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Wednesday 11 September 2024
Dartmouth Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling from Multiple EmployersRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dartmouth woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from two different employers.
Jasmyne Botelho, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18, 2024. Botelho was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024.
Between September 2017 and April 2020, Botelho stole at least $280,000 from her employer. Specifically, Botelho directed payments purportedly intended for the company’s vendors to bank accounts she controlled and used company funds to make payments on personal credit cards and an auto loan. To hide her scheme, Botelho falsified her employer’s books and records to make it appear as though the payments had in fact been sent to legitimate vendors rather than to Botelho.
Between May 2022 and December 2023, Botelho improperly inflated her payroll from another employer by more than $160,000. She concealed her scheme by manipulating her employer’s payroll and accounting software to hide her inflated payroll as well as phony “reimbursements” she paid herself.
The charge of wire fraud provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Crown Point Man Sentenced to 120 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Jeremy Dumas, 56 years old, of Crown Point, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Dumas was sentenced to 120 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense, an assessment of $5,000 that will be paid into a fund dedicated to supporting victims, and an assessment of $10,000 that will be paid into the Child Pornography Victims Reserve.
According to documents in the case, from November 1, 2016 through March 16, 2023, Dumas knowingly received and possessed 977 images and 614 video files of child sexual abuse material, including images depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct and the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Crown Point Police Department, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Indiana State Police, and the Indiana State Police Digital Forensics Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia D. Wardrip and Steven J. Lupa.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Cocaine and a FirearmRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced today to seven years (84 months) in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
According to public court documents, Reginald Juan Harris, Jr., 32, came to the attention of law enforcement in November 2023 for distributing cocaine and marijuana from his Council Bluffs residence. During a subsequent search warrant at his residence, law enforcement located approximately 12 grams of cocaine, approximately 950 grams of marijuana, and a loaded .45 caliber pistol.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Harris will 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 Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (SWINE) Task Force.
Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced today to 40 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents, T.J. LeBaugh, 37, dropped a bag with a loaded nine-millimeter firearm and an extended firearm magazine while fleeing from law enforcement. Prior to fleeing on foot, LeBaugh was speeding and caused a car accident. In 2015, LeBaugh was convicted of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
After completing his term of imprisonment, LeBaugh will be required to serve a three-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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Council Bluffs Police Department.
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.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon pleaded guilty to drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.
Waymon Lanar Robinson, Jr., 31, of Birmingham, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on March 1, 2023, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted surveillance on a house in Tarrant, Alabama, associated with the gang “Hard2Kill.” Officers conducted a traffic stop in an alleyway behind the house. Officers saw Robinson place something inside his pants and walk away from the house. They approached Robinson and asked if he had any weapons on him. Robinson said he did and showed the officer a Glock .40 caliber pistol in his waistband. Robinson also had fentanyl, methamphetamine, hydrocodone pills, heroin, and marijuana inside of a Crown Royal Bag in his pants.
The FBI investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Byrd is prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Randy Rashawn Moorehead, 34, of Charlotte, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on January 12, 2022, a CMPD officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Moorehead’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Moorehead did not comply and instead drove off. The officer continued to follow Moorehead, who eventually turned into a dead-end street and the officer was able to block Moorehead’s vehicle. During the traffic stop, law enforcement detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Law enforcement proceeded to conduct a search of the vehicle. Over the course of the search, law enforcement recovered a bag that contained a firearm, a quantity of cocaine base, marijuana, and digital scales. Moorehead has a prior felony conviction of Intentional Child Abuse Causing Serious Physical Injury, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Moorehead is currently in federal custody. The statutory maximum for the charged offense is 15 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been sent.
The ATF and CMPD conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shavonn Bennette of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to a Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Louisville, Colorado man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord to a firearm offense, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Shelby Theriault, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Court Steven McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2024.
On January 20, 2024, Theriault was arrested for unrelated theft offenses and found to be in possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Theriault subsequently admitted to stealing the shotgun from a residence in New Hampshire and sawing down the barrel thereafter. Theriault then did not register the sawed-off shotgun as required by the National Firearm Act.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Conway Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Scanlon is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Clay County Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Anthony Rodriguez, Jr. (32, Orange Park) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in federal prison and forfeiture of a Glock pistol and ammunition traceable to the offense. Rodriguez made his initial appearance in federal court on July 9, 2024, and was ordered detained.
According to court records, on May 11, 2024, Rodriguez shoplifted merchandise from a retail store in Clay County. Store personnel stopped Rodriguez and deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office subsequently responded. As deputies searched Rodriguez incident to his arrest, a loaded Glock 43 9mm pistol fell on to the ground from Rodriguez’s clothing. At the time of the incident, Rodriguez had seven prior felony convictions, including two involving a firearm and ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
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.
Civil settlement resolves allegations of record-keeping violations against Savannah-area weight loss physicianRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A physician who operates weight-loss clinics in the Savannah area has agreed to pay civil penalties and to accept increased oversight to resolve allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act.
Dr. Donald Lyle Gates, who operates three Savannah-area Scale Solutions clinics, reached a settlement with the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, that requires Gates to pay a civil penalty of $100,000. An agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration also allows Dr. Gates to maintain DEA registrations to dispense controlled substances while abiding by specific conditions that include a two-year term of increased oversight by DEA.
“Those with the authority to dispense potentially addictive drugs are expected to balance that power with the responsibility to provide adequate and trustworthy recordkeeping,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Recordkeeping requirements serve a critical role to ensure that controlled substances are not diverted for illegal purposes.”
Dr. Gates operates Georgia weight-loss clinics called Scale Solutions in Savannah, Pooler, and Hinesville, and previously operated a clinic in Bluffton, S.C. The United States, through the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, alleged that Gates failed to keep and maintain records for the prescription weight-loss drugs phentermine and phendimetrazine, and dispensed those drugs in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
DEA Diversion Investigators conducted on-site inspections of Dr. Gates’ offices and determined, among other findings, that the offices did not have complete and accurate records of controlled substances for which Dr. Gates was responsible, including inventories, documents memorializing his receipt of controlled substances, their distribution, and their dispensation. Investigators alleged that on more than one occasion, Dr. Gates failed to keep controlled substances at the locations registered with DEA and instead transferred those controlled substances to his home.
The Controlled Substances Act creates a closed system that tracks controlled substances from manufacture through distributor, to the ultimate end-user, allowing the DEA to monitor the flow of controlled substances in the United States at every juncture. When a dispensing practitioner fails to maintain complete and accurate records, the system is at risk for illegal diversion into the community.
The civil settlement and the Memorandum of Agreement are neither an admission of liability by Dr. Gates, nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well-founded.
“Diverted and misused prescription medications pose a grave threat to public health,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Therefore, it’s expected and required that physicians and other trusted medical providers maintain meticulous records of these controlled substances to prevent prescription drug abuse.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the civil settlement was negotiated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradford C. Patrick.
Cincinnati man admits to serving as ‘straw purchaser’ for at least 21 firearmsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to a crime related to the illegal straw purchases of at least 21 firearms.
Timothy Moorman, Jr., 32, pleaded guilty to making a false statement on a federal firearm form.
Moorman admitted he bought firearms at Cincinnati-area federal firearms licensees and then provided those firearms to co-conspirators the same day or within a few days.
According to court documents, the individuals to whom Moorman provided the firearms immediately trafficked them outside of Ohio. For example, at least nine firearms were recovered in connection with a crime in Canada less than two weeks after Moorman bought them. Two others were traced to crimes in Canada and Detroit within two months of purchase.
Court documents detail that in September and October 2023, Moorman purchased firearms at Bass Pro Shops, Range USA – Cincy West, Range USA – Blue Ash, Target World and North College Hill Gun Store.
Moorman falsely indicated on the required firearms forms that the firearms were for himself and no one else, when in fact he was acting as a straw purchaser.
The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.
Making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is representing the United States in this case.
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Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Destruction of an Energy FacilityRead the Press Release
Cameron Monte Smith, a citizen of Canada, pleaded guilty to one count of destruction of an energy facility charged in the District of North Dakota and one count of destruction of an energy facility charged in the District of South Dakota.
Smith admitted to damaging the Wheelock substation, located near Ray, North Dakota, in an amount exceeding $100,000, in May 2023. The Wheelock substation is operated by Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
Smith also admitted to damaging a transformer and pumpstation of the Keystone Pipeline located near Carpenter, South Dakota, in an amount exceeding $100,000, in July 2022.
Smith damaged the Wheelock substation and the Keystone Pipeline equipment by firing multiple rounds from a high-power rifle into the equipment resulting in disruption of electric services to the North Dakota customers and resulting in disruption of the Keystone Pipeline in South Dakota.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch, U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider for the District of North Dakota, U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota and Special Agent in Charge Travis S. Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division made the announcement.
