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Monday 23 September 2024
North Carolina Man Sentenced for Defrauding Attorneys Through International Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Omoyoma Christopher Okoro, age 50, was sentenced on September 19, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 100 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $22,565,929.18 in restitution.
In September 2023, Okoro was found guilty of all charges against him following a five-day jury trial. Okoro was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, mail fraud affecting a financial institution, and bank fraud. In addition, Okoro was charged with two counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, one count of mail fraud affecting a financial institution, and one count of bank fraud.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Okoro, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Nigerian origin, resided in Nigeria before moving to the United States around 2013. Between 2006 and 2010, Okoro conspired with others to defraud attorneys located in the United States through what became known as the “attorney collection scheme.” Through this scheme, attorneys in the United States were contacted by a prospective “client” in a foreign country who purported to be in need in legal representation. The client would typically claim to be owed money from someone in the United States resulting from a business transaction, settlement from a dispute, or an accident. If the attorney responded to the initial inquiry, the attorney would then be told that the other party had agreed to settle the matter and was prepared to make a payment. Soon after that, the attorney would receive a counterfeit “official check” supposedly issued by a U.S. bank in the mail. The attorney was directed by the client to deposit the check into his or her law firm escrow account, keep a portion of the funds as payment for services, and wire the balance to a foreign bank account, typically located in an East Asian country. Once the funds reached the foreign bank account, they were immediately withdrawn by a member of the conspiracy, generally before the attorney victim realized that he or she had been defrauded. The attorney and the attorney’s bank would then be left responsible for the loss once they realized that the official check was counterfeit.
The evidence at trial showed Okoro communicating with numerous other members of the conspiracy, including individuals responsible for furnishing the financial accounts in East Asia used to receive victim funds, as well as individuals who appeared to be in contact with attorney victims. On numerous occasions, Okoro was either the sender or recipient of emails confirming that an attorney victim had wired funds to a foreign bank account. In addition, evidence at trial showed funds flowing back to Okoro from coconspirators located in the area of Toronto, Canada, where several key members of the conspiracy resided.
In total, it is believed that over $23 million in fraudulent proceeds were actually obtained through the attorney collection scheme, and over $80 million in attempted fraud occurred. Okoro represents the latest defendant to be prosecuted in this district for his role in the attorney collection scheme. Prior defendants include Emmanuel Ekhator and Yvette Mathurin, previously residents of Canada and Nigeria, and Kingsley Osagie of Nigeria. For more information, please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/nigerian-national-sentenced-100-months-involvement-scheme-defraud-lawyers-out-millions. They also include Henry Okpalefe, previously a resident of Toronto, Canada and Nigeria. For more information, please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/canadian-man-sentenced-18-years-imprisonment-multi-million-dollar-fraud-targeting-us.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma, Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams, and Shaunik R. Panse, previously a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, prosecuted the case. This case and other prior cases related to the attorney collection scheme were previously handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christy Fawcett, Kim Douglas Daniel, Chelsea Schinnour, and Paul J. Miovas, Jr.
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New Orleans Man Guilty for Being Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KEVIN LADAY(“LADAY”), age 34, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 18, 2024, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance to being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF") identified individuals involved in trafficking firearms in New Orleans. Between August 16, 2023 and August 28, 2023, agents communicated with LADAY, a previously convicted felon, about purchasing firearms and ammunition. On August 28, 2023, LADAY sold firearms and ammunition to undercover ATF agents in New Orleans.
LADAY is scheduled for sentencing on January 15, 2025. LADAY faces up to fifteen (15) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following imprisonment and, a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution is being handed by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.
Nashua Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Nashua man was sentenced today in federal court for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Dwayne Frechette, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 41 months in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release. Frechette was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution. On May 31, 2024, Frechette pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
Frechette was identified during an undercover investigation involving a peer-to-peer network used to exchange CSAM. During the investigation, agents identified an IP address in Nashua that was using the peer-to-peer network to make images of CSAM available for others to download. The target IP address geolocated to a restaurant in Nashua, where it was later determined that Frechette was a delivery driver. A search warrant for the restaurant resulted in the seizure of Frechette’s cell phone, which was found to contain hundreds of cached images of CSAM.
“The daily horror felt by child survivors of online child exploitation is unimaginable,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “While we will never be able to erase all of the illegal images circulating online, or the pain caused by crimes like the defendant’s, law enforcement in New Hampshire will continue to combat the spread of child sexual abuse material and protect these survivors from further harm as best as we can.”
“Every time a video or image of CSAM is shared, the harm and trauma inflicted upon a child spreads. These cases are extremely difficult, but HSI is committed to working with our partners to protect children and ensure predators like Frechette are brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Jaquan Bridges, 22, of Memphis, to 9 years in federal prison for possession of a machinegun. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the sentence today.
On February 1, 2022, a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy observed Bridges driving near I-240 and Walnut Grove, traveling slowly while looking at his cell phone. The deputy activated emergency equipment to alert Bridges to put his phone down. Bridges rolled down his passenger-side window and fired gunshots at the deputy’s vehicle, striking it several times. Bridges then fled, leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit for 10 miles, before Bridges hit at least three other vehicles and crashed into a concrete barrier. When Bridges was taken into custody, deputies recovered a Glock .40 caliber pistol with an attached machinegun conversion device (known as a “switch”) and extended magazine.
On February 6, 2024, Bridges pled guilty to possessing a machinegun. On September 17, 2024, Senior United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Bridges to 108 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“We have a serious gun violence problem in Memphis,” said Acting United States Attorney Fondren. “This conviction demonstrates our ongoing commitment to prosecuting violent offenders and bringing to justice those who violate federal firearms laws and endanger our community. Our office will continue to work with the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force and other law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime in our community. The citizens of Memphis and Shelby County deserve to feel safe.”
“This conviction is a testament to our deputies’ hard work and dedication and to the legal team involved in this case,” said Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner. “Bridges’ actions posed a significant threat to our deputy and the community at large. We are grateful for our deputies’ swift response and the collaboration with prosecutors that led to this outcome. It sends a strong message that we will not tolerate violence against our law enforcement personnel, and those who engage in such behavior will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our top priority remains our deputies’ and citizens’ safety. This case underscores the importance of continued support for law enforcement agencies as they work tirelessly to protect our communities. We will continue to strive for justice and ensure that our streets are safe for everyone.”
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.
Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo, 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.
Memphis Man Resentenced to Fifty Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently resentenced Louie Holloway, 43, of Memphis, to fifty years in federal prison for attempted robbery of John Stambaugh in 2002 and firearms crimes. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on September 8, 2002, John Stambaugh, a student at the University of Memphis, was robbed and murdered by a shotgun blast while delivering pizza in Memphis’s Cooper-Young neighborhood. Holloway was identified as a suspect and later charged with attempted robbery and gun crimes.
In 2008, after a jury trial, Holloway was found guilty of attempted robbery, discharging a firearm in furtherance of attempted robbery, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Due to changes in the law which went into effect in 2022, Holloway’s firearm conviction was vacated, and the district court scheduled a resentencing hearing. At that hearing, United States District Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Holloway to 600 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department.
Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Tony Arvin and Naya Bedini, who prosecuted this case at the post-conviction stage, 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.
Long Island Drug Dealer Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl that Caused the Death of a Suffolk County ManRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Tyheim Smith was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 17 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Smith admitted his fentanyl caused the death of a 25-year-old Suffolk County man (the “Victim”), and that he used firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
“This prosecution demonstrates my Office’s commitment to confronting the deadly fentanyl epidemic in this district,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today, the defendant, a drug dealer who carried out his illicit business using illegal guns, was held accountable for distributing fentanyl that caused the tragic poisoning death of a young man on Long Island. The large quantities of fentanyl the defendant distributed all over Suffolk County had a devastating impact on the community, including by taking this young man away from his family. We will continue to work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those who contribute to this epidemic.”
Mr. Peace thanked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New York, and the Suffolk County Police Department, for their work on the case.
In July 2021, Smith sold the Victim “blues,” pills that the Victim believed were oxycodone, when in fact, the defendant knew the pills were fentanyl. The Victim’s family found him dead in their Bay Shore residence after the Victim ingested the pills. Shortly after the Victim’s death, over the course of one month, Smith sold fentanyl pills to undercover officers on five separate occasions. In October 2021, the Suffolk County Police Department executed a search of Smith’s home and recovered 72 fentanyl pills marked as oxycodone and two loaded firearms, high-capacity magazines and ammunition. After being charged by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Smith continued to sell fentanyl while out on bail, until his federal arrest and remand in April 2022.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Justice, in 2023, nearly 108,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. The increase in overdose deaths has been driven in large part by fentanyl, a drug that has been described as 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. In 2023, over 74,000 people died from a drug overdose involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, a figure that was around 2,000 less than the more than 76,000 synthetic opioid overdose deaths that occurred in 2022. Between 2022 and 2023, overall drug overdose deaths declined approximately 3% from around nearly 111,000 such deaths in 2022.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Alessi is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
TYHEIM SMITH
Age: 23
Central Islip, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-183 (GRB)
Local felon convicted of sexual exploitation of pregnant minorRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On April 5, law enforcement encountered Luis Andres Serna after he picked up an undocumented non-citizen from downtown Laredo and transported him to an apartment building. At that time, a 16-year-old pregnant minor was also his passenger.
Later that day, authorities discovered 37 undocumented people and approximately 1,032 kilograms of marijuana within several apartments linked to Serna and others. This eventually led to his arrest for drug trafficking and conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented individuals.
