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1 November 2024
Wisconsin Sex Offender Sentenced to 45 Years for Enticing and Coercing A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Mohammad Ali Hemmat (29, Milwaukee) to 45 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, production of child sexual abuse material, traveling on two occasions from Wisconsin to Florida for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, and committing these offenses while required to register as a sex offender in Wisconsin. The court also ordered Hemmat to forfeit electronic devices, which were used in the commission of the offense, and to register as a sex offender. A federal jury found Hemmat guilty in April 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, between April 2022 and March 2023, Hemmat used his cellphone and computer to sexually groom a 12-year-old girl in Florida. Hemmat groomed this child through daily social media video chats, text message conversations, and by sending her cash, gifts, and fast food. Hemmat shared obscene material with this child through social media applications, and he used a social media platform to remote log-in to the child victim’s laptop—which he had purchased for her—to search for sexually explicit topics, images, and videos. The victim subsequently sent child sexual abuse images of herself to Hemmat over the internet.
In February 2023, Hemmat drove from Wisconsin to Florida for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with the child. In March 2023, Hemmat drove to Florida a second time for the same purpose, but law enforcement was alerted to his presence by the victim. Although Hemmat attempted to return to Wisconsin without detection, law enforcement officers apprehended him in Indiana. Evidence presented at trial also showed that Hemmat had engaged similar tactics in grooming a13-year-old child in the United Kingdom to send him sexually explicit images of herself. At the time Hemmat committed these offenses, he had a prior conviction for an offense involving a minor, requiring him to register as a sex offender in Wisconsin.
“The crime of sexually exploiting a child's vulnerability through manipulation and bribery demanded a severe consequence, and this 45-year sentence is evidence of justice served,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. “Alongside our national and international law enforcement partners with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Jasper (Indiana) County Sheriff’s Office, the Sussex County (United Kingdom) Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, this sentencing demonstrates a united front against such predatory behavior, and reflects our collective commitment to protect vulnerable individuals in our society.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Jasper (Indiana) County Sheriff’s Office, the Sussex County (United Kingdom) Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilyssa M. Spergel and Risha Asokan.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Wichita Man Sentenced After Trial Conviction for Sex Trafficking and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Byron Cordell Thomas, 37, of Wichita, Kansas, to 360 months imprisonment, followed by 12 years of supervised release.
In August of 2023, a jury found Thomas guilty of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, two counts of Witness Tampering by Corrupt Persuasion, four counts of Transporting an Individual for Prostitution, and two counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion.
Beginning in 2019 through December 2022, Thomas engaged in the recruitment of young, vulnerable victims to work under his direction as prostitutes. He targeted the victim's financial hardship or addiction issues and sold a dream of a safe or sober environment solely to lure them in. Thomas would transport the victims across state lines, train them to avoid the police, and how to recruit others for him. He kept complete control of the money earned with physical violence or physiological coercion.
Thomas will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations – Tulsa and Kansas offices, the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and Shakema Onias 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. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
West Chester Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact on an AircraftRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Edward Decker, 46, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro to six months’ imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and $4,000 in restitution for abusive sexual contact on an aircraft.
The defendant pleaded guilty to that offense in May of this year.
On July 29, 2022, while on board an American Airlines flight from San Diego, California, to Philadelphia, Decker intentionally touched the thigh and breast of a minor while she was sleeping. The victim woke up from her sleep on this overnight flight to find Decker, who was seated in her row, with his hands and face under her clothes and on her body.
“Edward Decker’s actions on that plane are profoundly disturbing,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “There’s no excuse for touching anyone in a sexual manner without their consent — let alone a sleeping underage stranger. The victim in this case has shown remarkable courage throughout this entire process. My office and the FBI will continue to seek justice for victims of crimes within our jurisdiction, whether committed on the street or on a flight thousands of feet above.”
“Every person has an expectation of and, indeed, the right to fly on a U.S. aircraft without being abusively sexually contacted,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Our office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to ensure both that victims of such crimes are supported and that those who commit such crimes are held accountable. We also thank our partners at the Philadelphia International Airport for their assistance in this case.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison.
Waunakee Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine Intended for DistributionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Larry D. Williamson 36, Waunakee, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 12 years in federal prison for possessing 500 or more grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Williamson pleaded guilty to this charge on June 18, 2024. The prison term will be followed by 8 years of supervised release.
On the evening of February 8, 2024, Williamson and his codefendant Corvalis Stewart landed a rented Cessna 172 aircraft at the Middleton Municipal Airport, in Middleton, Wisconsin. Williamson was a private pilot who had rented the aircraft to fly to Phoenix, Arizona, to pick up drugs. Stewart was the passenger.
Federal and state law enforcement received information about the flight and about Williamson and Stewart’s suspicious behavior in Arizona. Law enforcement tracked the aircraft as it returned to Middleton and landed at approximately 10:55 p.m. Williamson and Stewart got out of the airplane and walked to the parking lot. Stewart was carrying three bags which he put in the back of his vehicle. Law enforcement detained the men and searched the bags.
Two of the bags contained 19 pounds of methamphetamine, and in one were travel receipts from a recent trip that Williamson took. The third bag contained approximately 200,000 fentanyl pills known on the street as M30’s, which are counterfeit Oxycodone pills. This was the largest fentanyl seizure in Dane County, with an estimated street value of $2,000,000.
“This was a brazen effort to introduce a large quantity of methamphetamine and thousands of deadly fentanyl pills into our Dane County community,” said Timothy M. O’Shea, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. “I commend our federal and state law enforcement partners for their coordinated efforts to quickly identify the suspicious flight and apprehend the individuals involved.”
“The sentencing of these drug traffickers is a decisive victory in our fight against organized crime. Their brazen attempts to evade justice by crossing state lines in an airplane only highlight their disregard for the law. This outcome underscores our unwavering commitment to dismantle such networks,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald. “The success of this operation was made possible through the tireless efforts and cooperation of local law enforcement agencies. Together, we have shown that no matter the lengths criminals go to escape justice, they will be held accountable."
At sentencing, Judge Peterson characterized the amount of fentanyl involved in the case as staggering. Noting the large quantity and the especially dangerous nature of fentanyl, Judge Peterson determined that a significant sentence was warranted. Judge Peterson also found that Williamson was an active courier who solicited drug trips to make more money.
Williamson’s co-defendant, Corvalis Stewart, pleaded guilty on September 11, 2024, to possessing 400 or more grams of fentanyl intended for distribution. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2024, and faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.
The charges against Williamson and Stewart were the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the Middleton Police Department, with the assistance of the Air Marine Operations Center in Riverside, California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Waterloo Cocaine Dealer and Fraudster Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who distributed a significant amount of cocaine and obtained a fraudulent loan was sentenced October 30, 2024, to twenty years in federal prison.
Parrish Austin, age 40, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 13, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of wire fraud.
Information disclosed at Austin’s sentencing hearing and previous related hearings showed that, beginning in late 2019 or early 2020, and continuing until October 5, 2022, Austin began distributing kilograms of cocaine every few months to Justin Cole in Waterloo. Cole then worked with Tavarious Glasper, Chris Roby, and others to redistribute the cocaine. In total, Austin was responsible for distributing at least ten kilograms of cocaine.
Information disclosed at Austin’s plea and sentencing hearings also showed that, in May 2021, Austin fraudulently obtained into his bank account a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in the amount of $18,322 after a false and fraudulent PPP loan application was submitted with Austin’s signature. In October 2021, after Austin had received the fraudulent PPP loan into his bank account, Austin applied for and obtained forgiveness of the PPP loan.
Austin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Austin was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment, and he was ordered to pay $18,322 in restitution. He must also serve a five‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Twelve other individuals from Waterloo previously pled guilty to their involvement in the drug trafficking organization and/or PPP fraud:
- Kiesha Ann Morman was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and ordered to pay $19,835 in restitution on March 6, 2024, after she pled guilty to one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
- Tavarious Glasper was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment on March 11, 2024, after he pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Chris Lee Roby was sentenced to 49 months’ imprisonment on March 12, 2024, after he pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
- Justin A. Cole was sentenced to 195 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $20,832 in restitution on March 13, 2024, after he had pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
- Sheila Renee Cole was sentenced to 2 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $19,583 in restitution on April 10, 2024, after she plead guilty to one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
- Shalla Scherrice Cole was sentenced to 7 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $20,415 in restitution on April 19, 2024, after she pled guilty to one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
- Tia Lynette Cole‑Sykes was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and ordered to pay $19,790 in restitution on May 1, 2024, after she pled guilty to one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
- Orenthal James Jones was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $20,832 in restitution on May 13, 2024, after he pled guilty to one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
- Allure Shapree Roby was sentenced to 2 weeks’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $20,832 in restitution on June 20, 2024, after she pled guilty to one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
- Ida Made Roby was sentenced to 3 years’ probation and ordered to pay $20,833 in restitution on July 2, 2024, after she pled guilty to one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
- Stacy Antwanette Cole was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and ordered to pay $20,332 in restitution on July 19, 2024, after she pled guilty to one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
- Reid Jonathan Geerts was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $19,166 in restitution on September 3, 2024, after he pled guilty to one count of PPP‑related wire fraud.
Austin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; and the Iowa State Patrol.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23‑CR‑02057‑CJW.
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Washington Resident Pleads Guilty to Pandemic Loan FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Washington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Walter Holt III, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about March 12 and May 27, 2021, Holt prepared and submitted falsified Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) COVID-19 relief loan applications for Charleroi, Pennsylvania, borrowers, for which he took a fee.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for January 31, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Holt.
U.S. and Russian National Pleads Guilty to Helping Russia's Defense Sector Evade U.S. Export ControlsRead the Press Release
Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, Vadim Yermolenko, a national of both the U.S. and Russia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States for his role in a transnational procurement and money laundering network that sought to acquire sensitive dual-use electronics for Russian military and intelligence services. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez. When sentenced, Yermolenko faces up to 30 years in prison.
Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Jonathan Carson, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office of the Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), US Department of Commerce (DOC), and Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI) announced the plea.
“This defendant joins the nearly two dozen other criminals that our Task Force KleptoCapture has brought to justice in American courtrooms over the past two and a half years for enabling Russia’s military aggression,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant admitted to playing a central role in a now-disrupted scheme with Russian intelligence services to smuggle sniper rifle ammunition and U.S. military grade equipment into Russia. The Justice Department will never stop working to aggressively disrupt and prosecute both the criminal networks and the individuals responsible for bolstering the Russian war machine.”
“To facilitate the Russian war machine, the defendant played a critical role in exporting sensitive, dual-use technologies to Russia, facilitating shipping and the movement of millions of dollars through U.S. financial institutions,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This plea highlights my Office and our law enforcement partners continued commitment to use all tools available to prosecute those who unlawfully procure U.S. technology to send to Russia.”
Mr. Peace thanked the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Estonian authorities for their valuable assistance.
“As he admitted today, Vadim Yermolenko took part in a conspiracy to evade U.S. sanctions and assist the Russian war machine by unlawfully purchasing and exporting highly sensitive, export controlled electronic components. The FBI is determined to fulfill our mission of protecting the security of our nation. Any individual attempting to evade our national security laws will be held accountable in the criminal justice system,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy.