The FBI and ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D. Hagler, Jonathan J. O’Konek and Jeremy Jehangiri are prosecuting the case with the assistance from Trial Attorneys Jacob Warren and Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Buffalo man sentenced on drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Felix Calderon-Valcarel, 34, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, was sentenced to serve 87 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine, who handled the case, stated that between May 2018 and September 2018, law enforcement officers conducted a series of controlled buys and payments from Calderon-Valcarcel. In addition, between July 2018 and February 2019, officers seized approximately 8.5 kilograms of cocaine and $52,000 in U.S. currency from postal parcels shipped from Puerto Rico to various locations in the Western District of New York, Florida, Alaska, Georgia, and Pennsylvania using the United States Postal Service. The shipments were made to Calderon-Valcarcel or to a co-conspirator. Additionally, the investigation identified $55,700 in U.S. currency and/or money orders shipped in parcels from Calderon-Valcarcel or co-conspirators to Puerto Rico as payment to the source of supply for the cocaine. In March 2019, the Lackawanna Police Department executed a search warrant at Calderon-Valcarcel’s residence and vehicle. Officers seized $10,000 in cash, five kilograms of cocaine, and a 9mm firearm.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Boston Division Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division; The Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division; the Orchard Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Fitzgerald; the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard; and the Hamburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Dienes.
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Bookkeeper Agrees to Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion and Disability Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former bookkeeper for an electrical and contracting business has been charged with, and has agreed to plead guilty to, concealing income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and stealing disability benefits.
David Tetreault, 54, of Attleboro, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of tax evasion, one count of theft of government money and one count of wire fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging documents, Tetreault worked as a bookkeeper for a Massachusetts-based electrical contractor between 2015 and 2021. It is alleged that, during those years, Tetreault received wages in cash and used company funds to pay his personal credit card bills. Tetreault allegedly manipulated the company’s accounting records and bank statements to disguise these payments as business expenses. As a result of this alleged conduct, Tetreault underreported his personal income by at least $2.1 million, causing a loss to the IRS of over $600,000.
It is also alleged that Tetreault did not report his work for the electrical contractor or his income to the Social Security Administration and submitted false information about his employment and income to the Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI). As a result of this alleged conduct, Tetreault collected over $320,000 in Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and ERSRI disability pension benefits to which he was not entitled between 2016 and 2024.
The charge of tax evasion provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Corwin Rattler, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Agawam Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Agawam tax preparer was sentenced on Sept. 5, 2024 in federal court in Boston for filing false tax returns.
Colleen Gruska, 66, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to two months in prison followed by 12 months of supervised release with the first six months to be served in home confinement and to ordered pay $261,102 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. In January 2024, Gruska pleaded guilty to four counts of filing false tax returns.
Over the course of a decade, Gruska used her tax preparation service to defraud the United States by filing dozens of false tax returns for herself, her relatives, and others. In each of the tax returns, she reported business losses that were either dramatically overstated or were for businesses that did not even exist, resulting in little or no federal income tax owed by the taxpayer. For example, in her own filings, she reported $189,000 in expenses over four years for a house and yard cleaning business despite there being no actual expenses, enabling her to avoid paying $36,079 in taxes. Similarly, for a relative, she filed false tax returns that claimed a non-existent soccer coaching business with expenses totaling $233,561, thus enabling this person to avoid paying $39,599 in taxes. In total, Gruska caused a loss to the IRS of $261,102.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Tuesday 10 September 2024
United States Attorney to Co-Chair Justice Department’s New “ANTI-MCD” Committee, Targeting Machinegun Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester will Co-Chair a new Justice Department standing committee called Action Network to Terminate Illegal Machinegun Conversion Devices (“ANTI-MCD”). Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced the creation of the ANTI-MCD Committee last Friday, which will include representatives of each of the Department’s law enforcement components (ATF, FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshal’s Service), the Civil and Criminal Divisions, the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, and the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. U.S. Attorney Troester will Co-Chair with Tim Jones, Deputy Assistant Director of ATF. Deputy Attorney General Monaco’s full announcement can be found here.
Machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), often referred to as “switches” or “auto sears,” convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns that fire multiple rounds by a single pull of the trigger. Making, selling, or possessing MCDs is illegal under federal law. The significant danger MCDs pose to our community and the proliferation of these illegal devices on our streets requires immediate and sustained attention.
The ANTI-MCD Committee will provide leadership and guidance for how to best deploy Department resources to reduce the proliferation of MCDs, work with interagency and external partners on initiatives and joint MCD prosecution and enforcement efforts, and ensure coordination among Department components and other stakeholders. The Committee will also propose additional initiatives and make recommendations to ODAG on all aspects of the Department’s efforts to address the proliferation of MCDs including research and data collection, policy updates, resource allocation, and coordination with our federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecution and law enforcement partners.
“MCDs present a clear and immediate danger in our communities to both the public and law enforcement. We must combat this threat with an all-hands approach,” said U.S. Attorney Troester. “I am honored to Co-Chair the ANTI-MCD Committee that will bring together the expertise of our internal and external partners to address this nationwide threat.”
“MCDs are a significant public safety threat that continues to grow more pervasive each day,” said Timothy Jones, Deputy Assistant Director of Field Operations at ATF. “The creation of the ANTI-MCD Committee is a coordinated effort to enhance law enforcement efforts to hold offenders accountable and ultimately save lives. I am honored to bring ATF’s investigative and technical expertise to this initiative as Co-Chair of the Committee with U.S. Attorney Troester.”
In November 2023, the Western District of Oklahoma announced the creation of Project Switch Off, a local Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, to address the significant danger MCDs present and remove them from our streets. Federal prosecutors and ATF have trained nearly 750 law enforcement officers on MCDs. Between 2020 and 2022, the Western District charged eight individuals with MCD-related offenses, compared to 39 individuals prosecuted over the last year through Project Switch Off.
Two Nashville Men Convicted of Federal Ammunition Charges Following Shooting at Car WashRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Elbert Bryant Gleaves, 29, and Corey Monte Pickett, 35, both of Nashville, Tennessee, were found guilty by a federal jury of possession of ammunition after having previously been convicted of a felony, announced Henry C. Leventis, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The evidence presented at trial showed that on March 18, 2021, defendant Corey Pickett was at the Camel Carwash on Doverside Drive near Dickerson Pike with two other men. Defendant Gleaves drove to the carwash, exited his car wearing a mask, and began shooting at Pickett and the others. After firing nine rounds, Gleaves backed his car out of an entry area, breaking the carwash’s mechanical arm, then fled the scene. Pickett and another man chased Gleaves, running into the adjacent parking lot, while shooting at Gleaves’ car. A passenger in a car sitting at a traffic light on Dickerson Pike was struck in the left upper arm by a bullet from the shootout and critically injured.
“These defendants’ reckless disregard for human life resulted in the serious injury of an innocent bystander and placed many others at risk,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “As a result of the excellent work of our law enforcement partners and our trial team, they can now be held accountable.”
At sentencing, Gleaves and Corey Pickett face up to 10 years in federal prison.
A co-defendant in this case, Dezzion Pickett, previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition as well as drug charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2024. Dezzion Pickett faces 70-87 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel M. Stephens and Kathryn D. Risinger are prosecuting the case.
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Two Guatemalan Men Arrested Near the Pittsburg Port of Entry for Illegal Immigration OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Two Guatemalan men were arrested in connection with illegal immigration offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Esdras Aaron Calel-Cumes, 29, and Luis Felipe Xiloj-Ambrocio, 31, were charged by complaint, stemming from an arrest yesterday - September 9, 2024. Calel-Cumes was charged with one count of transporting an illegal alien, and Xiloj-Ambrocio was charged with one count of illegal entry. Both men will appear in federal court later today.
According to the charging documents, on September 9, 2024, remote surveillance equipment detected and captured images of a male walking in a remote and undeveloped area, just south of the Pittsburg Port of Entry in the northern most part of New Hampshire near the United States/Canadian International Border, in close proximity to US Route 3. Shortly thereafter, a responding Border Patrol Agent stopped a southbound vehicle after observing a male in the passenger seat who was wearing dark clothing like that of the individual who was captured on the surveillance images. The passenger was identified as Xiloj-Ambrocio. Both men were identified as Guatemalan nationals, and a record check revealed that neither Calel-Cumes nor Xiloj-Ambrocio had legal status in the United States.
The charge of transportation of an illegal alien carries a sentence of up to 5 years incarceration, up to 3 years of supervised released, and a fine up to $250,000. The charge of illegal entry carries a sentence of up to 6 months incarceration, up to 1 year of supervised release. 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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Scanlon is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Tuscaloosa Woman Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison Following Federal Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – On September 9, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 30-year-old Teaira Nishara Robbins, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, receive a sentence of 87 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson. Following her prison sentence, Robbins will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and statements made in open court, on December 18, 2022, at 3:30 a.m., deputies observed a vehicle pull into the parking lot of a closed business in Elmore County. The location is within a mile of three state correctional facilities and the area was known for activity relating to the introduction of illegal narcotics into the nearby prisons. Two individuals exited the vehicle and placed what appeared to be bags into the car’s trunk. Deputies then made contact with the vehicle’s occupants and identified Robbins as the driver. Upon searching the vehicle, deputies found packages of marijuana and methamphetamine in the trunk, along with various other contraband. State charges are pending for the other individuals involved in this investigation.
