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7 November 2024
Merced County Man Indicted for Receiving and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — On Oct. 31, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Joel Damian Ortega, 35, of Merced, charging him with receipt and distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed following Ortega’s arrest yesterday.
According to court documents, between Jan. 26, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Ortega used a Samsung Galaxy smartphone to receive and distribute at least one visual depiction of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Ortega also used an iPhone to receive at least one visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct on April 2, 2024.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Ortega faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine for each charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Member of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Drug and Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston area man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.
Felisberto Lopes, also known as “Chee-B,” 40, of Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and multiple counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 6, 2025.
Lopes was identified as a member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in Dorchester that uses violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote fear and enhance its reputation. According to the charging documents, members use social media applications to promote Cameron Street, celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang, as well as denigrate rival gangs. Cameron Street members allegedly possess, carry and use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds. Cameron Street members also allegedly distribute controlled substances and firearms, commit armed robberies and engage in human trafficking in part to generate income for the Cameron Street enterprise.
During the investigation Lopes distributed several firearms as well as cocaine to a cooperating witness. On Feb. 26, 2022, law enforcement responded to a shooting that took place at Lopes’ residence in Dorchester. While at the residence, a half-kilogram of cocaine, over $25,000, and over 400 rounds of various calibers of ammunition were seized and Lopes was arrested nearby. Lopes had previously been convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and served a four year state prison sentence.
The charge of RICO conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine with a prior conviction for a crime of violence provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release up to life, and a fine of $10 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and or ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
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.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael 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.
The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Member of Violent 764 Terror Network Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
Richard Anthony Reyna Densmore, 47, of Kaleva, Michigan, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually exploiting a child. Densmore pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, part of a broader indictment that charged him with other child exploitation offenses.
“Richard Densmore will spend the next 30 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child and for his role in creating 764’s online networks that coerced children into recording themselves engaging in self-harm, sexually explicit acts, and violence” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “No child should have to experience this heinous abuse. The Justice Department will ensure that criminals engaged in this depraved conduct are held accountable in a court of law.”
“This defendant orchestrated a community to target children through online gaming sites and used extortion and blackmail to force his minor victims to record themselves committing acts of self-harm and violence,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “If you prey on children online, you can’t hide behind a keyboard. The FBI will use all our resources and authorities to arrest you and hold you accountable.”
“This case represents a new and depraved threat against our kids and our communities: violent online extremists who manipulate their minor victims to commit self-harm and create sexually explicit images,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten for the Western District of Michigan. “While we will always fight to hold criminals like Richard Densmore accountable, we want to prevent this crime as much as possible. Parents: please talk with your children about this threat; monitor their social media use; and let them know they can always come to you if they mess up.”
Densmore is a member of 764, a network of violent extremists who seek to normalize the production, sharing, and possession of child pornography and gore material to desensitize and corrupt youth toward future acts of violence. Members of 764 gain notoriety by systematically targeting, grooming, and extorting victims through online social media platforms. Members demand that victims engage in and share media of self-mutilation, sexual acts, harm to animals, acts of random violence, suicide, and murder, all for the purpose of accelerating chaos and disrupting society and the world order.
Densmore, known as “Rabid,” became notorious in the 764 network by creating online “Sewer” communities on Discord where members recruited children – including by infiltrating online gaming sites that children frequent – to cut themselves and engage in graphic sexual acts. Densmore boosted membership in “Sewer” by advertising livestreams of children engaging in self-mutilation (cutshows) and sexually explicit activity “on cam.” He threatened victims to cut themselves by telling them, “I have all your information. I own you. . . . You do what I say now kitten.” Densmore kept child pornography and bloody images of “Rabid,” “Sewer,” and “764” carved into victims’ limbs, in some cases with razor blades and boxcutters nearby.
Densmore also sexually exploited children. In October 2022, Densmore unsuccessfully tried to persuade a minor girl, Jane Doe, to send him an explicit picture with “Rabid” written on her bare chest. When she expressed discomfort with that request, Densmore contacted another Discord user and paid him Nitro, a form of Discord currency, to help secure a sexually explicit picture of Jane Doe. Densmore’s efforts were successful and Jane Doe, at the request of the other Discord user, sent Densmore and the user a nude video of herself with “Rabid” written on her chest.
The Justice Department and FBI reminds parents and caregivers to understand and monitor their children’s online activities. They should also look for unexpected packages, as members of these abuse and extortion networks are known to send children razor blades, sexual devices, gifts, and other materials to use in creating online content. The FBI further advised the public to take a number of precautionary steps, including:
- Looking for fresh cuts, bruises, wounds, and scars in unusual patterns;
- Looking for sudden behavior and appearance changes;
- Being attentive to children wearing long sleeves or pants in unusual circumstances;
- Monitoring children’s online activity and discussing the risks of sharing information and content; and
- Running frequent online searches of family and children’s information to help identify and prevent the spread of personal information on the internet.
If you are worried about someone who might be self-harming or is at risk of suicide, please consult a health care professional or call 911 in the event of an immediate threat.
FBI investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Townshend for the Western District of Michigan prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
Member of Violent 764 Terror Network Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting A ChildRead the Press Release
LANSING, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Richard Anthony Reyna Densmore, 47, of Kaleva, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually exploiting a child. Densmore pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, part of a broader indictment that charged him with other child exploitation offenses. U.S. Attorney Totten announced the sentence at a press conference this afternoon with Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matt Olsen and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Marriott, Detroit Field Office.
“This case represents a new and depraved threat against our kids and our communities: violent online extremists who manipulate their minor victims to commit self-harm and create sexually explicit images,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “While we will always fight to hold criminals like Richard Densmore accountable, we want to prevent this crime as much as possible. Parents: please talk with your children about this threat; monitor their social media use; and let them know they can always come to you if they mess up.”
“Richard Densmore will spend the next 30 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child and for his role in creating 764’s online networks that coerced children into recording themselves engaging in self-harm, sexually explicit acts, and violence” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “No child should have to experience this heinous abuse. The Justice Department will ensure that criminals engaged in this depraved conduct are held accountable in a court of law.”
“This defendant orchestrated a community to target children through online gaming sites and used extortion and blackmail to force his minor victims to record themselves committing acts of self-harm and violence,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “If you prey on children online, you can’t hide behind a keyboard. The FBI will use all our resources and authorities to arrest you and hold you accountable.”
Densmore is a member of 764, a network of violent extremists who seek to normalize the production, sharing, and possession of child pornography and gore material to desensitize and corrupt youth toward future acts of violence. Members of 764 gain notoriety by systematically targeting, grooming, and extorting victims through online social media platforms. Members demand that victims engage in and share media of self-mutilation, sexual acts, harm to animals, acts of random violence, suicide, and murder, all for the purpose of accelerating chaos and disrupting society and the world order.
Densmore, known as “Rabid,” became notorious in the 764 network by creating online “Sewer” communities on Discord where members recruited children—including by infiltrating online gaming sites that children frequent—to cut themselves and engage in graphic sexual acts. Densmore boosted membership in “Sewer” by advertising livestreams of children engaging in self-mutilation (“cutshows”) and sexually explicit activity “on cam.” He threatened victims to cut themselves by telling them, “I have all your information. I own you. . . . You do what I say now kitten.” Densmore kept child pornography and bloody images of “Rabid,” “Sewer,” and “764” carved into victims’ limbs, in some cases with razor blades and boxcutters nearby.
Densmore also sexually exploited children. In October 2022, Densmore unsuccessfully tried to persuade a minor girl, Jane Doe, to send him an explicit picture with “Rabid” written on her bare chest. When she expressed discomfort with that request, Densmore contacted another Discord user and paid him Nitro, a form of Discord currency, to help secure a sexually explicit picture of Jane Doe. Densmore’s efforts were successful and Jane Doe, at the request of the other Discord user, sent Densmore and the user a nude video of herself with “Rabid” written on her chest. Attached to this release is a copy of the government’s sentencing memorandum in this case, which provides further details.
“Today's sentencing of Richard Densmore, who sexually exploited and victimized children, reaffirms the FBI's steadfast commitment to bringing to justice those who harm our youth,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “This case is a powerful reminder that there are severe consequences for those who prey on children. With the unwavering dedication of the FBI in Michigan, the support of our law enforcement partners at the Manistee County Sheriff's Office, and the determined prosecution by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan, we are resolute in our mission to eliminate sexual predators from our communities. We will not rest until we ensure the safety and well-being of our youth across Michigan.”
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten reiterated that parents and caregivers should understand and monitor their children’s online activities. They should also look for unexpected packages, as members of these abuse and extortion networks are known to send children razor blades, sexual devices, gifts, and other materials to use in creating online content. The FBI further advised the public to take a number of precautionary steps, including:
- Looking for fresh cuts, bruises, wounds, and scars in unusual patterns;
- Looking for sudden behavior and appearance changes;
- Being attentive to children wearing long sleeves or pants in unusual circumstances;
- Monitoring children’s online activity and discussing the risks of sharing information and content; and
- Running frequent online searches of family and children’s information to help identify and prevent the spread of personal information on the internet.
If you are worried about someone who might be self-harming or is at risk of suicide, please consult a health care professional or call 911 in the event of an immediate threat.