While in federal custody for the pending charges, he gained access to a tablet video system and contacted the same pregnant girl. The investigation revealed Serna provided the minor’s name and a phone number to initiate video calls but did not disclose she was a minor.
The facility’s communication system automatically records the displays of both parties during every video call. Law enforcement reviewed several hundred telephone calls and tablet video visits Serna initiated while detained.
The investigation revealed he was in regular video communication with the minor victim.
On June 24, 2022, he had her perform sexual acts while he watched. The minor victim used her personal cellphone to record herself performing the acts and played the video for Serna over the course of several days.
“Protecting our children from sexual predators is one of my office’s most sacred responsibilities,” said Hamdani. “Serna is an especially reprehensible predator--a human smuggler and drug trafficker who exploited a pregnant child for his own sexual gratification adding the label “child pornographer” to his resume of crimes. This prosecution and conviction will help insure that Serna can no longer victimize Laredo’s citizens, especially its children.”
Serna also later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport over 1000 kilograms of marijuana and the human transportation conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña accepted the plea and will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Serna faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for the sexual exploitation conviction as well as a maximum of 10 years and up to life, respectively, for the alien smuggling and drug trafficking charges.
Serna has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Border Patrol and other private companies.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Homero Ramirez and Michael Makens are prosecuting the case along with the assistance from Special AUSA Terence A. Check Jr. and former AUSA April Ayers-Perez, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Lisbon Man Faces 10-20 Years for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lisbon man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to court records, in September and October 2023, the Maine State Police (MSP) identified an IP address at the residence of Joseph Gibson, 36, that had been used to download child sexual abuse material. In December 2023, the MSP executed a search warrant at the residence, seizing two devices belonging to Gibson which were found to contain child pornography. The case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which conducted a follow-up review of the devices. HSI found five video files on Gibson’s phone depicting the sexual abuse of young children. Gibson also admitted to viewing child pornography on the internet when questioned by investigators.
Because Gibson was previously convicted in state court for possessing and distributing child pornography, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and a maximum of 20 years, in prison on the federal charge, to be followed by five years to life of supervised release. He also faces a maximum fine of $250,000. Gibson will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI investigated the case with assistance from the MSP.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal term as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project iGuardian online safety program available to Maine communities: The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) program Project iGuardian is focused on keeping children and teens safe from online predators through education and awareness. The in-person educational outreach effort was created to share information about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity. Schools, parent groups, and other community groups interested in bringing the program to their community can find more information at: https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect/training.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’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, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, and former active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., Ethan McManus-Sanning, 21, was sentenced on Monday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 85 months in prison, for receiving child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement received information that McManus-Sanning sent money, via PayPal, to an account selling child pornography. In April 2023, McManus-Sanning was interviewed, and he admitted to purchasing, accessing, viewing, and receiving images of child pornography using the internet. Specifically, McManus-Sanning confirmed he was part of multiple groups on the internet where child pornography would be advertised, and he would direct message the seller to purchase the material. Law enforcement reviewed his phone and found over 500 images and 75 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Under federal law, McManus-Sanning must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Ft. Campbell. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Leessa Augustine, Former Sewerage & Water Board Special Agent and New Orleans Police Officer, Indicted for Multiple Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LEESSA AUGUSTINE (“AUGUSTINE”), age 46, was indicted on September 20, 2024 for her involvement in multiple fraud schemes while employed as a Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (“S&WB”) Senior Special Agent, a position tasked with investigating the alleged misconduct of other Sewerage & Water Board employees.
In one alleged scheme, AUGUSTINE, who was also a New Orleans Police Department reserve officer, billed a police detail customer for hours not actually worked. It is alleged that during some of the times AUGUSTINE was supposed to be working the police detail for the Downtown Development District, she used her S&WB-issued computer to conduct a second fraud scheme, that involved obtaining a mortgage loan and federally funded assistance for low-income homebuyers. In that home-purchase scheme, AUGUSTINE allegedly created fake documents, including a fake W-2 form, fake pay stubs, and fake bank statements. In a third alleged scheme, AUGUSTINE obtained federally funded unemployment benefits by concealing her Senior Special Agent income. Finally, in a fourth alleged scheme, AUGUSTINE obtained federally funded emergency rental assistance from the City of New Orleans, by submitting a fake lease and a termination letter from a fictitious employer. At various times during the schemes, AUGUSTINE allegedly provided her S&WB-issued cellphone number as a contact number for three different persons she impersonated.
AUGUSTINE is charged with four counts of Wire Fraud (one count per each fraud scheme). AUGUSTINE is also charged with two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft for allegedly misusing two persons’ identities. Finally, AUGUSTINE is charged with making False Statements for allegedly lying to investigators.
The wire fraud charge related to the police detail is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment. The other three wire fraud charges are each punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment due to enhanced penalties for fraud related to emergency benefits and fraud affecting a financial institution. Each aggravated identity theft charge is punishable by two years’ imprisonment. The false statement charge is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment. Each count may include a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and the payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans thanked the New Orleans Office of Inspector General and the New Orleans Police Department for their valuable assistance in this case.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of Labor, and the Office of Inspector General – U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Leader of Sunset Trinitarios Responsible for Murdering Two Teenagers in 2013 and 2014 Convicted of Racketeering and MurderRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that on Friday, September 20, 2024, a jury found CARLOS RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Guerra” guilty of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and firearms-related charges. RAMIREZ was found guilty following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For more than a decade, the family members of Michael Beltre and Jordanny Correa have waited for justice. Their wait is now over. With its verdict, the jury has now held Carlos Ramirez, a/k/a “Guerra,” a leader of the Sunset Trinitarios, responsible for nearly a decade of drug trafficking, robberies, and violence, including the murder of these two young men, both teenagers at the time that they were shot to death. It does not matter how long ago their lives were lost to the scourge of gang violence in this city. I promise you that the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners will never stop investigating and prosecuting these righteous cases. If any member of the public has information that they wish to share with us about any unsolved murder in this city, then we encourage you to come forward.”
According to the Indictment, public court filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
From 2010 to 2024, members of the Sunset Trinitarios, a violent drug trafficking organization and street gang founded in Sunset Park in Brooklyn, New York, committed a terrifying number of violent crimes, including multiple murders and attempted murders and numerous gunpoint robberies all across the metropolitan area. RAMIREZ was one of the members of the Sunset Trinitarios during this period, and he rose to multiple positions of leadership within the gang, both out on the street and when he was incarcerated in the custody of state and federal detention facilities in New York City. As a “devil soldier messenger” of the Sunset Trinitarios, which came to celebrate the murder of innocent victims and their purported delivery to the devil, RAMIREZ obtained two identical tattoos memorializing the two murders he committed on behalf of the gang.
On October 23, 2013, RAMIREZ participated in the murder of Michael Beltre, who was seventeen years old. Beltre was shot multiple times on the street in the Bronx after RAMIREZ struck him and held him for another gang member to shoot.
On November 2, 2014, RAMIREZ murdered Jordanny Correa, who was nineteen years old. RAMIREZ shot Correa multiple times at point-blank range inside an apartment in the Bronx.
On February 28, 2023, RAMIREZ attempted to murder a former leader of the Sunset Trinitarios inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. RAMIREZ committed this attack because he believed that this former leader had previously supplied information to law enforcement. With the help of others, RAMIREZ slashed and stabbed the victim with a knife, causing severe injuries to the victim’s face and the rest of his body in multiple locations.
10 others of RAMIREZ’s co-conspirators and fellow members of the Sunset Trinitarios previously pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing or have been sentenced, receiving sentences to date that have ranged from multiple years through life in prison.
If you believe you have information related to RAMIREZ or the Sunset Trinitarios, please consider reporting using the following link: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/report-crime.
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RAMIREZ, 29, of the Dominican Republic, was convicted of conspiracy to commit racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, and the use of a firearm to commit murder. Each of the three offenses carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and murder in aid of racketeering carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
The mandatory and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York City Police Department, which also supported the prosecution through trial. Mr. Williams also thanked the Bureau of Prisons and the New York City Department of Correction for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas John Wright, Brandon D. Harper, and Timothy Ly are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists William Coleman and Kiersten Luger.
Konawa Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of A Minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Coty Layne Hayes, age 25, of Konawa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment on one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.
The Indictment alleged that beginning on or about June 9, 2023, and continuing until on or about September 22, 2023, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian country, Hayes knowingly engaged and attempted to engage in a sexual act with a person who had attained the age of 12 years but not attained the age of 16 years.
The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, the Konawa Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Hayes will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Hays County to Ensure Polling Place Access to Voters with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas announced today that the United States has reached a settlement agreement with Hays County to ensure that the county provides accessible polling places to voters with disabilities. The agreement resolves the United States’ investigation into Hays County’s compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by a state or local government in any of its programs or services.
Investigators from the Department of Justice surveyed the 14 polling places the county used during the 2023 Uniform Election. The United States observed that the polling places contained architectural or equipment barriers that rendered the facilities inaccessible to voters with disabilities, such as a lack of van accessible parking; excessively sloped ramps, some without handrails and edge protection; excessively sloped portions of parking spaces, access aisles, and exterior routes to the entrance; numerous gaps and level changes along exterior routes; and protruding objects. In addition, the observers documented a lack of knee and toe clearance at the accessible voting machines and at other voting stations at some locations.