“Yermolenko and his illicit network supported Russian intelligence services in attempting to procure sensitive American technology,” said Jonathan Carson, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office of the Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and Security, US Department of Commerce. “You can add this guilty plea to the list of the many enforcement actions we’ve brought since the start of the Strike Force to target and dismantle Russian procurement networks.”
“Whether it was from misplaced foreign allegiance or pure greed, Yermolenko aided Russia’s military and intelligence agencies in circumventing policies meant to keep the Russian ‘war machine’ in check. Through a sophisticated network of shell companies and bank accounts, he laundered more than twelve million dollars and purchased highly sensitive military equipment for Russia. Law enforcement worked in close collaboration to share information and resources, ensuring that Yermolenko and his associates are no longer in operation, making the world safer,” said Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI New York.
As alleged in court documents, the defendant was affiliated with Serniya Engineering (Serniya) and Sertal LLC (Sertal), Moscow-based companies that operate under the direction of Russian intelligence services to procure advanced electronics and sophisticated testing equipment for Russia’s military industrial complex and research and development sector. Serniya and Sertal operated a vast network of shell companies and bank accounts throughout the world, including in the United States, that were used in furtherance of the scheme to conceal the involvement of the Russian government and the true Russian end users of U.S.-origin equipment.
The defendant and his co-conspirators unlawfully purchased and exported highly sensitive, export controlled electronic components, some of which can be used in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons, quantum computing, and other military applications. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the DOC BIS levied and imposed additional export restrictions on Serniya, Sertal, and several individuals and companies involved in the scheme, calling them “instrumental to the Russian Federation’s war machine.”
Sertal was licensed to conduct highly sensitive and classified procurement activities by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s principal security agency and the main successor agency to the Soviet Union’s KGB. The Serniya network’s Russian clients included State Corporation Rostec, the state-owned defense conglomerate; State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom; the Ministry of Defense; the Foreign Intelligence Service; and various components of the FSB, including the Department of Military Counterintelligence and the Directorate for Scientific and Technological Intelligence, commonly known as “Directorate T.”
To carry out the scheme, the defendant helped set up numerous shell companies and dozens of bank accounts in the U.S. to illicitly move money and export-controlled goods. During the period charged in the indictment, more than $12 million passed through accounts owned or controlled by the defendant. These funds were used in part to purchase sensitive equipment used in radar, surveillance, and military research and development. In one instance, money from one of the defendant’s accounts was used to purchase export-controlled sniper bullets, which were intercepted in Estonia before they could be smuggled into Russia.
Co-defendant Alexey Brayman previously pled guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and is awaiting sentence. On July 29, 2024, Konoshchenok was removed from the United States as part of a prisoner exchange negotiated between the United States and Russia. Defendants Boris Livshits, Alexey Ippolitov, Svetlana Skvortsova, and Yevgeniy Grinin remain at large.
This prosecution is coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture and the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the U.S. has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Artie McConnell, Andrew D. Reich, Matthew Skurnik, and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, are in charge of the prosecution, along with assistance from Litigation Analysts Emma Tavangari and Mary Clare McMahon.
The Defendant:
VADIM YERMOLENKO
AGE: 43
Upper Saddle River, New JerseyOther Defendants:
ALEXEY IPPOLITOV
AGE: 58
Moscow, RussiaYEVGENIY GRININ age: 46
Moscow, RussiaBORIS LIVSHITS
Age: 54
St. Petersburg, RussiaSVETLANA SKVORTSOVA
AGE: 43
Moscow, RussiaVADIM KONOSHCHENOK
AGE: 50
Tallin, EstoniaALEXEY BRAYMAN
AGE: 37
Merrimack, New HampshireE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-409 (S-3) (HG)
NIKOLAOS BOGONIKOLOS
AGE: 60
Athens, GreeceE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-MJ-412
U.S. Attorney’s Office to Monitor Voting Procedures in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett CountiesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and the Department of Justice announced plans for voting rights monitoring in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties for the November 5, 2024, general election.
“Free and fair elections are critical to the democracy of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Every eligible voter is entitled to cast a ballot without fear of intimidation, interference, or discrimination. Our office will dedicate the necessary resources to ensure that this fundamental right is protected for all voters.”
The Department of Justice enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The Department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.
The Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include Department personnel, who will contact state and local election officials as needed throughout Election Day.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.
On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. Reports may be made through the Department’s website www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-253-3931. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be available to receive complaints on Election Day at (404) 581-6001.
Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the Department’s toll-free ADA information hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the Department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.
Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the Department after local authorities have been contacted.
More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in New JerseyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced today that staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Union, Bergen, and Middlesex counties for the Nov. 2024, general election.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws, including the Voting Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, in elections in communities across New Jersey and the country. As part of this monitoring efforts, in addition to monitoring in Bergen and Middlesex counties, staff from both offices will be working with federal observers in Union County who will be monitoring election day activities in the county’s polling places under a federal court approved consent decree.
Complaints about voting rights concerns can be directed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Election Day Hotline at 888-636-6596 or to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Information about the ADA is available on the Justice Department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov. Information about civil rights enforcement at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Sentencing of Farmington Woman for Oil and Gas FraudRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington woman was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to charges of failing to pay royalties owed to the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Navajo Nation, and the federal government, as well as for submitting fraudulent oil and gas extraction reports and committing wire fraud.
According to court documents, Teresa McCown, 55, the owner of M&M Production & Operation, Inc. and Shoreline Oil & Gas Company, was responsible for accounting, reporting mineral production, and paying royalties to mineral owners for extracted gas and minerals. To that end, McCown was required to submit monthly Oil Gas Operations Reports (OGOR) and royalty payments to the Department of the Interior's Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) based on the amount and value of oil and gas produced from the leases.
On December 6, 2019, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) received a complaint letter from the Jicarilla Apache Nation alleging M&M and Shoreline’s ongoing failures to report oil and gas extraction volumes and failure to report revenue. ONRR began its investigation into McCown and her companies’ failure to pay royalties and determined that she filed over 400 incorrect reports on leases located within the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Navajo Nation, and other federal lands. Audits of her company also revealed that she entirely failed to file approximately 1,000 reports for at least 32 leases or agreements. McCown also falsely reported gas extraction amounts and failed to pay due royalties and interest.
Despite receiving multiple notices of noncompliance and civil penalties, McCown took no corrective action. Her false and missing filings, together with accruing penalties, resulted in a loss of over $3.55 million for the tribes and the federal government.
The investigation revealed that McCown committed wire fraud by knowingly submitting inaccurate information through online reporting systems and violating numerous reporting regulations. McCown agreed to ONRR’'s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), which warned against entering inaccurate or false information into the reporting system. The online system separately warns users that a violation of the AUP may result in criminal prosecution. By continuing to violate policy using the online reporting portal, McCown carried on a scheme to defraud the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Nation, and the United States of full amounts due for her companies’ operations.
McCown was sentenced to a time-served prison sentence, three years of supervised release, and is ordered to pay full restitution to the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the Navajo Nation for lost royalties. She was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine in her personal capacity and is statutorily required to pay $900 in Court-required Special Penalty Assessments.
To meet her financial obligations, McCown was ordered to liquidate her personal property – including two pieces of real estate in Farmington and Rio Arriba Counties, two motor vehicles, and a recreational vehicle, insofar as required to satisfy these financial obligations. During her period of Supervised Release, McCown may not work as a record-keeper or reporter in any industry subject to state or federal reporting or regulatory requirements, including oil and gas companies.
As part of her plea agreement, McCown also agreed not to contest proceedings initiated by the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Land Management to cancel her oil and gas leases.
Finally, McCown also agreed to formally apologize to the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the Navajo Nation. She apologized at sentencing and appended her apology to the record, saying in part: “I have had time to reflect on my actions and now realize that there are much larger consequences… It has not only harmed the two nations but also the people of those nations. For this I am truly sorry… I apologize to this court, The Jicarilla Apache Nation as well as the BIA-Farmington Office and the Navajo Nation.”
This case was prosecuted pursuant to the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (FOGRMA) and is the first ever federal prosecution under 30 U.S.C. Section 1720 for violations of 30 U.S.C. Section 1719(d)(1). Section 1719(d)(1) of the FOGRMA imposes civil penalties for knowingly or willfully preparing, maintaining, or submitting false, inaccurate, or misleading reports, notices, affidavits, records, data, or other written information. Section 1720 provides criminal penalties for persons who violate Section 1719.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General made the announcement today.
The Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Energy Investigations Unit investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Flores prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI and USMS Target Drug Trafficking Operation Linked to Federal Correctional FacilityRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – This week, the FBI Violent Gangs Task Force and U.S. Marshals Service conducted a coordinated operation to dismantle a significant drug trafficking network linked to the Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, NM, with the support of the New Mexico State Police. The operation was part of an ongoing investigation into an intergang conspiracy involving both incarcerated and non-incarcerated gang members.
On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, search warrants were executed at 13 identified premises across New Mexico, believed to contain evidence related to multiple federal offenses. The following individuals are among those targeted in this operation:
- Nora Baca - 417 Monte Alto Place NE, Albuquerque, NM
- Estrella Gonzalez - 1812 Del Norte Drive SW, Albuquerque, NM
- Angelo Garcia - 4903 Rincon Road NW, Albuquerque, NM
- Monalisa Vargas - 1333 Columbia Dr. SE, Apt #95, Albuquerque, NM
- Theresa Atencio - 9748 Summer Shower Place NW, Albuquerque, NM
- Johnny Valiterra (aka “Chopper”) - 2331 Menaul Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM
- Richard Porras (aka “Deuce”) - 2331 Menaul Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM
- Sonia Trinidad - 401 Dunes Court, Apt D, Albuquerque, NM
- Desiree Benavidez - 3 Jose P Sanchez Road, Los Lunas, NM
- Ana Romero - 200 E. Jefferson Avenue, Gallup, NM
- Adolfo Montano - 18 Arroyoito Loop, Seboyeta, NM
- Kimberly Perry and Kelly Perry - 8 Red Mesa Housing, Crownpoint, NM
- Monique Gallegos and David Hicks - 7 Hughes Blvd, Grants, NM
In addition to the operation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico announced indictments against several individuals connected to the drug trafficking at Cibola County Correctional Center. Two current inmates, Lupe Vargas, 40, and Edward Vallez, 44, along with two co-conspirators, Monalisa Vargas, 38 (Lupe's wife), and Michael Garcia, 46, have been charged with conspiracy and attempting to provide or obtain prohibited objects in a correctional facility. Additionally, a superseding indictment has been filed against Nora Baca, charging her with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Nora Baca, Monalisa Vargas and David Hicks were arrested during the operation. If convicted, Baca faces between 15 years and life in prison and Vargas faces up to 20 years in prison. Michael Garcia remains a fugitive at this time.
As a result of the operation, 15 firearms, ammunition, fentanyl, methamphetamine, suboxone strips, $6,000 in cash, and 23 cell phones were seized, and six individuals were arrested and charged by federal or state authorities:
- Angelo Garcia was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted of the current charges, Garcia faces no less than 10 years and up to 45 years in prison.
- Theresa Atencio was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with providing contraband to a prisoner. If convicted of the current charges, Atencio faces up to one year in jail.
