisted in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Toepfer, Michelle Baeppler, and Brett Hammond, for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
To report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit https://www.uspis.gov/report.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Murder of a ChildRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. –Pablo Martinez, Jr., 36, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Martinez, Jr. pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder on April 15, 2024.
On September 26, 2019, Martinez murdered the six-year-old victim by holding the victim’s face under the running bathtub faucet for between five to ten minutes, while giving the victim a bath. The victim inhaled water that caused liquid thermal burns, resulting in his death. The victim was an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Indian Tribe.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances M. Kreamer Hope and Matthew C. Cassell, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-2617-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-140_Martinez, Jr.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Tennessee fentanyl trafficker sentenced to six years in prison after distribution led to death of Great Falls manRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Tennessee man who admitted to mailing fentanyl pills to a Great Falls couple that led to the overdose death of the husband was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Malice Clark, Jr., aka Greg Clark, aka “Greed”, 58, of Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $9,000 restitution.
“The Defendant’s nickname, Greed, encapsulates what our state and nation are facing regarding our drug epidemic. Those who are greedy are preying on those who are addicted, so much so that the greedy are killing people, which the Defendant’s fentanyl distribution did here. It’s as tragic as it is illegal, which is why we will remain relentless in our pursuit of those poisoning our communities,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
The government alleged in court documents that from February 2021 to April 2022, Clark repeatedly mailed small quantities of fentanyl from his home in Tennessee to his friend, the victim, John Doe, and his wife in Great Falls. On April 5, 2022, Doe and his wife received a package of fentanyl in the mail from Clark. That evening, both Doe and his wife took some of the fentanyl. At about 2:20 a.m. on April 6, 2022, Doe’s wife called 911 and reported that Doe had overdosed. Doe was found unresponsive and pronounced dead. An autopsy confirmed that Doe’s death was caused by acute fentanyl intoxication. Law enforcement collected pills that were determined to be fentanyl from Doe’s home. Doe’s wife admitted they had obtained the pills from Clark through the mail.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force, Great Falls Police Department, Memphis (Tennessee) Police Department, FBI, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Medical Examiner Office conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
XXX
Straw Purchase Earns Androscoggin Woman a Felony RecordRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: An Androscoggin County woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for making a false statement while purchasing a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL), also known as a straw purchase.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Tia Lavigne, 24, to time served and three years of supervised release. Lavigne pleaded guilty on June 20, 2024.
According to court records, in June 2023, Lavigne purchased a .22 Glock pistol from an FFL in Scarborough. In completing the required Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473, Lavigne falsely stated she was the actual purchaser. However, prior to purchasing the firearm, she received instruction and money from a second person who later retrieved the pistol from Lavigne’s vehicle.
ATF investigated the case.
STRAW PURCHASING: A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her.
###
St. Louis County Woman Sentenced for $100,000 Pandemic Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS –U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday ordered a woman who fraudulently obtained five pandemic relief loans to repay $113,223 to the U.S. Small Business Administration and placed her on probation for five years.
Camille N. Foster, now 32, of St. Louis County, Missouri, obtained five Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans between May 2020 and November 2021 by submitting fraudulent loan applications on behalf of three businesses: Humble Hearts Home Healthcare LLC, Embellished Jewels LLC and Muse Me Boutique LLC. On the applications, she knowingly misrepresented the payroll and annual income of the businesses, which were not in operation at the time. She also submitted fraudulent tax forms with the applications. In a loan application for Muse Me Boutique, Foster used someone else’s name and Social Security number on the application, and signed that person’s name on the application without the person’s knowledge.
PPP loans were intended to help struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Foster did not use the money for that purpose. She spent it on retail purchases, dining, cosmetic surgery, bill payments, travel, taxes and payments to others. She then submitted fraudulent applications for PPP loan forgiveness for many of the loans she received, claiming that she had spent most or all the money on payroll costs.
Foster, also known as Foster-Nunley, pleaded guilty in April to two counts of wire fraud.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about pandemic fraud should call the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or report via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
South Carolina Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of a Black Transgender WomanRead the Press Release
Note: View a video statement from Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke here.