“The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy and must not be diminished or restricted,” said U.S. Attorney Esparza. “People with disabilities are entitled to equal opportunity and full inclusion at the ballot box. Under this agreement, eligible voters with disabilities in Hays County will be able to exercise their fundamental right to vote and participate in our democracy. Our office will continue working to ensure that all eligible Americans have access to the ballot.”
Under the settlement agreement, the county will engage the technical assistance of an accessibility expert and use an evaluation form for each current and prospective polling place based on ADA architectural standards. The agreement requires the county to make polling places more accessible through a variety of measures. In addition, Hays County will train its poll workers and other elections staff on the requirements of the ADA and how to use temporary measures to ensure each polling place is accessible during elections.
For more information about the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov, or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liane Noble, Matthew Mueller, and Robert Green represented the government in this investigation and resolution.
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Jury Convicts Mechanicville Man of Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Charles Brennan, age 45, of Mechanicville, New York, was convicted today following a 6-day jury trial of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Sheriff Michael H. Zurlo of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).
The evidence at trial established that between July and September 2022, Brennan was a member of a drug conspiracy that involved the distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The jury concluded that during that time, Brennan distributed methamphetamine on two occasions from his residence in Mechanicville. During the execution of a search warrant at Brennan’s residence, Brennan was found in possession of 9 grams of pure methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, ammunition, and eight firearms, including a pistol with an altered serial number. The jury also concluded that Brennan possessed the methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Jurors voted to acquit Brennan on two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Brennan faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci on January 22, 2025. 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.
This case was investigated by members of the ATF and SCSO, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda, Joseph S. Hartunian, and Allen J. Vickey.
James B. Nutter & Company to Pay $2.4M for Allegedly Causing False Claims for Federal Mortgage InsuranceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – James B. Nutter & Company, a former mortgage lender located in Kansas City, Missouri, has agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 by knowingly underwriting Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that did not meet program eligibility requirements.
“The HECM program helps support our nation’s senior citizens by providing an additional source of funds to supplement their income,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Together with our partners at HUD, we are committed to protecting the financial integrity of this critical program and to pursuing those who seek to abuse it.”
“Our office continues its diligent pursuit of mortgage originators that do not play by the rules,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia. “If a lender is asking the government to insure its loans, the government expects that lender to employ qualified underwriters to ensure the loans present acceptable credit risks and are supported by sound appraisals of the homes used to secure them.”
The FHA offers numerous mortgage insurance programs intended to help build and sustain strong communities across America. The HECM program is a reverse mortgage program specifically for senior homeowners aged 62 and older. The program allows seniors to access the equity in their residences, and thereby age in place in their family home, through a mortgage agreement with a lender that is insured against loss by the FHA.
Lenders who participate in the FHA’s HECM program are authorized to underwrite mortgages without first having the government review the loans for compliance with the agency’s underwriting and origination requirements. If an FHA-insured loan defaults, the holder of the loan can then recover from the United States for certain losses. Lenders commit to following FHA rules to ensure that only eligible mortgages are insured by the government.
The settlement announced today resolves the United States’ allegations in a lawsuit filed in 2020 that James B. Nutter & Company knowingly violated FHA underwriting requirements when it allowed inexperienced temporary staff to underwrite FHA-insured loans, and submitted loans for FHA insurance with underwriter signatures that were falsified and/or affixed before all the documentation the underwriter should have reviewed was complete.
“This case sought to redress serious violations of FHA requirements that posed a risk to the HECM program,” said HUD General Counsel Damon Smith. “HUD will continue to protect the integrity of this important mortgage program that serves the interests of our nation’s senior citizens.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to seeking recovery from mortgage lenders who take advantage of FHA programs and ignore essential program requirements,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore for the Western District of Missouri. “The integrity and resources of those important programs must not be put at risk by mortgage lenders who put their own financial interests first.”
“This case and the resulting $2.4 million settlement demonstrate the HUD Office of Inspector General’s commitment to holding lenders accountable when they commit fraud against FHA mortgage programs designed to provide financial assistance to senior homeowners,” said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis of HUD. “No one is above the law. Our office will continue to work with our partners at the Justice Department to investigate mortgage lenders who jeopardize the integrity of FHA mortgage programs.”
The investigation, litigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort among the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Columbia, HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General.
Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer, Kelly Phipps, Yifan Wang and Wilma Metcalf of the Commercial Litigation Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindi Woolery for the Western District of Missouri and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Hudak and Benton Peterson for the District of Columbia handled the matter. The litigation resolved by the settlement was captioned United States v. James B. Nutter & Co., Case No. 4:20-cv-874-RK (WDMO).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
James B. Nutter & Company to Pay $2.4M for Allegedly Causing False Claims for Federal Mortgage InsuranceRead the Press Release
James B. Nutter & Company, a former mortgage lender located in Kansas City, Missouri, has agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 by knowingly underwriting Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that did not meet program eligibility requirements.
“The HECM program helps support our nation’s senior citizens by providing an additional source of funds to supplement their income,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Together with our partners at HUD, we are committed to protecting the financial integrity of this critical program and to pursuing those who seek to abuse it.”
The FHA offers numerous mortgage insurance programs intended to help build and sustain strong communities across America. The HECM program is a reverse mortgage program specifically for senior homeowners aged 62 and older. The program allows seniors to access the equity in their residences, and thereby age in place in their family home, through a mortgage agreement with a lender that is insured against loss by the FHA.
Lenders who participate in the FHA’s HECM program are authorized to underwrite mortgages without first having the government review the loans for compliance with the agency’s underwriting and origination requirements. If an FHA-insured loan defaults, the holder of the loan can then recover from the United States for certain losses. Lenders commit to following FHA rules to ensure that only eligible mortgages are insured by the government.
The settlement announced today resolves the United States’ allegations in a lawsuit filed in 2020 that James B. Nutter & Company knowingly violated FHA underwriting requirements when it allowed inexperienced temporary staff to underwrite FHA-insured loans, and submitted loans for FHA insurance with underwriter signatures that were falsified and/or affixed before all the documentation the underwriter should have reviewed was complete.
“This case sought to redress serious violations of FHA requirements that posed a risk to the HECM program,” said HUD General Counsel Damon Smith. “HUD will continue to protect the integrity of this important mortgage program that serves the interests of our nation’s senior citizens.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to seeking recovery from mortgage lenders who take advantage of FHA programs and ignore essential program requirements,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore for the Western District of Missouri. “The integrity and resources of those important programs must not be put at risk by mortgage lenders who put their own financial interests first.”
“Our office continues its diligent pursuit of mortgage originators that do not play by the rules,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia. “If a lender is asking the government to insure its loans, the government expects that lender to employ qualified underwriters to ensure the loans present acceptable credit risks and are supported by sound appraisals of the homes used to secure them.”
“This case and the resulting $2.4 million settlement demonstrate the HUD Office of Inspector General’s commitment to holding lenders accountable when they commit fraud against FHA mortgage programs designed to provide financial assistance to senior homeowners,” said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis of HUD. “No one is above the law. Our office will continue to work with our partners at the Justice Department to investigate mortgage lenders who jeopardize the integrity of FHA mortgage programs.”
The investigation, litigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort among the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Columbia, HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General.
Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer, Kelly Phipps, Yifan Wang and Wilma Metcalf of the Commercial Litigation Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindi Woolery for the Western District of Missouri and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Hudak and Benton Peterson for the District of Columbia handled the matter. The litigation resolved by the settlement was captioned United States v. James B. Nutter & Co., Case No. 4:20-cv-874-RK (WDMO).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Settlement
Iowa Man Sentenced for Illegally Purchasing Firearms for OthersRead the Press Release
Tyler Meriweather, age 24, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was sentenced on September 17, 2024, to 30 months’ imprisonment for illegally purchasing firearms for others.
Meriweather pled guilty on March 4, 2024, to the straw purchase of firearms. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Meriweather purchased multiple firearms from federal firearms licensed businesses in Iowa for individuals he knew were prohibited from possessing or purchasing firearms, including a relative in California who is a felon. After a firearm was recovered from a minor in Fort Dodge, investigators determined the firearm had originally been purchased by Meriweather. Further investigation showed Meriweather purchased additional firearms. When interviewed, Meriweather ultimately admitted to purchasing firearms on behalf of others who could not legally purchase them. Additionally, Meriweather admitted to being a user of marijuana, despite denying it on his firearms purchasing forms.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Meriweather was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment and must serve a one-year term of supervised release following the term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and Patrick Greenwood and was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Fort Dodge Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-03038. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Illinois Man Charged with Helping to Scam Elderly Victims Out of Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Retirement SavingsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS—A federal grand jury had charged Abdul Mohammed, 31, of Des Plaines, Illinois, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud.
According to the indictment, Mohammed and other conspirators allegedly participated in a scheme in which conspirators contacted victims, typically the elderly, and claimed to be a government agent. The conspirators falsely represented that the victims had been compromised in some way and needed to provide money to federal law enforcement for safekeeping. The conspirators instructed victims convert their savings and retirement accounts to cash or gold bars, and to provide those funds to law enforcement for “protection.”
In one instance, an elderly victim began receiving unsolicited phone calls, texts, and emails from a conspirator purporting to be “Agent Roy” of the FBI. “Agent Roy” told the victim that his computer had been hacked and his personal information was compromised. “Agent Roy” also told the victim he was implicated in a drug crime. “Agent Roy” instructed the victim to withdraw $80,000 from retirement their accounts and exchange it for gold bars or it would be frozen by the IRS. A member of the conspiracy, acting as “Agent Roy,” then met the victim in a Meijer parking lot in Westfield to collect the gold bars.