The FBI investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Townshend for the Western District of Michigan prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
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Maryland Business Owner Pleads Guilty for Scheme to Bribe Texas-Based U.S. Customs and Border Protection OfficialRead the Press Release
A Maryland man pleaded guilty today for his role in a bribery scheme to give kickbacks to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official in exchange for the official’s efforts to influence the award of lucrative federal contracts.
According to court documents, Christopher “Mac” Cassity, 51, of Glenwood, was charged in a single-count criminal information with honest services wire fraud, pursuant to a written plea agreement. As part of the plea agreement, Cassity admitted that, between July 29, 2019, and Dec. 29, 2022, he and Public Official A, an information system security officer residing in Pharr, Texas, devised and executed a bribery scheme in which Cassity paid Public Official A kickbacks in exchange for Public Official A taking official action to influence the award of CBP contracts to businesses that would subcontract with Cassity’s business, IVV Solutions. Specifically, Public Official A directed and pressured CBP contracting officials to select contractors, who bid on contracts to upgrade CBP’s information security system in various CBP facilities, from a list of contractors that Public Official A knew would then subcontract with IVV Solutions to provide “independent verification and validation services.”
According to court documents, Cassity’s business received approximately $814,570 in payments related to CBP contracts during the bribery scheme. In return, Cassity made approximately 58 kickback payments to Public Official A, totaling approximately $443,125. To conceal the scheme, Cassity transmitted the kickback payments by wire from IVV Solutions’ bank accounts to bank accounts in the name of conduits of Public Official A, which were controlled and used by Public Official A.
Cassity is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 10, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas; and Assistant Commissioner Matthew Klein of CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) made the announcement.
CBP OPR is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Demetrius D. Sumner of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Schammel for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
Marlborough Woman Indicted for Stealing Almost $200,000 from a Keene Non-ProfitRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Marlborough woman was indicted for embezzling almost $200,000 from Monadnock Peer Support (MPS), a mental health non-profit based in Keene, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Christine Allen, a/k/a Christine Nowill, a/k/a Christine Yardley, 50, was indicted on four counts of wire fraud. Allen is scheduled to appear in federal court at a later date.
According to the charging document, Allen was the Executive Director of MPS. As Executive Director, she had full access to the non-profit’s finances, including its accounting records, bank accounts, checkbook, and debit cards. Between January 2021 and May 2023, Allen embezzled almost $200,000 from MPS. She used the stolen money on personal expenses, including Amazon purchases and renovations for her home in Marlborough. The fraudulent purchases included home and kitchen products, gaming equipment, hockey equipment, a meat cleaver, and a food dehydrator.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigations led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Main Defendant in a Drug Trafficking Operation is Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Pedro De Jesus Figueroa-Roman, 20, was sentenced to 53 months’ imprisonment, and three years of supervised release after admitting to possession of 14,000 fentanyl pills with intent to distribute.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow, comes after Figueroa-Roman’s co-defendant, Juan Robles-Ramos, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to the possession of heroin with intent to distribute. In July 2024, Robles-Ramos was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents and admissions made at Figueroa-Roman’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, beginning in July 2023, he was selling large amounts of narcotics on behalf of a Mexican drug trafficking organization. In July 2023, an undercover officer purchased 472 grams of methamphetamine from Figueroa-Roman. Two months later, law enforcement arranged and completed a second controlled narcotics purchase with Figueroa-Roman’s co-defendant, Robles Ramos. On October 5, 2023, law enforcement seized 14,000 pills of field tested positive fentanyl, 1,435 grams of field-tested positive heroin, and $4,192 in U.S. currency at a residence in Clearfield, Utah, where both Figueroa-Roman and Robles-Ramos were residing.
United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF) consisting of the FBI and Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force (DMNSF) investigated the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
Madras Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Madras, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Jefferson County, Oregon.
Wyatt Franklin Powell, 61, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on October 28, 2023, a Warm Springs Police Department (WSPD) officer responded to a report of erratic driving. During the traffic stop, the officer smelled a strong chemical odor consistent with narcotics. A second WSPD officer with drug detection dog arrived to assist and the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Officers located methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, a BB gun, drug paraphernalia and a digital scale in Powell’s vehicle.
On February 22, 2024, Powell was charged by criminal information with one-count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. He pleaded guilty on July 2, 2024.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Warm Springs Police Department. It was prosecuted by Pamela Paaso, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Lolo man admits distributing, receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Lolo man accused of distributing and receiving child pornography admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Erik Robert Salazar, 29, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography. Salazar faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years to life of supervised release on each charge.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. A sentencing before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen was set for March 13, 2025. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Salazar was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged that in September 2023, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children detectives received a Cyber Tipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The report originated from Snapchat, which reported to NCMEC that a user, later identified as Salazar, had uploaded two images of child sexual abuse material on their servers in August 2023. Detectives determined that the Snapchat account belonged to Salazar and received the remaining content of his account. Detectives found that Salazar’s communications with other parties on Snapchat were replete with contact with minor females from between September 2015 and October 2023. Salazar consistently requested images and videos from minors with whom he was communicating of those minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of these minors sent Salazar such images and videos in response to his requests. Salazar used Snapchat to send some of these minors images and videos depicting other minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Lincoln Man Sentenced for Prohibited Person in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Dexter Hall, age 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced November 7, 20224 in federal court in Omaha for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Hall to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hall is released from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release.
On February 8, 2023, Dexter Hall entered a pawn shop in Lincoln, Nebraska and sold a box containing ten rounds of Hornady .50-caliber ammunition for $30. Mr. Hall has been previously convicted of non-violent felony offenses, namely possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Maurice Bryant, age 49, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 7, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Wolfe to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bryant’s release from prison, he will serve a 4-year term of supervised release.
In March of 2024, confidential informants working with the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force purchased meth from Bryant on two occasions for an estimated total of one ounce. On April 2, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Bryant’s Lincoln residence, and investigators found a total of approximately 59 grams of meth. Bryant agreed to talk to investigators and admitted buying and selling meth in the Lincoln area.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Lee’s Summit Man Indicted for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lee’s Summit, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for producing child pornography.
Markel Anthony Price, 34, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.
Today’s indictment alleges that Price used a minor victim to produce child pornography on Nov. 18, 2023. The indictment also charges Price with one count of possessing child pornography that depicts a prepubescent minor victim and a minor victim under the age of 12.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Lee’s Summit Man Indicted for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lee’s Summit, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for robbing an Independence, Mo., bank after a bank customer attempted to stop him from fleeing.
James K. Kerr, 54, was charged with one count of bank robbery in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Kerr on Oct. 23, 2024.
The federal indictment alleges that Kerr robbed Hawthorn Bank, 17430 E. 39th Street in Independence, on Oct. 21, 2024.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Kerr was wearing a black hood over his head, a hooded sweatshirt with the hood down, a winter hat, sunglasses, a medical mask, and gloves when he walked into the bank at about 10:39 a.m. As Kerr walked behind the teller counter into the employee-only area, the affidavit says, he withdrew a black handgun, which appeared to be an air pistol, from the pocket of his sweatshirt and held it up in the air.
Kerr began yelling at the employees while hitting the counter, according to the affidavit. The victims reported hearing Kerr yell phrases to the effect of “Let’s do this!” and “100s and 50s no bait money!” Kerr went to all three of the victim tellers’ stations and obtained money while holding the handgun. Kerr then fled from the bank and got on a motorcycle parked nearby.
A customer, who was in the drive-through lane at the time of the robbery, followed Kerr as he ran toward the motorcycle. The witness got out of the car and pushed Kerr off the motorcycle. Kerr threatened the customer with a gun, the affidavit says, and fled from the scene on the motorcycle. Another witness was nearby during this altercation and filmed part of it with a cell phone.
Employees of the bank told FBI investigators they recognized Kerr as a customer of the bank.
The next day, investigators established surveillance at Kerr’s residence and saw him leave on his motorcycle. Investigators followed Kerr, whom the affidavit says was driving erratically, until he stopped at a gas station, where he was arrested. Investigators found a Daisy air pistol, which was consistent in appearance with the handgun displayed in the bank robbery, in a saddle bag of the motorcycle. Investigators also found articles of clothing that matched those worn during the bank robbery.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Lebanese Fraudster Posed as Dubai Prince, Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Lebanese man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 240 months in prison for wire fraud.
According to court documents, Alex Georges Tannous, 39, of Ain-Akrine, Lebanon, told his victims he was a prince from Dubai who was charged with bringing U.S.-based businesses to market in Dubai. He claimed millions were available, but that an initial payment from the victim was required to initiate the flow of funds. Once the funds were secured, he used the money to support his lavish lifestyle and the lifestyles of multiple family members. In total, Tannous stole approximately $2.5 million from his victims.
Tannous was arrested Feb. 9 and indicted on six counts of wire fraud. He pleaded guilty to one count on July 25. In addition to imprisonment, Tannous was ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution.
“Alex Tannous was a serial con-artist who betrayed dozens of hard-working Americans in San Antonio and elsewhere, capitalizing on the trust he’d developed with them over years,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Fraudsters who see this nation and its citizens as targets for their illicit schemes should know that we will stop at nothing to find, prosecute and imprison you—and in the process, ensure you to pay back your victims every bit of what you stole.”
“Tannous convinced his victims that he was offering legitimate business opportunities, when in reality, he was simply lining his own pockets,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “Many of his victims were small business owners trying to live the American dream, but instead they were pulled into a financial nightmare. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI, and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a financial scam to report it at www.tips.fbi.gov."