A South Carolina man, Daqua Lameek Ritter, was sentenced today to life in prison for the August 2019 murder of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman from Allendale, South Carolina.
On Feb. 24, a jury convicted Ritter of all charges in the indictment, which included one hate crime count, one federal firearms count, and one obstruction count, all arising out of the murder of Dime Doe. This was the first guilty verdict in trial under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (Shepard-Byrd Act) for violence against a transgender person.
“Bias-motivated violence has no place in our society. With today’s sentencing, the defendant is being held accountable for the senseless murder of Dime Doe, a transgender woman of color,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “We hope that the verdict and sentence in this case provides Ms. Doe’s loved ones with some sense of comfort and demonstrates that the Justice Department will vigorously prosecute those who commit violent acts of hate against the LGBTQI+ community.”
“This sentence holds the defendant accountable for the heinous and tragic murder of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Today’s sentencing will not bring Dime Doe back but hopefully provides a small measure of comfort to Dime’s family, loved ones and the community. This sentencing sends a clear message — the Justice Department vigorously defends the civil rights of every American. We will use all the resources at our disposal to safeguard the rights of the LGBTQI+ community, and we will investigate and prosecute perpetrators of transphobic-fueled violence in our country. In America, trans and gender non-conforming people, deserve to live their lives free from violence based on who they are and who they love.”
“Protecting civil rights remains at the forefront of our office’s priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “From the smallest of communities, like Allendale, to anywhere in South Carolina where hate and injustice occur. We will continue to fight for the rights of those targeted because of their race, their religion, their gender identity or sexual orientation, or their ability.”
“Today’s sentencing is a culmination of hard work and dedication to the pursuit of justice for Dime Doe,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Let me be clear, no one should live their life in fear because of their sexual identity or appearance. Charged under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, Mr. Ritter will now face the consequences for his actions. This act reminds us of the need to unite against hate and violence in our communities.”
“This sentence reflects the gravity of Ritter’s horrific crime of murdering Dime Doe,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “It is our hope that this outcome brings a measure of closure to Doe’s loved ones. As they continue to mourn this tragedy, the FBI remains steadfast in ensuring the protection and dignity of all citizens.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Ritter was upset that rumors about his sexual relationship with Dime Doe were out in the community. On Aug. 4, 2019, the defendant lured Doe to a remote area in Allendale and shot her three times in the head. At trial, the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ritter murdered Doe because of her gender identity. Ritter then burned the clothes he was wearing during the crime, disposed of the murder weapon, and repeatedly lied to law enforcement.
The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Allendale County Sheriff’s Office, and Allendale Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brook Andrews, Ben Garner, and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
More information about the Department’s hate crimes efforts, including facts and statistics, case examples, and a searchable collection of the department’s resources for law enforcement, community groups, researchers, and others, are available at www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
This release has been updated to reflect the correct date of Dime Doe's murder.
Six defendants arrested in retail theft ring, charged with stealing and selling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandiseRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that six defendants were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, transportation and sale of stolen goods in interstate commerce, money laundering, and conspiracy, for their roles in a retail theft ring in the Rochester, NY, area. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Named in the complaint are:
• Shabon Banks, 41
• Amanda Reeves, 40
• Chad Lewis, Jr., 20
• Chanc Lewis, 22
• Dominic Sprague, 40
• James Civiletti, 33, all of Rochester, NY.
Defendant Shabon Banks is also charged with aggravated identity theft.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the criminal complaint, in November 2023, the Greece Police Department began an investigation after it became aware that serial larcenist, Shabon Banks, had been engaged in an unusually large number of transactions at the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop in Greece. The investigation uncovered a theft ring involving defendants Banks, Reeves, Lewis, Jr., and Lewis (the larcenists), who have been engaged in an ongoing retail theft conspiracy involving the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop and its operators, defendants Sprague and Civiletti, since December 2021. As part of the scheme, the larcenists stole new-in-box items from store shelves, which they then sold to Sprague, Civiletti, and others at the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop, for a fraction of the actual retail value. Sprague and Civiletti then resold the stolen merchandise on eBay at much higher prices, resulting in significant profits for the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop. The merchandise was stolen from various stores including Home Depot, Target, Lowes, Walmart, and Kohls.