Even after delivering the gold, the victim was led to believe their money was not safe and they needed to give the “agents” more money. On December 8, 2023, an unknown member of the conspiracy emailed the elderly victim with a document from “Officer Jason Roy” which bore a purported seal from the Department of Justice. The document instructed the victim to withdraw funds and provide them to FBI agents as part of an operation. The document further stated “If . . . at any point of time you deny to follow our instructions or disclose this information to anyone all your accounts will be frozen.” A few weeks later, Abdul Mohammed met the victim in the same parking lot in an attempt to collect another $45,000 in cash.
“There is an outstanding warrant for the arrest of Abdul Mohammed, a resident of Des Plaines, Illinois, following a federal indictment alleging his involvement in a scheme to defraud elderly victims through false claims that federal law enforcement agencies were seeking to keep their money safe,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We encourage Mr. Mohammed to contact the FBI immediately to arrange for his safe surrender to answer the charges against him. Mr. Mohammed, or anyone with information on his whereabouts, should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at http://tips.fbi.gov."
The FBI is investigating this case. If convicted, Abdul Mohammed faces up to 60 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who is prosecuting this case.
An indictment 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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Home health care companies owner convicted of Medicaid fraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury convicted Sally Njume-Tatsing, 47, formerly of Pickerington, of Medicaid fraud. Njume-Tatsing was found guilty on all 13 counts as charged.
The verdict was announced following a trial that began on Sept. 9 before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in 2017, Njume-Tatsing owned and operated three home healthcare businesses named Labelle Home Health. The agencies were located in Reynoldsburg, Mt. Vernon and Parma.
Njume-Tatsing resided in California during the majority of the time she owned the businesses, and despite not being involved in Labelle’s daily operations, she did all of the Medicaid billing for nursing services.
While billing Medicaid for health aide services to individuals in their homes, the defendant inflated the hours of services provided, billed for registered nurses when licensed practical nurses completed the care, and billed for care for patients who were either deceased or ineligible to receive Medicaid.
Njume-Tatsing was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023 and charged with one count of health care fraud and 12 counts of making false health care statements.
Health care fraud is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and making false health care statements carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentences, and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division announced the verdict returned on Sept. 16. Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth A. Affeldt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Metzler of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office are representing the United States in this case.
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Helena felon sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for illegally possessing loaded AR-15 rifle on state capitol groundsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Helena felon who admitted to illegally possessing a loaded AR-15 rifle found in his vehicle on the state capitol grounds in Helena was sentenced today to 21 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Joshua Nzeyimana, 23, pleaded guilty in April to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Dec. 6, 2023, Nzeyimana, a convicted felon on state supervision, possessed a loaded AR-15 rifle in his vehicle on the state capitol grounds in Helena. The rifle was found during a probation search of the vehicle. The rifle had a round in the chamber and was loaded with a 17-round magazine. Nzeyimana was listed as an absconder in Montana Conweb. During an interview, Nzeyimana acknowledged possessing the rifle. He previously shot the rifle, firing a single round in an open field near Elk Park. Nzeyimana knew he could not legally purchase the rifle himself, so he used another person to buy it. In June 2023, Nzeyimana was convicted and sentenced to a four-year suspended sentence in two state felony cases, one for felony criminal endangerment and one for felony assault with a weapon.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Probation and Parole and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Four Members of Organized Retail Theft Group Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Four Memphians were recently sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an organized retail theft conspiracy that resulted in millions of dollars in goods being shoplifted and mailed across the nation through the U.S. Postal Service. Reagan Fondren, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.
Evidence presented in court revealed that between approximately April 2018 and May 2020, Latasha Brooks, 42, Coyoti Carter, 47, and Tarnisha Woods, 49, shoplifted large quantities of health and beauty products including memory supplements, hair regrowth treatments, weight loss aids, and allergy medicines. During that time, Keith Guy, 38, paid Brooks for the stolen goods. Brooks in turn paid Carter and Woods for their contributions of stolen product. Guy then sold the stolen product to resellers over the internet and used the U.S. Postal Service to ship hundreds of parcels containing the goods to locations across the United States. The investigation revealed that the estimated retail value of the products stolen by the conspiracy was over $4 million.
The defendants were indicted in December 2023 by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit interstate shipment of stolen property. The defendants each pleaded guilty and have been sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. On August 12, 2024, Woods was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. On August 13, 2024, Brooks was sentenced to 34 months of imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. On August 22, 2024, Carter was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. On September 13, 2024, Guy was sentenced to 34 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service Memphis Field Office.
Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Scott Smith, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners for their role in the investigation.
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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.
Former Partner of Investment Management Firm Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Two Fraud Schemes Totaling over $2.4 MillionRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSHUA HENNER was sentenced Friday, September 20, 2024, to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl for running two separate fraud schemes that stole over $2.4 million from victims. HENNER previously pled guilty to one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joshua Henner deceived victims into loaning him millions of dollars across not one, but two fraud schemes. Henner’s crimes ruined the lives of his victims: some have postponed retirement, others lost their life savings, while others have been forced to change professions or work multiple jobs to account for their significant financial losses. This sentence sends the message that those who defraud others will receive significant prison sentences.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, the plea agreement, and other public filings and statements made in court:
From at least in or about March 2022 through at least in or about December 2022, HENNER ran two schemes that defrauded victims out of at least $2.4 million. In the first scheme, HENNER solicited and obtained funds from victims based on representations that he had been an angel investor in a start-up (the “Company”) and that he needed funds to purchase additional shares in the Company to maintain his investment position.
To induce victims to give him funds, HENNER routinely made materially false oral and written statements, including lies about his previous investment in the Company and his ownership interest in the Company. Without their knowledge or authorization, HENNER misappropriated his victims’ funds by, among other things, transferring the funds to himself and other individuals.
HENNER also used, without authorization, the name and email address of a lawyer purportedly involved in the investments to communicate via email with his victims and foster the illusion that he was using the funds that his victims lent him for their intended purposes.
In a second scheme, HENNER also induced at least six victims to lend him money to renovate an apartment that he did not own. To carry out this fraud, HENNER, among other things, informed victims that he had contracted with a renovations company and created a fraudulent email address with the real name of an employee of the renovation company. In truth and in fact, HENNER rented and did not own the apartment, HENNER was prohibited from renovating the apartment, and HENNER did not use the funds that his victims gave him to renovate the apartment.
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In addition to the prison term, HENNER, 37, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $2,452,480 and make restitution in an amount to be determined.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon C. Thompson is in charge of the prosecution.
Former Medical Practice Administrator Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $600,000 from Her Employer, TDI Benefits ProgramRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A former office manager and bookkeeper for a Pawtucket medical practice has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for misappropriating nearly $570,000 in medical practice funds and more than $11,000 in TDI benefits she fraudulently applied for and received, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Tianna Keller, 59, previously pleaded guilty to two charges of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The defendant was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 27 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Additionally, at the request of the government, Keller was ordered to pay restitution totaling $579,857 to the medical practice, an insurance company that covered some of the loss to the medical practice, and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Temporary Disability (TDI) Benefits program.
As reflected in court documents and information presented to the court, Ms. Keller, who managed all aspects of the medical practice’s finances, developed and executed schemes to add family members and friends as unauthorized paid employees; collected and converted patient co-payments and other business funds to pay her own personal expenses; pay tens of thousands of dollars in personal credit card debt; pay wireless phone bills; and pay college tuition payments for a family member.
According to information presented to the court, once her fraud was discovered, Keller left the practice on medical leave. Upon expiration of her medical leave, she was terminated from the practice and applied for and was granted TDI benefits. Shortly thereafter, Keller gained new employment but continued to report to the Department of Labor and Training that she was unable to work, and she continued to collect TDI benefit payments she was not entitled to receive.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, and Rhode Island State Police. United States Attorney Cunha thanks the Rhode Island Department of labor and Training for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.
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Former FBI agent convicted for stealing from citizens’ homesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A former federal agent has admitted to theft of personal property and providing false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
From March 2022 to July 2023, Nicholas Anthony Williams, 37, Houston, stole money and property from multiple residences while executing search warrants in his official capacity.
Specifically, the plea agreement lists several instances in which Williams stole cash totaling nearly $10,000 as well as several silver bars which he had attempted to sell to another individual.
Williams proceeded to retain the money or property for his personal use. He used some of the money to purchase guns and related items.
In addition, Williams admitted to providing false statements with regard to several fraudulent charges on his government-issued credit card, making it appear they were case-related expenses, when they were not. He also took some legitimate FBI-purchased property and pawned for cash.
“Founded on a legacy of steadfast duty since 1908, FBI agents uphold society's trust by relentlessly pursuing justice and protecting citizens with unwavering integrity,” said Hamdani. “Nicholas Williams betrayed that legacy and the community’s trust when he decided to pad his own pockets at the expense of a citizen’s rights. Because no one is above the law, the system of justice that he once swore to protect will now seek to hold him to account for breaking that oath.”
Since 2019, Williams worked as an FBI special agent in the Houston field office. He served on both the criminal violent gang and counterterrorism squads.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen will impose sentencing Jan. 13, 2025. At that time, Williams faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Williams was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Sarina DiPiazza are prosecuting the case.