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons prosecuted the case.
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Lakeland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Ammunition as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Solomon Marquise Smith (22, Lakeland) today pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
According to court records, on July 2, 2024, while officers with the Lakeland Police Department were surveilling a home to serve an outstanding arrest warrant for Smith, they observed Smith with a handgun, equipped with an extended magazine, tucked in his waistband. After Smith was arrested on the warrant, the officers obtained a search warrant, searched the residence, and found the handgun hidden in an air vent. The handgun was not marked with a serial number and was loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, officers located images of Smith in possession of the same handgun on social media that had been posted four days before its recovery. Smith has multiple prior felony convictions, including carrying a concealed firearm and possession of cannabis resin. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lakeland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
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.
Lake Charles Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Albert Royster, Jr., 42, of Lake Charles, was sentenced today on drug possession and firearms charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced Royster to 70 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
In June 2021, law enforcement agents became aware of Royster’s drug trafficking activities and began an investigation. On August 5, 2021, detectives with the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force in Calcasieu Parish obtained and executed a search warrant on Royster’s residence in Lake Charles. When law enforcement arrived at the residence, they found Royster inside and he was detained. During the search, detectives located 215.25 grams of cocaine and 61.03 grams of crack cocaine packaged in various amounts consistent with drug distribution. In a bedroom used by Royster, they located and seized an American Tactical AR-15 style rifle, a Norinco rifle, over 60 rounds of ammunition, and over $3,000 in cash. After further investigation, law enforcement officers learned that the American Tactical AR-15 style rifle had been reported as stolen. The seized narcotics were sent to the crime lab for testing and confirmed to be cocaine and crack cocaine.
Royster was previously convicted of distribution of cocaine in 2012 and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was indicted in this case and pleaded guilty on July 19, 2024 to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
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Kirkland, Washington, contractor sentenced to prison for defrauding more than two dozen customersRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 59-year-old Kirkland, Washington, home remodeling contractor was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four years in prison for wire fraud for his scheme to steal approximately $4 million from customers using fake invoices, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Joseph D. Bergevin pleaded guilty in July 2024, admitting that he forged invoices to steal money from at least 24 customers who had hired him for their remodeling projects. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead spoke of the victims saying, “You stole their futures, you stole their hope, you stole their momentum for success… you created the kind of stress that you can’t run from, the stress that wakes you up at night. It was not just one lapse in judgement, it was hundreds of lapses over the years.”
“This defendant stole from friends, members of his church, the elderly, and people in his children’s school community,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The betrayal of those who trusted him deserves a significant sentence. Sadly, the dozens of victims of his deceit can never replace the time lost, and the anguish suffered from his illegal actions.”
According to the plea agreement, between 2016 and 2019, Bergevin served as the general contractor on a number of home remodeling projects. As the general contractor, Bergevin was responsible for arranging for subcontractors to work on the project and making sure they got paid. However, during the wire fraud scheme, Bergevin presented his customers with hundreds of forged subcontractor invoices. Bergevin used the names, logos, and other identifying information about the subcontractors to create the false invoices. He then sent them to the customers for payment. Bergevin falsely told the customer that the invoice was for work that had been done or would be done. In some instances, he claimed that by paying “up front,” the customer could lock in lower rates for building materials when the work was done.
Many of the victims submitted heartrending impact statements. One wrote: “The amount of money Bergevin stole from us is nearly unthinkable. He stole more than an entire year’s salary from me. [Bergevin] not only stole our entire life savings but induced us to borrow money and take on credit card debt in order to keep our build going. He literally took from us more than all of the money we had.”
And another, “[Bergevin] stole five years of our lives and showed no remorse While he raised his daughters happily, built his dream house, purchased luxury cars and boats, and actively participated in his church and community, these are the very experiences he robbed from us.”
Other victims spoke in court today about how Bergevin’s crime robbed them of time, money, and trust in others. Another spoke of how his theft decimated her children’s college funds, damaging their future. A third recounted how Bergevin exploited their desperation to get their house finished, all the while taking their money to finish his own luxury home and buy himself a boat.
At the time of the plea, the false invoices totaled $3,554,054 and went to twenty-four different customers. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Bergevin is responsible for at least $3,554,054 in restitution. Today the parties agreed that the total restitution should be approximately $4 million for all the losses caused by the criminal conduct in this scheme. Judge Whitehead ordered the full restitution.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Kirkland Police Department, and King County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Dion and Yunah Chung.
Kidnapper Who Abducted and Repeatedly Raped a Total Stranger in Maryland and D.C. Sentenced to 40 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mark A. Blue, 34, of Washington, D.C was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 40 years in prison for the December 2018 kidnapping, robbery, and repeated rapes of a young mother from Maryland who was a total stranger to him.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
On March 6, 2024, after a five-day trial, a federal jury found Blue guilty of kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping while armed, robbery while armed, and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse while armed. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Blue to pay restitution in the amount of $999 to the victim. After his sentence, Blue will have a lifetime term of supervised release.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Blue, along with a co-conspirator, targeted the victim, who was walking home from a bus stop in Prince George’s County, MD. Blue stripped her naked, robbed her, forced her into a car, threatened to kill her, covered her eyes with her shirt so she would not be able to see, and sexually assaulted her in Maryland. Then Blue drove her to Southeast Washington, D.C., where he forced her to disclose her ATM information. His co-conspirator drained her bank account of nearly everything as Blue assaulted her again. Blue drove the victim to an alley where both men sexually assaulted her yet again. They left her naked in an alley, with her shirt covering her head.
At the time of the attack, Blue was under supervised release for a 2013 armed robbery conviction. Elements of the crime were captured by surveillance footage and ATM cameras. Two days after the offenses, on December 5, 2018, Blue quit his job and fled to North Carolina. A tipster, who recognized Blue’s mugshot on a television news show, called law enforcement. The tipster stated that Blue had said he was wanted by police for robbing and kidnapping a girl.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Violent Crimes Task Force, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Burrell, Rachel Forman, and Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson of the District of Columbia. The prosecution team received valuable assistance from Veronica Vaughan of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart Allen, Nicholas Miranda, and Jessica Wash.
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KC Man Indicted for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for producing child pornography.
Leonardo Leon, 25, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Leon on Oct. 14, 2024.
The federal indictment alleges that Leon used a minor victim to produce child pornography from Aug. 1 to Sept. 2, 2024. The indictment also charges Leon with distributing child pornography.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, law enforcement officers were dispatched to Children’s Mercy Hospital shortly after midnight on Sept. 3, 2024, when a 15-year-old victim suffered a fatal drug overdose. In the course of their investigation, officers learned that Leon had been communicating on Instagram with the child victim’s best friend. This witness told officers that Leon was having sex with the child victim and, about a week after the child victim’s death, had sent her a video of them having sex.
Investigators searched Leon’s Instagram account, the affidavit says, and found three video clips he had sent to the witness of himself engaging in sex with the child victim.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Jury Convicts Reno Man of Assaulting A Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
RENO – A federal jury convicted a Reno man on Wednesday for assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon during the execution of an arrest warrant.
According to evidence presented at trial, on February 16, 2022, Matthew John Nason, 38, fired a handgun in the direction of a Deputy United States Marshal while the Deputy was attempting to serve a valid arrest warrant for Nason and his girlfriend at Nason’s residence.
Following a three-day trial, the jury found Nason guilty of one-count of assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
United States District Judge Miranda M. Du presided over the jury trial. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 4, 2025. Nason faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow and Randy St. Clair are prosecuting the case.
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Illegal Alien Sentenced to 12 Months’ Imprisonment for Fleeing PoliceRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on November 6, 2024, United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani sentenced Mugabe Baker, age 37, an illegal alien residing in Sullivan County, New York, to 12 months’ imprisonment for fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer. Judge Mariani also ordered Baker to serve one year on supervised release after the conclusion of his prison sentence.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on September 18, 2022, a National Park Service Law Enforcement Officer observed Baker speeding in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Rather than pulling over, Baker sped away from the Officer. Baker’s vehicle reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and he nearly missed hitting two pedestrians while traveling through villages in New Jersey and New York. The responding Officer eventually terminated pursuit and Baker was later identified as the offending driver through investigation.
The matter was investigated by the National Park Service with assistance provided by the Kingston, Pennsylvania Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.
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High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel Indicted on Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel for allegedly manufacturing cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs in Mexico and importing them into the United States.
According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, Jose Angel Canobbio Inzunza, 44, served as a principal advisor, lieutenant, and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, along with his three brothers, allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and imprisonment of their father, Joaquin Guzman Loera. The indictment alleges Canobbio Inzunza conspired with the brothers — who are known as the “Chapitos” — and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for further distribution. The indictment states that Canobbio Inzunza financed and led an armed security group known as “Los Chimales,” which provided security for the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and engaged in armed conflict to assist the Chapitos in importing drugs into the United States. The Chapitos have been charged in other indictments in the United States within the last year.
Canobbio Inzunza is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States and to import controlled substances into the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Canobbio Inzunza is believed to be currently residing in Mexico and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath for the Southern District of California, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona made the announcement.
The FBI and HSI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum for the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel Indicted on Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Chicago indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel for allegedly manufacturing cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs in Mexico and importing them into the United States.