Since December 7, 2021, the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop has purchased 37,936 new-in-box items from the larcenists on more than 670 occasions, paying the larcenists $290,000.00. The investigation determined that the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop paid the larcenists 30% of the actual retail value of the stolen items. Therefore, the actual losses to the victim-retailers and resulting profit to the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop are estimated to be much higher.
Sprague and Civiletti engaged in multiple financial transactions involving the proceeds of the fraud in violation of federal money laundering statutes. In total, between January 2022, and August 7, 2024, the New York Gold Diamond Pawn shop resold more than 48,000 new-in-box items via eBay for $2,467.847.46, the majority of which are believed to have been stolen.
The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the Internal Revenue Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso, the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Puerto Rico’s Most Wanted Fugitive Arrested in Lajas, PRRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Nelson Torres-Delgado, a.k.a. “El Burro”, was arrested today in the municipality of Lajas, PR, on criminal charges related to his alleged drug trafficking and violent crimes charges in three different indictments since 2017. Torres-Delgado’s first indictment in Crim. Case No. 17-621 was issued on December 8, 2017, where he was charged in a conspiracy with 43 other individuals with drug trafficking and firearms violations. The second indictment was issued by a grand jury on May 20, 2019, in Crim. Case No. 19-307 where he was charged with 25 other individuals also with drug trafficking and firearms violations. The third indictment pending against Torres-Delgado was issued on August 21, 2024, in Crim. Case 23-273, where he was charged in a conspiracy with 51 other individuals with drug trafficking, firearms violations, and drug-related murders.
According to court documents, Nelson Torres-Delgado, 37, was the leader of a violent drug trafficking organization in Caguas and other areas, since the early 2010s. He had been a federal fugitive since 2017 and maintained control over the criminal organization as a fugitive through deadly violence and intimidation, and by engaging in violent turf wars against rival drug trafficking organizations. His methods of avoiding capture while controlling his gang included limited face-to-face contact to only the highest and most trusted leaders in his organization.
“As alleged in the indictments, Torres-Delgado was the leader of a violent, armed criminal enterprise that he controlled even as a fugitive from justice since 2017. Thanks to the tenacious efforts and collaboration of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, he now will face justice in a United States courtroom in Puerto Rico,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
“When we work together, we accomplish more and when communities come alongside us as partners in the fight against drug trafficking and violent crime, amazing things can happen,” said Joseph González, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “No one is above the law, and no one is untouchable. Especially, when the public collaborates with law enforcement. The FBI’s commitment is to the people and I look forward to continuing the work we have begun with our local partners and the support of the public.”
“This arrest is a culmination of a long-term fugitive apprehension effort of one of the most violent individuals in an effort to bolster public safety for the people of Puerto Rico,” said Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Miami Field Division.
Torres-Delgado is charged with drug trafficking, firearms violations, money laundering, and multiple drug-related murders. If convicted, Torres-Delgado faces up to life in prison, with the possibility of the death penalty for certain offenses. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This arrest was led by the FBI, Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), ATF, and the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares, and AUSAs R. Vance Eaton and Héctor Siaca Flores are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Pandemic Unemployment BenefitsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for stealing more than $147,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits from the Oregon Employment Department (OED).
Matthew Kemp, 41, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Kemp was also ordered to pay $147,294 in restitution to the OED.
According to court documents, between July 2020 and January 2021, Kemp devised and carried out a scheme whereby he used the personal information of 17 people, including their dates of birth and social security numbers, to fraudulently apply for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits. Some individuals knew Kemp had used their personal information because he had promised to obtain benefits on their behalf while others were unaware.
To ensure the benefits went to him instead of the named applicants, Kemp requested the benefits be paid out by check or prepaid debit card, and put his own mailing address, email address, and phone number on the claims. If there was a delay or issue in processing his various fraudulent claims, Kemp called the OED and impersonated the named applicant to ensure he got (in his words) “my money.”