Former Colorado Springs Man Convicted of Defrauding $500k of Taxpayer Funded COVID-19 Relief MoneyRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Charles Lacona, Jr., 67, formerly of Colorado Springs, was found guilty by a federal jury on two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering related to fraudulent COVID-19 related funds he received through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to the facts established at trial, between April 2020 and April 2021, Lacona devised and participated in a scheme to defraud a lender of $513,732.50 in PPP loans. Lacona inflated payroll costs and gross receipts, made false statements and certifications, and submitted fabricated tax documents and payroll reports. During that same period, Lacona unsuccessfully applied for additional emergency government assistance through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Lacona used some of the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase a Cadillac CT6 for $67,704.13.
“This is another case of someone using for personal gain a program meant to help people suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “I want the public to know that we are aggressively prosecuting people who stole from this relief program.”
"These federal programs were designed to help families and small businesses facing financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. "Through our partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office, IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who attempt to exploit federal relief programs for their personal benefit."
United States District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the trial. IRS Criminal Investigation handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig Fansler and Nicole Cassidy handled the prosecution.
Sentencing will be held at a later date.
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.
On July 11, 2023, the Attorney General selected the District of Colorado’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of five national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-results-nationwide-covid-19-fraud-enforcement-action.
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
Former Bronson Coach Sentenced to 480 Months in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Billy McCall, Jr., 41, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to a term of 480 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to three counts of production of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Crimes against children are among the most heinous types of offenses and deserving of the most significant sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “The sexual abuse of children – here by a trusted educator – robs them of their innocence and results in devastating psychological pain. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and vigorously prosecute those who seek to harm our most vulnerable.”
In July of 2022, the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) received a report from a 15-year-old boy who was a student at Bronson Middle/High School, located in Bronson, Florida. The child, who played for the Bronson basketball team, reported that McCall, his basketball coach, had inappropriately touched the child, and had solicited explicit videos from the child. Further investigation by the LCSO led to the interview of two other child victims, who were also members of the Bronson basketball team coached by McCall.
On July 27, 2022, McCall was arrested by the LCSO on state charges related to lewd and lascivious molestation of a person 12 years of age or older but under 16 years of age. During the arrest, law enforcement seized a cellular telephone from McCall, which was later forensically examined. Extraction of that device led to discovery of numerous videos, recorded at the defendant’s house through use of a camera installed in the bathroom, depicting nude male child victims engaged in sexual conduct, at least one of which included the defendant personally engaged in sexual contact with the child.
“The betrayal of trust by a coach, who is meant to guide and protect the children in his care, highlights the darkest side of humanity and warrants the toughest accountability,” said Homeland Security Investigation Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Those who exploit the innocence of our youth not only commit an unthinkable act but also perpetuate a life-long cycle of suffering. We stand united with our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served, and that we protect the vulnerable from those who seek to harm them.”
McCall’s prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to all sex offender conditions. The Court also ordered forfeiture of an electronic device used to store the child pornography produced by McCall. McCall’s prison sentence will run concurrent to a twenty-year state prison sentence imposed in the State case for which McCall was arrested on July 27, 2022.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Williams and David Byron 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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.
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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Florida Woman Sentenced to Prison for Financially Exploiting Her GrandmotherRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois judge sentenced a Florida woman to 3 years’ imprisonment after she admitted to scamming her grandmother living in Cahokia Heights out of more than $300,000.
Tanya M. Aboseada, 39, of Pompano Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud in May.
“Seniors are warned to avoid giving money to strangers who may be looking to take advantage of them, but it’s a different kind of deceit when criminals target their own elderly family members,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I appreciate our partnership with the FBI to bring justice for the grandmother, who was simply wanting to help her grandchild she thought was in need.”
According to court documents, Aboseada convinced her grandmother to wire money into her bank account under false pretenses on at least 12 occasions between November 2021 and August 2022. Aboseada admitted to lying to her grandmother about needing money to transfer a truck title into her name, owing money to the IRS, paying attorney fees and fines for a vehicular accident she was in, and paying the family of an alleged child she killed in a vehicular accident to avoid going to jail. In total, Aboseada admitted to stealing $317,049 from her grandmother.
“The fraud perpetrated by Tanya Aboseada relied on the love and devotion of a family member, which is in many ways more heartless than when the perpetrator is a stranger,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “The FBI upholds an unwavering commitment to deliver justice to victims of elder fraud, and to prioritize the pursuit of those who deliberately target vulnerable seniors.”
In addition to imprisonment, the judge ordered Aboseada to pay $317,049 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative.
The FBI Springfield Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Verseman and Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case.
Florida Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking Nearly a Dozen Women and GirlsRead the Press Release
Following a nine-day trial, a federal jury in the Southern District of Florida convicted Shannima Yuantrell Session, also known as Shalamar, 47, of Lake Placid, Florida, on 13 charges for sex trafficking nearly a dozen women and girls. Session compelled some of his victims to commit commercial sex acts between July 2011 and July 2013, and he compelled other victims to commit commercial sex acts between February 2016 and February 2019.
“The defendant used despicable and horrific means to terrify and coerce nearly a dozen women and girls to engage in commercial sex,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting vulnerable victims from such cruel exploitation. This prosecution reflects that commitment. It is a testament to the courageous young women who cooperated with law enforcement to expose, prosecute and hold accountable this defendant for the years of misery he inflicted on scores of women.”
“Vindicating the rights of human trafficking victims and other vulnerable persons ranks among the highest priorities of our office,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Human trafficking is a crime of exploitation. We will not allow human traffickers to prey upon others for profit, as humans are not commodities but rather demand our united protection. Our office’s dedicated prosecutors, victim witness coordinators, and support personnel will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat human trafficking and bring offenders to justice.”
“Today’s verdict is a step towards justice for the nearly dozen victims who were forced by Shannima Yuantrell Session into sex trafficking and endured his reign of horrendous and abusive control,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. “This verdict is a testament to the cooperation and commitment of several law enforcement agencies including the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. We will continue working with these and other partners to dismantle human trafficking networks that operate in the shadows and brutalize their victims.”
Evidence presented during the trial established that Session made promises of legitimate work and housing assistance to women and girls struggling with unstable living accommodations, substance abuse and neglect or who otherwise led unstable lives. Session’s promises were often false and empty, designed to provide him the opportunity to learn about a victim’s vulnerabilities while misrepresenting himself as caring and empathetic. Session then exploited the victims’ vulnerabilities to compel their commercial sex acts in squalid trailers housing migrant workers or in local orange groves.
At times, Session used food and housing to control and coerce the victims. For example, he would not permit one of his victims to eat if the victim did not follow his instructions. Often, Session required his victims to engage in sexual activity with him after they had spent a night having compelled sexual intercourse with up to 18 men.
Further, the evidence presented during the trial demonstrated that Session resorted to extreme physical violence to compel and intimidate certain victims. He violently punched some of the victims in the back of their heads in order not to leave marks on their bodies. Once, Session dragged a victim to a shower and beat her in the back of her head with a metal nutcracker until she fell limp to the floor. Session also choked another victim to the point that she lost consciousness, beat another victim with a baseball bat and brutalized yet another so badly that her nose ring fell out due to the force of the assault. In addition, Session took multiple victims to a nearby lake, where he held their heads underwater and threatened to drown them if they did not do as he ordered.
The evidence also showed that Session used a firearm to intimidate and control his victims. He consistently kept a firearm in his possession, and frequently displayed it to victims or referred to it when talking with them. Once, Session pointed a firearm at a victim while he was driving and threatened to “kill” her after she asked him how he would feel if someone treated his daughter the way he treated her. Fearing for her life when Session stopped the car and began walking to the passenger side door, the victim jumped out of the car and ran towards nearby woods. In response, Session fired a shot into the air while he called out the victim’s name.
Finally, the evidence indicated that Session manipulated and took advantage of some victims’ substance abuse problems to compel their commercial sex services. For example, Session provided victims with cocaine and methamphetamine to give them sufficient energy to engage in commercial sex acts with multiple migrant men at nearby trailers.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 19. Session faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison as well as mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Miami Field Office, Ft. Pierce Resident Agency, investigated the case, with assistance from the Highlands County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Federal Judge Sentences Man to Ten Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm in RockfordRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A federal judge has sentenced a Rockford man to ten years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm in Rockford.
LAWNDALE PELTS, 36, was found guilty of the firearm offense in May following a jury trial in federal court in Rockford. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston imposed the sentence on Friday.
According to evidence presented at trial, on July 6, 2021, multiple people began shooting at each other in a residential neighborhood on 41st Avenue in Rockford. Home security footage depicted Pelts in possession of a firearm as he fled the shooting. Pelts threw his gun in a residential yard and later, while at the hospital, lied to police about what happened. As a previously convicted felon, Pelts was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and Carla Redd, Chief of the Rockford Police Department. The Beloit, Wisc. Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Maveus and Cassandra Maier.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) – the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Fayette County Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of willfully filing a false tax return, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
James E. Frey Jr., 54, of Uniontown pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Frey deposited checks from his businesses’ customers into his personal bank accounts instead of his businesses’ accounts, and kept for himself the proceeds of checks made payable from his companies to other individuals that were never actually sent. Frey’s personal income tax returns for years including 2019 were false in that, as Frey knew, they failed to report the income from those checks.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for January 14, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney William B. Guappone is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Frey.