At Benavidez’s residence in Los Lunas, three armed felons were located and arrested:
- Raymond Lucero was arrested on federal criminal complaint and charged with being a felon in possession or a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the current charges, Lucero faces up to 15 years in prison.
- Jacob Gonzales, aka “Trigger,” was arrested on federal criminal complaint and charged with being a felon in possession or a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the current charges, Gonzales faces up to 15 years in prison.
- Nadine Gonzales was arrested on state criminal complaint and charged with being a felon in possession or a firearm and ammunition.
Jacob Gonzales recently was released from prison after completing a 22-year on a state sentence for felony convictions related to a murder.
In addition, Emmanleen Chavez was arrested at the residence in Grants on a state warrant for attempted murder.
The operation and ongoing investigation are intended to dismantle the criminal enterprises operating within and outside the correctional facility, which have been implicated in the distribution of controlled substances and other illegal activities.
“The Department of Justice protects the safety and dignity of all, including those in federal custody,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez. “Those who seek to profit from the addiction and vulnerability of detainees not only violate the law but perpetuate a cycle of harm that extends beyond the walls of the jail. That is why we are taking a comprehensive approach—leveraging technology to interdict contraband before it enters the facility, enforcing federal criminal laws against detainees and those who support them on the outside, relying on the cooperation of people motivated to do the right thing, and treating opioid use disorder with medical care for federal detainees while in custody. The Department of Justice will not tolerate the exploitation of addiction for profit in our correctional facilities.”
"This week’s operation demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to continue to dismantle criminal enterprises operating in New Mexico," said Philip Russell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division. "The FBI, along with our federal, state, local and tribal partners are determined to bring drug traffickers to justice for crimes committed and damage done to our communities."
“The U.S. Marshals Service is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for prisoners that are under our care,” said U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico David O. Barnett, Jr. “The execution of this joint operation is a testament to the unwavering dedication by our Federal, State, and Local partners to combat crime and improve the lives of our New Mexico communities.”
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, and David Barnett, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Division Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) and United States Marshals Service jointly investigated this case with assistance from the CoreCivic Intelligence Unit and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and David Hirsch are prosecuting these cases.
The VGTF is an FBI led task force comprising of agents and officers from the New Mexico State Police, Rio Rancho Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Albuquerque Police Department.
View the Search Warrant.pdf View the Indictment (Vargas, et al).pdf View the Criminal Complaint (Lucero and Gonzales).pdf View the Criminal Complaint (Atencio).pdf View the Criminal Complaint (Garcia).pdf View the Superseding Indictment (Baca)_0.pdfAn indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker announces election day program to protect voting rightsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker announced today that Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. Deputy Criminal Chief Knight has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Ohio, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Parker said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
Deputy Criminal Chiefs Emily Glatfelter and Brent Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate are also serving as District Election Officers. To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Ms. Knight and Mr. Glenn-Applegate can be reached in Columbus at 614-469-5715. Ms. Glatfelter can be reached in Cincinnati at 513-684-3711. Mr. Tabacchi can be reached in Dayton at 937-225-2910.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. Please direct allegations of election fraud and other election abuses to the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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U.S. Attorney Announces That Federal Justice Department Will Monitor Federal Voting Rights Compliance in Wisconsin for November 5 ElectionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, Timothy M. O’Shea, announced today that the Justice Department will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in several areas of the Western District, including the Town of Lawrence, Town of Thornapple, and the City of Wausau.
The Justice Department enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include Justice Department personnel, who will contact state and local election officials as needed throughout Election Day.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin, or religion.
On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. Reports may be made through the department’s website www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-253-3931. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be available while the polls are open to receive complaints on Election Day at 608-250-5488.
Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.
Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted.
More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
U.S. Attorney Announces Recent Mail Theft ArrestsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the filing of three criminal complaints involving the theft of U.S. Mail.
On October 23, 2024, Ryan Anthony Aheran (27, Orlando) was charged with mail theft. According to the criminal complaint, on October 1, 2024, Aheran stole mail from cluster mailboxes in Orlando. During the search of a vehicle later that day that was ultimately found to have been used by Aheran, U.S. Postal Inspectors located more than 1,000 pieces of stolen mail taken from multiple zip codes. In November 2023, Aheran was captured on video surveillance cashing a check for $9,500 that had been stolen from the mail. If convicted, Aheran faces up to five years in federal prison.
On October 24, 2024, Ottis Nicole McCoy, Jr. (19, Sanford) was charged with mail theft. According to the criminal complaint, McCoy, a contract employee with the United States Postal Service (USPS), was tasked to deliver mail to residences in Orlando. Instead, on October 22, 2024, McCoy transported the mail to a wooded lot, where he dumped more than 1,000 pieces of mail. Among the items that McCoy dumped were over 400 pieces of election-related mail, including an election ballot. Following an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), investigators recovered the discarded mail and located video surveillance footage showing McCoy throwing the mail into the wooded lot. If convicted, McCoy faces up to five years in prison.
(Discarded mail recovered by USPIS)
On October 25, 2024, Jaquisha Durant (30, Orlando) was charged with bank fraud. According to the criminal complaint, on April 22 and 23, 2024, Durant obtained debit cards that had been stolen from USPS cluster mailboxes. These debit cards were used to make cash withdrawals from ATMs. If convicted, Durant faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
“The individuals arrested demonstrated no respect for the sanctity of the mail. In this election cycle and every election cycle, the United States Postal Inspection Service is committed to the integrity of election mail and ensuring the safe and secure delivery of election mail,” said Juan A. Vargas, Inspector in Charge, USPIS, Miami Division. “We understand the critical role we play, and we are steadfast in our efforts to secure the delivery of ballot mail and all election mail.”
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orlando Police Department. They are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Testerman, Richard Varadan, and Diane Hu.
Over the last approximately four years, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District has federally prosecuted more than 50 cases related to theft and/or destruction of mail, obstruction of mail delivery, and robberies of postal carriers (representative cases listed in attachment).
Download Defendant Chart
Two Riverside County Brothers Sentenced to Prison for $2.1 Million Mail Insurance Scam that Defrauded United States Postal ServiceRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two Temecula brothers were sentenced today to federal prison for defrauding the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of more than $2.1 million by filing thousands of fraudulent Priority Mail insurance claims.
Anwer Fareed Alam, 36, and Yousofzay Fahim Alam, 34, each were sentenced to 27 months in prison by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu, who also ordered them to jointly pay $2,135,739 in restitution.
Both Alam brothers pleaded guilty on February 16 to one count of mail fraud.
From October 2016 to May 2019, the Alam brothers purchased from the USPS Priority Mail packages and postages that included $100 in insurance for lost or damaged parcel contents. Anwer Alam wrapped empty packages or packages containing little or no value and then sent them via Priority Mail to fake recipients at fictitious addresses.
Yousofzay Alam then submitted to USPS fraudulent insurance claims via the Postal Service’s website and falsely certified that the packages contained items of higher value than they did and lied that the packages were lost or had been damaged in transit. Yousofzay Alam also included false invoices as well as photographs of goods that were not actually inside the parcels. The Alam brothers used aliases and fake business names to hide the number of false insurance claims they submitted.
Relying on the false information in the fraudulent insurance claim forms, USPS issued checks to the Alam brothers to cover their purported losses up to $100 in value plus the cost of shipping. USPS sent the insurance claim checks by mail to the Alam brothers to various addresses in Temecula, which included their home addresses, their business addresses, and approximately 15 different post office boxes at two different post offices. The brothers then deposited the fraudulently obtained funds into their bank accounts.
For example, in November 2018, the Alam brothers fraudulently caused to be sent in the mail via USPS a $106.59 Priority Mail claim check, which was mailed to a business address in Temecula.
The total loss caused to USPS through this scheme was approximately $2,135,739.
The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Courtney N. Williams of the Riverside Branch Office prosecuted this case.
Transient from Denver sentenced to 15 years on fentanyl and firearm chargesRead the Press Release
Derek Edward Lanctot, 38, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison with five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 31 in Casper, Wyoming.
According to court documents, on April 15, 2024, the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) stopped a vehicle near mile marker 73 on Interstate 25. The trooper smelled an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and requested assistance for a search. The vehicle then fled and led troopers on a high-speed chase where it eventually wrecked, and all four occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody. During a subsequent search of the vehicle a stash book was found in the trunk. A stash book is a lock box designed to look like a book to disguise its contents. Over 600 grams of Fentanyl pills and a small pistol were located inside.
Lanctot was indicted on May 16 and pleaded guilty on Aug. 12. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and WHP investigated the crime. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood 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. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 24-00058
Trafficking of Methamphetamine in the Sabine Parish Area Sends Three Men to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Three north Louisiana men involved in the trafficking of methamphetamine have been sentenced in federal court, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. This case was an Organized Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation which was conducted in the Sabine Parish area. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced the three defendants as follows:
Royshun Avair Newton, 38, of Bossier City, Louisiana, was sentenced to 188 months (15 years, 8 months) in prison. Stacy Norvell Perry, Jr., 32, of Many, Louisiana, was sentenced to 97 months in prison. Jessie Kenneth Dewayne Holden, 34, of Many, was sentenced to 72 months in prison. Each defendant will serve 5 years of supervised release following their release from prison.
Evidence introduced in court revealed that beginning in March 2020 and continuing through August 2022, law enforcement agents learned through their investigation into illegal drug trafficking activities in the Many, Louisiana area, that Newton, Perry and Holden were selling methamphetamine to individuals in and around that area. On April 26, 2022, through text messages and the audio and video recordings, agents learned that Holden met an individual and drove with them to a store close to Perry’s residence, got out of the car and walked toward the residence. Holden shortly thereafter returned to the individual’s car with methamphetamine to sell to them.
In addition, on August 16, 2022, law enforcement agents were able to secure information from an individual about the confirmed purchase of methamphetamine from Newton in exchange for cash. Agents learned that Newton was contacted about arranging the sale and the individual went to Newton’s house to make the purchase. When the individual arrived at Newton’s residence, they encountered Perry who was present and sold the methamphetamine. The suspected narcotics from both transactions were sent to the crime lab for analysis and confirmed to be methamphetamine. Newton, Perry, and Holden were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and each pleaded guilty to the charge.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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.
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Texas Man Who Diverted Funds from Richmond Company for Personal Use Sentenced to One Year in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Neil Divers was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Jon S. Tigar, U.S. District Judge.
Divers, 66, of Godley, Tex., who previously resided in Chico, Calif., pleaded guilty on July 17, 2024, to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. As described in court documents, in 2015, Divers partially owned and operated Kodiak Precision, Inc. (Kodiak), a machined component manufacturer in Richmond, Calif. According to the plea agreement, based on prior events, in 2016, the other owners of Kodiak imposed certain controls and procedures designed to prevent Divers from taking money from the company without permission from one or more of the other owners. Despite these controls and procedures, in or about July 2016 to about May 2018, Divers devised and executed a scheme to defraud by opening bank accounts in the name of Kodiak on which he was the only signatory without the knowledge or consent of the other owners of Kodiak. Divers admitted that he then caused an employee to instruct certain Kodiak customers to deposit funds owed to Kodiak into those accounts which were named as “Kodiak” accounts but as to which he was the sole authorized signatory.
