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Thursday 29 August 2024
Indictment Charges New Haven Man with Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging BRANDEN HARPER, also known as “Olie” and “Ollie,” 30, of New Haven, with the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The indictment was returned on August 20, 2024. Harper appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge. Harper has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on March 27, 2024.
The indictment alleges that between approximately November 2 and November 16, 2023, Harper unlawfully possessed a loaded Glock 22 .40 caliber firearm with an extended magazine. As alleged in court documents, the firearm, which was affixed with a “Glock switch” that converted it to a fully automatic weapon, was used in a shooting in New Haven on November 12, 2023.
The indictment further alleges that, in 2015, Harper was convicted in state court of manslaughter in the first degree. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Guevremont through Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case is also being pursued through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Indiana Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Elliott Gruss, 34 years old, of Ossian, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, after pleading guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Gruss was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, between September and October 2019, Gruss did attempt to employ, use, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct and for the purpose of producing a live visual depiction of that conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Allen County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.
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.
Houston-area residents charged for narcotics and firearms trafficking in ongoing crime initiativeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON– A total of 20 people are now in custody in the newest charges brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative.
A federal grand jury returned six separate, but related indictments at varying times between July 31-Aug. 22. Of the 17 arrested this week, all have made initial appearances with detention hearings set for Sept. 3 and 4 before U.S. Magistrate Judges Christina Bryan and Yvonne Ho, respectively. The remaining three had previously been in custody on related charges and are expected to make initial appearances before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.
The charges allegedly encompass over 30 firearms, meth and more than 15 kilograms of cocaine, collectively. In connection with this week’s arrests, law enforcement executed search warrants that resulted in the seizure of 10 firearms, $26,000 in cash as well as cocaine and crack cocaine.
A total of 15 are charged in two of the indictments with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances as well as multiple substantive counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Some are also charged with illegal possession of firearms and/or criminal possession of a machine gun - a firearm altered with a machine gun conversion device aka switch to fire automatically with one pull of the trigger. One faces a charge of maintaining drug premises.
These indictments are the latest of 23 charging 77 people as a result of the Criminal Division’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative, first announced in September 2022.
This joint effort includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local, state and federal law enforcement addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime, such as narcotics trafficking. The Office of Justice Programs provides some of the funding for this effort.
If convicted in the drug conspiracies, 15 face up to life in prison as well as varying terms for the substantive counts up to life. Being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a possible 15-year-term of imprisonment, while possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime could result in a consecutive term of at least five years and up to life in prison.
The FBI, Houston Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with assistance from Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Office of Inspector General; police departments in Sugar Land, Missouri City, Pasadena and Pearland; Texas Anti-Gang Center; Texas Highway Patrol; Virginia State Police and departments in Newport News (Virginia), Cincinnati (Ohio) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport; Sheriff’s Offices in Brazoria, Walker, Madison, Harris, Ft. Bend and Boyd (Kentucky) Counties; District Attorney’s Offices in Harris and Ft. Bend counties; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Anh-Khoa Tran of the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Amy L. Schwartz, George Meggali and Shriram Harid of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. SDTX AUSA John Ganz and Trial Attorney Adam Tisdall of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section also provided assistance.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Houston-Area Residents Charged for Narcotics and Firearms Trafficking in Ongoing Crime InitiativeRead the Press Release
A total of 17 people were arrested this week in connection with firearms and drug crimes as part of the Justice Department’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative.
Of the 17 defendants arrested this week, all have made initial appearances, and detention hearings are set for Sept. 3 and 4 before U.S. Magistrate Judges Christina Bryan and Yvonne Ho, respectively. Three additional defendants were already in custody on related charges and are expected to make initial appearances before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.
According to court documents, between July 31 and Aug. 22, a federal grand jury returned six separate, but related, indictments charging 16 people with crimes related to drug distribution. Two defendants were indicted for illegal possession of a machine gun. One defendant faces a charge of maintaining drug premises.
The charges allege conduct involving over 30 firearms, over 150 grams of methamphetamine, and more than 15 kilograms of cocaine, collectively. In connection with the arrests, law enforcement executed search warrants that resulted in the seizure of 10 firearms, $26,000 in cash, as well as cocaine and crack cocaine.
Sixteen of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances as well as multiple substantive counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Eight of the defendants are charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for the felon in possession of a firearm offense and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office; and Chief J. Noe Diaz of the Houston Police Department made the announcement.
The FBI, Houston Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service and Pearland, Texas, Police Department. The investigation was also assisted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Office of Inspector General and state and local law enforcement agencies in Texas, Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.
Trial Attorney Amy L. Schwartz, George Meggali, and Shriram Harid of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anh-Khoa Tran for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz for the Southern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Adam Tisdall of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section also provided assistance.