Cumberland County Man Charged with Impersonating A Deputy U.S. MarshalRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that William Graves, Jr., age 50, of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with false personation of an officer or employee of the United States.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the information alleges that on multiple occasions in 2022 and 2023, Graves falsely represented himself to be a deputy U.S. Marshal. The information alleges that during a traffic stop conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police, Graves displayed a U.S. Marshals badge and identification and stated that he worked with the U.S. Marshals. The information also alleges that Graves falsely told other individuals that he was engaged in locating and apprehending fugitives.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is three years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Convicted Murderer Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Missing Navajo WomanRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Tre C. James, 31, of Pinon, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to life in prison on count one and an additional 10 years in prison on count two to run consecutively, for the murder of Jamie Yazzie, a woman classified as a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person from the Navajo Nation. A federal jury previously found James guilty of First Degree Murder for Yazzie’s death. The jury also found James guilty of several acts of domestic violence committed against three other women, all members of the Navajo Nation. Judge Rayes sentenced James to an additional 10 years in prison to run concurrently, and five years of supervised release for each of those assaults.
“Securing justice for missing victims of violence necessitates courage, discipline, and collaboration,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “It also requires all of us to demonstrate our commitment with alacrity: for communities to report their missing loved ones as soon as possible; for victim advocates to engage early and often with next of kin; and for agents and prosecutors to charge cases as soon as they are ready to be charged.”
“Today’s sentence underscores the fact that Jamie Yazzie was not forgotten by the FBI or our federal and tribal partners,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez. “Our office is committed to addressing the violence that Native American communities in Arizona face every day and we will continue our efforts to protect families, help victims and ensure that justice is served in each case we pursue.”
James shot and killed Yazzie on the Navajo Nation in the summer of 2019. He hid her remains on the Hopi Reservation, where they remained concealed for almost three years. Multiple agencies worked together to investigate Yazzie’s disappearance, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Services, Navajo Nation Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Navajo County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators faced significant challenges, including the fact that Yazzie had not been reported missing for several days, James had cleaned the crime scene, and the murder occurred while James and Yazzie were home alone together; the global pandemic, which hit the Navajo Nation particularly hard, also presented significant challenges. Investigators persevered and, during the investigation, discovered the assaults against other women, many of which had never been reported to law enforcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer E. LaGrange and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon K. Sexton, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. Ms. Yazzie’s mother, father, grandmother and other relatives provided support to the investigation and prosecution over several years.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-08073-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-126_James# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Cayuga County Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brien Fredendall, age 46, of Port Byron, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Fredendall, who has a previous New York State conviction for possession of child pornography, admitted that he possessed videos and images of child pornography he received from a minor on his Snapchat account. He also admitted to possessing additional child pornography on his cellular phone.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2025, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. Fredendall faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00 and a term of supervised release of between five years and life, to begin after imprisonment. Fredendall will also be required to continue to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. 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.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force with the assistance of the Cayuga County Sherriff’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck prosecuted Fredendall as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Casper man sentenced to 90 months on a federal firearm offenseRead the Press Release
Frank Ray Berris, 53, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Berris was convicted of this crime at a jury trial in June 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 20, in Cheyenne.
According to evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 3, a Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) trooper conducted a traffic stop, near Casper, on a black Ford Explorer being driven by Berris. The defendant, who considers himself a “sovereign citizen,” was driving with fictitious license plates that said, “United States of America Republic Diplomat Foreign National” and “UCC1-308.” Berris was unable to provide proof of a valid driver’s license, insurance, or registration to the trooper. While talking with Berris, the trooper noticed a pistol in a holster between Berris and the console and an AR-style rifle between the console and the passenger seat. The traffic stop escalated into three-hour standoff where the defendant refused to exit his car and told officers they would have to kill him. Berris eventually surrendered and was arrested.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Berris’s vehicle and seized a semiautomatic rifle, two semiautomatic pistols, and ammunition of various calibers. Berris was a felon and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
At the sentencing hearing, the government showed that Berris had been uncooperative, threatened law enforcement, and possessed firearms during two previous traffic stops.
“Mr. Berris has repeatedly refused to recognize that he is required to follow the law just like everyone else,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. “His arrogance, threats, and unlawful possession of guns put the defendant, law enforcement officers, and the general public in harm’s way. The prison sentence in this case delivers a clear message that no one is above the law, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively prosecute felons who unlawfully possess firearms.”
Berris was indicted by a grand jury and pleaded not guilty to the charges in March 2024. Berris represented himself at trial.
WHP, Natrona County Sheriff’s Office and Mills Police Department responded to the scene and special agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this crime. Assistant United States Attorney Mackenzie Morrison and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Sprecher 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 Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 24-00034
Businessman Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison for Running Fencing Operation out of Suburban Chicago StoresRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A businessman has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for running a fencing operation out of his suburban Chicago stores.
ZIAD I. ZAYED used his store – Crestwood Electronics Inc. in Crestwood, Ill. – and other businesses to knowingly purchase stolen electronic devices and other merchandise, re-package the items, and then sell them to buyers out of state and overseas. Some of the items fenced by Zayed included laptop computers, fitness tracking devices, and digital cameras, some of which were stolen from railcars near Chicago.
Zayed, 49, of Frankfort, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a federal conspiracy charge. U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman on Wednesday sentenced Zayed to two years and four months in federal prison and ordered him to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
“By providing a marketplace to sell stolen goods, the defendant has incentivized thieves to steal and rob, whether that’s off tractor trailers sitting on railcars or phones from innocent victims,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Jonas and Ann Marie E. Ursini argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.
Browning man admits assaulting woman with belt on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man accused of beating and then using a belt to assault a woman on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation admitted to an assault charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Briar Joseph Crawford, 29, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Crawford faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 29, 2025. Crawford was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on Aug. 6, 2023, Crawford went to Twin Lakes go fishing with the victim, identified as Jane Doe. They got into an argument, and Crawford began to severely beat Doe over several hours as they traveled from Twin Lakes to the East Glacier Cut Across Road. At one point, Crawford removed his belt, wrapped it around Doe’s neck, grabbed it and lifted her weight off the ground until she blacked out. Doe suffered numerous injuries from the prolonged assault.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Boston Man Charged with Violating National Defense AirspaceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was arraigned today in federal court for allegedly flying a drone near the finish line at the Boston Marathon in April 2024. The drone flight prompted law enforcement and bomb technicians to seize the drone mid-air, land it and evaluate its threat to the public.
Allan Nip, 30, was charged with unlawfully flying a drone in restricted National Defense Airspace. A deferred prosecution agreement filed along with the charging document reflects that the defendant has agreed to pay a $5,000 criminal fine and to forfeit his drone, valued at approximately $4,000. The United States also filed a civil forfeiture complaint in connection with this matter to forfeit the drone and its related controller.
According to court filings, Nip was flying his drone within a few blocks of the Boston Marathon finish line approximately 20 minutes before the professional men in the wheelchair division were finishing the race The drone was detected by federal law enforcement monitoring the airspace near the finish line, was intercepted mid-flight, and was landed in a secure location in Back Bay. Once the drone was taken down and evaluated by bomb technicians, law enforcement responded to Nip’s apartment on West Springfield Street in Boston, where he allegedly admitted to flying the drone that morning.The controller on Nip’s drone, as with most drone controllers, allegedly provided warnings that day that he was flying in a restricted zone. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration had sent out notices warning anyone seeking to fly any type of aircraft (including drones) not to fly near the start or finish lines of the Boston Marathon on race day, without a special permit. Those special permits are not granted for amateur drone operators.
The charge of operating a drone in restricted National Defense Airspace carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine. 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.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division; Colleen D'Alessandro, Regional Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration in New England; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. McNeil of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Allport Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Role Directing Large-Scale Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Allport, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 204 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Alexis Brolin Jr., 55, on September 20, 2024.
According to information presented to the Court, from in and around July 2019 to in and around April 2020 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Brolin conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Brolin, who directed the drug trafficking organization’s activity in Clearfield and surrounding areas, was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining kilogram quantities of methamphetamine that he distributed to others, and was arrested in possession of more than 650 grams of methamphetamine destined for Clearfield during an April 2020 interdiction stop.
Executing a search warrant at Brolin’s residence on the day of his arrest, law enforcement agents seized additional quantities of methamphetamine, as well as 11 firearms and ammunition, including five shotguns, two rifles, an AK-style rifle, and three pistols, with numerous of the firearms not having serial numbers. Under federal law, Brolin was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition based on his earlier felony conviction for robbery. Brolin also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime.
Additionally, from in and around July 2019 to June 2020, Brolin conspired to commit money laundering by having various distributors pre-pay him for the drugs he was to provide them through money wires to and from various locations within Western Pennsylvania.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Brolin. Additional agencies participating in this investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Saturday 21 September 2024
U.S. Attorney’s Office Joins with Federal Bar Association and Law Schools to Hold Third Annual Sacramento Region Diversity Career FairRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the third year running, the Sacramento Region Diversity Career Fair, held Sept. 21, 2024, connected employers with diverse legal candidates for future and current job openings in the greater Sacramento area. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, the UC Davis School of Law, and the Federal Bar Association Sacramento Chapter made the joint announcement following today’s event.
The Diversity Career Fair provided law students and attorneys with the opportunity to connect in person with over 65 employers from the private and public sectors. Starting with a panel discussion that featured state and federal judges as well as the managing partner of a national law firm, the day continued with employer table talks, and concluded with a reception during which students, attorneys, and employers could relax and continue their conversations. The Diversity Career Fair is the first legal career fair in the Sacramento region with an online platform where employers can post legal jobs and law students and attorneys can submit applications. In addition to the opportunity to talk to employers at their tables, this year the Diversity Career Fair included both interview and résumé collection components. A wide variety of employers, bar associations, law students, attorneys, and judges attended the Diversity Career Fair held at the McGeorge School of Law campus.