According to the plea agreement, Divers took and used some of the diverted money to fund his lifestyle and not to benefit the company, including using $38,217.84 from his fraudulent scheme to purchase landscaping services for his home in August 2019.
In addition to the 12 months and one day prison term, Judge Tigar also ordered the defendant to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a hearing on Jan. 7, 2025, and sentenced him to a three-year period of supervised release. Defendant will begin serving the sentence on Jan. 10, 2025.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rees and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Johnson are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kay Konopaske. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the IRS-CI.
Texas Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LEONEL GONZALEZ (“GONZALEZ”), age 41, a resident of Houston, Texas, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to one hundred twenty months imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, five hundred (500) grams or more of amixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A) and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on five occasions between May 25, 2020, and July 2, 2020, GONZALEZ distributed kilogram quantities of methamphetamine to a methamphetamine customer who then redistributed the drugs within the Eastern District of Louisiana.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Ten indicted in multi-county drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
NOTE: Edited to remove one defendant.
SAVANNAH, GA: Ten defendants face multiple drug trafficking charges after the unsealing of a federal indictment alleging a regional conspiracy to distribute large amounts of multiple illegal drugs.
The defendants all face a primary charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Oxycodone, and Marijuana, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. That charge carries upon conviction a statutory penalty of up to life in prison, along with substantial financial penalties, followed by a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“This drug trafficking investigation required significant coordination from multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify and interrupt the conspiracy,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We commend the hard work of our law enforcement partners in protecting our community.”
The newly unsealed indictment in USA v. Johnson, et al., describes a drug trafficking conspiracy operating throughout Bulloch, Chatham, and Liberty counties. Multiple law enforcement agencies, coordinated through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, identified the key members of the conspiracy and conducted multiple searches of homes, vehicles, and “trap houses” in which drugs were stored, and during those searches discovered and seized large amounts of drugs along with 11 firearms.
The defendants were charged in the indictment and after it was unsealed have been making their initial appearances in U.S. District Court.
Those charged with conspiracy in USA v. Johnson et al. are:
- William Johnson, a/k/a “G,” a/k/a “Gansta,” 36, of Hinesville, Ga.;
- Keannon Wyckoff, a/k/a “Cuz,” a/k/a “Lank,” a/k/a “Link,” 41, of Statesboro;
- Thomas Blagmon, 40, of Hinesville;
- James Blagmon, a/k/a “G-Man,” 41, of Allenhurst, Ga.;
- Erick Collins, a/k/a “E,” a/k/a “Big E,” 53, of Statesboro;
- Christopher Grant, “a/k/a “Crip,” a/k/a “Scrappy,” 36, of Hinesville;
- Antwuan Byrd, 39, of Midway, Ga.;
- Dederick Bryant, 45, of Ludowici, Ga.;
- Jacob Robinson, a/k/a “Miles,” 48, of Hinesville; and,
- Irma Wyckoff, a/k/a “Auntie,” 60, of Hinesville.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, multiple defendants also face other charges alleging drug possession and distribution, illegal firearms possession, and for maintaining drug-involved premises.
The indictment contains only charges; all defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
This case is being prosecuted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Georgia Ports Authority Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Savannah Police Department, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Hinesville Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, and the Long County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Assistant U.S. Attorney and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Susubaybayan ng Kagawaran ng Hustisya ang mga Botohan sa 27 mga Estado para sa Pagsunod sa mga Pederal na Batas sa Karapatang BumotoRead the Press Release
Ipinahayag ngayon ng Kagawaran ng Hustisya na pinaplano nitong subaybayan ang pagsunod sa mga pederal na batas sa karapatang bumoto sa 86 mga hurisdiksyon sa 27 mga estado para sa pangkalahatang halalan sa Nob. 5.
Ipinatutupad ng Kagawaran ng Hustisya ang mga pederal na batas sa karapatang bumoto na nagbibigay-proteksiyon sa karapatan ng lahat ng karapat-dapat na mga mamamayang makakuha ng balota. Regular na ipinapadala ng departamento ng mga kawani nito sa mga lugar na kinakailangan upang masubaybayan ang pagsunod sa mga pederal na batas sa karapatang sibil sa mga halalan sa mga komunidad sa buong bansa.
Para sa pangkalahatang halalan, susubaybayan ng departamento ang 86 mga hurisdiksyon para sa pagsunod sa mga pederal na batas sa karapatang bumoto sa Araw ng Halalan, kabilang ang:
- Bethel Census Area, Alaska;
- Dillingham Census Area, Alaska;
- Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska;
- North Slope Borough, Alaska;
- Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska;
- Apache County, Arizona;
- Maricopa County, Arizona;
- Pima County, Arizona;
- Yuma County, Arizona;
- San Joaquin County, California;
- Broward County, Florida;
- Miami-Dade County, Florida;
- Orange County, Florida;
- Osceola County, Florida;
- Cobb County, Georgia;
- DeKalb County, Georgia;
- Fulton County, Georgia;
- Gwinnett County, Georgia;
- Macon-Bibb County, Georgia;
- Jefferson County, Kentucky;
- Kenton County, Kentucky;
- City of Everett, Massachusetts;
- City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts;
- City of Leominster, Massachusetts;
- City of Lowell, Massachusetts;
- City of Malden, Massachusetts;
- City of Methuen, Massachusetts;
- City of Quincy, Massachusetts;
- City of Salem, Massachusetts;
- Prince George’s County, Maryland;
- City of Ann Arbor, Michigan;
- City of Detroit, Michigan;
- City of Flint, Michigan;
- City of Grand Rapids, Michigan;
- City of Hamtramck, Michigan;
- City of Warren, Michigan;
- Hennepin County, Minnesota;
- City of Minneapolis, Minnesota;
- Ramsey County, Minnesota;
- Covington County, Mississippi;
- Scott County, Mississippi;
- Warren County, Mississippi;
- City of St. Louis, Missouri;
- Blaine County, Montana;
- Alamance County, North Carolina;
- Mecklenburg County, North Carolina;
- Wake County, North Carolina;
- Bergen County, New Jersey;
- Middlesex County, New Jersey;
- Union County, New Jersey;
- Bernalillo County, New Mexico;
- Cibola County, New Mexico;
- Clark County, Nevada;
- Queens, New York;
- Cuyahoga County, Ohio;
- Portage County, Ohio;
- Allegheny County, Pennsylvania;
- Luzerne County, Pennsylvania;
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania;
- City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island;
- City of Providence, Rhode Island;
- City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island;
- Charleston County, South Carolina;
- Bennett County, South Dakota;
- Jackson County, South Dakota;
- Minnehaha County, South Dakota;
- Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota;
- Atascosa County, Texas;
- Bexar County, Texas;
- Dallas County, Texas;
- Frio County, Texas;
- Harris County, Texas;
- Hays County, Texas;
- Palo Pinto County, Texas;
- Waller County, Texas;
- San Juan County, Utah;
- Hanover County, Virginia;
- Henrico County, Virginia;
- Loudoun County, Virginia;
- City of Manassas, Virginia;
- City of Manassas Park, Virginia;
- Prince William County, Virginia;
- Town of Lawrence (Rusk County), Wisconsin;
- City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
- Town of Thornapple, Wisconsin; and
- City of Wausau, Wisconsin;
Pangangasiwaan ng Dibisyon ng mga Karapatang Sibil ng Kagawaran ng Hustisya ang aktibidad. Kabilang sa mga sumusubaybay ang mga tauhan mula sa Dibisyon ng mga Karapatang Sibil, iba pang mga dibisyon ng departamento, mga Opisina ng Abogado ng Estados Unidos at mga pederal na nagmamasid mula sa Opisina ng Pangangasiwa ng mga Tauhan. Sa buong Araw ng Halalan, ang mga tauhan ng dibisyon ay mananatiling nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga opisyal ng estado at lokal na halalan.
Ipinatutupad ng Seksiyon ng Pagboboto ng Dibisyon ng mga Karapatang Sibil ang mga sibil na probisyon ng mga pederal na batas na nagbibigay-proteksiyon sa karapatang bumoto, kabilang ang Batas sa Karapatang Bumoto, Batas sa Pambansang Pagpaparehistro ng Botante, Batas upang Matulungan ang Amerika na Makaboto, Batas sa Pagboboto ng mga Wala sa Lugar ng Botohan na mga Naka-uniporme at mga Mamamayan na nasa Ibang Bansa at ang mga Batas sa Karapatang Sibil. Ipinatutupad ng Seksiyon ng mga Karapatan ng mga May Kapansanan ng dibisyon ang Batas na May Kinalaman sa mga Amerikanong May Kapansanan (Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA) upang masiguro na ang mga taong may kapansanan ay mayroong kumpleto at kapantay na pagkakataong makaboto. Ipinatutupad ng Kriminal na Seksiyon ng dibisyon ang mga pederal na kriminal na batas na kung saan ipinagbabawal ang pananankot ng mga bumoboto at pagpigil ng pagboboto batay sa lahi, kulay, bansang pinanggalingan o relihiyon.
Sa Araw ng Halalan, ang mga tauhan ng Dibisyon ng mga Karapatang Sibil ay buong araw na nakahandang tumanggap ng mga tanong at reklamo mula sa publiko na nauugnay sa mga posibleng paglabag ng mga pederal na batas sa karapatang bumoto. Ang mga pag-uulat ay maaaring gawin sa pamamagitan ng pagpunta sa website ng departamento sa www.civilrights.justice.gov o sa pamamagitan ng pagtawag nang toll-free sa 800-253-3931.
Ang mga indibidwal na may mga tanong o reklamong may kaugnayan sa ADA ay maaaring tumawag sa toll-free na hotline ng impormasyon ng ADA sa 800-514-0301 o sa 833-610-1264 (TTY) o magsumite ng reklamo sa pamamagitan ng pagpunta sa link ng departamento sa website ng ADA sa www.ada.gov.
Ang mga reklamong may kaugnayan sa anumang pagkagambala sa isang lugar ng botohan ay dapat na palaging iulat sa mga opisyal ng lokal na halalan (kabilang ang mga opisyal na naka-base sa lugar ng botohan). Ang mga reklamong kaugnay sa karahasan, mga pagbabanta ng karahasan o pananakot sa isang lugar ng botohan ay dapat na iulat kaagad-agad sa lokal na mga pulis na awtoridad sa pamamagitan ng pagtawag sa 911. Ang mga reklamong ito ay dapat ding iulat sa departamento pagkatapos na makipag-ugnayan sa mga lokal na awtoridad.
Maaaring makakuha ng karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa pagboboto at halalan, kabilang ang mga documentong nagbibigay-gabay at iba pang mga mapagkukunan sa www.justice.gov/voting. Alamin ang higit pa tungkol sa Batas sa Karapatang Bumoto at iba pang mga pederal na batas sa pagboboto sa www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.
Stilwell Resident Sentenced for Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Gene Christie, age 18, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. Christie will have to register and comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act upon release.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Cherokee Nation Lighthorse Police, the Stilwell Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On January 5, 2024, Christie was charged in a single-count Felony Information of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. On January 18, 2024, Christie pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on March 6, 2023, Christie sexually assaulted an individual at a Stilwell residence. The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John C. Coughenour, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Christie will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.