During her plea hearing on January 19, 2024, Robbins admitted that she possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the illegal drug.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted.
Third member of smuggling scheme found guiltyRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury has convicted a 49-year-old Cuban national for conspiring to unlawfully transport non-U.S. citizens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The jury deliberated for less than one hour before finding Deivis Reinaldo Rodriguez-Ramirez guilty following a two-day trial.
The jury heard evidence that Rodriguez-Ramirez was part of a group of three men conspiring to conceal undocumented individuals inside a tractor-trailer.
On Aug. 21, 2023, Daikiel Perdomo-Castro drove the tractor-trailer into the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias with no visible occupants. There, authorities asked Perdomo-Castro to drive the vehicle through an X-ray inspection.
Law enforcement discovered Rodriguez-Ramirez, who had moved into the passenger seat, and eight individuals illegally present and attempting to hide in the sleeper compartment of the tractor. A third co-conspirator, Macdiel Labrada-Martin, was also found in the sleeper compartment.
During the trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that even though Rodriguez-Ramirez was in the tractor with the other two-conspirators and the eight undocumented aliens, he had no part in the offense. They did not believe those claims and found Rodriguez-Ramirez guilty as charged.
Perdomo-Castro, 40, and Labrada-Martin, 32, both of Louisville, Kentucky, previously pleaded guilty and received sentences of nine and 15 months in federal prison, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales-Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for Dec. 4. At that time, Rodriguez-Ramirez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Young Burkett and Ashley Martin are prosecuting the case.
Texas Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly West Virginia ManRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Tosha Lantz, 31, of Aransas Pass, Texas, was sentenced today to 6 months in federal prison for mail fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Lantz, when residing in Randolph County, West Virginia, transferred funds from an elderly man’s bank accounts for her own benefit. Lantz also used the man’s identifying information to open credit cards for her personal use. The total amount of the fraud was $32,400.
Lantz will also serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and West Virginia State Police investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
If you know of an elderly person who has been the victim of financial fraud, please contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) or send an email to [email protected].
Springfield Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Drug Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute valeryl fentanyl, which is an analogue of fentanyl, and illegally possessing eight firearms.
Darrell L. Smith, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 20 years in federal prison without parole.
On Jan. 11, 2024, Smith was found guilty at trial of one count of conspiracy to distribute a fentanyl analogue known as valeryl fentanyl, one count of possessing a fentanyl analogue with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Co-defendant Eugene C. Saunders, 51, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced on Aug. 1, 2023, to three years in federal prison without parole.
In August 2019, law enforcement learned that Smith and Saunders were selling “heroin” (later determined to be valeryl fentanyl) together in Springfield and that Saunders stored his “heroin” at Smith’s residence. Smith and Saunders often packaged the drug together at Smith’s residence.
On Aug. 15, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residences of both Smith and Saunders.
At Smith’s residence, officers seized a large plastic bag that contained valeryl fentanyl and 30 individually packaged sandwich bags of valeryl fentanyl.
In plain view on a table in the living room near the bags of valeryl fentanyl, officers found a loaded magazine for a 9mm pistol. Officers found body armor (leaning against his infant daughter’s crib) and seven loaded firearms – including a Smith & Wesson .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a North American Arms .22-caliber revolver, a Mossberg 20-gauge pump shotgun, a Smith & Wesson .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun – in an upstairs bedroom. Three of these firearms were located in plain view on a dresser and two shotguns were leaned up against a wall (one directly behind his daughter’s crib). An eighth firearm was found in a child’s bedroom, where Smith had been located when the warrant was executed. This firearm, a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol, was located underneath a couch cushion on a child’s bed among some toys.
At Saunders’ residence, law enforcement recovered 69 individually packaged bags of fentanyl.
Evidence introduced at trial revealed that Smith recruited the mother of his infant daughter to the conspiracy and filmed a video of her bagging up fentanyl for distribution in his living room. Smith testified he had filmed the video to use it as leverage in an ongoing custody dispute.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Springfield Gang Leader, Rapper Sentenced for Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who was a leader in a violent gang and part of a rap group was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms.
Ezekiel Josiah King, 21, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to six years and six months in federal prison without parole.
On Jan. 16, 2024, King pleaded guilty to one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms. King admitted he was in possession of a loaded Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, with an extended magazine that contained 29 rounds, and an Anderson AM-15 multi-caliber rifle, loaded with 31 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition.
King was driving a gold Nissan Altima that was stopped by Springfield police detectives on Feb. 15, 2022, for multiple traffic violations. King told officers he was driving erratically because he believed a rival gang was chasing him. In addition to the firearms, detectives found marijuana in the vehicle, as well as another extended magazine and two factory Glock magazines under the driver’s seat.
According to court documents, King – a leader of the FTO gang – engaged in a series of violent firearm offenses, many of which were part of a feud with a rival gang. In another traffic stop of a vehicle in which King was a passenger, on Oct. 23, 2022, law enforcement officers seized a loaded Anderson Manufacturing AM-15, AR-style pistol with an extended magazine loaded with 36 rounds that was at King’s feet. The ATF National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (“NIBIN”) conducted an analysis that indicated the pistol had been used in a recent drive-by shooting in Springfield.
In addition, according to court documents, King is a suspect or a person of interest in a shooting that occurred in downtown Springfield that resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to a third, a robbery, a theft of a firearm, a shooting that left the victim paralyzed, and multiple drive-by shootings.
Co-defendant Jardell Carlin Williams, 20, also a leader of the FTO gang, was sentenced on Feb. 5, 2024, to six years and six months in federal prison without parole. Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms.
Williams, a passenger in King’s vehicle during the Feb. 15, 2022, traffic stop, admitted he was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol. Detectives also located two more boxes of ammunition in the front floorboard.
Williams also admitted that he was in possession of a C3 Defense 5.56-caliber semi-automatic pistol when a vehicle, in which he was a passenger, was stopped by law enforcement on Oct. 22, 2022. The C3 Defense AR-style pistol was tentatively identified as being used in three shooting incidents in the Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kansas, areas.
Both King and Williams admitted they regularly smoked marijuana.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Sexual predator sentenced to 30 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Joshua Chasestefan Anderson, a 29-year-old Desoto County man, to 30 years in prison for videoing his sexual assault of at least two minors. According to court documents, while investigating the sexual assault of an adult acquaintance, Southaven Police Detective William Boliek uncovered videos Anderson had made and kept of the sexual assaults of at least two minors on his cell phone. Anderson was identified by a distinctive physical trait on his left hand. Anderson was charged with the sexual exploitation of minors and pled guilty on an earlier occasion.
In addition to 30 years in prison, Anderson was also sentenced to a life term of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender wherever he resides, is employed, attends school, or is a temporary resident.
“After choosing to victimize innocent children for his own warped sexual gratification, this defendant has earned every day of the 30-year sentence imposed in this case,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “I truly appreciate the efforts of AUSA Parker King and Detective Boliek, and the removal of this individual from free society is an important step towards making our District a safer place.”
“Thanks to the excellent work done in this investigation and as a part of this prosecution, today’s sentencing has resulted in the removal of a sexual predator from the streets of our community,” said Southaven Police Chief Brent Vickers. “Although we cannot undo the harm caused to these victims, the Southaven Police Department will leave no stone unturned when it comes to investigating and holding accountable sexual offenders who choose to victimize minors and innocent citizens.”
The Southaven Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case as part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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. The goal of Project Safe Childhood is to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children.
Seven Members and Associates of the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples Charged in Connection with Drive-By Shooting Committed on Father's Day 2022 and Related Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
A four-count indictment was unsealed today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging Kwyme Waddell, Paolo Alfarobarber, Rahim Frank, Mikey Jemison, Sebastian Jocelyn, Joel Myrie and Jahi Nimmons with violent crimes in-aid-of racketeering — including murder conspiracy and attempted murder — and related firearms offenses. As alleged, the defendants are members and associates of the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples (GD), and specifically of GD subset No Love City (NLC).
Defendants Alfarobarber, Frank, Jemison, Jocelyn, and Nimmons were arrested this morning in Brooklyn and Bridgeport, Connecticut and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. Defendant Waddell was already in federal custody on a prior charge of being a felon-in-possession of ammunition after a March 2022 shooting and will be arraigned at a later date. Myrie is still at large.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the charges and arrests.
“We allege that, rather than celebrating families on Father’s Day, the defendants terrorized Brooklyn residents by spraying bullets onto a residential street with total disregard for human life,” stated U.S. Attorney Peace. “My Office will continue to use all tools available to dismantle violent gangs, like the Folk National Gangster Disciples, and hold their members accountable for the havoc they cause to our communities.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division for their work and assistance in this investigation and prosecution.