According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, Jose Angel Canobbio Inzunza, 44, served as a principal advisor, lieutenant, and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, along with his three brothers, allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and imprisonment of their father, Joaquin Guzman Loera. The indictment alleges Canobbio Inzunza conspired with the brothers — who are known as the “Chapitos” — and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for further distribution. The indictment states that Canobbio Inzunza financed and led an armed security group known as “Los Chimales,” which provided security for the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and engaged in armed conflict to assist the Chapitos in importing drugs into the United States. The Chapitos have been charged in other indictments in the United States within the last year.
Canobbio Inzunza is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States and to import controlled substances into the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Canobbio Inzunza is believed to be currently residing in Mexico and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath for the Southern District of California, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona made the announcement.
The FBI and HSI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum for the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Heart Butte man sentenced to more than two years in prison for stabbing employee in Glacier Peaks Casino and Hotel on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Heart Butte man who admitted to stabbing an employee of the Glacier Peaks Casino and Hotel while in the business was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Kal William Runningcrane, 27, pleaded guilty in July to assault with a dangerous weapon.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court ordered Runningcrane to self-report when assigned to a Bureau of Prison’s facility.
The government alleged in court documents that in the early morning hours of Feb. 25, Runningcrane stabbed a Glacier Peaks employee, identified as Riverblu Boggs, with a knife while in the Browning business. Runningcrane had been drinking with family and friends to celebrate his birthday. The group was listening to live music, and Boggs was sitting alone at an adjacent table. Runningcrane and Boggs did not know each other. Without provocation, Runningcrane walked to Boggs’s table and stabbed Boggs in the neck. Boggs fought back and was able to get way from Runningcrane. Runningcrane stabbed Boggs three times, left the scene and was arrested later that night miles from Browning, off the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. An emergency medical services worker who happened to be in the casino, provided initial treatment of Boggs and rushed him to the hospital. Boggs was flown to Great Falls for life-saving treatment of wounds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Pondera County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Havre woman sentenced to prison for lunging at airplane flight controls during landing at Havre airportRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A federal judge on Nov. 6 sentenced a Havre woman to 19 months and 24 days in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for lunging at the controls of a small commercial airplane as the plane was landing, causing it to accelerate and turn on the runway, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Tracy Lynn Eagleman, aka Tracy Badmoccasin, 36, pleaded guilty in August to interfering with an aircraft in flight.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on March 21, 2023, Eagleman was a passenger on Cape Air flight 1793, a small passenger plane that departed from Billings and was bound for Havre. On the final approach into Havre, Eagleman stood up and started yelling about the landing. The flight crew – a captain and first officer – were able to calm Eagleman down and get her back into her seat. However, just as the plane touched down, Eagleman lunged forward from her seat and hit the flight controls. Eagleman hit the throttle for one of the two engines, causing it to accelerate and prompting the plane to “yaw” or turn on the runway. At the time, the plane was traveling at approximately 80 mph. The flight crew regained control of the plane without further incident, stopped on the tarmac and taxied safely to the airport terminal. One of the passengers recorded the incident on a cellphone. While the recording failed to capture the moment, Eagleman lunged at the control deck, other passengers are heard yelling in fear that they could have been killed. In later interviews, the flight crew indicated that yawing at the speed the plane was traveling could have caused it to roll and crash.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Hill County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Guam Resident Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for ExtortionRead the Press Release
Hagatña – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Brenda Kinian, age 43, from Weno, Chuuk and a permanent resident of Guam, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court of Guam to serve 84 months in federal prison for committing Extortion by Wrongful Use of Threatened Force, Violence or Fear in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). She also received 36 months for Aiding and Abetting Extortion Under Pretense of Office and Employment, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 872, to run concurrently with the other sentence imposed. The Court also ordered a total of three years of supervised release, $450,000 in restitution to the victims, a forfeiture money judgment of $371,896, and a $200 mandatory assessment fee.
From April 2017 to May 2018, Brenda Kinian, took advantage of an elderly couple of Korean descent who owned an Agat convenience store. Kinian did this after unidentified individuals robbed and injured the wife. Kinian, who lived behind the store, told the couple that she knew someone from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) who could protect them from further crimes. Since the owners were traumatized by the robbery and violence, Kinian extorted cash from them as protection money. She also convinced them that FBI agents were protecting the store and the family, including their daughter who was a college student residing off-island. Kinian told them that some FBI agents and their family members were killed while protecting them, inducing the family to believe their own lives were in grave danger if they failed to pay her. During late 2017, Kinian persuaded the couple that their daughter should return home and would be better protected in Guam. Towards late May 2018, Kinian operated the store herself after she convinced the family that they were no longer safe in Agat. Kinian extorted $450,000 from the store owners. All claims regarding the FBI were false.
“Kinian took advantage of this family in the most unconscionable way,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “She preyed on their valid concerns for safety and personal income, under the guise of protection by a federal law enforcement agency. May the Court’s sentencing order bring a measure of justice for these people.”
“Ms. Kinian impersonated an FBI Special Agent and spent years terrorizing an entire innocent family out of their life savings,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill, “this sentencing demonstrates that extortion will not be tolerated, and those involved in defrauding and intimidating others will be brought to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Marivic P. David, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
Four Business Owners Indicted for Smuggling and Illegally Importing Tens of Millions of Dollars in Emissions Defeat Devices from Canada into Eastern WashingtonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – On October 18, 2024, A federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging John Wesley Owens, of Manson, Washington; Joshua Wesley Owens, of Mapleton, Utah; their companies Diesel Truck Products, Inc. d/b/ DPF Delete Shop Inc., and Fulfillment Solutions & More, LLC; Kevin Paul Dodd, of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada; his companies Evolution Auto Performance and Evo Tunes Inc.; and Philip John Sweeney, of Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada; and his company KX Wheels, for a scheme to smuggle and illegally import tens of millions of dollars in contraband emissions defeat devices from Canada into the United States and to sell and distribute them throughout the United States, in violation of the Clean Air Act.
Under the Clean Air Act, diesel trucks are required to maintain systems and components that limit harmful emissions of dangerous pollutants such as diesel particulates. Exposure to diesel exhaust can lead to serious health conditions like asthma and respiratory illnesses and can worsen existing heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly. Heavy-duty diesel trucks are also required under the Clean Air Act to maintain an onboard-diagnostic system which monitors the functionality of the hardware emissions control components. In order to ensure that the required emissions control systems are functioning properly, if the system detects that an emissions control component is not working, or has been removed, it will ultimately put the truck into what is known as “limp mode,” which limits the top speed to as low as 5 miles per hour. Hardware and software designed to disable these emissions controls, commonly known as “defeat devices”, can greatly increase the emissions of these dangerous pollutants into the atmosphere, particularly impacting communities that are close to arterial roads and highways.
The indictment alleges that the Owens, Sweeney, Dodd, and their companies conspired to violate the Clean Air Act and to smuggle contraband and illegal defeat devices into the United States. The indictment also charges the Owens and their companies with money laundering. According to the indictment, between December 2015 and November 2023, the Owens purchased more than $33 million dollars in illegal emissions defeat devices from Dodd, Sweeney, and their companies. The indictment alleges that Dodd, Sweeney, and the Owens smuggled and illegally imported these emissions defeat devices from Canada into Eastern Washington and then sold and distributed them to customers throughout the United States.
According to the indictment, in the Summer of 2020, the Owens, following requests for information about their business from the Environmental Protection Agency, decided to shut down their business website and re-launch under a new name. In May 2020, Joshua Owens sent an email to Dodd and said, “In June I’m winding down this ‘legal entity’ and staring up another one. Feels like I’m on borrowed time with the EPA.” According to the indictment, in July 2020, Joshua Owens then started a new website, www.dpfdeleteshop.com, and new business name “DPF Delete Shop, Inc.” listing a business address in the Cayman Islands, and continued to use this website to import, sell, and distribute illegal defeat devices, despite repeated warnings that they were illegal. The indictment alleges that in February 2023, when a customer complained by email and threatened to report Josh Owens and DPF Delete Shop Inc. to the EPA, Josh Owens responded by email “We have all your info. You’ll be the guy we serve up on a silver platter to the EPA if it comes down to that.”
The indictment further alleges that the Owens and Sweeney conspired to disguise the shipments of illegal emission control devices from Canada into Eastern Washington. In May 2022, Sweeney emailed John Owens and wrote, “John We have lots of ways that we can get stuff across the border, I will give you a call later I just need you to be complacent and how we do it and I don’t wanna do it over email.”
According to the indictment, between 2017 and 2023, based on online sales data, the Owens and their businesses received more than $74 million in revenue through their online sales of emissions defeat devices to customers in the United States.
“Safe and healthy air quality is critical for a thriving community. The Clean Air Act provides important safeguards that limit the amount of harmful emissions from diesel vehicles. Attempting to profit from evading pollution control systems puts the health and safety of everyone in our community at risk, especially children and individuals who suffer from asthma and respiratory illnesses,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Strong and fair enforcement of environmental and public health laws ensures a safer community for all families to live, learn, play, and work.”
The conspiracy charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 5 years in federal prison, while the smuggling and money laundering charges have a maximum sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Jacob E. Brooks, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Gwendolyn Russell, are prosecuting the case.