St. Louis County Woman Accused of $3 Million Home Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County business owner was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday and accused of defrauding Missouri Medicaid out of more than $3 million over more than a decade.
Camille S. Childress, 40, was indicted on four counts of health care fraud. The indictment says Childress owned a home health care company, Inspiring Angels LLC, but concealed her ownership from state officials due to a 2012 criminal conviction. Childress submitted paperwork claiming that someone else owned the company, the indictment says. It also says that Childress submitted or caused to be submitted fraudulent claims to Missouri Medicaid seeking reimbursement for home healthcare services that were never provided. In some cases, the care recipients were in the hospital and could not have received home healthcare, the indictment says. On numerous other occasions, Childress or Inspiring Angels submitted claims when the company did not have any timesheet records or documentation of the services because the services that were the subject of those claims were never provided, the indictment says.
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 alleged fraudulent enrollment and submission of false claims by this business owner to Medicaid undermines the integrity of the program and diverts essential resources from those who genuinely need assistance,” said Linda T. Hanley, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to combat home health care fraud in Medicaid, ensuring the program remains sustainable for those who truly depend on it.”
Each fraud charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
Spa Owner Arrested for Allegedly Performing Thousands of Illegal Counterfeit Injections on Clients for over Three YearsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoughton woman has been arrested and charged in connection with smuggling goods into the United States and selling/dispensing counterfeit drugs and devices.
Rebecca Fadanelli, 38, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of illegally importing merchandise contrary to law, one count of selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug, and one count of selling or dispensing a counterfeit device. Fadanelli was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Worcester at 1 p.m. this afternoon.
According to the charging documents, since March 2021, Fadanelli, the owner of Skin Beaute Med Spa with locations in Randolph and South Easton, Mass., has been importing counterfeit Botox, Sculptra and Juvederm from China and Brazil and performing thousands of injections of counterfeit drugs and devices for which she received over $900,000 in client payments. It is alleged that Fadanelli consistently represented to clients and employees that she is a nurse; in fact, Fadanelli is an aesthetician and is not licensed nor certified to dispense or administer prescription drugs or devices. According to payment records, from approximately March 2021 through March 2024, Fadanelli completed approximately 1,631 Botox appointments, totaling $522,869 in client payments, and 1,085 filler appointments, totaling $410,545 in client payments.
“For years, Ms. Fadanelli allegedly put unsuspecting patients at risk by representing herself to be a nurse and then administering thousands of illegal, counterfeit injections. Protecting the people of Massachusetts covers a wide range of conduct and here it involves an individual who ignored safety regulations against bringing unapproved, counterfeit drugs and devices into our country and endangered the health of hundreds of her clients. The type of deception alleged here is illegal, reckless and potentially life-threatening,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Today’s arrest underscores our commitment to protecting the public from fraudulent and dangerous practices in the medical and cosmetic fields."
“Individuals who dispense and administer counterfeit injectable cosmetic drugs or medical devices, such as Botox or Juvederm, put the health of unsuspecting American consumers at significant risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who choose to subvert the safeguards of the legitimate drug and device regulatory regime and supply chain and jeopardize the public health.”
“Every day, our frontline CBP officers and agriculture specialists work tirelessly to protect the American public from illegal and harmful counterfeit products being smuggled into the United States. This case is a prime example of the collaborative efforts that are taken by our law enforcement community to bring these violators to justice,” said Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Boston.
The charge of importing merchandise contrary to law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of knowingly selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug or counterfeit device each provide 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.
If you or a family member believe you received services involving a counterfeit drug or counterfeit device from Fadanelli and/or Skin Beaute Med Spa between 2021 through and including to the present date, please complete the questionnaire located on the FDA’s website at https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/criminal-investigations/oci-vw-assistance. Information about the status of the case is located on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/united-states-v-rebecca-fadanelli.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FDA OCI SAC McMillan and CBP Field Operations Director De La O made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division are 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.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on October 30, 2024.
Hunter Hill, age 23, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Upon release from federal prison, Hill must register as a sex offender.
Hill was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2024. He pleaded guilty on August 12, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 10, 2024, when Hill, while using his cellular phone and the social media application Taimi, attempted to receive images of child pornography from an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female. Hill drove to a park in Sioux Falls to meet with the undercover agent and was subsequently arrested.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Hill was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Schenectady Man Charged with Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nekie Ricks, age 31, of Schenectady, New York, was ordered detained today following his indictment and arrest for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and his possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on August 24, 2022, Ricks possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute it, possessed a pistol in furtherance of that crime, and possessed that firearm even though he was a previously convicted felon. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charges filed against Ricks carry a prison term of at least 5 years and up to life, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
Ricks was arraigned yesterday in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel. Following a detention hearing today, Ricks was ordered detained pending trial.
ATF is investigating the case with assistance from the Schenectady Police Department and New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.
Repeat Sex Offender Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Michael Natale, age 38 of Laurel, Delaware, pleaded guilty on October 29, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware to possessing child sexual abuse material. The Honorable Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly accepted the plea.
According to court documents, between August 21 – August 24, 2021, Mr. Natale received 12 videos and one image file depicting child pornography, and he sent six video files and one image to another user on the social media platform known as Kik. All of the files contained child pornography. The other user was also arrested by the FBI in Newark, New Jersey.
Mr. Natale will be sentenced on February 27, 2025. Because he has a previous conviction related to child pornography offenses, Natale faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Chief Judge Connolly will determine the sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “My office takes child exploitation offenses very seriously. Mr. Natale had an opportunity to learn his lesson and conform his behavior to the law after his first conviction. He failed to do so and is now subject to a substantial prison sentence. I commend the FBI’s diligence in apprehending this repeat offender against our most vulnerable community members: children.”
“Every time child pornography is viewed on the internet, it re-victimizes a child,” says FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “Today’s guilty plea serves as a reminder that protecting children from predators like Natale is a top priority. The FBI will aggressively pursue anyone who exploits and targets children.”
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching Case No. 1:23-cr-34.
Repeat Offenders Plead Guilty in Separate Drug Trafficking InvestigationsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – Two Albany residents, both with lengthy criminal histories in the community, pleaded guilty to federal charges resulting from separate drug trafficking investigations in Southwest Georgia.
Roderick Terrell Ferrell, 37, and Kerry Lamont Davis, 42, each pleaded guilty in separate cases to one count of distribution of cocaine before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Oct. 30. Due to their criminal histories, both Ferrell and Davis qualify as federal career offenders and each face a maximum of 30 years in prison to be followed by six years of supervised release and a maximum $2,000,000 fine. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Both defendants have lengthy criminal records and have repeatedly disregarded the law,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “These cases demonstrate how federal, state and local law enforcement are working together to make our communities safer and hold career offenders accountable.”
“The FBI is proud to work with our local law enforcement partners in helping to convict these repeat offenders at the federal level, where they face stiffer penalties and no opportunity for parole,” said Rich Bilson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of the FBI Atlanta’s Albany office.
“Our communities remain under attack by career criminals with no regard for the destruction they cause,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This investigation demonstrates the DEA’s commitment to protecting our community.”
"Our message is clear: individuals with histories of criminal behavior who continue to engage in illegal activities will be met with the full force of the justice system. We are dedicated to working alongside our partners to ensure that those who choose this path face serious consequences," said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Atlanta Field Division.
“Eliminating drug trafficking in our communities requires a united front,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The successful convictions of these repeat offenders are a demonstration of the effectiveness of our collaboration across federal, state and local agencies to hold individuals accountable and ensure safer neighborhoods.”
According to court documents and statements made public in court in the Ferrell case, federal, state and local law enforcement received information from various confidential sources that Terrell was distributing cocaine and was supplied by a metro-Atlanta unnamed co-conspirator. Due to COVID-19’s impact on drug supply at the time, Ferrell was charging $1,400 an ounce for powder cocaine. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at another dealer’s residence, seized cocaine, and discovered that Ferrell had sold at least 18 ounces of powder cocaine. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) then conducted a controlled buy from Ferrell on Nov. 8, 2021, where Ferrell sold two ounces of powder cocaine for $2,150. In addition, Ferrell reported that he had been pulled over by local law enforcement on Oct. 13, 2022, and was in possession at the time of $30,000 from a recent drug transaction. On Nov. 30, 2023, a patrol officer pulled Ferrell over and found ten pounds of marijuana in ten plastic vacuum-sealed bags in the rear cargo area. Ferrell said he was transporting the drugs to Camilla, Georgia. During the investigation, agents discovered that Ferrell filed only one tax return between tax years 2019 and 2023, in which he claimed a negative income in 2022. DEA conducted a concealment money laundering investigation to look at how Ferrell was dispersing his drug trafficking money. Agents found that between Aug. 2021 and Dec. 2023, Terrell received and moved $383,057 through his and his co-conspirators’ CashApp accounts and bank accounts, despite having no employment or declaring any income on his taxes. Credit card and bank statements also showed that Terrell and his girlfriend used drug proceeds to purchase luxury goods from Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saks, Gucci and Balenciaga, as well as took luxury vacations and invested in a business that was never operational. Terrell also has several prior felony convictions including robbery by force, terroristic threats and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Dougherty County, Georgia, Superior Court.
According to court documents and statements made public in court in the Davis case, Albany Police Department (APD) officers responded to Ridgemont Road in Albany on March 26, 2023, about a suspicious auto parked in the middle of the road. Officers found Davis asleep in the driver’s seat. After Davis handed the officers his driver’s license, he fled at a high rate of speed and crashed his car. He then attempted to run away, but he was quickly apprehended. Inside the car, APD officers found a semiautomatic pistol, a semiautomatic rifle, a revolver, nearly four kilograms of vacuumed sealed marijuana, a distributable quantity of ecstasy and cocaine, a digital scale, plastic baggies and $25,039. Davis has two prior felony convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Dougherty County, Georgia, Superior Court.
The Ferrell case was investigated by the DEA, FBI and GBI.
The Davis case was investigated by the ATF and APD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid prosecuted the cases for the Government.
Repeat Offender to Spend 15 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography over the internet while in a residential facility for a prior child pornography charge was sentenced October 31, 2024, to 15 years in federal prison.
Brady David Salow, age 27, from Vinton, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 25, 2024 guilty plea to one count of receiving child pornography.
In a plea agreement, Salow admitted that he was convicted of four counts of possession of a depiction of a minor in a sex act in Dubuque County in 2019. As a condition of his sentence in that case, he was residing at a residential facility in Vinton in 2023. Per the rules of the facility, Salow was not permitted to have access to a phone or a computer. Beginning in the summer of 2023, however, Salow repeatedly persuaded an employee at the facility to loan him her cellular phone under the pretense that he was going to use it for either looking up photos of celebrities or to listen to music. By at least August 2023, Salow began receiving and downloading child pornography to the employee’s phone without the employee’s knowledge, saving downloaded images to a hidden folder on the phone. In October 2023, a fellow resident alerted staff that Salow had been using a phone, and the staff member turned over her phone for examination. A forensic examination of the phone revealed child pornography, and Salow admitted that he had downloaded child pornography to the phone. Information presented at the sentencing hearing showed that authorities seized multiple notebooks authored by Salow containing lists of what he termed “sex jobs,” “child sex locations,” and “kid sex opportunities.”