“Seven members and associates of Folk Nation Gangster Disciples allegedly conspired to orchestrate the attempted murder of a rival member by firing two firearms into a crowded neighborhood street. Their alleged actions fueled a decade-long rivalry and posed an extreme threat to the innocent bystanders celebrating Father’s Day. With our law enforcement partners, the FBI remains dedicated to investigating and apprehending all gangs who utilize gun violence to satisfy territorial disputes and threaten the safety of our communities,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Curtis.
“Targeting and tearing down gangs, as well as preventing the violence associated with their illegal activities, remains a top priority for the NYPD,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “I commend the tireless efforts of our Gun Violence Suppression Division and express gratitude to all of our law enforcement partners for their unwavering dedication to our shared mission of public safety.”
As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, on June 19, 2022 – which was Father’s Day – the defendants engaged in a drive-by shooting during which a 28-year-old victim was shot and injured. NLC leaders Waddell and Alfarobarber jumped into a stolen Dodge Charger with younger gang members Jocelyn and Myrie. The foursome drove to Canarsie in a three-car convoy with Frank, Jemison and Nimmons to continue a decade’s long feud with rivals in the area. After identifying a group of people on residential East 94th Street between Avenues L and K, the defendants shot multiple times into the group on the sidewalk using two firearms, striking the victim, who survived his injuries after being hospitalized.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This indictment is part of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York’s focus on dismantling the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples (GD), under which the Office has brought numerous prosecutions against members and associates of GD in coordination with federal and state law enforcement partners, including United States v. Britton, No. 23-CR-406 (LDH) (GD leader charged with false statements and obstruction); United States v. Zeigler, No. 23-CR-114 (MKB) (GD member charged with firearm possession in connection with a shooting); United States v. Oluwagbenga Agoro, No. 21-CR-166 (WFK) (relating to a March 14, 2021 use of threatened use of force in furtherance of a plan to commit extortion); United States v. Powell, No. 21-CR-205 (LDH) (GD member charged with firearm possession in connection with a shooting); United States v. Cummings, No. 21-CR-406 (CBA) (GD associate charged with possessing multiple firearms on multiple separate occasions); United States v. Apollon, No. 21-CR-636 (DG) (GD member charged with robbery of vehicles from parking garage where parking attendant was permanently injured); and United States v. Brown, No. 20-CR-293 (WFK) (eleven GD defendants charged with racketeering offenses for seven gang-related shootings in 2020).
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Merrick Garland has enhanced PSN as part of the Department’s focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Dana Rehnquist, Sophia Suarez and Daniel Marcus are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Theodore Rader.
The Defendants:
KWYME WADDELL
Brooklyn, New YorkPAOLO ALFAROBARBER
Bridgeport, ConnecticutRAHIM FRANK
Brooklyn, New YorkMIKEY JEMISON
Brooklyn, New YorkSEBASTIEN JOCELYN
Bridgeport, ConnecticutJOEL MYRIE
Brooklyn, New YorkJAHI NIMMONS
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-351 (FB)
Second Beaumont man sentenced to federal prison in cat kicking caseRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for animal cruelty violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Donaldvan Williams, 30, pleaded guilty to animal crushing and aiding and abetting and was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 10, 2024.
Animal crushing is defined under federal criminal law as, “actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians, is purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury.”
According to information presented in court, on October 15, 2021, Williams and Decorius Mire encountered a live domestic cat in the parking lot of a Beaumont apartment complex. Williams, encouraged by Mire, kicked the cat as if kicking a football field goal, propelling the cat approximately 15 to 20 feet through the air. Williams was aware that Mire filmed the event with his cellular telephone and posted the video on his social media accounts where it was commented on and shared with others.
Williams and Mire were prosecuted under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. Signed into law in November 2019, the PACT Act bans the intentional crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impalement or other serious harm to “living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians.” The law also bans “animal crush videos,” meaning any photograph, motion picture film, video or digital recording or electronic image that depicts animal cruelty.
Mire was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison in July 2023.
This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte and Department of Justice and Environmental and Natural Resource Division Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy.
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San Antonio Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison Following Jury Conviction for Attempting to Meet Minor for SexRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court to 120 months in prison for one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor followed by 60 months in prison for one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.
According to court documents, James Martin Shearer, 48, initiated contact with a social media user claiming to be a 15-year-old girl. Shearer asked the minor for her address and a photo of herself, saying he wanted to pick her up and take her for a ride in his car. Shearer continued to text her on a cell phone the next day, asking when they could meet. They agreed the minor would skip school the following day. Shearer then quickly turned the conversation to a sexual nature, telling the girl that her age excited him.
The next day, April 27, 2023, Shearer sent an image of himself via text message and arrived at their predetermined meeting spot. Rather than meeting the 15-year-old he believed he had been texting, Shearer was arrested by San Antonio Police officers. A search of his vehicle revealed methamphetamine, condoms, and other sexual paraphernalia.
Shearer was found guilty of both counts in trial by a federal jury March 5, 2024. In addition to the 15 years in prison, he was ordered 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and SAPD investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bettina Richardson and Sade Bogart prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Sacramento Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Role in Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine and Heroin in Sacramento and Solano CountiesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nancy Dalila Escobar Garcia, 35, of Sacramento County, was sentenced today to five years in prison for conspiring to possess and distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Nancy Garcia conspired with her husband Michael Garcia (a co‑defendant in this case) to sell methamphetamine and heroin in Sacramento and Solano Counties. Nancy Garcia began this conspiracy with her husband while he was serving a state sentence for narcotics offenses at the Tulare County Jail.
In furtherance of this conspiracy, Nancy Garcia met with an FBI confidential informant on three separate occasions and personally sold the informant a total of 4 pounds of methamphetamine. During these meetings, Nancy Garcia began to negotiate a firearms sale with the informant and was present at the illegal firearms sale described below. Nancy Garcia also admitted that she and her husband bought a home in Arizona with drug proceeds. Nancy Garcia pleaded guilty on May 21, 2024, and as part of her plea agreement, she is assisting the United States in the forfeiture of this home.
Once out of state custody, Michael Garcia continued the conspiracy to sell methamphetamine and heroin. He also set up a deal with co-defendant Tylor Combs to sell firearms to the informant. Nancy Garcia, Michael Garcia, and Tylor Combs were present at this illegal firearms deal, which involved 10 firearms, including an unserialized machine gun sometimes called a “ghost gun” that is untraceable.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
Tylor Combs pleaded guilty to to counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. On Nov. 12, 2021, he was sentenced to six years and six months in prison.
Michael Garcia has pleaded not guilty and remains in federal custody. The charges are only allegations; Michael Garcia is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Rock Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Re-entry of a Removed Alien After Aggravated Felony and Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
A man who re-entered the country as an aggravated felon, failed to register as a sex offender, and violated his supervised release was sentenced September 6, 2024, to 21 months in federal prison.
Melvin Geovani Aguilar-Lopez, age 31, from Rock Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 3, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal re-entry as an aggravated felon; a May 17, 2024, guilty plea to one count of failure to update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a); and a May 17, 2024, admission to violations of his supervised release.
At a plea hearing, Aguilar-Lopez admitted to re-entering the country after being deported in April of 2023, after a conviction for re-entry of a removed alien convicted of an aggravated felony in the Southern District of Texas. On December 9, 2016, the defendant was convicted in the Iowa District Court for Lyon County for Sex Abuse in the Third Degree, a Class C felony in Case No. FECR005748.
In a plea agreement, Aguilar-Lopez admitted that he was required to register and update his registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by reason of a conviction of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree in the Iowa District Court for Lyon County Criminal No. FECR005748 on December 9, 2016. Aguilar-Lopez admitted he knew he needed to update his sex offender registration to reflect the fact he had been living in Rock Rapids for approximately 5 months and working in Lyon County for approximately 2 months. Aguilar-Lopez also admitted to violations of his supervised release.
Aguilar-Lopez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Aguilar-Lopez was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Fletcher and was investigated by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations (Sex Offender Unit) and the United States Marshal’s Service.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-04004 and 23-Cr-4077.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Rhode Island Department of Human Services Supervisor, Daughter Charged in Schemes to Defraud Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced today that a Rhode Island Department of Human Services (RI DHS) supervisor now faces federal charges for allegedly using her position to improperly access the personal information of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (SNAP) recipients, as well as SNAP EBT benefit card balance information, and, that she and her daughter allegedly used fraudulently accessed SNAP benefits for their own personal purchases.
It is alleged that Nadine Jean Baptiste, 57, of Warwick, repeatedly conducted telephonic balance inquiries on EBT benefit cards, frequently changing the PIN numbers associated with those cards. It is alleged that some of the individuals whose information was repeatedly accessed were either juveniles or individuals who were, at the time, homeless or incarcerated. It is further alleged that SNAP EBT benefit cards with a value of approximately $191,000 were improperly accessed.