2:24-CR-00140-TOR
Forty-Eight Defendants Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Drug Trafficking Network Linked to Sinaloa CartelRead the Press Release
EL CENTRO – Five indictments were unsealed in federal court today charging 48 alleged members of an Imperial Valley-based, Sinaloa Cartel-linked drug trafficking organization accused of distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin and bulk cash smuggling.
In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 140 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials arrested 25 defendants and executed 15 search warrants in Imperial County, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Stockton, as well as in Yuma, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. As of this afternoon, the search continues for 23 fugitives.
Including seizures today and throughout this long-term investigation, authorities have seized more than 3,600 kg (about 8,000 pounds) of methamphetamine; substantial quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin; and one firearm.
Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling.
According to court records, the defendants belonged to a drug trafficking organization based in the Imperial Valley and Mexicali, Mexico with ties to Los Rusos, one of the most violent and significant factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.
“This investigation represents another blow to traffickers of deadly drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “With the indictment of four dozen individuals, we are not only disrupting a major drug trafficking network but also taking significant steps to protect our community from the devastation these drugs cause. We are committed to dismantling these dangerous operations and ensuring that those who fuel the crisis are held accountable.”
“HSI’s challenge with investigating cases tied to the Sinaloa Cartel is to not just chase those who profit from addiction, but to dismantle the transnational network responsible for plaguing our communities and tearing families apart,” said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “The success of today’s takedown would not have been possible without the unwavering support and assistance from our law enforcement partners. By working together, we each bring a unique skillset to the fight against these trafficking organizations and can disrupt and dismantle cells like these.”
“This successful operation underscores the pivotal role that collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies plays in safeguarding our communities,” stated Roque Caza, Area Port Director for the Calexico Port of Entry. “At U.S. Customs and Border Protection, our mission is to protect the nation’s public by preventing dangerous substances from entering the United States. This joint effort highlights our commitment to disrupting the flow of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, addressing the dangerous impacts on public health and safety. Together, we stand strong in our fight against these illicit activities and remain steadfast in protecting our borders and communities.”
“The Sinaloa Cartel and any other criminal organization will fare poorly here in the Imperial Valley as we have just seen,” said El Centro Sector Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino. “With seamless coordination between HSI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and a multitude of state and local agencies, yet another set of alleged traffickers and criminals were prevented from harming the community.”
According to court records, employing undercover operations and four rounds of wiretaps, agents conducted numerous controlled purchases, traffic stops of personal vehicles and several tractor trailers, and searches of houses and stash locations leading to large seizures of narcotics. In one instance on April 27, 2022, authorities seized 256 pounds of methamphetamine after intercepting phone conversations between several defendants about a big sale. Federal agents watched the transaction from afar, then conducted a traffic stop on the drug-laden tractor-trailer. Law enforcement officials located four duffel bags containing 256 pounds of methamphetamine in the cab of the truck.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark and Owen Roth.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2316-WQH
Adrian Garcia Age: 28 El Centro, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr2320-WQH
Fausto Herrera-Lopez, AKA “Vecino”* 50 Mexicali, MX
Rodolfo Ramirez-Palacios, AKA “Rudy”* 34 Mexicali, MX
Tereso Ramirez-Velasquez 54 San Bernadino, CA
Juan Carlos Ojeda-Saldana 35 Brawley, CA
Jose David Morales-Rodriguez* 46 Brawley, CA
Ernesto Morales-Rodriguez* 41 Mexicali, MX
Vicente Barrera-Robles* 32 Mexicali, MX
Ricardo Ruben Pinzon 24 El Centro, CA
Jose Ramon Ochoa-Monteverde 31 El Centro, CA
Salvador Martinez 54 Los Angeles, CA
Juan Carlos Martinez* 52 Los Angeles, CA
Rogelio Robledo-Valdez* 26 Mexicali, MX
Maria Elena Reyes 50 Wichita, KS
Gabriela Estrada* 46 Mexicali, MX
Jaime Mayoral 40 El Centro, CA
Marcos Arturo Barrera 28 Brawley, CA
Oscar Silvas-Gamez 32 Fresno, CA
Juan Ernesto Salas Villela* 37 Fontana, CA
Yeiming Hernandez 34 Calexico, CA
Frank Gustavo Zendejas 56 Calipatria, CA
Gerardo Medina Plancencia 45 Calexico, CA
Jose Andres Leyva 55 El Centro, CA
Stephanie Melgoza* 21 Salinas, CA
Victor Rene Herrera* 24 Los Angeles, CA
Arnulfo Morfin-Moreno* 52 Pasco, WA
Edgar Garcia* 24 Las Vegas, NV
Roberto Valenzuela De La Torre* 27 Sonora, MX
Leonardo Saldivar* 38 San Bernardino, CA
Francisco Ramirez* 52 Tolleson, Arizona
Luis Fernando Simental Palacios* 34 Mexicali, MX
Abraham Noe Esparza-Garcia* 36 Mexicali, MX
Angelica Guerrero 29 Calexico, CA
Sergio Sanchez 46 Long Beach, CA
Nicholas Adam Fortier 41 Portland, OR
Luis Alberto Felix* 38 Pacoima, CA
Elizabeth Echeverria 43 Las Vega, NV
Pedro Estrada* 50 San Diego, CA
Bernadette Lucero Vallejos* 33 Goodyear, AZ
Maribel Garcia Barajas 56 El Centro, CA
Jose Arturo Mendiola Porras* 57 Mexicali, MX
Enrique Villalobos 43 Stockton, CA
Israel Alejandro Ramirez-Velasquez 60 Perris, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances - Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
Conspiracy to Commit Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2318-WQH
Nilda Charlenne Ledon Age: 34 El Centro, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2319-WQH
Jasmine Santos Age: 34 Los Angeles, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr217-WQH
Brenda Lara* Age: 32 Los Angeles, CA
Romulada Contreras* Age: 75 Mexicali, MX
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
*Fugitives
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations, Calexico Office
United States Border Patrol, El Centro Sector Intelligence Unit
Customs and Border Protection, Calexico Intelligence Division
Imperial County Narcotics Task Force
Drug Enforcement Administration, Imperial County Office
United States Postal Inspectors
Federal Bureau of Investigations, Imperial County Office
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations
United States Marshals Service
Calexico Police Department
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Brawley Police Department
San Bernardino Police Department Narcotics Unit
California Highway Patrol
El Centro Police Department
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
This operation 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.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 96 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE –Jasper L. Williams, 36 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Williams was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, during a February 2023 traffic stop, officers recovered a semi-automatic pistol along with an AK-style pistol from Williams’ vehicle. Both firearms were loaded. Williams had previously been convicted of felony offenses for Aiding Robbery, Possessing with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Possessing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime, any one of which prohibited him from possessing the firearms in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R, Speith.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Former Traveling Nurse Pleads Guilty to Tampering with MorphineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former traveling nurse pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to tampering with morphine at a local rehabilitation facility.
Loralie LaBroad, 54, of Hampton, N.H., pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product. U.S. District Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Feb. 21, 2025. LaBroad was charged by in September 2024.
According to charging documents, while working as a traveling nurse assigned to a rehabilitation center, LaBroad tampered with two bottles of morphine on the medication cart she was assigned. LaBroad used a syringe to remove morphine from the bottles, injected another liquid substance into the bottles to replace the morphine she had removed, and returned the bottles to the medication cart. Investigators seized the bottles immediately after her shift and laboratory testing confirmed that the bottles each contained less than the declared concentration of morphine.
The charge of tampering with a consumer product provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren A. Graber of the Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Former Licensed Counselor Sentenced to 28 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man, who had served as the president of the Texas Counseling Association, was sentenced in federal court to 28 years in prison for one count of sexual exploitation of children.
According to court documents, Adrian Scott Warren, 47, sent a private message over a dating application to an FBI-controlled undercover profile. The conversation transitioned to a messenger application where Warren stated he was interested in “young” and had been engaging in sexual contact with a minor male since the child was seven years old. Warren told the undercover agent that he wanted to meet up to engage in sexual activity and watch child sexual abuse material and offered to bring the child victim with him.
On Aug. 4, 2022, Warren traveled to a hotel where he believed he was going to meet a nine year old child and engage in sexual activity. He instead was met by FBI agents who seized his cellphone. The following day, a Child Protective Services Special Investigator interviewed Warren, who identified the child victim and admitted that he had sexually assaulted the child. He also admitted to possessing child pornography depicting various children between the ages of 0 and 17 years old engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Warren was arrested Aug. 5, 2022, and indicted for one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to count one on Nov. 14, 2023. Following his 28 year imprisonment, Warren will serve a lifetime of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $140,840 to the victim impacted by the sexual exploitation charge, and $100,000 to 20 additional victims, whose images Warren possessed.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Former Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Employee Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Frankfort woman, Brittany Joyce May, 35, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to her plea agreement, between July 2021 and May 2023, May was employed as an administrative specialist at the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). As part of her duties, May initiated payments to providers who were eligible to receive the funding under certain adoption and foster programs. To do so, May input providers personal identifying information and banking information into the computer resource directory. To receive payments under these programs, providers submitted required paperwork to CHFS. Upon receiving the paperwork, May initiated payments, via a wire transfer, to the provider’s bank account. However, if providers did not submit the required paperwork or stopped receiving payments because their services had expired, May directed the funds that would have been paid to the providers to four bank accounts that she owned and controlled.