These indictments represent the latest of 23 indictments charging 77 defendants as part of the Criminal Division’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative, first announced in September 2022.
This joint effort by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, and local, state, and federal law enforcement addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime, such as narcotics trafficking. The Department’s Office of Justice Programs provides some of the funding related to this effort.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Harahan Man Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DOMINICK ANTHONY VALOTTA (“VALOTTA”), age 38, a resident of Harahan, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 200 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a). VALOTTA was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release following imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. VALOTTA must register as a sex offender. Judge Zainey scheduled a restitution hearing in this matter for November 5, 2024.
According to court documents, based on a 2022 complaint by a minor resident in Rhode Island, law enforcement authorities executed search warrants on social media accounts, electronic devices, and a residence in Harahan, Louisiana, belonging to VALOTTA. A review of the items seized revealed that throughout 2022 and early 2023, VALOTTA met at least three (3) minor females on social media applications on which VALOTTA created a false persona. When chatting with the minors, VALOTTA typically engaged in sexually charged correspondence. His pattern included, and culminated in, VALOTTA requesting sexually explicit images, videos and depictions from minors. VALOTTA often offered to take and transmit sexually explicit pictures of himself to the minors to encourage them to do the same for him. VALOTTA also sent messages to the minors seeking to arrange in-person sexual liaisons. VALOTTA’s victims included a North Carolina resident born in August 2007 (Victim 1), an Ohio resident born in July 2008 (Victim 2), and a North Carolina resident born in March 2008 (Victim 3).
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, was in charge of the prosecution.
Guns and Drugs Lead to 86-Month SentenceRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Thursday sentenced a felon caught with fentanyl and methamphetamine and twice with guns to 86 months in prison.
Davion Dixon, of Ferguson, Missouri, and others were in a stolen BMW on Oct. 31, 2022, when the vehicle crashed in Richmond Heights, Missouri after a shooting. Dixon had an AR-style pistol, which he discarded as he fled from the crash. He was arrested in a nearby backyard.
Dixon was arrested again on March 23, 2023, this time by the St. Louis County Police Department on a warrant from St. Louis County Circuit Court. Officers spotted Dixon with an AR-style pistol before the arrest, and found the gun inside his home, along with a 60-round magazine and an “auto sear” that would have made the gun fully automatic if installed. The auto sear, even if it has not been attached to a firearm, is defined as a machine gun under federal law. Officers also found 16.67 grams of meth, 56 capsules containing fentanyl and 2.078 grams of cocaine base.
Dixon, now 22, pleaded guilty in May to five felonies: possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a machine gun and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The St. Louis County Police Department, the Richmond Heights Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Georgia Man Admits to Defrauding Multiple Banks in UtahRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Georgia man pleaded guilty today to multiple federal crimes after he admitted to engaging in a check fraud scheme to defraud several federally insured financial institutions in the District of Utah.
Toddorius Goodwin, 34, of Lithonia, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity fraud.
According to court documents and admissions made during Goodwin’s change of plea hearing, Goodwin and his associates traveled from Georgia to engage in a check fraud scheme in Utah and elsewhere. They recruited impoverished individuals locally to assist with their scheme. Goodwin and his associates stole payroll checks from private mailboxes, altered the “payable to” names on the checks to the recruited individual’s name, and sent that individual into various banks to cash the forged checks in exchange for a cut of the profit. Goodwin and his associates successfully cashed at least $214,179.51 worth of counterfeit checks in Utah within just a few months, from April to October 2022.
Goodwin is scheduled to be sentenced November 7, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 3.4. before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachi Jepson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
Four defendants charged following Niagara Falls drug raidsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that four Niagara Falls men were arrested and charged in separate criminal complaints for their roles in a drug trafficking ring operating in Niagara Falls, NY.
- Paul Fields, 39, and Edward Rollie, 49, are charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $5,000,000 fine.
- Rashawn Salmon, 39, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life and a $10,000,000 fine.
- Jermaine McQueen, 46, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaints, on August 28, 2024, search warrants were executed at multiple residences associated with all four defendants. During the searches, law enforcement recovered 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, over a kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, and $25,000 in U.S. currency.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The complaints are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Nick Ligammari, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Keith Glass, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Stanley Edwards, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Former youth pastor sentenced on child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Nathan L. Rogers, 40, of East Aurora, NY, who was convicted of attempted receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who handled the case, stated that in July 2019, at Darien Lake Park in Genesee County, NY, Rogers, a church youth pastor, set up iPhones in his camper to surreptitiously record, for the purposes of his own sexual gratification, nude images of a minor victim. Shortly after setting up the phones, Rogers invited the minor victim to change out of her bathing suit in his camper. She agreed and, as she changed, the iPhones recorded nude images. After changing, the minor victim noticed the phones recording her, she attempted to delete the videos, and then reported the incident to authorities. Responding law enforcement officers detained and questioned Rogers. Subsequently, nude images of the minor victim were located on the phones.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr.