The investigation into this matter was launched in September 2023, when the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit received complaints from SNAP recipients via the Internal Audit Fraud Hotline alleging that they did not receive EBT benefit cards issued to them, which are commonly mailed to the address of the recipient or obtained in-person from a DHS office in the case of a homeless recipient.
Nadine Jean Baptiste and Octavia Jean Baptiste are each charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, and conspiracy. Nadine Baptiste was arrested earlier today at her place of employment. She is scheduled to appear before a U.S. Magistrate at 2pm. An arrest warrant has been issued for Octavia Baptiste.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, and Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit - Fraud Detection & Prevention Unit. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Warwick Police Department, Providence Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.
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criminal_complaint_and_affidavit.pdfRamsey County Felon Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Illegal Possession of Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Ramsey County man has been charged in a superseding indictment with illegal possession of multiple firearms and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on May 14, 2023, and on January 29, 2024, Timothy Michael Decker, 39, illegally possessed firearms, including a CZ Model CZ40B .40 caliber pistol, a Taurus Model 38 Special .38 caliber revolver, a Beretta Model 92FSR .22 caliber pistol, and a Girsan Regard Model MC 9-millimeter pistol. Decker also possessed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Because Decker has prior felony convictions in Ramsey and Washington Counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The superseding indictment charges Decker with two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Decker was arraigned today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung. He has been ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, and the Saint Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Green is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for $2 Million Fraudulent Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man, who for more than a decade claimed to be a successful foreign exchange currency trader to solicit millions of dollars in investments, was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for wire fraud.
William Bennington, 53, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, from March 2012 until October 2022, Bennington knowingly and intentionally carried out a scheme to defraud victims out of more than $2 million. In order to solicit investments, Bennington claimed to be a wealthy foreign exchange currency trader that had written a proprietary trading algorithm, which he alleged was the source of his wealth.
Over the course of the scheme, Bennington promised annual returns of up to 80 percent and repayment terms as short as six months. He also created a fake website and fabricated monthly statements falsely showing victims were earning significant returns. Instead of investing his victims’ money as promised, Bennington spent it on extravagant trips, a golf simulator, and personal expenses such as rent, vehicle leases and credit card payments.
On October 17, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Bennington with wire fraud. Later, on April 4, 2024, Bennington pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
This case was investigated by the FBI, and was prosecuted by Robert Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Pittsburgh Couple Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Law Enforcement During 2023 Protest on University of Pittsburgh CampusRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A husband and wife from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to obstructing law enforcement during a public gathering and protest in 2023, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Krystal DiPippa, 42, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan to one count of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, and her husband Brian DiPippa, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder.
In connection with the guilty pleas, the Court was advised that the DiPippas participated in an April 2023 protest that occurred on the University of Pittsburgh campus, during which Brian DiPippa ignited and dropped two homemade smoke bomb containers in and around a line of people waiting to enter a building for a scheduled event featuring guest speakers. When university police officers gathered and formed a barrier to prevent protesters from entering the rear of the building, Brian DiPippa, concealed by his wife (Krystal), ignited and threw a large explosive firework into the group of officers, causing a loud explosion and injuries to several officers.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is dedicated to prosecuting individuals who physically attack our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “The DiPippas went to this event not for the purpose of having their voices heard in a protest, but instead for the purpose of using this protest as a means of cover so that they could disrupt the protest and conceal themselves in a crowd while carrying out a cowardly attack on police officers.”
“The FBI and our Joint Terrorism Task Force partners want to make it clear: we will not allow the rights protected by the First Amendment to be exploited as cover for individuals to carry out violent attacks on law enforcement,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “Peaceful protest is a right afforded to everyone under the Constitution, but not when used as a guise for injuring, maiming, and leaving lasting impacts to victims by launching explosives. These attacks had very real consequences, not only for these individuals, but also for the law enforcement officers who were violently targeted while trying to ensure public safety.”
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2025. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, as to each charge. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentences imposed are based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the Court continued the detention of Brian DiPippa, who has been in custody since his June 30, 2023, arrest.
Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force, of which the University of Pittsburgh Police is a member; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution in this case.
Pharmaceutical Executive Charged with Insider TradingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An executive of a global pharmaceutical company was charged today in federal in court in Boston with allegedly earning more than $250,000 by trading on material non-public information.
Dishant Gupta, 55, of Hillsborough, N.J., was charged with one count of securities fraud. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, Gupta worked as the Director of Strategy and Operations in the Boston office of a global pharmaceutical company (Company A). In the spring of 2022, during the course of his employment at Company A, Gupta allegedly obtained material non-public information about the fact that Company A was negotiating to acquire certain assets of a smaller pharmaceutical company based in Boston (Company B), including its leading cancer drug, and that Company A later agreed to acquire Company B outright.
While in possession of this material non-public information, and in violation of his fiduciary duties to Company A, Gupta allegedly acquired shares of Company B in his own and his wife’s brokerage accounts – in an effort to profit from the eventual public announcement of the transaction. Gupta allegedly purchased more than 300,000 shares of Company B across several different brokerage accounts over approximately two and a half months. It is further alleged that Gupta then sold all the shares he had acquired after Company A announced the acquisition of Company B.
Gupta allegedly earned more than $250,000 trading in securities of Company B while in possession of material non-public information.
The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Gupta alleging violations of the securities laws.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Owner of Telemarketing Call Center Business Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Scheme to Defraud PAC DonorsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RICHARD ZEITLIN, the owner of a telemarketing call center business, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with his participation in a scheme to use his call centers to defraud donors of certain political action committees (“PACs”) through false and misleading statements. ZEITLIN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Richard Zeitlin used his telemarketing business to deceive donors into believing they were contributing to charitable causes when, in reality, their money was diverted to political action committees. Zeitlin’s fraudulent actions not only undermined the trust of donors but also exploited their goodwill for personal gain. Today’s announcement highlights this Office’s dedication to holding accountable those who misuse charitable and political organizations to defraud and mislead the public.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:
PACs are entities registered with the Federal Election Commission that may be tax-exempt and collect money to advocate on behalf of or against certain causes and political candidates. By contrast, charities, unlike PACs, typically provide direct services to communities or causes.
From at least in or about 2017 up to and including in or about 2020, ZEITLIN used his telemarketing call center business and various associated entities to defraud numerous donors by providing misleading and false information about how the donors’ money would be spent and the nature of the organizations to which they were giving. Specifically, ZEITLIN directed his employees to alter the call scripts used when calling potential donors on behalf of certain PACs in order to mislead potential donors into believing that they would be giving to a direct-services organization (i.e., a charity), rather than to a political advocacy organization (i.e., a PAC). ZEITLIN directed that these lies, misleading statements, and misrepresentations be made so that donors would be more likely to give money, thereby increasing the funds raised and profits for his businesses – which typically received approximately 90% of the funds donated. In some instances, Zeitlin’s businesses retained 100% of the funds donated with none of the money going to the causes described in telemarketing calls to donors. When one PAC treasurer confronted ZEITLIN with complaints from donors that solicitation calls falsely represented a PAC as a charity, ZEITLIN falsely denied that the calls were being made, acknowledged that such calls would be inappropriate, and refused to give the treasurer any call recordings that would have revealed his fraud. In or about May 2022, after learning that ZEITLIN and his businesses were under federal investigation, ZEITLIN directed his employees to delete electronic messages relating to his businesses.
If you believe you are a victim of fraud perpetrated by ZEITLIN, please contact [email protected] or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov, and find more information here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/united-states-v-richard-zeitlin.
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ZEITLIN, 54, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. ZEITLIN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Kaplan on December 10, 2024.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jane Kim, Emily Deininger, and Rebecca T. Dell are in charge of the prosecution.
Ocala Man Arrested for Attempted Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Christopher Shaun Jonas (32, Ocala) on an indictment charging him with attempted enticement of a minor. If convicted, Jonas faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment was returned on August 6, 2024.
According to court records, on July 23, 2024, Jonas contacted a profile on an internet application designed for prostitution. This profile, however, was operated by a Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) undercover detective. The undercover detective told Jonas that she was a 13-year-old girl and Jonas described in graphic detail the sexual acts that he wanted the girl to perform on him. Jonas subsequently agreed to pick up the child for the sexual encounter at a location in Marion County. When Jonas arrived, however, law enforcement arrested him. Investigators found the cellphone Jonas had used to communicate with the undercover detective inside his vehicle.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It case is being prosecuted by Hannah Nowalk.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
North Providence Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A North Providence man is scheduled to be sentenced in December after admitting to a federal judge that he possessed and distributed child pornography, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Mark Peterson, 46, pleaded guilty on September 6, 2024 to an indictment charging him with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10, 2024. The defendant’s conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, but his final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to information presented to the court, in February 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children forwarded information to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that an online application was being used to distribute child pornography. A State Police Detective determined that the online account contained 114 files depicting child sexual abuse, and that an IP address at Peterson’s residence was used to access the account.