“The Sacramento region has amazing public and private legal employers, and the Sacramento Region Diversity Career Fair shows the strength of that community and its commitment to diversity,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. “This annual program proves the importance of working with our law schools, bar associations, and the larger legal community, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to sponsoring it.”
“The Diversity Career Fair is a wonderful opportunity for our students and legal employers to meet on our beautiful campus and get to know each other,” McGeorge School of Law Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz said. “For a law school like McGeorge that is one of the most diverse law schools in the country and is in a city, Sacramento, that is one of our country’s most diverse cities, this fair is a perfect fit.”
“It is truly an inspiration to see so many employers committed to diversifying the legal profession,” UC Davis School of Law Dean Jessica Berg said. “Equity and inclusion are driving principles at UC Davis Law, and it is an honor to be included with our incredible partners in this groundbreaking Sacramento Region Diversity Career Fair as we work together to create invaluable opportunities for our students.”
“FBA Sacramento is proud to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the law schools, and local affinity bar associations to enrich our legal community by welcoming diverse applicants into the Sacramento Region’s legal workforce,” said Victoria Boesch, President of the Sacramento Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
The panel discussion featured Sacramento Superior Court Judge Jerome Price, U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison Claire (E.D. Cal.), and Stoel Rives LLP Managing Partner Melissa A. Jones.
The Sacramento Region Diversity Career Fair was co-sponsored by all of the affinity bar associations in Sacramento, including the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento (ABAS), Cruz Reynoso Bar Association, the Disability Bar Association of Sacramento (DIBAS), Leonard M. Friedman Bar Association, Sacramento Filipino American Lawyers Association (SacFALA), South Asian Bar Association (SABA), SacLegal Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association, Wiley Manuel Bar Association (WMBA), Women Lawyers of Sacramento (WLS), the Yolo Unity Bar, and by the Sacramento County Bar Association.
For more information: https://www.sacramentodiversitycareerfair.org/..
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow Statement on the Passing of Former United States Attorney Daniel López RomoRead the Press Release
United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow released the following statement regarding the passing of former United States Attorney Daniel López Romo.
On behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of former United States Attorney Daniel López Romo and recognize his exceptional service to the people of Puerto Rico and the nation.
López Romo was a distinguished attorney and a great man, and we honor his many years of dedicated public service. May he rest in peace and may his memory be eternal.
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Friday 20 September 2024
‘We knocked her out with some gummies:’ coordinator in unaccompanied child smuggling ring admits to conspiring to smuggle toddler from MexicoRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old Laredo woman has pleaded guilty to smuggling a young child into the United States for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
From August to September 2023, Vanessa Valadez and other family members operated a child smuggling ring working to bring young non-citizen children from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, into the United States. All the children were under the age of five.
On the night of Sept. 19, 2023, members of the smuggling ring retrieved a young girl from a stash house which the organization members operated. The co-conspirators smuggled the girl across the border and delivered her to Valadez in downtown Laredo. Co-conspirators then took the child further into the United States and delivered her to unknown people.
On Sept. 21, 2023, members of the smuggling ring attempted to transport another young girl. However, law enforcement intercepted them following a routine border inspection at the Juarez Lincoln Bridge in Laredo. To carry out their scheme, co-conspirators had sedated the girl with melatonin gummies and used an unlawfully obtained birth certificate to deceive authorities into believing the girl was a family member.
According to one of the conspirators, the smuggling ring had attempted to similarly transport at least four girls into the United States, three of whom remain unidentified, and their whereabouts are unknown. Members of the smuggling ring obtained birth certificates of U.S. citizen children to pose as a family unit at ports of entry to the United States. At times, members of the smuggling ring used melatonin gummies to sedate at least one child to ensure a successful smuggling attempt.
The investigation revealed one of the co-conspirators sent a text message and an image depicting an unconscious child and a caption, “La noquiamos con unas gomitas,” translated in English as “we knocked her out with some gummies.”
“This smuggling case ranks among the most chilling we’ve ever seen - involving the systematic trade of transporting young children to unknown final destinations,” said Hamdani. “Let this prosecution serve as a stark warning to all those parents who might consider entrusting a precious child to the care of a criminal organization bent on making money by smuggling vulnerable children - your child could be sedated or drugged . . . or worse.”
Co-conspirators Ana Laura Bryand, 47, Dallas; her niece Kayla Marie Bryand, 20, Laredo, Jose Eduardo Bryand, 43, Laredo; Nancy Guadalupe Bryand, 44, all of Laredo; and Lizeth Esmeralda Bryand Arredondo, 32, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentence Jan. 8, 2025. At that time, Valadez faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol, Laredo Police Department, Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General and FBI. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Terence A. Check Jr. is prosecuting the case with the assistance of AUSA Michael Makens.
Westwego Man Guilty of Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DONALD GREEN (“GREEN”), age 35, a resident of Westwego, Louisiana, pled guilty on September 17, 2024, before United States District Judge Susie Morgan to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) and, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
For the Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Cocaine charge, GREEN faces not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000 and at least 4 years of supervised release. For the Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine charge, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least 3 years supervised release. For the Felon in Possession of Ammunition charge, he faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each offense also requires payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Sentencing in this matter will occur on December 17, 2024.
According to court documents, on June 13, 2023, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) deputies and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) special agents observed GREEN distribute cocaine. As law enforcement officers approached GREEN, he fled and was later located in a Westwego apartment. JPSO detectives recovered a Ruger Model P-94, .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 10 live nine-millimeter rounds with one round in the chamber, under a mattress in the back bedroom. Additionally, the detectives recovered a High Standard, .22 Caliber, revolver in the same room in which GREEN was hiding.
The vehicle driven by GREEN was also searched and a Norinco Model SKS, 7.26 caliber rifle was recovered from the trunk.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
West Park Man Pleads Guilty to Filing Thousands of Fraudulent COVID-19 Testing Reimbursement Claims in the Names of Homeless, Incarcerated and Deceased Individuals, Agrees to Forfeit over $5.6 Million and PropertiesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Willie F. Murray, Jr. (55, West Park) today pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Murray faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and a consecutive two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft offense. Murray has also agreed to forfeit $5,671,611.74 in U.S. currency, $1,578,925.56 from a bank account, and seven real properties located in Punta Gorda, Fort Lauderdale, Belle Glade, Hollywood, and South Bay, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the plea agreement, Murray was the registered agent and manager of Lab Tess, LLC, a Florida company that purportedly provided its customers with COVID-19 testing services. In fact, Lab Tess provided no such services. Murray used Lab Tess to submit fraudulent claims for reimbursement to the Health Resources and Services Administration for COVID-19 testing services supposedly provided to uninsured individuals. To complete the scheme, Murray used personal identifying information of individuals incarcerated by the Florida Department of Corrections, individuals falsely reported as having been tested at homeless shelters and electrical substations, and deceased individuals. Murray submitted more than 126,000 fraudulent claims and received reimbursement in the approximate amount of $5,671,611.74, which he used, in part, to purchase real properties in South Florida.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo and Suzanne Nebesky.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Waterloo Fentanyl Dealer Found Guilty After Four Day TrialRead the Press Release
A Waterloo man who traveled to Mexico to acquire fentanyl was convicted by a jury today after a four‑day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Javoni Marcelius Butler, age 43, from Waterloo, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, one count of international money laundering, and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The verdict was returned this morning following about forty minutes of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that, beginning in January 2022, and continuing until December 20, 2023, Butler traveled to Mexico on several occasions to acquire fentanyl. During that time, Butler obtained over 10,000 pills containing fentanyl and a significant quantity of fentanyl powder. After obtaining the fentanyl from his Mexican source of supply, Butler worked with several people in Waterloo, Iowa, to distribute the fentanyl. On at least one occasion, Butler conducted an international wire transfer of drug proceeds.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Butler was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the verdict was returned and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Butler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 100 years’ imprisonment, a $10,500,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson, and it 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 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; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the United States Postal Inspection Service; and Homeland Security Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23‑CR‑02078‑CJW.
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U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Announce Criminal Charges in Fruitland CarjackingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington man was charged by indictment for carjacking incident in 2022 in Fruitland, New Mexico.
Myles Cordelle Dan Padilla, 32, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge and will remain in custody pending trial, which is set for November 12, 2024.
According to the indictment, on April 10, 2022, Padilla took a motor vehicle from John Doe by force. During the incident, Padilla discharged a firearm. Padilla is prohibited by federal law from handling or possessing firearms or ammunition due to his previous felony convictions, which include breaking and entering, battery upon a peace officer, and battery against a household member.
If convicted of the current charges, Padilla faces not less than 10 years and up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
Padilla Indictment.pdfAn indictment 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's Office Summer Anti-Violence Initiative Leads to 65 Individuals Indicted for Firearms and Violent Crime Offenses, Including Charlotte Man Charged with Gun Trafficking and Possessing A MachinegunRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned a criminal indictment this week, charging Joshua Herman Phillips, 39, of Claremont, N.C., with gun trafficking, possession of a machinegun, and dealing in firearms without a license, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to allegations in the indictment, between July and August 2024, in Catawba County, Phillips engaged in the trafficking of 23 firearms. The firearms included handguns and AR type rifles. The indictment also alleges that Phillips possessed a Privately Made Firearm, AR Style Rifle chambered in 7.62 x 39, which is classified as a machinegun.