To conceal her actions, May submitted false invoices to make it appear as if the provider requested payment. Knowing the system automatically sent notifications to the providers’ listed address indicating a payment had been made, May changed the providers’ addresses to new addresses not associated with them. From July 2021 to May 2023, May used the names and/or social security numbers of 45 providers in the computer resource directory to operate her scheme, and she further opened bank accounts using the personal identifying information of two providers.
In total, May misappropriated $444,663.77 in funds and initiated more than 540 fraudulent wire transfers to bank accounts she owned and controlled.
Under federal law, May must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence; and upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Division; and Lesley Allison, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pittsburgh Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the IRS and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Former Ellwood City Resident Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to the Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa - A former resident of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Shayne Clapper, 30, pleaded guilty to five counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in January 2023 through February 2023, Clapper initiated a sexual relationship with a minor known to him. Clapper provided the minor with a cell phone that he used to communicate with the minor. Clapper requested and received nude images from the minor. Clapper also induced the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a sexually explicit video. Law enforcement analyzed Clapper’s cellular telephone and discovered the child sexual abuse images.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2025 at 1:30 pm. The law provides for a total sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the defendant remains detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ellwood City Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Clapper.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Arlington resident sentenced to prison for disclosing healthcare records and trying to cover up his crimesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former Arlington resident was sentenced today to two years in prison for obtaining another person’s healthcare information and destroying evidence in a federal investigation.
A federal jury convicted Trent James Russell, 34, on July 31. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from 2017 to 2019, Trent James Russell, 34, was employed by an organ donation coordination entity, which allowed him access to certain electronic medical records. In Jan. 2019, Russell remotely accessed the medical records of a federal official and took a screenshot of the official’s protected health information.
After Russell learned his access to the health records was disabled on Feb. 10, 2019, he formatted his hard drive two days later to destroy and alter evidence and obstruct the investigation. When FBI agents interviewed Russell on Feb. 21, 2019, Russell falsely stated that his cellphone had been stolen and provided agents with his secondary hard drive, rather than his primary operating system drive, in a further effort to obstruct the investigation.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division; and Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zoe Bedell and Laura D. Withers prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-195.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Biofuel Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Florida man pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel.
According to court documents, Royce Gillham was the general manager of a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, that produced and sold renewable fuel and fuel credits and claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. When reporting the number of gallons produced to the IRS and EPA, Gillham and his employer vastly overstated their production volume in an effort to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Gillham and his co-conspirators provided false information about their fuel production and customers.
Gillham pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to filing false claims. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count. A federal district court judge will determine whether to accept the plea agreement after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Hipkins of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Miami field office and Acting Special Agent in Charge Leslie Carroll of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) made the announcement.
EPA-CID and IRS-CI investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Funk for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Biofuel Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Florida man pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel.
According to court documents, Royce Gillham was the general manager of a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Fla., that produced and sold renewable fuel and fuel credits and claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. When reporting the number of gallons produced to the IRS and EPA, Gillham and his employer vastly overstated their production volume in an effort to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Gillham and his co-conspirators provided false information about their fuel production and customers.
Gillham pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to filing false claims. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count. A federal district court judge will determine whether to accept the plea agreement after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Hipkins of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Leslie Carroll of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) made the announcement.
IRS-CI and EPA-CID investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Funk for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-14046.
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Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel on Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel on a drug conspiracy charge for allegedly manufacturing cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs in Mexico and importing them into the United States.
According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, JOSE ANGEL CANOBBIO INZUNZA served as a principal advisor, lieutenant, and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, who along with his three brothers allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and imprisonment of their father, Joaquin Guzman Loera. The indictment accuses Canobbio Inzunza of conspiring with the brothers – who are known as the “Chapitos” – and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for further distribution. Canobbio Inzunza financed and led an armed security group known as Los Chimales, which provided security for the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and engaged in armed conflict to assist the Chapitos in importing drugs into the United States, the indictment states. The Chapitos were charged last year in other U.S. indictments.
The indictment against Canobbio Inzunza, 44, charges him with drug conspiracy. The charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Canobbio Inzunza is believed to be residing in Mexico and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Tara K. McGrath, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, David Sundberg, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, Stacey Moy, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum of the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton of the Southern District of California, and Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
canobbio_inzunza_indictment.pdfFederal Employee Indicted for Covid FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A North Carolina woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for fraudulently obtaining a $20,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Lakeysha Day, 43, was charged with one count of wire fraud in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Day, an employee of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, worked at the V.A. Medical Center in Columbia, Mo., at the time of the offense.
According to today’s indictment, Day applied for a PPP loan for her business on March 20, 2021. The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments.
Day claimed to be a sole proprietor of a business which had an average monthly payroll of $8,000. The supporting documents she submitted claimed gross receipts or sales of $114,210, business expenses of $14,685 and a profit of $99,525. In reality, however, Day’s 2019 personal income tax return did not report income and expenses that were claimed in the loan application.
The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Day to forfeit to the government any property derived from the alleged fraud scheme, including a money judgment of $20,000.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.
Federal Employee Charged with Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An employee of the federal government has been charged with possession of child pornography.
Joshua E. Peccia, 46, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., was charged in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The complaint was unsealed and made public today following Peccia’s arrest and initial court appearance. Peccia remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Peccia is employed as an operations support specialist in the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The federal criminal complaint charges Peccia with one count of possession of child pornography.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Peccia uploaded eight videos of child pornography to the Verizon Cloud on Dec. 19, 2023. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Peccia’s residence and seized cell phones, computers, external hard drives, digital cameras, and USB media storage devices. Investigators found 630 videos of apparent child sexual abuse material on Peccia’s cell phone, along with 1,600 potential images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Lee’s Summit, Missouri Police Department and U.S. Secret Service.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Federal Charges for Michigan Man Who Attempted to Enter U.S. Capitol with a Flare Gun, a Torch, and GasolineRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Austin M. Olson, 27, of Westland, Michigan, had an initial appearance in U.S. District Court this afternoon, following his November 5, 2024 attempt to enter the U.S. Capitol with a flare gun, a torch, and two bottles of gasoline. Olson was charged in a complaint with unlawful activities for carrying a weapon or incendiary device on Capitol grounds.
U.S. Capitol Police officers arrested Olson on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. At about 12:30 p.m., Olson entered the complex and was asked to remove his belongings for inspection in a security x-ray machine. When Olson’s black coat passed through the x-ray machine, an officer saw what appeared to be a torch and a small firearm. The officer recovered a small torch device and an orange flare gun from the coat. Officers also noted that Olson’s small backpack reeked strongly of gasoline. Inside the backpack, officers found two bottles filled with fuel.
According to the USCP officer, Olson stated he was at the Capitol to send a message to Congress and that he had brought the torch and flare gun to “light up the message in fire.” Another officer asked Olson what message he was planning to deliver. Olson removed a red closed envelope from under his shirt and stated it contained the message he wanted to send to the members of Congress. USCP officers handcuffed Olson and patted him down for additional contraband. Olson refused to provide identification.
Due to the strong odor of fuel emitting from Olson and his bag, USCP closed the Capitol Visitor Center. It reopened about 90 minutes later.
Officers searched Olson’s belongings and recovered two booklets containing writings and an identification card. Olson was charge with unlawful activities, possession of a prohibited weapon, and disorderly conduct and transported to USCP headquarters.
This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Capitol Police. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Schneider and Rachel Craft of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Etna Man Who Used Deceased Brother’s Identity for Decades Ordered to Repay $175,757Read the Press Release
BANGOR Maine: An Etna man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for identity theft, passport fraud, Social Security fraud and mail fraud. Napoleon Gonzalez, 87, had been found guilty of six federal charges on August 18, 2023, following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. ordered Gonzalez to pay $175,757 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, citing Gonzalez’s age and health, sentenced him to five years of probation.
According to court records, beginning in the mid-1960s, Gonzalez took on the identity of his brother, Guillermo, who had died as an infant in 1939. In 1981, Gonzalez applied for a Social Security number in his deceased brother’s name and filed applications for Social Security retirement benefits in his own name in 1999 and in his brother’s name in 2001. Over the years, Napoleon Gonzalez obtained multiple passports bearing Guillermo Gonzalez’s name, most recently in October 2017, a passport he used to travel to Canada in July 2018.
Gonzalez collected retirement benefits under both identities until March 2020, when investigators requested the suspension of benefits being paid to Guillermo Gonzalez pending investigation. Gonzalez mailed a letter to the Social Security Administration, signing the name Guillermo Gonzalez and the Social Security number assigned to that identity, asking for an explanation for the suspension. In the letter, he requested a prompt reply, claiming that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, he was locked in his apartment, unable to drive and dependent on neighbors to obtain food and other items. Gonzalez also obtained Maine state identification cards under both his own identity and his brother’s. In January 2020, the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles uncovered the decades-long ruse and alerted federal authorities.
“The jury conviction and this sentence holds Napoleon Gonzalez accountable for his intolerable crimes. Using a Social Security number (SSN) not assigned to him, Gonzalez furnished false information and concealed information to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits,” said Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Acting Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA). “My office will continue to investigate those who defraud SSA benefit programs and compromise the integrity of SSNs for their selfish gain. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanne Semivan for their efforts in prosecuting this case.”
The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles Division of Enforcement, Anti-Theft and Regulations investigated this case.