On April 5, 2022, members of the ICAC Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Peterson’s residence and seized three cellphones. A fourth cellphone stored inside Peterson’s vehicle was also turned over to investigators. A forensic audit of the devices revealed more than 1,300 files comprising videos and images of child sexual abuse, including the depictions of the abuse of pre-pubescent children, infants, sadomasochism, and bestiality. Additionally, located on one cell phone were numerous sexualized screen recordings of prepubescent minor children from social media applications. Investigators also located screen recordings in which Peterson falsely portrayed himself as 15 years old.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Julianne Klein.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Massachusetts State Police.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force is comprised of members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit along with detectives from the Warwick Police Department, Cranston Police Department, East Providence Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Bristol Police Department, Middletown Police Department, and Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations.
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North Carolina Auto Parts Seller and its Owner to Pay $10M for Making, Selling and Installing Emissions Defeat Devices on Motor VehiclesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - North Carolina automotive parts manufacturer and seller, Rudy’s Performance Parts Inc. (Rudy’s), and its owner, Aaron Rudolf, have agreed to pay a total of $10 million in criminal fines and civil penalties for manufacturing, selling and installing devices, commonly known as “defeat devices,” used to remove or disable required emissions controls in motor vehicles.
Rudy’s pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court in Washington, D.C., for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act. U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden for the District of Columbia ordered Rudy’s to pay a criminal fine of $2.4 million and to complete a three-year period of organizational probation, consistent with a plea agreement. Rudolf, sole owner and chief executive officer of Rudy’s, previously pleaded guilty for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act by tampering with monitoring devices on approximately 300 diesel trucks, which involved the installation of defeat devices on those trucks. He was sentenced in April to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $600,000 criminal fine.
Separate from the criminal actions, the Justice Department, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), filed a civil suit in 2022 against Rudy’s and Rudolf for violating the Clean Air Act by manufacturing, selling and installing defeat devices and failing to adequately respond to the EPA’s formal requests for information. Under a consent decree filed July 29, 2024, Rudy’s and Rudolf will pay a $7 million civil penalty for those violations. The consent decree would also prohibit them from making, selling, offering to sell and installing defeat devices, transferring intellectual property that would allow others to make or sell defeat devices and investing in or profiting from defeat devices manufactured or sold by other businesses. The decree is subject to court approval.
“Defeat devices, such as those sold by Rudy’s, can lead to pollution at high levels that pose health risks and harm the environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This plea agreement and civil settlement show that we will take strong action to enforce the Clean Air Act and emissions controls requirements for motor vehicles.”
“For too many years, companies like Rudy’s have installed Illegal defeat devices to evade the public health protections of the Clean Air Act, to the detriment of communities across America,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s announcement demonstrates that EPA will vigorously pursue criminal and civil penalties until this blatant illegal behavior comes to an end.”
“Those selling defeat devices are willing to pollute the environment so that they can personally profit,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that there will be significant consequences for those who traffic in these devices. Anyone considering peddling or installing these devices is on notice of the substantial costs of doing so.”
“The Clean Air Act’s protections are essential for the health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “Tampering with emissions controls adds excess pollutants to the air we breathe and harms both public health and the environment. Settlements like these are essential to hold entities who violate the Clean Air Act accountable and to prevent harmful air pollution.”
According to court documents in the criminal case, Rudy’s sold defeat devices, known as delete tuners, which tampered with the on-board diagnostic systems (OBDs) of vehicles. Rudy’s top selling product was the Mini Maxx delete tuner originally manufactured by another company, identified in court documents as “Company A.” Rudy’s also sold the XRT Pro, another Company A delete tuner. After Company A stopped making these tuners, Rudy’s conspired with others to manufacture imitation Company A tuners. Rudy’s reached an agreement with a software technician to convert certain tuners into imitation Company A tuners. That agreement ran from July 2015 through December 2016, when the software technician stopped converting tuners.
After that, Rudy’s manufactured the imitation delete tuners in-house using a laptop computer that Rudy’s purchased for $850,000. The laptop contained software to convert tuners into imitation Company A tuners. In-house manufacturing lasted from about December 2016 through July 2018. In total, Rudy’s sold approximately 43,900 imitation tuners, generating about $33 million in revenue.
The civil lawsuit alleges that from at least 2014 through mid-2019, Rudy’s and Rudolf manufactured and sold over 250,000 products designed to remove or disable EPA-mandated emissions controls. These products included hardware parts such as plates that block a vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation system and pipes that replace pollution treatment components in a vehicle’s exhaust system.
Disabling or removing emissions controls and tampering with the OBD of a diesel truck causes its emissions — including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and non-methane hydrocarbons — to increase significantly. Diesel exhaust is a mobile source air toxic because it poses cancer and noncancer health risks. In the civil complaint, the EPA estimates that the number of products sold by Rudy’s amounted to adding about 1 million vehicles’ worth of pollution to America’s roads.
The $7 million that Rudy’s and Rudolf will pay pursuant to the consent decree was based on their financial capability.
The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the criminal case.
Senior Counsel Krishna S. Dighe and Trial Attorney Stephen J. Foster of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s (ENRD) Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Blackwell for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the criminal case. Senior Counsel Elizabeth L. Loeb of ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassie Crawford and Rebecca Mayer for the Middle District of North Carolina and Attorney-Adviser Lauren Tozzi of EPA’s Air Enforcement Division are handling the civil case.
The consent decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. It is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the Court. A copy of the consent decree and information on submitting comments is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Stopping the manufacture, sale, and installation of illegal delete devices is a priority for the EPA. You can learn more about the EPA’s criminal enforcement actions on defeat devices here and here.
North Carolina Auto Parts Seller and Its Owner to Pay $10M for Making, Selling and Installing Emissions Defeat Devices on Motor VehiclesRead the Press Release
North Carolina automotive parts manufacturer and seller, Rudy’s Performance Parts Inc. (Rudy’s), and its owner, Aaron Rudolf, have agreed to pay a total of $10 million in criminal fines and civil penalties for manufacturing, selling and installing devices, commonly known as “defeat devices,” used to remove or disable required emissions controls in motor vehicles.
Rudy’s pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court in Washington, D.C., for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act. U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden for the District of Columbia ordered Rudy’s to pay a criminal fine of $2.4 million and to complete a three-year period of organizational probation, consistent with a plea agreement. Rudolf, sole owner and chief executive officer of Rudy’s, previously pleaded guilty for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act by tampering with monitoring devices on approximately 300 diesel trucks, which involved the installation of defeat devices on those trucks. He was sentenced in April to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $600,000 criminal fine.
Separate from the criminal actions, the Justice Department, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), filed a civil suit in 2022 against Rudy’s and Rudolf for violating the Clean Air Act by manufacturing, selling and installing defeat devices and failing to adequately respond to the EPA’s formal requests for information. Under a consent decree filed July 29, Rudy’s and Rudolf will pay a $7 million civil penalty for those violations. The consent decree would also prohibit them from making, selling, offering to sell and installing defeat devices, transferring intellectual property that would allow others to make or sell defeat devices and investing in or profiting from defeat devices manufactured or sold by other businesses. The decree is subject to court approval.
“Defeat devices, such as those sold by Rudy’s, can lead to pollution at high levels that pose health risks and harm the environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This plea agreement and civil settlement show that we will take strong action to enforce the Clean Air Act and emissions controls requirements for motor vehicles.”
“For too many years, companies like Rudy’s have installed illegal defeat devices to evade the public health protections of the Clean Air Act, to the detriment of communities across America,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s announcement demonstrates that EPA will vigorously pursue criminal and civil penalties until this blatant illegal behavior comes to an end.”
“Those selling defeat devices are willing to pollute the environment so that they can personally profit,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that there will be significant consequences for those who traffic in these devices. Anyone considering peddling or installing these devices is on notice of the substantial costs of doing so.”
“The Clean Air Act’s protections are essential for the health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “Tampering with emissions controls adds excess pollutants to the air we breathe and harms both public health and the environment. Settlements like these are essential to hold entities who violate the Clean Air Act accountable and to prevent harmful air pollution.”
According to court documents in the criminal case, Rudy’s sold defeat devices, known as delete tuners, which tampered with the on-board diagnostic systems (OBDs) of vehicles. Rudy’s top selling product was the Mini Maxx delete tuner originally manufactured by another company, identified in court documents as “Company A.” Rudy’s also sold the XRT Pro, another Company A delete tuner. After Company A stopped making these tuners, Rudy’s conspired with others to manufacture imitation Company A tuners. Rudy’s reached an agreement with a software technician to convert certain tuners into imitation Company A tuners. That agreement ran from July 2015 through December 2016, when the software technician stopped converting tuners.
After that, Rudy’s manufactured the imitation delete tuners in-house using a laptop computer that Rudy’s purchased for $850,000. The laptop contained software to convert tuners into imitation Company A tuners. In-house manufacturing lasted from about December 2016 through July 2018. In total, Rudy’s sold approximately 43,900 imitation tuners, generating about $33 million in revenue.