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Former Navy Petty Officer Admits to Role in Stealing and Selling Military GearRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A California man who served for more than twenty years in the United States Navy before his discharge as a Petty Officer First Class has admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that, while actively serving in the Navy, he participated in a scheme to steal and sell hundreds of thousands of dollars of government property from a Navy base responsible for supplying ships in the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Richard Allen, 52, of Citrus Heights, CA, pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy and six counts of money laundering as previously charged in a federal grand jury indictment.
According to information presented to the court, while stationed at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown-Cheatham Annex, in Williamsburg, VA, Allen and others repeatedly broke into a warehouse on the Navy base that held U.S. Navy gear, including working uniforms, winter gear, flame retardant shirts and pants, soft body armor, goggles, infrared flag patches, Navy SEAL Trident insignia, and Small Arms Protective Insert plates. Allen and his co-conspirators stole $856,433 worth of Navy gear and supplies, storing the items in various locations, including in Rhode Island. Allen and others then identified bulk-sale domestic and international customers for the stolen goods and arranged for delivery either in person or via commercial shipping. Payment for the stolen goods was frequently made and received via PayPal, including dozens of payments made from an account in China. The proceeds were transferred to co-conspirators bank accounts, including Allen’s, in increments of less than $10,000, in an effort to avoid bank reporting requirements.
Allen is scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, 2024.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matter was investigated by Naval Criminal Investigative Service-Northeast Field Office; Defense Criminal Investigative Service-Northeast Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations-New England; Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement-Boston Field Office; and FBI- Providence Resident Agency.
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Former National Guardsman convicted in smuggling conspiracyRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 24-year-old man has admitted to being a scout for an alien smuggling group, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Derrick Terelle Sankey, a native of Alabama, was serving under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Rio Grande Valley in 2021.
From March to September 2021, conspirators recruited Sankey into an existing alien smuggling group in which he would provide insight into counter-smuggling activities. He also scouted for vehicles he knew contained individuals who were illegally present in the United States in order to thwart law enforcement from detecting them.
As part of his plea, Sankey also admitted to providing law enforcement information to an alien smuggling organization. He also worked as a scout when loads of aliens would move from Starr and Hidalgo Counties to near the Border Patrol Checkpoint in Jim Wells County.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing Nov. 12. At that time, Sankey faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations and DHS – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Guerra Jr. is prosecuting the case.
Former MPD Sergeant Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Fatally Shooting a D.C. MotoristRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Enis Jevric, 42, a former Sergeant with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), was sentenced today in federal court to 60 months in prison for the August 2021 shooting death of 27-year-old An’Twan Gilmore, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office.
Jevric pleaded guilty February 23, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. to violating Mr. Gilmore’s constitutional rights by using deadly excessive force. Jevric also pleaded guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter under D.C. law. In addition to the prison term, Jevric was ordered to serve five years of supervised release.
According to documents filed with the court, Jevric willfully used unconstitutionally excessive and unreasonable force by shooting Mr. Gilmore. Specifically, shortly before 3 a.m. on August 25, 2021, Jevric and 17 other MPD officers responded to the intersection of New York Ave. and Florida Ave., N.E. for a report of a man asleep in the driver’s seat of a car stopped at the intersection. Officers approached the car and noticed that the sleeping driver, later identified as Mr. Gilmore, had a handgun in his waistband. After officers had been on scene for about 10 minutes and had cleared the avenues of civilian pedestrian and vehicle traffic, Jevric approached the car and directed another officer to knock on its windows to rouse Mr. Gilmore. When Mr. Gilmore awoke, the car moved forward several feet, stopped briefly, and then moved forward again. As it did so, Jevric fired his MPD-issued firearm at the car four times. The car then rolled down New York Avenue, and Jevric fired at it six more times. Three of Jevric’s shots struck Mr. Gilmore, who died a short time later from his wounds. No other officer fired at Mr. Gilmore. When officers pulled the bleeding, unresponsive, and unconscious Gilmore out of the car after it came to a rest, Gilmore’s gun was in the same spot it had been observed, tucked into his waistband, underneath his buckled seatbelt.
As part of his guilty plea, Jevric admitted that his conduct constituted unconstitutional, unreasonable force, and that he acted willfully, in reckless disregard of Mr. Gilmore’s Fourth Amendment right to be free from excessive force by police. He also admitted that his conduct created an extreme risk of death to Mr. Gilmore and was a gross deviation from a reasonable standard of care.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with extensive assistance from the FBI Laboratory including the Laboratory Shooting Reconstruction Team. It is being prosecuted by the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Former East Chicago Police Commander Sentenced to 36 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Louis Arcuri, 55 years old, of Portage, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Arcuri was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. He has been in federal custody since February 29, 2024.