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11/12/24: Sentence corrected to include probation amount
Eight Men Charged in Connection with Interstate High-End Car Theft RingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Eight men have been charged for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to steal luxury cars in New Jersey, New York, and elsewhere, and transport them across state lines, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Ahmad Franks, aka “Mahdi,” 24; Shaquan White, aka “QBandz,” aka “Q Bands,” 23; Nathan Braswell, aka “Troub,” 20; Ibn Bellamy, aka “YC,” 24; Zamir Wright, aka “GBz,” 20, all of Newark; Ryan Bowen, aka “Prob,” 26; Khyree Lawrence, aka “6,” 20, both of East Orange, New Jersey; and Mohammed Buhari, aka “Sakina,” 45, of Woodbridge, Virginia; are all charged by complaint with conspiring to receive, possess, or sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce.
Franks is also charged with five counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and one count of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. Bellamy is also charged with one count of possession of a stolen vehicle, and Buhari is charged with one count of sale, receipt, or possession of a stolen vehicle. Bellamy and Lawrence were arrested on Nov. 6, 2024, and made their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court. Buhari remains at large. The remaining defendants are already in custody on prior charges and will appear at a later date.
“The defendants are charged with orchestrating a brazen conspiracy to steal high-end, luxury vehicles, targeting our community and profiting from their illegal activities,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “These charges underscore our commitment to work with all of our law enforcement partners to protect the community from the variety of crimes committed by those who seek to enrich themselves unjustly by victimizing our residents.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In November 2021, law enforcement began investigating a series of high-end car thefts and learned that the eight defendants, and others conspired to possess, receive, conceal, sell, dispose, and/or transport high-value stolen cars in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and elsewhere. Some of the stolen cars were used during the commission of other crimes, including the theft of additional cars, shootings, and a homicide. From November 2021 to July 2022, Franks exchanged photographs of at least 400 known or suspected stolen cars with at least a dozen conspirators.
The 14 cars stolen by the defendants as alleged in the complaint have an estimated total value of at least $550,000.
The conspiracy count carries a maximum term of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whichever is greatest. The charges of sale, receipt, or possession of a stolen vehicle and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle each carries a maximum potential penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas; the Newark Police Division, under the direction of Director Fritz G. Fragé; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Colonel Patrick J. Callahan; the Millburn Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gilfedder; and the Fairfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Anthony G. Manna, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of New York/Newark, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department, the Jersey City Police Department, the Tenafly Police Department, the East Brunswick Police Department, the Ridgewood Police Department, the Ramapo Police Department, the Spring Lake Police Department, the Paramus Police Department, the Woodbridge Police Department, the Edison Police Department, the Essex Fells Police Department, the East Orange Police Department, the West Caldwell Police Department, and the Nassau County Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olta Bejleri and Megan Linares of the Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
franksetal.complaint.pdfDrug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More than 47 Combined Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – The final member of a Northwest Arkansas drug trafficking organization was sentenced to federal prison for crimes related to the distribution of fentanyl. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the trial of Claude Dukes, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing fentanyl pills in the Western District of Arkansas from November 2022 to June 2023. Evidence presented at trial showed that Claude Dukes, Jr., of Newport, Arkansas, was identified as the source of supply for fentanyl being distributed by co-conspirator, Justin Ellis. Dukes was found to be responsible for over 400 grams of fentanyl distributed in the conspiracy through his own conduct and the conduct of co-conspirators. Co-conspirators Justin Ellis and Derrick Bradley pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl in Northwest Arkansas for their respective roles in the offense. The pills distributed by this group contained fentanyl made or pressed to look like M-30 Oxycontin prescription pills.
“This case is an example of the outstanding results that are possible when dedicated law enforcement officers and agencies work together to dismantle drug trafficking operations,” said David Clay Fowlkes, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. “We are so proud to partner with our federal, local, and state law enforcement agencies to address this deadly controlled substance. Fentanyl continues to be an extreme danger to our communities in Western Arkansas. This drug trafficking operation was responsible for distributing significant amounts of this deadly substance in Western Arkansas. This sentence reflects the serious nature of their crimes and should send a strong message to others who would seek to smuggle and distribute fentanyl in Western Arkansas.”
Those members of the drug trafficking organization indicted federally have been sentenced as follows:
Claude Dukes, Jr.: age 42, Newport, Arkansas – Conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl– 300 months imprisonment and 5-year term of supervised release. Dukes’ sentence was subject to enhanced penalties due to his status as a career offender.
Justin Alexander Ellis: age 36, Fayetteville, Arkansas – Distribution of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl – 172 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release. Ellis’ sentence was subject to enhanced penalties due to his status as a career offender.
Derrick Scott Bradley: age 43, Rogers, Arkansas – Distribution of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl – 96 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration in Fayetteville investigated the case with assistance by the following agencies: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fourth Judicial Drug Task Force, Benton County Drug Unit, Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Bentonville Police Department, Rogers Police Department, and the Newport Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sydney Butler Stanley, Kevin Eaton, and Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case for the United States.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Double Carjacker Sentenced to 13 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced a man involved in two St. Louis area carjackings to 13 years in prison.
Ramon D. Davis, 20, committed an armed carjacking in St. Louis in 2021 and another in Webster Groves in 2022.
On Nov. 7, 2021, Davis, Montrell M. Jackson and a juvenile and stole a man’s 2006 Mazda3 in an alley near Grand Avenue and Bates Street in south St. Louis. Davis was armed with a Canik TP9 handgun that he had stolen the prior month and Jackson had a Ruger MAX-9 handgun. The next day, the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center license plate recognition system located the stolen car. St. Louis police joined Hazelwood police in a pursuit that was already in progress. After nearly hitting a police car, Davis lost control and spun out in the middle of an intersection before continuing for more than two miles. After the Mazda crashed into a metal storage container at North Florissant Avenue and Branch Street, Davis and Jackson fled. They were later arrested. Officers found a black satchel inside the Mazda that held both guns used in the carjacking.
On Nov. 11, 2022, Ramon Davis, Tristan T. Davis and Jaymond Johnson were in a stolen BMW when Tristan Davis spotted a 2017 Mercedes GLS550 SUV parked in front of a CVS located on Watson Road in Webster Groves. Ramon Davis had an AR-style pistol and confronted an occupant of the Mercedes with it before pushing her to the ground, breaking her finger. Ramon and Tristan Davis drove away in the carjacked Mercedes.
Ramon Davis pleaded guilty in July to two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and two counts of carjacking. Tristan T. Davis, 20, and Montrell M. Jackson, 21, of Northwoods, each pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Tristan Davis was sentenced in September to 90 months in prison and Jackson was sentenced to 70 months.
Jaymond Johnson, 20, has pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and awaits sentencing.
The St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, the Webster Groves Police Department, the Hazelwood Police Department and the Normandy Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Cassandra Wiemken prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Defendant Charged After Fleeing Before TrialRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Roscoe McMillan, also known as “Roscoe McMillian” and “Ross McMillan,” has been indicted after he failed to appear for trial on wire and mail fraud charges related to a fraudulent life insurance scheme.
“Every defendant has a right to a fair trial by a jury of his or her peers, but no one is entitled to refuse to appear for trial,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “McMillan promised to appear for his court dates after the district court released him on bond. His alleged failure to appear indicates a disregard for the rule of law and cannot be tolerated.”
“McMillan has taken a criminal allegation and created an even more serious situation,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. “Our special agents will not rest until McMillan is in custody and appearing in court like he promised to do last month.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In September 2023, Roscoe McMillan was charged with wire fraud and mail fraud related to a scheme to defraud seven life insurance companies. Under the guise of a sham company called Chosen Outreach Ministries, McMillan allegedly provided false and fraudulent information to obtain group life insurance policies. These group life insurance policies were predicated on Chosen Outreach Ministries being the employer of the insured individuals, but the indictment alleges that none of these individuals were actual employees.
The indictment further alleges that Chosen Outreach Ministries never conducted any legitimate business or paid wages to these individuals. In fact, many of the insured individuals were suffering from serious health problems and died within a year of being added to Chosen Outreach Ministries’ group policies. McMillan allegedly submitted more than 30 fraudulent claims for life insurance benefits after the insured individuals passed away. The defrauded insurance companies disbursed approximately $2.7 million in benefits based on the fraudulent claims.
On October 29, 2024, McMillan failed to appear for his trial on these fraud charges. He was granted pretrial release from custody on October 11, 2023, and is now a fugitive.
Roscoe McMillan, 43, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, and failure to appear in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury on November 4, 2024.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Russell Phillips and Kelly K. Connors are prosecuting the case.
If you know Roscoe McMillan’s whereabouts or have information that may lead to his arrest, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (770) 216-3000 or submit information at https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
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.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 12+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Derrick Dewayne Swafford, 30, of Pineville, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 152 months (12 years, 8 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
On July 18, 2021, an officer with the Alexandria Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle Swafford was driving after the officer observed him driving recklessly. When the officer ordered Swafford from the vehicle, he fled from the traffic stop but was ultimately taken into custody. Once officers were able to take Swafford into custody, they smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and obtained a warrant to search it. Inside the vehicle, officers found a loaded Smith and Wesson 40 caliber pistol, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia. A review of his record revealed that Swafford was a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history, including aggravated assault with a firearm in 2019, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2018, possession of controlled substances and obstruction of justice in 2013.