The civil lawsuit alleges that from at least 2014 through mid-2019, Rudy’s and Rudolf manufactured and sold over 250,000 products designed to remove or disable EPA-mandated emissions controls. These products included hardware parts such as plates that block a vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation system and pipes that replace pollution treatment components in a vehicle’s exhaust system.
Disabling or removing emissions controls and tampering with the OBD of a diesel truck causes its emissions — including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and non-methane hydrocarbons — to increase significantly. Diesel exhaust is a mobile source air toxic because it poses cancer and noncancer health risks. In the civil complaint, the EPA estimates that the number of products sold by Rudy’s amounted to adding over 1 million vehicles’ worth of pollution to America’s roads.
The $7 million that Rudy’s and Rudolf will pay pursuant to the consent decree was based on their financial capability.
The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the criminal case.
Senior Counsel Krishna S. Dighe and Trial Attorney Stephen J. Foster of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s (ENRD) Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Blackwell for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the criminal case. Senior Counsel Elizabeth L. Loeb of ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassie Crawford and Rebecca Mayer for the Middle District of North Carolina and Attorney-Adviser Lauren Tozzi of EPA’s Air Enforcement Division are handling the civil case.
The consent decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. It is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the Court. A copy of the consent decree and information on submitting comments is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Stopping the manufacture, sale, and installation of illegal delete devices is a priority for the EPA. You can learn more about the EPA’s criminal enforcement actions on defeat devices here and here.
North Carolina Auto Parts Seller and Its Owner to Pay $10M for Making, Selling and Installing Emissions Defeat Devices on Motor VehiclesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — North Carolina automotive parts manufacturer and seller, Rudy’s Performance Parts Inc. (Rudy’s), and its owner, Aaron Rudolf, have agreed to pay a total of $10 million in criminal fines and civil penalties for manufacturing, selling and installing devices, commonly known as “defeat devices,” used to remove or disable required emissions controls in motor vehicles.
Rudy’s pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court in Washington, D.C., for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act. U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden for the District of Columbia ordered Rudy’s to pay a criminal fine of $2.4 million and to complete a three-year period of organizational probation, consistent with a plea agreement. Rudolf, sole owner and chief executive officer of Rudy’s, previously pleaded guilty for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act by tampering with monitoring devices on approximately 300 diesel trucks, which involved the installation of defeat devices on those trucks. He was sentenced in April to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $600,000 criminal fine.
Separate from the criminal actions, the Justice Department, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), filed a civil suit in 2022 against Rudy’s and Rudolf for violating the Clean Air Act by manufacturing, selling and installing defeat devices and failing to adequately respond to the EPA’s formal requests for information. Under a consent decree filed July 29, Rudy’s and Rudolf will pay a $7 million civil penalty for those violations. The consent decree would also prohibit them from making, selling, offering to sell and installing defeat devices, transferring intellectual property that would allow others to make or sell defeat devices and investing in or profiting from defeat devices manufactured or sold by other businesses. The decree is subject to court approval.
“Defeat devices, such as those sold by Rudy’s, can lead to pollution at high levels that pose health risks and harm the environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This plea agreement and civil settlement show that we will take strong action to enforce the Clean Air Act and emissions controls requirements for motor vehicles.”
“For too many years, companies like Rudy’s have installed illegal defeat devices to evade the public health protections of the Clean Air Act, to the detriment of communities across America,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s announcement demonstrates that EPA will vigorously pursue criminal and civil penalties until this blatant illegal behavior comes to an end.”
“Those selling defeat devices are willing to pollute the environment so that they can personally profit,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that there will be significant consequences for those who traffic in these devices. Anyone considering peddling or installing these devices is on notice of the substantial costs of doing so.”
“The Clean Air Act’s protections are essential for the health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “Tampering with emissions controls adds excess pollutants to the air we breathe and harms both public health and the environment. Settlements like these are essential to hold entities who violate the Clean Air Act accountable and to prevent harmful air pollution.”
According to court documents in the criminal case, Rudy’s sold defeat devices, known as delete tuners, which tampered with the on-board diagnostic systems (OBDs) of vehicles. Rudy’s top selling product was the Mini Maxx delete tuner originally manufactured by another company, identified in court documents as “Company A.” Rudy’s also sold the XRT Pro, another Company A delete tuner. After Company A stopped making these tuners, Rudy’s conspired with others to manufacture imitation Company A tuners. Rudy’s reached an agreement with a software technician to convert certain tuners into imitation Company A tuners. That agreement ran from July 2015 through December 2016, when the software technician stopped converting tuners.
After that, Rudy’s manufactured the imitation delete tuners in-house using a laptop computer that Rudy’s purchased for $850,000. The laptop contained software to convert tuners into imitation Company A tuners. In-house manufacturing lasted from about December 2016 through July 2018. In total, Rudy’s sold approximately 43,900 imitation tuners, generating about $33 million in revenue.
The civil lawsuit alleges that from at least 2014 through mid-2019, Rudy’s and Rudolf manufactured and sold over 250,000 products designed to remove or disable EPA-mandated emissions controls. These products included hardware parts such as plates that block a vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation system and pipes that replace pollution treatment components in a vehicle’s exhaust system.
Disabling or removing emissions controls and tampering with the OBD of a diesel truck causes its emissions — including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and non-methane hydrocarbons — to increase significantly. Diesel exhaust is a mobile source air toxic because it poses cancer and noncancer health risks. In the civil complaint, the EPA estimates that the number of products sold by Rudy’s amounted to adding over 1 million vehicles’ worth of pollution to America’s roads.
The $7 million that Rudy’s and Rudolf will pay pursuant to the consent decree was based on their financial capability.
The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the criminal case.
Senior Counsel Krishna S. Dighe and Trial Attorney Stephen J. Foster of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s (ENRD) Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Blackwell for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the criminal case. Senior Counsel Elizabeth L. Loeb of ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassie Crawford and Rebecca Mayer for the Middle District of North Carolina and Attorney-Adviser Lauren Tozzi of EPA’s Air Enforcement Division are handling the civil case.
The consent decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. It is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the Court. A copy of the consent decree and information on submitting comments is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Stopping the manufacture, sale, and installation of illegal delete devices is a priority for the EPA. You can learn more about the EPA’s criminal enforcement actions on defeat devices here and here.
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New Hampshire Man Sentenced for Harassing and Intimidating JournalistsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to harass and intimidate journalists employed by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) and their family members.
Michael Waselchuck, 36, of Seabrook, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2024, Waselchuck pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel and using a facility of interstate commerce. Waselchuck was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in June 2023. He was later indicted along with co-defendants Eric Labarge, Tucker Cockerline and Keenan Saniatan.
In March 2022 an NHPR journalist (Victim 1) published an article detailing allegations of sexual and other misconduct by a former New Hampshire businessperson, identified in the charging document as Subject 1. Another NHPR journalist (Victim 2) also contributed to the article, which appeared on NHPR’s website during and after March 2022. In response to this reporting, Labarge – who is a close personal associate of Subject 1 – Cockerline, Waselchuck and Saniatan agreed to harass and intimidate Victims 1 and 2 and their immediate family members.
On or about May 18, 2022, Labarge solicited Cockerline to vandalize Victim 1’s parents’ home in Hampstead, N.H., and Victim 1’s home in Melrose, Mass., using bricks and red spray paint. Cockerline, in turn, recruited Waselchuck to vandalize Victim 1’s residence.
On the evening of May 20, 2022, Cockerline spray painted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on one of the garage doors of Victim 1’s parents’ home, and left a brick on the ground near the front door. Several hours later, Waselchuck threw a brick through an exterior window of Victim 1’s home and painted the phrase “JUST THE BEGINNING” in large red letters on the front of the house.
Labarge and Saniatan have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. In August 2024, Cockerline was sentenced to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Concord, Hampstead and Hanover, New Hampshire Police Departments, the Melrose, Massachusetts Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and Torey B. Cummings of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
New Canaan to Make Significant Changes to Town Facilities to Comply with the ADARead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with the Town of New Canaan to resolve allegations that some of the town’s facilities did not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).
The settlement agreement resolves a complaint filed by an individual alleging that some of New Canaan’s parks and sports facilities as well as parts of the Town Hall campus were inaccessible to individuals with mobility disabilities.
Under federal law, municipalities must ensure that their programs, services, and activities are accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities. When municipalities alter or build new facilities, they must also make them accessible to persons with disabilities in accordance with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
New Canaan is in the process of making the significant improvements required by the settlement agreement at Waveny Park, New Canaan High School, Mead Park, and the Town Hall. Some changes required by the settlement include adding accessible seating, parking, and routes to several sports fields and athletic facilities at New Canaan High School and Mead Park, and making numerous changes to the interior and exterior of Waveny House to make it more accessible, including adding an elevator. The town will also create an accessible route from Vine Cottage to the Town Hall.
U.S. Attorney Avery commended the leadership of the Town of New Canaan for cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to resolve the investigation. “Individuals with disabilities should have equal access to their local park and be able to cheer on their children at a local high school game without worrying about inaccessible facilities,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “I am pleased that New Canaan has made this commitment to making its facilities more accessible to individuals with disabilities.”