According to documents in the case, Arcuri was on duty and armed as an East Chicago Police Commander on June 11, 2021, when he provided cocaine to an associate.
"The public rightly expects that those charged with enforcing the law will themselves abide by the law. Most law enforcement officers live up to this expectation,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “However, this defendant, while a sworn officer, violated federal law by distributing illegal drugs. Today, the court sentenced him for his criminal activity. This case demonstrates my office’s commitment to promoting public safety through prosecution even when the offender wears a police badge.”
"Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve and are held to the highest standards of conduct so when an officer is found to be involved in criminal activity, it undermines the public’s trust,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are firmly committed to holding officers accountable when they violate their oaths.”
“This case illustrates the level of partnerships among law enforcement to hold accountable those who violate the law, regardless of their profession,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron R. Wheeler of the Chicago Field Division. “No one is above the law, and I commend the United States Attorney’s Office for their dedication in prosecuting this case.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the East Chicago and the Whiting Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick and Thomas M. McGrath.
Five gang members plead guilty in murder near YorktownRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Five members of the Black P. Stone Nation gang pled guilty to federal charges relating to an abduction of the victim in Richmond and her ultimate murder in York County.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 6, 2023, Hezekiah Carney, 25, of Norfolk, Jamica Langley, 25, of Richmond, Donnisha Goodman, 27, of Portsmouth, and Acacia Jackson, 19, of New York, traveled to the victim’s residence on Bethel Street in Richmond, Virginia, to conduct a physical beating of the victim for a gang infraction. The group left the apartment after beating the victim.
Around an hour later, Goodman, Jackson, Carney, and Langley returned to the victim’s apartment, this time with an additional co-conspirator and fellow gang member, Jayquan Jones, 21, of Richmond. Some of them were armed and wearing masks. The group attacked the victim again before taking her from her residence. The group drove the victim in a Hyundai Sonata approximately an hour east of Richmond to a remote area off Old Williamsburg Road in York County, where they removed her from the car and executed her. The Medical Examiner found eight gunshot wounds to the head, abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs.
Upon returning to Portsmouth after the murder, Carney instructed Goodman, Jackson, and Langley on ways to evade law enforcement, including burning their clothing, and told them to stay together and not to speak with law enforcement.
At approximately 6:30 a.m., deputies with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office found the victim’s body, along with numerous shell casings with an "S&B” headstamp. On May 7, 2023, the Norfolk Police Department located and stopped the Sonata. Jackson, Goodman, and Langley were in the vehicle at the time. Investigators recovered a 9mm cartridge from the vehicle with the same “S&B" headstamp from casings found at the scene of the murder.
Carney, Goodman, and Jones pled guilty to using a firearm causing death. Under the terms of their plea agreements, each faces a minimum of 35 years in prison and up to 45 years in prison. Carney and Jones are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025. Goodman is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2025.
Jackson and Langley pled guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and each faces up to life in prison. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 31. Langley is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Norfolk Field Office; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Ronald Montgomery, York County Sheriff, made the announcement.
The Richmond Area Violent Enterprise (RAVE) Task Force provided significant assistance in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa McKeel and Mack Coleman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein are prosecuting the case with substantial assistance provided by the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-1.
Farmington Accountant Admits Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that MARK LEGOWSKI, 60, of Farmington, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to filing false tax returns.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from January 2015 through December 2017, Legowski was a self-employed accountant and tax return preparer doing business as Legowski & Company, Inc. (“LCI”) in Farmington. Legowski prepared income tax returns for approximately 400 to 500 individual clients and approximately 50 to 60 businesses. For the 2015 through 2017 tax years, in order to reduce his personal income tax liability, Legowski willfully underreported LCI’s gross receipts in LCI’s computer bookkeeping system by excluding some customer payment checks. He then filed false personal income tax returns that failed to report a total of more than $1.4 million in business income, which resulted in a loss to the IRS of $499,289.
For example, on his 2017 income tax return, Legowski reported taxable income of $56,060 and a tax liability of $6,070, and failed to report an additional $496,808 in business income, which resulted in an income tax deficiency of $178,581.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for November 25, at which time Legowski faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years. Legowski also has agreed to cooperate with the IRS to pay $499,289 in back taxes, as well as penalties and interest.
Legowski is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
Fall River Man Arrested for Selling Drugs and Machineguns on Telegram AppRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fall River man was arrested yesterday and charged with selling drugs and machineguns that he advertised on the Telegram app.