This case is prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
This week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office also filed charges against 10 defendants for illegal possession of firearms and related offenses. Among those charged are:
U.S. v. Jodeic Savage – Savage, 28, of Pembroke, N.C., is charged with two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
U.S. v. Rodney Regan Dunham – Dunham, 43, of Rock Hill, S.C. is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
U.S. v. Ismael Jarquin Cortes – Cortes, 39, of Charlotte, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien and illegal reentry by an alien.
In June, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced efforts to enhance safety across communities in Western North Carolina, especially during the summer months when violent crime historically increases. As a result of those efforts, over the summer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicted 65 individuals for illegally buying, selling, or possessing firearms, committing a violent crime, or using a firearm in the commission of the crime.
“Our priority is to reduce violent crime, remove illegal firearms from our streets, and keep the people of the Western District of North Carolina safe,” said U.S. Attorney King. “In collaboration with our federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners, we are focusing on investigating and prosecuting individuals that pose a threat to the community, spread violence and drugs in our neighborhoods, traffic or possess illegal firearms, and drive-up violent crime.”
In addition to bringing criminal charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s continues to enhance community safety through community partnerships and crime prevention programs.
“Our crime reduction efforts extend beyond prosecutions,” said U.S. Attorney King. “To enhance public safety, we must incorporate prevention programs and intervention strategies, and work closely with community organizations and stakeholders that share our commitment to a safer community.”
An important initiative in these efforts, especially during the summer months, was the relaunch of Think Again. Think Again is an informational campaign aimed at deterring illegal firearms activity. For this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office partnered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to educate the public on how to prevent illegal firearms from getting into the wrong hands, the legal consequences of illegally purchasing and selling firearms, and the importance of reporting suspected criminal activity. Through social media messaging and billboard advertisements throughout the Western District of North Carolina, Think Again strives to increase public awareness about gun crimes and the dangers of illegal firearms purchasing or misuse.
In collaboration with law enforcement agencies, community organizations, nonprofit entities, and school districts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to engage in violence prevention initiatives, particularly with adolescents and emerging adults. Earlier this summer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Asheville Police Department (APD), hosted an outreach event at My Daddy Taught Me That, a youth development program in Asheville, designed to support young people through advocacy, education, and mentoring. During the event, U.S. Attorney King introduced APD Police Chief Michael Lamb to a group of young males and facilitated a group discussion about APD’s community engagement goals under Chief Lamb’s leadership.
In August, the U.S. Attorney’s Office partnered again with APD to host a community forum with Asheville community leaders where U.S. Attorney King discussed partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime and explore ways law enforcement can partner with community organizations and stakeholders to assist in these joint efforts.
Throughout the summer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Attorney King continued collaborating with youth programs and school districts in the Western District and the Qualla Boundary, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, to hold listening sessions and have impactful conversations with young people on the causes and consequences of violence.
Also, in July, U.S. Attorney’s Office personnel joined the Charlotte and Asheville winners of the “Do the Write Thing” (DtWT) essay contest, for the National Recognition Week in Washington, D.C. DtWT is a contest organized by the National Campaign to Stop Violence and seeks to encourage middle school students to express the impact of violence in their lives through writing, and to empower students to become catalysts for positive change by sharing their ideas on ways to reduce youth violence. U.S. Attorney King serves as Chair of the DtWT Committee in Asheville.
For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office and programs centered on enhancing community safety, please visit our website.
The charges contained in the indictments are allegations and the defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court of law.
U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentence of Isleta Village Man for Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Los Lunas man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for shooting at a family friend with a shotgun following a dispute.
According to court records, on December 14, 2023, Vincent Jerome Martinez opened fire on a family friend with a 12-gauge shotgun when the victim arrived to give a ride to Martinez's grandmother and her granddaughters. Martinez exited his residence, pointed the shotgun at the victim, and yelled "I'm going to kill you!" before discharging the firearm multiple times. The victim fled the scene in his vehicle.
The incident stemmed from a verbal altercation the previous night after the victim refused to take Martinez to purchase alcohol.
As police responded, Martinez attempted to conceal the shotgun under railroad ties behind a metal shed. He was apprehended shortly after and initially denied having a weapon, despite shotgun shells falling from his pockets. During a subsequent interview, Martinez admitted to the shooting.
Martinez will be subject to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $3,900 fine.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Isleta Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Delivers 12 Year Prison Sentence for 2019 Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to 12 years and one day in prison for a violent crime spree that included two carjackings at gunpoint, an attempted bank robbery, and a high-speed chase with law enforcement.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on the evening of January 8, 2019, Charles Chavez, 33, approached a home on Gold Ave SW, rang the doorbell, and asked the homeowner to use the telephone. When the homeowner refused, Chavez brandished a loaded rifle and demanded the keys to the homeowner's truck. Fearing for his life, the homeowner complied, and Chavez fled in the truck.
Shortly after, Chavez abandoned the stolen vehicle at a gas station located at 511 Bridge Blvd SW. There, he encountered E.E., who was refueling his vehicle. Chavez, armed with the same rifle, threatened E.E. and his passengers, demanding the keys to the vehicle. E.E. handed over the keys, and Chavez forcibly took the vehicle, leaving behind the first stolen truck.
Chavez continued his crime spree at a Wells Fargo ATM near Rio Bravo Blvd SW, where he blocked in a vehicle occupied by A.B. and V.E. Chavez pointed the rifle at the pair and demanded money. When they could not produce any cash, Chavez ordered them to withdraw funds from the ATM. His attempt to rob the victims was interrupted when a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived at the scene and ordered Chavez to surrender.
Instead of complying, Chavez shouted expletives and fled in the stolen vehicle, initiating a high-speed chase. Driving at speeds of up to 100 mph, Chavez ultimately crashed the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, still armed with the rifle. Deputies gave repeated commands for Chavez to surrender, but he refused, threatening officers and indicating he might shoot himself. Even after placing the rifle down, Chavez kept it within arm’s reach and continued to resist arrest. Deputies were forced to deploy non-lethal beanbag rounds and a K-9 unit to finally apprehend him.
Upon his release from prison, Chavez will be subject to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case with the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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U.S. Attorney and ATF Announce Charges Against Five in Bernalillo County Firearms and Drug Trafficking SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Five young men face federal charges for allegedly running a firearms and drug trafficking operation that utilized social media platforms to sell machine gun conversion devices and cocaine.
The indictment alleges that from approximately February 13, 2024, to July 2024, Micah Maestas, 19, Dominic Ramirez, 20, Daniel Garcia, 18, and Oscar Ruiz Salmeron, 19, engaged in a conspiracy to illegally sell firearms, including machine gun conversion devices, and distribute cocaine in Bernalillo County. Jesus Ruiz Salmeron, 19, is accused of unlawfully possessing a machinegun.
The defendants allegedly used social media platforms such as Instagram and Telegram to advertise and negotiate the sale of firearms. They are accused of transporting firearms to meet buyers and completing sales for cash. Specifically:
- On February 13, 2024, Maestas, Ramirez, and Garcia allegedly distributed cocaine.
- On March 1, 2024, Maestas, Ramirez, and Garcia sold a Glock 30 .45 caliber pistol with a machine gun conversion device to an undercover officer for $1,200, distributed cocaine, and used a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- On May 2-3, 2024, Ramirez and Garcia sold a Glock 19x with a machine gun conversion device for $1,300, distributed cocaine, and used a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- On May 9, 2024, Maestas, Ramirez, and Oscar Ruiz Salmeron sold a Diamondback firearm 300 blackout caliber rifle for $1,100, distributed cocaine, and used a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- On or before June 13, 2024, Jesus Ruiz Salmeron possessed and transferred a machinegun.
- On July 3, 2024, Maestas possessed and sold a Glock 19 9mm pistol with a machine gun conversion device for $1,300. The machine gun conversion device in this incident was described as “invisible,” fitting flush with the back of the firearm, whereby evading potential law enforcement detection.
Garcia will remain in custody pending trial. Maestas will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which is currently scheduled for September 24, 2024. Ramirez and the Salmeron brothers have been ordered to reside in a halfway house pending trial, which is currently scheduled for November 4, 2024.
If convicted, Garcia, Maestas, Ramirez and Oscar Ruiz Salmeron face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison up to life in prison for possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Jesus Ruiz Salmeron faces up to 10 years in prison for possession of a machine gun conversion device.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Letitia Carroll Simms is prosecuting the case.
Maetas et al. Indictment.pdfAn indictment 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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Two Council Bluffs Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Two Council Bluffs men were sentenced for their roles in conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area:
- Douglas Marqueis Louis, 45, was sentenced on August 28, 2024, to a 210-month prison term; and
- Nikolas Alan Koebel, 27, was sentenced on September 20, 2024, to a 100-month prison term.
According to public court documents, in December 2023 during a search warrant a Louis’s Council Bluffs residence, law enforcement located more than three pounds of methamphetamine, more than one pound of marijuana, more than an ounce and a half of cocaine, and more than $13,000 cash. Some of the cash at Louis’s residence came from a controlled purchase of fentanyl that law enforcement made from Koebel. In total, law enforcement arranged six controlled purchases of fentanyl from Koebel.
After completing their terms of imprisonment, Louis and Koebel will each be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement, Council Bluffs Police Department, and Omaha Police Department.