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that a public entity or place of public accommodation in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the Civil Rights Intake Specialist at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-696-3000.
Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (833) 610-1264 (TTY). More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart C. Dearing in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
New Bedford Man Sentenced for Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits.
Anthony Patterson, 62, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to time served (one day) and three years of supervised release, with six months to be served in home confinement. Patterson was also ordered to pay restitution of $92,582 to the Social Security Administration (SSA). In June 2024, Patterson pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. Patterson was charged in May 2024.
From 2013 to 2023, Patterson collected Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, which are only available to people with limited financial means. During two interviews with SSA in 2012 and 2022, Patterson made sworn false statements regarding his marital status and living situation to conceal household income and resources. As a result, he collected $92,582 in SSI benefits that he was ineligible to receive.
In addition, Patterson failed to report work and income to SSA from his business breeding and selling show bulldogs for $3,000 to $7,000 each, which also would have exceeded the resource limits for SSI.
Patterson also told SSA in 2007 that he could not lift more than 20 pounds because of restrictions from his doctor, but then participated in weightlifting competitions where he lifted over 400 pounds without informing SSA that his medical condition had improved as required for Social Security disability programs.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Corwin Rattler, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathan Gage Wiedel, age 19, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a Superseding Indictment of 12 counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.
The Superseding Indictment alleged that Wiedel sexually abused four children under the age of 12 while he was employed as a teacher’s assistant at St. Joseph Catholic School in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, 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. Wiedel will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Mullins Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Mark McGarret Lewis, 52, of Mullins, was sentenced to nearly 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to five counts of distribution of crack cocaine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on five separate occasions in April 2019, Lewis distributed a quantity of crack cocaine to a confidential informant. Lewis committed the offense after having two prior federal convictions, one for bank fraud and one for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine, as well as two other state drug convictions for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Lewis to 110 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a six-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Marion County Combined Drug Unit, and the Mullins Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.
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Missouri Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Fraud and Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LYELL CHAMPAGNE, JR., 24, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses stemming from two separate fraud schemes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately March 2021 and April 2022, Champagne conspired with Kristian Gupta to obtain online bank account credentials from potential victims, and then transfer money from victims’ bank accounts to cryptocurrency accounts controlled by Champagne and Gupta. As part of the scheme, Gupta provided Champagne with personal identifying information of victims, and Champagne used that information to open email accounts and accounts at a cryptocurrency exchange. Champagne and Gupta attempted to recruit bank “insiders” to participate in their scheme, but were disrupted by an undercover law enforcement investigation and failed to transfer any funds from compromised accounts.
In a second scheme, Champagne filed wholly fictitious tax returns for “Shireberk International,” which had no actual business operations, for the 2018 through 2021 tax years. The returns resulted in a refund of $3,449,935.
Judge Nagala ordered Champagne to pay restitution of $111,738.52. The remaining funds were recovered by law enforcement.
On June 11, 2024, Champagne pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of filing false claims with the IRS. He has been detained since October 2022 when his bond was revoked.
On April 19, 2024, Gupta, of Port Charlotte, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2024.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ryan A. Campbell, 46, Levasy, Missouri, formerly of Amery, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 15 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. This term of imprisonment will be followed by 20 years of supervised release. Campbell pleaded guilty to this charge on March 28, 2024.
In September 2022, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received a tip that Campbell was uploading child pornography. Law enforcement agents later searched a phone seized from Campbell and found child pornography, including images that Campbell himself produced.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson questioned whether Campbell understood the seriousness of his actions and was concerned Campbell was deflecting blame for his actions on others. Judge Peterson determined that the 20-year period of supervised release was warranted because the defendant did not seem to accept responsibility for his actions and because he had an impulse toward sexual activity with children.
The charge against Campbell was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.
This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Missouri Man Admits Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from the unincorporated community of Patterson, in Wayne County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted producing images and videos containing child sexual abuse material for years.
Kevin D. Carroll, 59, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. He admitted producing child sexual abuse material by taking pictures and videos of a child starting when the victim was 8 years old. Carroll said he took pictures and videos for about four years. An investigation began when deputies with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department were called to Carroll’s home for a domestic dispute and seized electronic devices containing the child sexual abuse material.
As part of the plea, both sides will recommend 25 years in prison at Carroll’s sentencing, which is scheduled for December 11.
The FBI and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Michigan Men Admit Smash-and-Grab at St. Louis County Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two men from the Detroit, Michigan area have admitted stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of watches from a jewelry store in Ellisville, Missouri.
Kordaryl Cross, 25, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Tuesday to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. Dajuan Marcellus, 34, pleaded guilty to the same charge July 29.
Both men admitted hatching a plan to use a stolen vehicle to travel to the Ellisville store to steal Rolex watches. On Jan. 2, 2023, Marcellus bought a prepaid Visa gift card that Cross used eight days later to purchase sledgehammers at a Missouri retailer. Marcellus, Cross and at least two others stole a Dodge Ram truck from Brentwood that they then drove to Ellisville. Marcellus and one other person entered the store and used sledgehammers to smash glass cases containing the watches while Cross monitored the time. They then drove to a parking garage and abandoned the stolen truck. Cross and Marcellus took the watches to Illinois.
Marcellus is scheduled to be sentenced October 29 and Cross on December 9. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.
The Ellisville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll is prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Trafficking Counterfeit Fentanyl Pills Sentenced to 12 YearsRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Christian Ricardo Arce-Cazares, a 36-year-old resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, illegally present in the United States has been sentenced to 150 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Nash County area. Arce-Cazares pled guilty on November 8, 2022.
“Drug traffickers make a mistake when they cross North Carolina state lines,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This trio brought thousands of fentanyl pills to Rocky Mount, tried to flee from deputies, and ditched their ride in a Battleboro field. International traffickers should take note of this dozen year prison sentence. Nash County is a great place for business, but not your business.”
According to the court documents and other information presented in court, in May of 2021 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information from a confidential source that a large shipment of narcotics was to be delivered to the Eastern District of North Carolina organized by a Mexican drug trafficker. On June 10, 2021, an undercover officer spoke to the courier and coordinated a meeting at a gas station in Nashville, North Carolina. At that meeting DEA learned that the defendant was the driver of a black vehicle with Nevada license plates. In addition, law enforcement learned that the defendant was accompanied by two additional individuals who were driving a second car with the narcotics hidden inside that vehicle. During the meeting, the defendant stated that the drugs were in a hidden compartment, that they needed a place to remove the drugs, and that they wanted to count the money prior to the exchange.
A second meeting was held at a Walmart store in the Rocky Mount area after which law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the second vehicle, a gray SUV. The gray SUV initially stopped. The driver was identified as co-defendant, Yvoanny Osmeo Barrientos-Ochoa. Shortly after exiting the SUV, co-defendant Barrientos returned to the SUV and fled. Law enforcement initiated a pursuit but lost sight of the vehicle, which was later located unoccupied in a field in Battleboro, North Carolina.
With the assistance of a K-9, law enforcement ultimately located 7,718 grams of crystal methamphetamine inside the vehicle and in a wooded area next to the grey SUV. A search of the vehicle also yielded 5,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills which weighed 438.10 grams. Thereafter, law enforcement located all three individuals hiding in a hotel and arrested all three individuals.
The defendant was found to be responsible for possession with intent to distribute 438.10 gram of fentanyl and 7,718 grams of crystal methamphetamine.
“Nash County Sheriff's Office is grateful for the strong relationships we have with our federal partners,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “This case proves how our partnerships effectively remove dangerous criminals from harming our communities. Teamwork is the only way we will make a difference combating gangs, guns, and drugs in Nash County. I appreciate the hard work and dedication that the Nash County Sheriff's Office and our partners demonstrate every day.”
The prosecution of Arce-Cazares and Barrientos-Ochoa was a part of Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, 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.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and the Nash County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:22-cr-00175-FL.
Menan Man Sentenced for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – William Brian Thomson, 37, of Menan, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies stopped a vehicle that was driven by Thomson. He fled on foot and was apprehended by law enforcement a short distance away. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement discovered approximately 1,739 blue pills that later tested positive for fentanyl, a quarter pound of methamphetamine, and other drugs.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in July of 2023. Thomson entered a guilty plea on April 24, 2024. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Thomson to serve three years of federal supervised release following his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of Bonneville County Sheriff's Office, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney, formerly the Eastern Idaho Partnership Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Blythe McLane prosecuted the case.
This case was handled by the U.S. Attorney Office’s specially deputized Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), funded by the Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho. The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction.
The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to utilize the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts.
This program was created in January 2016. Since that time, approximately 224 defendants have been indicted by the EIP SAUSA. Of these defendants, 145 have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. The defendants indicted under the program have been sentenced to 10,477 months (approximately 873 years) in federal prison, representing an average prison sentence of 46.77 months (3.89 years). Defendants indicted for drug trafficking offenses serve, on average, approximately 72.25 months (6.02 years) in federal prison.
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