Benjamin Hunt, 26, was charged by criminal complaint with three counts of distribution of controlled substances and one count of transferring machineguns. Hunt was arrested yesterday morning, and following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Sept. 5, 2024.
As described in court documents, Hunt allegedly advertised drugs, firearms and other contraband on Telegram, a cloud-based application. Hunt would then allegedly use the U.S. mail to ship drugs, firearms and other contraband around the country in exchange for payment via Bitcoin. Specifically, Hunt allegedly used Telegram to advertise various types of controlled substances, including counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing fentanyl and other drugs. It is alleged that he also used Telegram to sell firearms and firearm parts including privately made firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns.” According to court documents, ghost guns are firearms assembled or otherwise produced by a person other than a licensed manufacturer, typically without a serial number, as well as machinegun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “switches,” which are designed to convert firearms into fully automatic weapons.
On two separate occasions in February and May 2024, Hunt allegedly used Telegram to sell 100 and 500 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, respectively, to undercover law enforcement in exchange for Bitcoin. In both instances, Hunt allegedly shipped the narcotics via U.S. mail after receiving Bitcoin payment.
It is further alleged that, in June 2024, law enforcement made another undercover purchase from Hunt via Telegram, this time of a Glock-type privately made firearm without a serial number, two switches or machinegun conversion devices, 110 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, an extended magazine and 3D printed brass knuckles.
According to court documents, earlier this week, Hunt allegedly mailed another package containing 1,600 counterfeit pills believed to contain fentanyl to undercover law enforcement in exchange for Bitcoin.
Law enforcement also intercepted multiple packages allegedly being sent to or from Hunt, including one package sent by him that contained a smoke grenade and one package sent to an address associated with him that contained 13 switches or machinegun conversion devices.
As further described in court documents, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants that led to the seizure of significant quantities and types of drugs, in addition to the seizure of an arsenal of firearms. Among other things, a large quantity suspected fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, morphine codeine, and mushrooms; approximately 10 firearms; several machine gun conversion devices; several silencers; several extended magazines, including with a large capacity drum; significant amounts of ammunition; many privately made firearm parts and accessories; and 3D printers capable of producing the seized privately made firearms were seized during the search.
“This arrest underscores our commitment to dismantling dangerous networks that use technology to facilitate the illegal distribution of deadly drugs and highly dangerous and illegal firearms. As alleged, Mr. Hunt exploited encrypted messaging platforms and the anonymity of cryptocurrency to peddle lethal narcotics and untraceable weapons, endangering communities across the country. The sheer volume of drugs and firearms seized during this investigation highlights the significant threat posed by these activities. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the public from the scourge of illegal drugs and violent crime,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
“As we all know, drug trafficking in our communities, along with the gun and physical violence that often accompanies it, is a serious threat to our families and communities,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “These crimes rob the neighborhoods of safety and hold law abiding citizens of Massachusetts hostage to drug fueled lawlessness. This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen. DEA and its local, state and federal partners are dedicated to investigating anyone that commits these crimes.”
“ATF is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle the sources of illegal drugs in our communities,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division. “Drugs are often found alongside guns, so we are also taking decisive action to prevent the illegal sale and use of machine gun conversion devices.”
“Hunt’s arrest should give fair warning that trafficking in narcotics and firearms on encrypted applications does not give anonymity. Working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, investigations like this highlight our ever-evolving abilities to identify and locate suspects engaged in similar conduct. The use of the U.S. Mail to distribute illicit substances and illegal firearms will not be tolerated and Postal Inspectors here in Massachusetts, and across the country are aggressively investigating these types of cases,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
The charges of distribution of controlled substances each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of transfer of machineguns provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to 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 U.S. Attorney Levy, DEA Acting SAC Belleau, ATF SAC Ferguson and USPIS INC Larco-Ward made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in New England; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Attleboro, Fairhaven, Fall River, New Bedford, Norton, Scituate and Taunton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mackenzie Duane and Kunal Pasricha of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
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.
Dominican National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Onassis Alexander Tejeda-Arias, age 31, of the Dominican Republic, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 28, 2024, for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Lopez-Zamora was previously removed from the United States on October 16, 2016, through Alexandria, Louisiana. It is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States on October 6, 2022, in Dauphin County, without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Dodge Woman Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kristin M. Uhing, age 54, of Dodge, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 29, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for bank fraud. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Uhing to 15 months’ imprisonment and ordered that she pay $172,806 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. After Uhing’s release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
Starting in about 2015, Uhing gained unauthorized online access to bank accounts and certificates of deposit owned by her mother- and father-in-law, an elderly couple who lived nearby. From then until 2021, Uhing used that unauthorized access to transfer funds from the victims’ accounts to her own account. Uhing kept the victims from learning about the unauthorized transfers by altering bank statements and by changing the account settings to paperless. Uhing also used the victims’ credit cards without authorization. In total, Uhing stole over $200,000 from the victims, which included all their retirement savings. By the time of sentencing, Uhing had paid back about $27,612.