On February 7, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging Kemp with mail fraud, bank fraud, and theft of government funds. On June 14, 2024, Kemp pleaded guilty to theft of government funds.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). It was prosecuted by Meredith D.M. Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Owner of Tennessee Mental Health Counseling Center Charged with Employment Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A former business owner was charged by a federal grand jury yesterday with eleven counts of willfully failing to account for and pay over employment taxes to the IRS.
According to court documents, from at least 2011 through 2023, Mari Ross-Alexander, of Columbia, South Carolina, was the owner and president of Ross Behavioral Group, a mental health counseling center with multiple locations in middle Tennessee. Alexander controlled Ross Behavioral Group’s financial affairs and was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes from employees’ wages and paying them over to the IRS. From at least 2015 through 2020, Alexander withheld these taxes from her employees’ wages but did not fully pay the withheld taxes over to the IRS.
Each year, from at least 2015 through 2020, Ross-Alexander issued tax W-2’s and paystubs to the employees that showed taxes taken out of their pay, which falsely implied that the withheld taxes were paid over to the IRS.
In total, Ross-Alexander is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $1 million dollars.
If convicted on all counts, Alexander faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee and 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 with assistance from Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell T. Galloway of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Ashley J. Stein of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
#####
Orlando Man Indicted for Arson Resulting in Injury at Inter&Co StadiumRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Giovanni Isai Ramirez Reyes (37, Orlando) with arson of a building that led to personal injuries. If convicted, Ramirez Reyes faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison.
According to court documents and information provided during a hearing, Ramirez Reyes lit two flares and threw them into the crowd during a soccer match on February 24, 2024, at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The flares produced a larger fire that damaged the stadium and caused burns to a child attending the match.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Orlando Police Department, and the Orlando Fire Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate.
indictment.pdf Download IndictmentOrlando Man Charged with Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Joseph Anthony Santopietro (46, Orlando) with receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, Santopietro faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison on the receipt count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment on the possession count.
According to the indictment, Santopietro received child sexual abuse material in November 2023. He was then found in possession of child sexual abuse material on September 18, 2024.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Orlando Doctor Indicted for Offering to Inject Silicone for Gluteal Augmentation ProcedureRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Nhan Pham (54, Orlando) with three counts of violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for receiving in interstate commerce and proffering delivery of an adulterated device, misbranding a device after its shipment in interstate commerce, and failing to register as a device manufacturer. If convicted, Pham faces up to three years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Pham that the United States intends to forfeit any adulterated or misbranded device, any property used to commit the violations, and any proceeds traceable to the offense.
According to the indictment, in October 2019, Pham received liquid silicone in interstate commerce and offered to inject the silicone into a person’s body for a gluteal augmentation procedure. Such use of injectable silicone has not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
“Injectable silicone for body contouring is not FDA-approved and can cause serious injury and even death,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin C. Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who place American consumers at risk.”
This case was investigated by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.
Omaha Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Michele Waters, age 56, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced October 17, 20224 in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Waters to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Waters is released from prison, she will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Waters’ sentence was enhanced due to a prior serious felony drug conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
On November 14, 2022, the DEA Overdose Task Force executed a search warrant on Michele Waters’ residence. Both Waters and co-defendant Ricky Kane were present. Law enforcement seized two baggies—one contained 86 grams of actual meth and the other contained 11 grams of actual meth. In the residence’s living room is a chair that Waters sits in. Next to the chair is an end table with a drawer, where Waters keeps drugs, scales, and drug paraphernalia. The 86 grams of actual meth was found between the armrest and seat of the chair Waters was sitting in when law enforcement entered. Five fentanyl pills were located in a small box on top of the side table. Another scale and baggies were located inside the drawer of the table next to Waters.
Ricky Kane is set for trial on January 21, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Ocala Man Indicted for Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Alexander Thomas Daugherty (24, Ocala) with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Daugherty faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Daugherty was arrested on a criminal complaint on September 20, 2024. He is currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal case.