At the sentencing hearing, the Judge noted that Salow was “highly likely to reoffend” based on his history of possessing child pornography, his history of sexually abusing another individual, and the “clever” and “calculated” manner in which he committed this crime.
Salow was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Salow was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $9,000 in restitution. He must also serve a 35-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.”
Salow is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23‑CR‑00089.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to a Total of 82 Years for Third Conviction for Sex Crimes Against a ChildRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jarrod Sanford, 43, was sentenced to 82 years’ imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him of production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and committing a felony sex offense against a minor while required to register as a sex offender. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
This is Sanford’s third conviction for sex offenses against children. He had previously been convicted of sexual battery in Crockett County, TN, for his participation in the rape of a fifteen-year-old child and of transporting an individual for prostitution in federal court in the Central District of Illinois for the sex trafficking of another fifteen-year-old child.
Because of those earlier convictions, Sanford was required to register as a sex offender in the State of Tennessee and to comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In addition, Sanford was placed on lifetime federal supervised release. Sanford committed these new crimes despite those protections.
According to information presented during Sanford’s July trial, on November 19, 2023, deputies with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that Sanford had raped a 13-year-old child. Sanford’s DNA matched DNA samples taken from the child victim. While investigating the rape, TCSO deputies recovered a phone from Sanford’s residence. Agents with the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force were able to bypass the phone’s encryption and discovered photographs that Sanford had taken between July and November of 2023 showing himself raping the same child.
A federal grand jury indicted Sanford for the child pornography and registry offenses in February 2024. On July 25, after a four-day trial, federal jurors convicted Sanford as charged.
On October 31, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Sanford to 70 years for the child pornography offenses, a mandatory consecutive ten years for the SORNA violation, and an additional two years for violation of his supervised release, for a total of 82 years’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren said, “Jarrod Sanford is a sexual predator whose monstrous crimes caused immeasurable harm to the girls upon whom he preyed. We must all come together to combat this kind of abuse that plagues the very foundation of our society. This prosecution, achieved through the collaborative work between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and multiple law enforcement partners, is essential to bringing justice to the survivor of his depraved acts and holding Sanford accountable for his actions. Today’s sentence should send a message to child predators everywhere: Our children deserve better, and you will suffer severe consequences if you harm them.”
“The victimization of children tears at the fabric of our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Tennessee, Memphis Resident Agency. “This sentence will protect other children from harm by this predator and should serve as a warning to like-minded individuals who are considering engaging in similar reprehensible behavior. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target, catch, and bring to justice those who victimize our most vulnerable.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Probation Office for the Western District of Tennessee, and the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office.
Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum and Lauren Delery, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to over 19 Years’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A registered sex offender from Missouri was recently sentenced to prison. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, Jayson Lance Luther, 32, met a minor child residing in Dyersburg, TN at a holiday event in December 2022. Luther and the minor child exchanged phone numbers and, shortly thereafter, began texting one another. In January 2023, the minor child’s parent uncovered the messages and reported it to the police. The investigation revealed over 1,200 pages of messages between Luther and the minor child. Many of the texts were sexually explicit.
On August 13, 2024, Luther pled guilty to knowingly enticing a minor to engage in any sexual activity for which a person can be charged. United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Luther to 235 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“We are committed to protecting all citizens of this District, but most importantly the young and vulnerable,” said Acting United States Attorney Fondren. “This sentence is a reflection of the seriousness of this offense, and we will continue to work to ensure that dangerous perpetrators see justice.”
Danny H. Goodman, Jr., District Attorney General for the Twenty-Ninth Judicial District of Tennessee, who assigned Andrew Hays as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to the Western District, stated, “The partnership that the Twenty-Ninth Judicial District of Tennessee has established with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee has been invaluable for the citizens of our district. This case is a perfect example of this collaboration of teams which allows us to remove dangerous individuals from our communities to keep our citizens and children safe.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dyersburg Police Department.
Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Hays for the Western District of Tennessee, who prosecuted the case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Readout of Director Rachel Rossi’s Trip to Northern CaliforniaRead the Press Release
Director Rachel Rossi of the Office for Access to Justice traveled to San Francisco to deliver the keynote address at the Pathways to Justice Conference, a statewide legal services conference held every three years. The engagement included meetings on access to justice issues and initiatives happening in Northern California.
Opening the visit, Director Rossi participated in a listening session hosted by the California Community Justice Workers Working Group, a group of legal aid and access to justice leaders aiming to leverage professional support from nonlawyers to support legal service providers in delivering legal assistance to underserved and marginalized communities. Director Rossi delivered brief opening remarks and then heard from working group members on its proposed recommendations for a community justice worker program in California. The presentation was followed by a discussion with legal aid leaders from across California.
Tuesday morning, Director Rossi delivered the keynote address for the Pathways to Justice Conference convened by the State Bar of California, the Legal Aid Association of California and the California Judicial Council. The conference convenes nonprofit legal service providers, private bar pro bono volunteers and staff from court departments and self-help centers from across the state to discuss access to justice topics. In her remarks, Director Rossi highlighted Office for Access to Justice initiatives and focused on the need to foster collaboration between state, local and federal access to justice stakeholders.
Following the keynote, Director Rossi met with leadership from the Legal Aid Association of California, a statewide membership organization of over 100 legal aid providers. In the meeting, Director Rossi listened to the most pressing issues facing California’s legal aid community and discussed support for efforts to increase interagency collaboration at the state level in the pursuit of access to justice.
That afternoon, Director Rossi attended a roundtable discussion with Bay Area public defense chiefs and leadership, including from San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Solano and Marin County, California offices. Director Rossi shared information about Access to Justice Office resources including the Public Defense Resource Hub and the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable federal funding digital resource. The discussion included the challenges confronting public defense professionals in Northern California such as lack of resources, caseload and workload challenges, recruitment and retention concerns and the unique resource needs for specialized and effective youth defense representation. The roundtable also touched on best practices and innovative public defense strategies spearheaded across bay area offices, including their advocacy and policy work, creative recruitment strategies and holistic representation models.
Director Rossi then met with Prisoner Legal Services to discuss their work providing civil legal assistance to individuals incarcerated locally. She highlighted the pilot program launched by the Office for Access to Justice in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which similarly provides civil legal services to adults in federal custody, including through the first medical-legal partnership in a federal prison in the United States. They discussed future collaboration and sharing of best practices.
Director Rossi also met with the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California to discuss implementation of the Report and Recommendations Concerning Access to Counsel at the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Pretrial Facilities, unique issues facing Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys, and other issues facing federal defenders in the district. Closing the trip, Director Rossi met with U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California.
Director Rossi delivered the keynote address for the 2024 Pathways to Justice Conference in San Francisco. Director Rossi and Bay Area public defense chiefs and leadership. Director Rossi and Office for Access to Justice staff met with representatives from Prisoner Legal Services.Rapid City Woman Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 28, 2024.
Kaylonie Goff, 30, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Goff was also ordered to pay $5,013.18 in restitution to the family of an overdose victim.
Goff was indicted for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death and two counts of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in September of 2023. She pleaded guilty on August 13, 2024.
The conviction stems from Goff and others distributing large quantities of fentanyl and heroin in the Rapid City area between 2021 and 2023. A pill Goff sold led to the overdose death of another person. In sentencing Goff, Judge Theeler focused on the deadly risks of distributing fentanyl and the fact every time Goff sold fentanyl, she was putting others at risk. The judge further found Goff’s significant role in the conspiracy and her attempts to obstruct the investigation justified a sentence of 25 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, which is a local drug task force comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Goff was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Prior Felon Sentenced to 128 Months in Federal Prison for Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEEE, FLORIDA – Durrell Marquis Lee, 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 128 months in federal prison, after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, and for violation of his federal supervised release for a 2016 federal firearms conviction. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.
“Methamphetamine distribution is a scourge on large and small communities of our district,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “With our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to identifying and aggressively prosecuting those who threaten our citizens’ health and safety by distributing such addictive, controlled substances. This sentence acknowledges the defendant’s continued criminal conduct and sends a straightforward message that there are real and severe consequences for federal drug offenses.”
Court documents reflect that Lee, despite being released from federal prison in July 2021, along with others was actively receiving and distributing pound quantities of high-purity methamphetamine in the Northern District of Florida and elsewhere. Investigation revealed that over the course of several weeks during May 2023, Lee sold smaller quantities of high-purity methamphetamine in three targeted drug operations of Lee and others associated with him. The investigation led to a May 25, 2023, law enforcement operation during which FHP Troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Lee, the sole occupant, who was thought to be in possession of additional illegal narcotics. After initially stopping for the Trooper, Lee fled from Troopers who attempted to give chase. Shortly thereafter and several miles away, officers located Lee’s abandoned vehicle; inside investigators discovered several ounces of cocaine, “crack” cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, MDMA, Alpha-PVP, drug paraphernalia, and almost $3,000 in U.S. currency. Lee was located and arrested later that evening in Tom Brown Park in Tallahassee during which arrest officers were confronted by a female who fired upon officers, who returned fire. No connection between Lee and the female could be determined.
"Illegal drug activity is dangerous and has no place in our community," said Chief of Police Lawrence Revell. "We are pleased to see justice served with this sentencing and appreciate the collaborative work by everyone involved in this case. We will continue to conduct thorough investigations into those who seek to endanger our community with such harmful and addictive substances."Lee’s prison sentence will be followed by four years of supervised release.
“Highly addictive and destructive, methamphetamine poses a serious danger to the safety and health of our Florida communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “We remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold those who distribute this deadly poison in our communities accountable for their actions.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tallahassee Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Mountin prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html
Porcupine Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Bank Fraud.
Lyle Dean Misun Tibbits, 31, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Tibbits was also ordered to pay $22,500 in restitution to Security First Bank.
Investigation showed Tibbits, who was employed as a ranch hand, stole checks from his employer’s checkbook and successfully cashed six of them, for a total loss of $22,500. Tibbits’ seventh attempt to cash a check was reported as fraudulent. Tibbits was captured on bank video footage cashing the checks. In sentencing Tibbits to a custody term, Judge Schreier stated his choice to steal checks from his employer was “reprehensible.” Judge Schreier further required Tibbits to make monthly payments towards the restitution after his release from custody.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Tibbits was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Piedmont Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Federal Prison on Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Piedmont, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 28, 2024.
Sammy Stabber, 55, was sentenced to six years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Stabber was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 13, 2024.
The case originated from a traffic stop in Rapid City in August of 2023. Stabber, the passenger in the car, fled the traffic stop. When he was apprehended, officers learned he had absconded from parole and had been carrying over three ounces of methamphetamine.
In sentencing Stabber, District Judge Theeler noted the seriousness of the crime of distribution of methamphetamine and how much danger it causes in the community.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Stabber was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
PDS Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dartanyan Ricardo Hawkins, 29, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed large quantities of marijuana in the District of Columbia.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; FBI Special Agent David Geist of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Hawkins, aka “Shitty,” was a member of the Push Dat Shit (PDS) and Jugg Gang (JG) street crews. He pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of marijuana. Hawkins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. A sentencing hearing is set for March 7, 2025.