This case was investigated by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Culver City Restauranteur Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $4 Million in COVID-19 Business-Relief LoansRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A Culver City man and restauranteur who owns a hospitality company that has developed restaurants and hotels in California, Tennessee, and Kentucky pleaded guilty today to fraudulently obtaining more than $4 million COVID-19 economic-relief loans.
Philip Frederick Camino, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
During the spring of 2020, Congress created two federal programs to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to his plea agreement, Camino owns several companies based in Hollywood, Westwood, Studio City, and Beverly Hills as well as in Arizona. From April 2020 to April 2021, Camino submitted and caused to be submitted false and fraudulent applications to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and banks for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
In these applications, Camino made false statements, including inflating the number of employees to whom were paid wages, providing fictitious federal tax forms that were never filed with the IRS, and falsely certifying that the loan proceeds would be used for permissible business purposes.
Relying on Camino’s false information, the SBA and lenders approved and funded these loans, the proceeds of which were transferred to a bank account under Camino’s control. Camino used most of the fraudulently obtained money for expenses prohibited under the PPP and EIDL programs, including paying more than $100,000 in kickbacks to his accomplice.
For example, in June 2020, Camino emailed a bank containing false documentation to support a $144,270 fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of a company controlled by a co-conspirator.
In total, Camino submitted more than 20 fraudulent loan applications from which he obtained more than $4 million.
United States District Judge Fred W. Slaughter scheduled a March 6, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which time Camino will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Waier of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
Court Shuts Down Ohio Return Preparer and His BusinessesRead the Press Release
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio issued a permanent injunction today against an Ohio tax return preparer.
Emmanuel Antwi and his Cincinnati businesses — Manny Travel Agency & Business Services Inc. and Manny Financial, Insurance & Accounting Firm LLC — consented to the injunction, which permanently bars them from preparing federal tax returns for others. The United States’ claim for an order demanding Antwi turnover ill-gotten gains he received in the form of tax preparation fees remains pending.
According to the civil complaint, since at least 2020, Antwi filed hundreds of tax returns each filing season with at least 95% of the returns he prepared annually claiming a refund. Allegedly, Antwi knowingly took unreasonable or incorrect positions on returns he prepared that resulted in understatements of the tax his customers owed and overstatements of the refunds to which they were entitled to receive. In particular, the complaint alleges that Antwi prepared returns that claimed deductions for purported business losses or employee business expenses that he knew were false. The complaint also alleges that Antwi prepared returns where he knowingly reported the wrong filing status.
As a result of the court’s order, Antwi must send notice of the injunction to each person for whom he or his businesses prepared federal tax returns, amended tax returns or claims for refund between Jan. 1, 2019, to the present. Additionally, the order provides that Antwi must post a copy of the permanent injunction both on websites that he and his businesses maintain and at physical locations where any type of business is conducted.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information.
In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
Antwi Injunction Order.pdfConvicted Felon Sentenced for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Haverhill man with multiple prior felony convictions, including manslaughter, was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday in federal court in Boston for possessing a loaded firearm and drugs intended for distribution.
Ramon Silvelo-Miles, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In February 2024, Silvelo-Miles pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In the early morning hours of Sept. 20, 2021, Silvelo-Miles was stopped by law enforcement for driving erratically on Route 24 in West Bridgewater. Field sobriety tests administered on-site indicated that Silvelo-Miles was too impaired to drive. During a subsequent search of his car over 200 grams of cocaine and 9 grams of fentanyl packaged in 51 small, clear plastic bags in a small backpack inside the glove compartment were found. Hidden inside a black sock with the drugs was a Raven Arms MP-25 .25 caliber pistol. The gun was loaded with one bullet in the chamber and five bullets in the magazine. Silvelo-Miles is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions including a 2014 conviction for manslaughter.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, 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 Charged with Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury indicted a convicted felon for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Darrie Dewayne Ziegler, 31, of Birmingham, with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the indictment, on August 15, 2024, Ziegler illegally possessed a Shadow Systems 9mm pistol.
ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department and the Irondale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Claremore Man Sentenced After Offering to Pay a Minor Victim to Perform Sex ActsRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced David Leon Strickland, 46, for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Judge Russell ordered Strickland to 162 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Strickland will also be required to register as a sex offender.
“Child predators like Strickland target unsuspecting children through social media and gaming sites,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “With the increase of online access, child exploitation is at an all-time high. Take the time today to know who your children are talking to online.”