According to court documents, on September 20, 2024, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) posed undercover as a 13-year-old girl on an online social media platform. Daugherty contacted the undercover agent’s account and, after learning the child’s age, discussed engaging in sexual activity. Daugherty arranged to meet the minor for sex at a predetermined location in Marion County. Daugherty then traveled to the location and was arrested by law enforcement.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Novi Man Sentenced to 60 years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Novi man was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison today for sexually exploiting multiple children, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States District Judge Gershwin A. Drain sentenced Glenn Dennison, 33, of Novi, Michigan.
Dennison pleaded guilty to filming himself violently sexually assaulting three minor children who were all under the age of 10 years old on April 10, 2024. The youngest was just two years old when the abuse started. Dennison’s sexual assaults came to light in 2022 when he posted images of child sexual abuse material on a public website. During a search warrant at Dennison’s Novi home in July 2022, HSI agents found his cellphone, which contained multiple files of Dennison’s horrific sexual abuse of the three children.
“This defendant was caregiver and preyed on the vulnerable children in his care. Our commitment to protecting children in our community and bringing to justice those who abuse them is unwavering. This sentence underscores that commitment, ” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.
“Child rapists can manipulate their way into children’s lives and this perpetrator was convicted for monstrous acts against children in his care,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “We will never stop protecting and serving our community and seeking justice for victims. That being said these cases that prey upon innocent children are among the most difficult to investigate. I am ever grateful to our team for the work they do and I want to bring attention to the fact that these crimes tend to be hidden in plain sight. If you have information on suspected child exploitation, please report it to our tipline at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.”
This case was investigated by HSI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Rawsthorne and Diane Princ.
North Platte Woman Sentenced to 10 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jamie M. Hopkins, age 36, of North Platte, Nebraska was sentenced on October 17, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Hopkins to a total of 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hopkin’s release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
Between July 2022 and February 2023, Hopkins led an organization responsible for distributing meth and fentanyl in and around the North Platte area. The group was responsible for the distribution of pounds of meth. She and other coconspirators were subjects of multiple controlled buys, search warrants, and arrests.
Three controlled buys from Hopkins and co-defendant, Joey Romero, occurred in July of 2022. On July 7, 2022, a Confidential Informant (“CI”) purchased 6.2 grams of meth mixture from Hopkins and Romero. On July 13, 2022, the same CI purchased 28.4 grams of meth mixture from Romero in Hopkins’ car in a grocery store parking lot. On July 29, 2022, the CI purchased 26 grams of meth actual from Hopkins and Romero.
Two controlled buys from Hopkins and Romero occurred in August of 2022. On August 2, 2022, the CI purchased 26 grams of meth actual from Hopkins in a hotel room occupied by Hopkins and Romero. On August 17, 2022, the CI purchased 10 pills from Hopkins at her house. The pills later tested positive for meth and fentanyl.
On January 30, 2023, the CI purchased 36 grams of meth actual from Hopkins and a coconspirator at Hopkins’ residence. A search warrant was served on Hopkins’ house on February 7, 2023. During the search, law enforcement found multiple baggies of meth throughout the house, to include: the bedroom, Hopkins’ purse, and in a toilet of a bathroom. Law enforcement also found 2 bongs, 29 pills, owe notes, 3 scales, spoons with residue, 224 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a box of Winchester 380 ammunition with 23 rounds in it, and empty baggies in the home. The baggies of meth were tested by the State Patrol Crime Lab. The lab confirmed the samples contained 35.85 grams of a meth mixture.
Romero pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing on December 12, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.
North Platte Man Sentenced to over 8 Years for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Eddie L. Houpt, age 60, of North Platte, Nebraska was sentenced on October 17, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of distribution of 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Houpt to a total of 100 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Houpt’s release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
On June 12, 2022, a Confidential Informant (“CI”) set up a controlled buy from Houpt. Law enforcement provided the CI with $1,300 to purchase two ounces of meth from Houpt. Houpt picked the CI up and drove around for a little while before dropping the CI off. During the drive, the CI provided Houpt the money and Houpt gave the CI a container which had two baggies containing a white crystalline substance. The State Crime Lab confirmed the substance to be 42.68 grams of a meth mixture containing at least 40 grams of actual meth.
This case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.