As part of his plea, Hawkins admitted to possessing a firearm as part of the offense and further admitted to using Instagram to sell marijuana. According to court documents, PDS maintained gang territory in the 3300 – 3500 blocks of Wheeler Road, Southeast and operated an open-air drug market outside a market at 3509 Wheeler Road, Southeast. In August 2018, PDS allied with a neighboring street gang known as Jugg Gang, or “JG,” that included Hawkins. The combined gang also conspired to use, carry, and possess firearms – including machine guns – to protect themselves, their drugs, their cash, and their territory from rival crews with whom PDS had “beefs.”
This plea is part of an ongoing joint investigation which has now resulted in 23 convictions and the seizure of two vehicles, 35 firearms, four machine guns, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 60 pounds of marijuana, 41 grams of cocaine base, dozens of oxycodone pills, and approximately $500,000 in cash.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James B. Nelson and Justin F. Song and Paralegal Specialist Melissa Macechko.
Hawkins after his arrest on March 11, 2023, on the 2700 block of Shipleley Terrace, Southeast.
PDS Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dartanyan Ricardo Hawkins, 29, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed large quantities of marijuana in the District of Columbia.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; FBI Special Agent David Geist of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Hawkins, aka “Shitty,” was a member of the Push Dat Shit (PDS) and Jugg Gang (JG) street crews. He pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of marijuana. Hawkins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. A sentencing hearing is set for March 7, 2025.
As part of his plea, Hawkins admitted to possessing a firearm as part of the offense and further admitted to using Instagram to sell marijuana. According to court documents, PDS maintained gang territory in the 3300 – 3500 blocks of Wheeler Road, Southeast and operated an open-air drug market outside a market at 3509 Wheeler Road, Southeast. In August 2018, PDS allied with a neighboring street gang known as Jugg Gang, or “JG,” that included Hawkins. The combined gang also conspired to use, carry, and possess firearms – including machine guns – to protect themselves, their drugs, their cash, and their territory from rival crews with whom PDS had “beefs.”
This plea is part of an ongoing joint investigation which has now resulted in 23 convictions and the seizure of two vehicles, 35 firearms, four machine guns, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 60 pounds of marijuana, 41 grams of cocaine base, dozens of oxycodone pills, and approximately $500,000 in cash.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James B. Nelson and Justin F. Song and Paralegal Specialist Melissa Macechko.
Hawkins after his arrest on March 11, 2023, on the 2700 block of Shipley Terrace, Southeast.
Owner of Florida Labor-Staffing Companies Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
A Ukrainian national pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the court documents and statements made in court, between April 2008 and July 2021, Oleksandr Yurchyk and others owned and operated a series of labor-staffing companies in southern Florida, including Paradise Choice LLC, Paradise Choice Cleaning LLC, Tropical City Services LLC and Tropical City Group LLC. Through these staffing companies, Yurchyk and others facilitated the employment of non-resident aliens in the hospitality industry who were not authorized to work in the United States and helped evade the assessment and collection of federal income and employment taxes. Yurchyk and his co-defendants also laundered more than $11 million of proceeds from their scheme.
Yurchyk is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit money laundering and five years in prison for the conspiracy to defraud the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Matthew B. Hicks and Wilson R. Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
Owner of Florida Labor-Staffing Companies Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Defendant Caused a Tax Loss to the United States of more than $9.5M
MIAMI – A Ukrainian national pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the court documents and statements made in court, between April 2008 and July 2021, Oleksandr Yurchyk and others owned and operated a series of labor-staffing companies in southern Florida, including Paradise Choice LLC, Paradise Choice Cleaning LLC, Tropical City Services LLC and Tropical City Group LLC. Through these staffing companies, Yurchyk and others facilitated the employment of non-resident aliens in the hospitality industry who were not authorized to work in the United States and helped evade the assessment and collection of federal income and employment taxes. Yurchyk and his co-defendants also laundered more than $11 million of proceeds from their scheme.
Yurchyk is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit money laundering and five years in prison for the conspiracy to defraud the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida and Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Matthew B. Hicks and Wilson R. Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
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Orlando Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Unlawful Possession of MachinegunsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza has sentenced Marcelo Manuel Maysonet (23, Orlando) to 30 months in federal prison for the possession of unregistered National Firearms Act (NFA) weapons, specifically, a machinegun and 15 machinegun conversion devices. The court also ordered Maysonet to forfeit a Delton INC, DTI-15, 5.56 caliver AR style pistol with an installed machinegun conversion device and 15 additional machinegun conversion devices, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Maysonet entered a guilty plea on July 25, 2024.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers from theOrange County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Maysonet’s residence, where they discovered 15 machinegun conversion devices and a 5.56 caliber AR-style pistol with a machinegun conversion device installed. A machinegun conversion device is an illegal conversion device that converts a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon. Under the National Firearms Act, a machinegun conversion device is classified as a machinegun. None of these items were registered to Maysonet in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
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.
Optometrist Settles Allegations That His Optometry Practices Submitted False Claims Using Incorrect National Provider IdentifiersRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – Dr. Tony Jacob, an optometrist who operated a network of optometry practices in Central Texas, has agreed to pay the United States and the State of Texas $1,055,379.96 to resolve allegations under the Federal False Claims Act and the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act. Under the terms of the settlement, the United States will receive $922,071.59 and the State of Texas will receive $133,308.37.
The United States alleged that Dr. Jacob’s optometry practices submitted claims to TRICARE, Medicare, and Medicaid using the National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) of optometrists who did not perform the services billed. An NPI is a unique identification number used by healthcare providers in administrative and financial transactions, including enrolling in Federal healthcare programs and submitting claims for reimbursement. Dr. Jacob’s optometry practices allegedly submitted claims under the wrong NPI in circumstances where the optometrist who rendered services was not credentialed or enrolled in the Federal healthcare program billed.
“Providers who submit inaccurate billing information threaten the integrity of program funds,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that providers do not circumvent rules meant to ensure patients appropriate, quality services from physicians who are actually approved to participate in Federal healthcare programs.”
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, is steadfastly committed to protecting the integrity of the TRICARE Program, which is vital to the health and well-being of our warfighters, retirees, and their families,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Settle of DCIS’s Southwest Field Office. “DCIS and our prosecutorial partners will tirelessly pursue and prosecute individuals who seek to enrich themselves by jeopardizing the healthcare of TRICARE beneficiaries and defrauding American taxpayers.”
The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States and Texas ex rel. Shealy v. Jacob, et al., No. 1:21-CV-1111 (W.D. Tex.).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Parnham negotiated the settlement on behalf of the United States.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Omaha Man Sentenced for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kevin McWilliams, age 32, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced October 30, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced McWilliams to 130 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After McWilliams’s release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
On March 14, 2023, Omaha police stopped a vehicle in which McWilliams was the front seat passenger. The driver consented to a search of the vehicle. As McWilliams exited the vehicle, he was clutching his waistband area. When asked why, McWilliams presented a half-empty 200 ml bottle of liqueur. Officers began a search of McWilliams and felt a large bulge near his crotch. The bulge turned out to be a gallon size Ziplock bag with meth weighing approximately 265 grams. Lab testing confirmed 258.6 grams (0.569 pounds) of a substance containing meth.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ohio man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Thiago da Silva Pinheiro, 44, of Cincinnati, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On Jan. 12, 2024, Pinheiro pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
On Sept. 20, 2022, Pinheiro flew from Ontario, Canada to Boston with an ultimate destination of Brazil. During screening at Logan Airport, customs officers observed CSAM on Pinheiro’s tablet and phone. There were thousands of CSAM files on Pinheiro’s seized electronic devices depicting children as young as two years old.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Jessica L. Soto of the Office’s Major Crimes Unit 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Northern Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Extraterritorial Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Walton, Ky., man, Robert Maxwell Werner, 46, pleaded guilty, on Thursday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to a charge of extraterritorial production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, Werner is a U.S. citizen who was living in the Philippines from February 2021 through November 2021. During this time, Werner became the customer of a Filipino individual who would sell access to dozens of minor victims for in-person or livestreamed sexual acts. For several months, Werner paid this individual for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and multiple in‑person meetings with minor boys in the Philippines. Specifically, Werner admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conduct with at least one minor for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct between July 2021 and November 2021, while in the Philippines. Werner further admitted to transporting that sexually explicit material into the United States.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth and Trial Attorney Rachel Rothberg, with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Werner is scheduled to appear for sentencing on March 7, 2025. He faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Nigerian Man Sentenced to 26+ Years in Real Estate Phishing / Spoofing SchemeRead the Press Release
A Nigerian man was sentenced today to more than 26 years in prison for conning prospective homeowners and others out of down payments using a “man-in-the-middle” email phishing and spoofing attack, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Kolade Akinwale Ojelade, a 34-year-old Nigerian national living abroad in Leicester, was indicted in February 2023. He was extradited from the U.K. to the U.S. in April 2024 and three months later pleaded guilty to wire fraud affecting a financial institution and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor to 292 months on the wire fraud count and 24 months on the identity theft count to run consecutively for a total of 316 months in federal prison. Judge O’Connor also ordered him to pay $3,386,908 in restitution.
“Even the most conscientious among us could get taken in by a man-in-the-middle scam as devious as this one. Luckily, there are steps we can take to protect ourselves, including confirming wiring instructions in person or by phone,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “For the next quarter-century, Mr. Ojelade will be behind bars, no longer able to scam innocent homebuyers. We are proud to hold him accountable for his crimes.”
“Mr. Ojelade callously engaged in a scheme that stole millions of dollars from prospective homeowners and real estate companies. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes. Financial crimes can be devastating for individuals and companies because most times those monetary funds are never recovered,” said P.J. O’Brien, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Division. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners domestically and internationally to hold individuals accountable for defrauding unsuspecting victims.”
According to court documents, Mr. Ojelade sent phishing emails to real estate businesses, gained unauthorized access to many of their accounts, and monitored their email traffic to determine when large transactions were about to take place. He then intercepted wire payment instructions, changed the information, and resent the emails via spoofed email addresses that mimicked the original senders’ addresses.
Unbeknownst to the victims – including prospective homeowners wiring money to real estate companies and real estate companies wiring money to title companies – the modified wiring instructions directed them to accounts controlled by Mr. Ojelade and his co-conspirators. Once the funds hit the accounts, Mr. Ojelade and his coconspirators withdrew the money or transferred it into other bank accounts.
At Mr. Ojelade’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors noted that the intended loss was more than $100 million and the actual loss was approximately $12 million.
After serving his sentence, Mr. Ojelade will be subject to deportation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation, with substantial assistance from FBI International Operations at Mission U.K., United Kingdom authorities, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Mr. Ojelade from the United Kingdom. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht is prosecuting the case.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises prospective homeowners to confirm wiring instructions – including account numbers – in person or by phone, and instructs anyone who believes they may have fallen victim to a scam to call their banks as soon as possible to ask for a wire recall.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DONELL LEBANKS (“LEBANKS”), a/k/a “Shorty,” age 39, of New Orleans, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry to 170 months incarceration, five (5) years of supervised release, and payment of a $400 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to Counts 1 through 4 of a superseding bill of information.