Beginning in November 2017, Strickland admitted to using meth daily and knowingly began contacting a minor under 18 years old. Via text, Strickland repeatedly requested the minor victim to engage in sex. If the minor victim complied, Strickland offered to pay the minor.
Strickland will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI, Verdigris Police Department, and Claremore Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly prosecuted the case.
If you believe sexually explicit photos or videos of you were posted online, Take It Down can help. Take It Down is a free online website hosted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. You can anonymously request help to remove or stop the sharing of sexually explicit content. Take It Down also provides services for victims, survivors, siblings and caregivers looking for mental health and peer support. Further, if you are being threatened by image sharing or other forms of online exploitation, you can submit a report online.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
California Woman Sentenced to over 7 Years for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, and CocaineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Yuri Mulato, age 42, of California, was sentenced on August 29, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of possession with intent to distribute. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Mulato to a total of 87 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Mulato’s release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On January 23, 2024, a state trooper stopped a vehicle driving along Interstate 80 in Nebraska. There were two occupants in the vehicle. The driver, and owner of the vehicle, was identified as Mulato. The trooper asked for permission to search the vehicle, which Mulato agreed to. The trunk area of the vehicle contained a potato chip box that was duct taped closed and a spare tire that was too large for the vehicle. The box and tire contained bricks of meth, cocaine, heroin, and pills containing fentanyl. The State Crime Lab confirmed that there was 22 kilograms of meth, including at least 2 kilograms of meth actual, just over 1 kilogram of heroin, just over 1 kilogram of pills that tested positive for fentanyl, and 475 grams of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
California Man Sentenced to 10 Months for Using a Debit Card Stolen from the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Jason C. Nottingham, age 42, of Sacramento, California, was sentenced on August 29, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for use of an unauthorized access device. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Weaver to 10 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Weaver will be required to complete a 3-year term of supervised release.
On September 19, 2023, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began investigating an attempted burglary at the Henderson, Nebraska, post office at 1049 N. Main Street. Employees reported that the damage suggested someone unsuccessfully attempted gain entry to the locked retail lobby door using a crowbar or a similar tool. On September 25, 2023, the Henderson Postmaster received a call from a deputy who reported finding mail in a ditch. The mail included mail from rural mailboxes in Henderson, Nebraska.
On September 28, 2023, the USPIS began investigating an attempted burglary at the Fairmont, Nebraska, post office located at 455 6th Avenue. Investigators observed that approximately thirteen post office boxes had been pried open. Similar pry-bar markings were observed on the locked retail lobby door, but the door had not been opened. The post office reported similar box break-ins the weekend prior. Fairmont Police reviewed surveillance camera footage and observed a silver SUV stop at the post office for approximately twenty minutes.
On September 29, 2023, a victim reported to the Fairmont Police Department that multiple fraudulent charges were posted to his account. The police identified the suspect as Joseph Weaver and identified the suspect vehicle as a silver Toyota SUV bearing California license plates.
On October 16, 2023, the USPIS began investigating a reported attempted burglary at the Trumbull, Nebraska, post office located at 125 Main Street. Employees reported break-ins of approximately nine post office boxes and the appearance of an attempt to access the main lobby door.
On October 18, 2023, the Geneva, Nebraska, post office reported break-ins of three post office boxes, two of which were unused. On the same date, several local law enforcement agencies coordinated the execution of a search warrant at 304 West Ash in Sutton, Nebraska, where Weaver resided. Officers located numerous items of stolen mail, including mail addressed to victims with post office boxes in Geneva, Henderson, and Trumbull. Officers contacted Weaver at the residence and arrested him for possession of methamphetamine and obstruction.
On October 19, 2023, a postal inspector interviewed the Weaver at the Clay County Jail. Weaver initially stated that he received the mail from a guy in a Walmart parking lot but later admitted he lied. Weaver admitted to breaking into post office boxes in Fairmont, Geneva, and Trumbull. Weaver admitted to looking for checks and other financial instruments. Weaver was also in possession of a counterfeit arrow key (a master key to postal locks). Weaver admitted to making purchases with the Fairmont victim’s stolen debit card. The aggregate value of the items obtained by the Weaver using the victim’s stolen debit card was close to $3,000.00. Weaver stated he also took a stolen check to a bank in Lincoln, Nebraska, but left when the clerk indicated he was going to verify the check.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
California Man Sentenced for Walmart TheftsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jabaree Mabrey, 27, of California, was sentenced August 29, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for fraudulent use of an unauthorized access device. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Mabrey to 64 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Mabrey’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Mabrey was also ordered to pay $690,484 in restitution.