Swafford was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to the charges on September 28, 2022.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s 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. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
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Convicted Drug Dealer Sent Back to Prison After Assaulting Domestic PartnerRead the Press Release
A convicted drug dealer who violated the terms of his supervised release by brutally beating a domestic partner has been sent back to prison for 10 years, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Jose Negron-Cardona, 49, was convicted in 2008 in the District of Puerto Rico of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics and brandishing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. A U.S. District Judge in Puerto Rico sentenced him to a total of 211 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.
Federal offenders are often subject to a period of post-conviction supervision that can include various conditions, from abstaining from illicit drug use to meeting with a probation officer. Mr. Cardona’s conditions included a prohibition against violating federal, state, or local laws.
After serving time in federal prison, Mr. Cardona was released and began his supervised release on May 27, 2020.
On June 5, 2024, while living in Grand Prairie, Mr. Cardona viciously assaulted a domestic partner.
Shortly after the assault, U.S. Probation Office filed a petition to revoke his supervised release. At a hearing on Wednesday, prosecutors argued that Mr. Cardona should be sent back to prison, calling the victim to the stand to testify.
The victim testified that Mr. Cardona viciously assaulted her, prevented her from calling 911, and repeatedly struck her in the face until she lost consciousness.
U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade found by a preponderance of the evidence that Mr. Cardona had committed assault/family violence – a state offense that violated his conditions of supervision – and revoked his supervised release, sentencing Mr. Cardona to an additional 10 years in federal prison (five years per count, to run consecutively).
“If this defendant thought he could savagely beat a woman without repercussion, he was sorely mistaken. While we take all violations of supervised release seriously, we are especially concerned by instances of domestic violence. For the next decade, his victim will be able to sleep soundly at night knowing he is once again behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton.
The Grand Prairie Police Department conducted the investigation into the assault. The United States Probation Office provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Winters and Ted Hocter argued for revocation and imprisonment.
Colorado Man Sentenced for Possession of Fentanyl Pills at Omaha AirportRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kene Coleman, age 43, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced November 7, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Coleman to 151 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Coleman’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On August 11, 2023, Coleman arrived at the Omaha airport on a flight from Denver, Colorado. An investigator approached Coleman near the baggage carousel area and Coleman agreed to talk with the investigator. When asked about a suitcase he had, Coleman claimed the suitcase was not his. Moments later, Coleman ran away and was tackled to the ground by other officers. Search of the suitcase pursuant to a warrant uncovered approximately 6,155 fentanyl pills. At the time of the offense, Coleman was on parole for a Colorado conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and the Omaha Airport Authority Police Department.
Co-defendant of an FBI Most Wanted Fugitive Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Thursday sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for exchanging cash and other items of value for sex with a 14-year-old girl.
Theodore “Ted” John Sartori Sr., 64, provided cash, a car, a motorcycle, Christmas presents and vacations to a friend from 2013-2016 in exchange for access to the victim, beginning when she was 14 years old.
The victim said in court that Sartori’s crime has caused “life-long trauma, hopeless relationships,” flashbacks, PTSD and low self-esteem.
Sartori pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in August to a felony charge of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. As part of his plea, Sartori agreed to pay more than $25,000 in restitution to his victim.
“I applaud our investigators and prosecutors for bringing Ted Sartori to justice. We hope his 10-year prison sentence will bring some measure of closure to his victim,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Because of the trauma the victim had to endure since she was a minor, we will never stop pursuing co-defendant Donald Eugene Fields II, who is one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives.”
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated jointly by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
China-Based Chemical Company, Its Director and Senior Employees Indicted for Alleged Fentanyl Manufacturing and DistributionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A chemical company, its director and three senior employees have been charged in a 13-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they sold deadly fentanyl precursor chemicals and xylazine – known as “tranq” – globally, fueling the fentanyl crisis in the United States, the Justice Department announced today.
Hubei Aoks Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., a chemical company based in Wuhan, China, is charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl and to distribute listed chemicals for the manufacture of fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute listed chemicals for importation to the United States, two counts of distribution of listed chemicals for importation, two counts of distribution of listed chemicals for manufacture into controlled substances, and seven counts of introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce.
Also charged in the indictment returned on May 10 and announced today are:
- Xuening Gao, 38, Hubei Aoks’ sole director, who is charged with two conspiracy counts;
- Guangzhao Gao, 36, the operator of Hubei Aoks’ cryptocurrency wallets used for fentanyl precursor sales and who is charged with a total of six felonies, including four distribution-related counts;
- Yajing Li, 30, a Hubei Aoks sales manager who also is charged with six felonies, including conspiracy and distribution of a listed chemical; and
- A fifth defendant who uses the alias “Jessie Lee,” a Hubei Aoks sales manager charged with two conspiracy counts.
The People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security recently informed the Justice Department that it took law enforcement action against the defendants in its own parallel investigation by dissolving the indicted Chinese company and arresting the four indicted Chinese national subjects. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Public Security for its assistance and coordinated efforts.
The Justice Department also recognizes the work done by the Ministry of Public Security in taking action to schedule two of the several chemicals that the indictment charges the defendants with distributing: the adulterant xylazine and the precursor 3,4-MDP-2-P Ethyl Glycidate. These two chemicals were not scheduled in the People’s Republic of China at the time of this investigation, but have now been scheduled.
“This indictment alleges a corporation, its director and sales manager reaped financial benefits by knowingly exporting materials that helped fuel the fentanyl crisis in our nation,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Synthetic drugs such as fentanyl have wreaked devastation in our country, and it is therefore critical that we hold accountable those behind this crisis. Rest assured, we will have no patience for those who profit off this poison and treat our youth as collateral damage.”
“This company, its owner and criminal operatives have knowingly been involved in a deadly game, manufacturing parts that led to a destructive whole,” said Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Los Angeles Field Division. “DEA will continue to focus on identifying the most prolific manufacturers and distributor organizations of the fentanyl precursor chemicals and these indictments are proof of our unwavering determination to bring these criminals to justice. Our investigators and all our partners’ capabilities and skillful collaboration have made a difference. I couldn’t be prouder.”
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the government’s continued scrutiny of companies and individuals that subvert federal law by importing and distributing drugs and drug ingredients for illicit purposes,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki, Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Office. “FDA remains committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who jeopardize the public health and profit off the sale of unlawful and potentially dangerous products.”
“Companies such as Hubei Aoks disguise their illicit activities as legitimate business operations yet continue to knowingly contribute to the fentanyl crisis in the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “This indictment highlights our commitment to partnering with other law enforcement agencies to combat this epidemic. IRS Criminal Investigation is the best in the world at following the money, whether it be within traditional banking systems or via cryptocurrency platforms, and we will tirelessly pursue the necessary evidence to bring suspects to justice.”
According to the indictment, for more than a decade, Xuening Gao and Guangzhou Gao have sold controlled substances and precursor chemicals, including fentanyl precursors, to customers throughout the United States. Both men are linked to chemical companies operating in China, including one that sold fentanyl and acetyl-fentanyl that was imported into the United States as far back as 2015.
Hubei Aoks exported chemicals to at least 100 countries, including the United States, and advertised online and through various social media platforms. Hubei Aoks sales representatives tailored their precursor recommendations depending on the customer’s geographical market and would suggest alternative chemicals if one was not available. Hubei Aoks claimed that fentanyl precursors were most popular in Mexico and sold them in 25-kilogram fiber drums, each of which can produce 10 million fentanyl pills. Representatives claimed that their profit on precursors sales to Mexico was worth the risk.
From at least November 2016 to November 2023, Hubei Aoks sold and imported to the United States 11 kilograms of fentanyl precursors, capable of producing millions of fentanyl pills, along with two kilograms of xylazine, a tranquilizer, used by veterinarians to sedate cattle, horses, and other large animals. The chemicals were falsely imported into the United States as furniture parts, vases, makeup, and other items, and were delivered to a person the conspirators believed was a fentanyl trafficking customer, but who actually was an undercover agent.
Sometimes, Hubei Aoks sales representatives attempted to entice the undercover agent by offering additional chemicals that they claimed would sell well, offering gifts, and guaranteeing that their chemicals would be successfully imported into the United States.
“HSI is dedicated to disrupting the flow of fentanyl, and the precursor chemicals necessary to produce this poison, entering our communities," said Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “Today’s announcement of charges is a warning to those who seek to profit from the sales of these precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl and other manufactured narcotics.”
“This enforcement action reflects U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) whole-of-government effort to anticipate, identify, mitigate, and disrupt illicit synthetic drug producers, suppliers, and traffickers," said Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “This comprehensive approach brings the unique, formidable, and wide-ranging capabilities and authorities of CBP to bear on the illicit synthetic drug trade and build capacity and collaboration with our partners – domestic and international – to ensure the safety of the American public.”
“The shipment of dangerous substances like fentanyl precursor chemicals through the U.S. Mail helps to fuel a pandemic that affects many Americans today”, said Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service in Los Angeles, Matt Shields. “Precursor chemicals are extremely dangerous substances and pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of our society. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service stands proudly with our federal law enforcement partners as we continue to fight to protect the U.S. Postal Service and Americans from illegal and dangerous substances.”
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of all charges, each defendant would face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations; IRS Criminal Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection; and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter, with assistance from the California Department of Justice. This investigation was led by the Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF), a DEA-led multi-agency task force within the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brittney M. Harris of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section and Jenna G. Williams of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force are prosecuting this case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.