Count 1 charged LEBANKS with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B) and, 846. Count 2 charged LEBANKS with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D). Count 3 charged LEBANKS with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Count 4 charged LEBANKS with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court records, during 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) New Orleans Gang Task Force (“NOGTF”) investigated suspected drug sales on Touro Street, in New Orleans. Using surveillance, FBI agents observed LEBANKS conducting possible hand-to-hand drug sales. To confirm such drug sales, NOGTF agents made controlled purchases of fentanyl from LEBANKS. On October 25, 2022, NOGTF obtained a search warrant for a residence as well as for LEBANKS’ vehicle. NOGTF members executed the search warrants and detained LEBANKS and detained him so they could effectuate the search warrant. Inside the vehicle, agents recovered a nine-millimeter Glock handgun, with an extended magazine, tucked between the driver’s seat and the center console. Additionally, agents recovered 180.7 grams of marijuana from the front passenger side of the vehicle.
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 track violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Orleans Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crimes Unit.
New Jersey Resident Pleads Guilty to Helping Russia’s Defense Sector Evade U.S. Export ControlsRead the Press Release
Vadim Yermolenko, 43, a dual U.S.-Russian national and resident of New Jersey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States for his role in a transnational procurement and money laundering network that sought to acquire sensitive dual-use electronics for Russian military and intelligence services.
“This defendant joins the nearly two dozen other criminals that our Task Force KleptoCapture has brought to justice in American courtrooms over the past two and a half years for enabling Russia’s military aggression,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant admitted to playing a central role in a now-disrupted scheme with Russian intelligence services to smuggle sniper rifle ammunition and U.S. military grade equipment into Russia. The Justice Department will never stop working to aggressively disrupt and prosecute both the criminal networks and the individuals responsible for bolstering the Russian war machine.”
“The illegal export of sensitive, dual-use technologies in support of Russia’s war effort poses a significant threat to the United States and its allies and must not be tolerated,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The defendant in this case played a key role in exporting U.S. technology that in the hands of our adversaries could pose great danger to our national security. The FBI and its partners will continue to focus on protecting strategic innovation at home and hold accountable anyone who facilitates illegal transfers to hostile nations like Russia.”
“To facilitate the Russian war machine, the defendant played a critical role in exporting sensitive, dual-use technologies to Russia, facilitating shipping and the movement of millions of dollars through U.S. financial institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This plea highlights my Office and our law enforcement partners continued commitment to use all tools available to prosecute those who unlawfully procure U.S. technology to send to Russia.”
“Today’s guilty plea is just the latest in a series of actions taken by the Commerce Department and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who illegally procure American technology for the Russian war machine,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “As this case demonstrates, we are continuing to focus our efforts on dismantling every node of these illicit procurement networks.”
According to court documents, the defendant was affiliated with Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC, Moscow-based companies that operate under the direction of Russian intelligence services to procure advanced electronics and sophisticated testing equipment for Russia’s military industrial complex and research and development sector. Serniya and Sertal operated a vast network of shell companies and bank accounts throughout the world, including the United States, that were used in furtherance of the scheme to conceal the involvement of the Russian government and the true Russian end users of U.S.-origin equipment.
The defendant and his co-conspirators unlawfully purchased and exported highly sensitive, export controlled electronic components, some of which can be used in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons, quantum computing and other military applications. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) levied sanctions and imposed additional export restrictions on Serniya, Sertal, and several individuals and companies used in the scheme, calling them “instrumental to the Russian Federation’s war machine.”
Sertal was licensed to conduct highly sensitive and classified procurement activities by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s principal security agency and the main successor agency to the Soviet Union’s KGB. The Serniya network’s Russian clients included State Corporation Rostec, the state-owned defense conglomerate; State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom); the Ministry of Defense; the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR); and various components of the FSB, including the Department of Military Counterintelligence and the Directorate for Scientific and Technological Intelligence, commonly known as “Directorate T.”
To carry out the scheme, the defendant helped set up numerous shell companies and dozens of bank accounts in the U.S. to illicitly move money and export-controlled goods. During the period charged in the indictment, more than $12 million passed through accounts owned or controlled by the defendant. These funds were used in part to purchase sensitive equipment used in radar, surveillance and military research and development. In one instance, money from one of the defendant’s accounts was used to purchase export-controlled sniper bullets, which were intercepted in Estonia before they could be smuggled into Russia.
Co-defendant Alexey Brayman previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and is awaiting sentence. The case against co-defendant Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected FSB operative, was dismissed after Konoshchenok was removed from the United States as part of a prisoner exchange negotiated between the United States and Russia. Defendant Nikolaos Bogonikolos’ case remains pending. Defendants Boris Livshits, Alexey Ippolitov, Svetlana Skvortsova, and Yevgeniy Grinin remain at large.
The FBI, BIS, and IRS are investigating the case.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and Estonian authorities provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Artie McConnell, Andrew D. Reich, and Matthew Skurnik for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture and the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states.
NDTX Implements New Voluntary Self-Disclosure (VSD) PolicyRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announces its implementation of a newly revised national policy detailing the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to the USAO, announced U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton.
The Department-wide USAO VSD policy, which was initially announced in February 2023—but was expanded with the addition of the M&A Safe Harbor provisions in March 2024—aims to provide transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate, and timely and appropriately remediate.
The goal of the policy is to standardize how voluntary self-disclosures are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide. It is also intended to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations.
Under the policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it discloses misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the government.[1] A company must also disclose all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to the USAO in a timely fashion and before any imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation.[2]
A company that voluntarily self-discloses, as defined in the policy, and fully meets the other requirements of the policy by fully cooperating, timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct, and paying appropriate penalties will receive significant benefits. These include that the USAO may choose not to seek a guilty plea, not to impose any criminal penalty and/or not to impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines fine range, and not to seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a guilty plea, even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met. These include if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment; if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company; or if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required. Instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy. The USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50% reduction, and up to a 75% reduction, off the low end of the USSG fine range and will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
As noted in the March 7, 2024 revisions to the USAO VSD policy, the policy applies to misconduct uncovered in the context of M&A pre- and post-acquisition due diligence. See also JM 9-28.900 (the M&A Policy). An acquiring company that voluntarily discloses misconduct to the USAO pursuant to the M&A Policy and otherwise satisfies the requirements of the USAO VSD policy by fully cooperating, timely and appropriately remediating, and paying any applicable disgorgement/forfeiture and/or victim compensation payments/restitution will receive a presumption of a declination, even if aggravating factors existed as to the acquired company.
In cases where the USAO and another DOJ component are jointly prosecuting a company and/or jointly investigating the misconduct the company voluntarily self-reports pursuant to the VSD, the USAO will coordinate with or, if necessary, obtain approval from the DOJ component responsible—including, as appropriate, taking into consideration the VSD policy specific to that DOJ component—in considering a potential resolution.
Consistent with longstanding DOJ policy, the USAO will evaluate disclosures submitted pursuant to this policy to determine whether or to what extent coordination between the Criminal and Civil Divisions of the USAO is appropriate. See JM 1-12.000. To the extent a disclosure submitted pursuant to the USAO VSD policy involves misconduct that could serve as the basis for False Claims Act (“FCA”) liability, the disclosure will be reviewed in accordance with the Guidelines for Taking Disclosure, Cooperation, and Remediation into Account in False Claims Matters issued by the Fraud Section of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. See JM 4-4.112.
Since September 2023, the USAO-NDTX has resolved three matters involving potential violations of the False Claims Act based on conduct self-reported to the government. [3] In each of these matters, the government executed a settlement agreement releasing the reporting company from liability under the FCA and crediting the company for self-reporting the conduct consistent with section 4-4.112 of the Justice Manual.
Companies wishing to make a self-disclosure to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas may do so by email to: [email protected].
[1] Regardless of whether a disclosure meets the standards of a VSD, prosecutors will continue to consider a corporation’s pre-indictment conduct, e.g., voluntary disclosure or cooperation, in determining whether to seek an indictment. JM § 9-28.400. Separate from this formal VSD Program, the Department continues to encourage corporations, as part of their compliance programs, to conduct internal investigations and to disclose the relevant facts to the appropriate authorities. See JM § 9-28.900. A corporation’s timely and voluntary disclosure of wrongdoing is among the factors prosecutors should consider in reaching a decision as to the proper treatment of a corporate target in conducting an investigation, determining whether to bring charges, and negotiating plea or other agreements. See JM § 9-28.300. Prosecutors may also consider a corporation’s timely and voluntary disclosure, as an independent factor in evaluating the company’s overall cooperation and the adequacy of the corporation’s compliance program and its management’s commitment to the compliance program. See JM § 9-28.900.
[2] Consistent with the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot program, companies that voluntarily self-report within 120 days of receiving an internal whistleblower report may still be eligible for benefits under this VSD policy provided the company self-reports prior to the Department of Justice contacting the company.
[3]See Dermatology Management Company to Pay $8.9 Million to Resolve Self-Reported False Claims Act Liability, https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/dermatology-management-company-pay-89-million-resolve-self-reported-false-claims-act (Sept. 13, 2023); Consolidated Nuclear Security Agrees to Pay $18.4 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Timecard Fraud, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/consolidated-nuclear-security-agrees-pay-184-million-settle-false-claims-act-allegations (Apr. 23, 2024); North Texas Medical Center Pays $14.2 Million to Resolve Potential False Claims Act Liability for Self-Reported Violations of Medicare Regs, Stark Law, https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/north-texas-medical-center-pays-142-million-resolve-potential-false-claims-act (Nov. 4, 2024).
Money Mule Sentenced to Federal Prison for Laundering Proceeds from Senior Citizens Victimized in A Government-Imposter Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Viraj Patel (29, Sanford) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The court also ordered Patel to forfeit $145,000, which is traceable to proceeds of the offense. Patel entered a guilty plea on July 25, 2024.
According to court documents, conspirators placed telephone calls, usually from India, to victims in the United States. The victims were predominantly senior citizens. The conspirators falsely identified themselves as government officials or representatives of financial institutions and told the victims that their identities had been compromised and they needed to pay law enforcement officers, government officials, or financial institutions to fund fraud investigations. Patel’s role was as a mule who picked up money and gold from victims and transported it to co-conspirators. The fraud proceeds were then distributed to other conspirators in the United States.
For instance, in April 2024, co-conspirators called a senior citizen in Pinellas County and falsely impersonated officials with the Federal Reserve. They falsely told the victim that her identity and bank accounts had been compromised and demanded she pay approximately $71,000 to remedy the identity theft. The co-conspirators instructed the victim to provide them with remote access to her computer, through which the conspirators wired $71,000 from the victim’s bank account to a precious metals company for the purchase and delivery of gold bars to the victim’s residence. The victim provided those gold bars to a conspirator in April 2024. The following month, the conspirators made additional false statements to persuade the victim to provide more gold. On May 8, 2024, Patel traveled to the victim’s home and retrieved from the victim a package containing $50,000. Law enforcement arrested Patel with the $50,000.
Investigators determined that between April and May 2024, Patel and his co-conspirators laundered at least $216,000 in fraud proceeds and tried to launder $50,000 in additional proceeds.
“Patel and his co-conspirators preyed on law-abiding citizens by pretending to be government officials,” said Robert Engel, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Tampa Field Office. “He showed no regard for the law, or those he scammed. This sentence should serve as a warning to potential thieves that they will be caught and prosecuted. The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating cases of fraud and to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice for victims of financial crime across the country.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with inappropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.