In April of 2023, Mabrey was identified and arrested after a co-defendant, Marlon Tigner had been arrested in Nebraska on state charges. Tigner was previously sentenced to 71 months in prison by Judge Gerrard for the same charges.
In the course of the investigation, it was learned that Walmart’s cash registers utilize a master key, apparently universal to all Walmart registers, regardless of location. This key is accessible only to managers and front-end supervisors. At some point, Tigner and Mabrey had come into possession of a master key and has been using that key to steal from Walmart. Documentation gathered during the investigation showed a loss of $690,484 from stores spanning from Washington state to Massachusetts and from Texas to Wisconsin attributable to Tigner and Mabrey over the last few years.
The case was prosecuted in Nebraska after Tigner was contacted on a traffic stop in Lancaster County, identified as a suspect in the nationwide thefts, and master keys were recovered from his person. Further investigation led to the identification of Mabrey as Tigner’s accomplice. Law enforcement was also able confirm that the two used the keys to steal from several Omaha Walmart stores.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department and numerous other law enforcement partners across the nation.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Illegal Depressant Etizolam over the InternetRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man pleaded guilty today for conspiracy to sell the illegal depressant Etizolam over the internet.
Paul Z. Lamberty, 52, of Folsom, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of the introduction of misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Dec. 13, 2024.
Lamberty operated websites Encern.com and Ohmod.com and used those sites to sell the drug etizolam to customers throughout the United States, including Massachusetts. Payments for etizolam through those websites could only be made through cryptocurrency and it would be shipped to customers through U.S. Priority Mail. Encern.com has no corporate records in the State of California and the Encern.com website did not provide a physical address for the business. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved etizolam for use as a drug, and thus it cannot be sold or prescribed in the United States. Despite this, Lamberty purchased drugs from suppliers in China and imported those drugs into the United States and sold the drugs with false labelling stating that the products were sold “For Research Purposes Only” and “Not for Human Consumption.” Based on an analysis of bank and cryptocurrency records, Lamberty and his co-conspirator conducted gross sales of over $550,000 of etizolam through the internet during the course of the conspiracy.
According to the charging document, etizolam is a drug known as a thienodiazepine, a class of drugs chemically related to benzodiazepines, which produce central nervous system depression. Physicians may prescribe FDA-approved benzodiazepines to treat insomnia and anxiety, but benzodiazepines and thienodiazepines also carry risks of dependency, toxicity, and even fatal overdose, particularly when combined with other central nervous system depressants.
The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of introduction of misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead provides for a sentence up to three 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 that govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Fernando P. McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Lauren A. Graber of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
Boston Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Firearm, Ammunition and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition and for distributing cocaine.
Herbert Small, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to two years in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release. In April 2024, Small pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
On Aug. 17, 2023, Small sold 20 grams of cocaine and two firearms – a .22 caliber revolver and a .40 caliber pistol with a magazine containing 11 rounds of ammunition – to a cooperating witness in Dorchester. On Oct. 16, 2023, Small sold approximately 65 grams of cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine) to the same cooperating witness.
Small is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a previous federal drug conviction in 2017.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and Lucy Sun of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, 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.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Binghamton Woman Pleads Guilty to Escaping Federal Custody and Possessing with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jade A. Pittsley, age 34, of Binghamton, New York, pled guilty today to escaping from federal custody, and possessing and intending to distribute methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office; and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.
Pittsley admitted that in November 2023, while she was serving a federal term of imprisonment for a drug offense involving methamphetamine, she was under the supervision of a halfway house. Pittsley was directed to return to the halfway house but never did. Days later, law enforcement found Pittsley carrying methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in her purse.
At sentencing, scheduled for December 30, 2024, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, Pittsley faces a minimum term of 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The case was investigated by HSI and the U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikayla Espinosa and Kristen Grabowski are prosecuting this case.
Billings woman sentenced to more than seven years in prison for armed carjackingRead the Press Release
BILLINGS —A Billings woman who admitted carjacking a vehicle while armed was sentenced today to seven years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Talena Florence Boyiddle, 20, pleaded guilty in May to carjacking and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Jan. 23, 2023, the victim, identified as John Doe 1, reported to the Billings Police Department that he had been carjacked. The victim told law enforcement that he had met a woman he knew as “Nicole” online and that at 1 a.m. on Jan. 23, 2023, she arranged for him to pick her up. When the victim arrived, the woman got into the front seat and two unknown males got into the back seat. The three individuals instructed the victim to drive to an alley behind a laundromat. There, the woman pulled out a Glock pistol, racked it twice and pointed it at John Doe 1. All three individuals made statements that they intended to rob the victim. The victim got out of the car and ran away, and the three individuals took his car, a 2003 Honda Civic. An officer found the car with switched plates later the same day and had it towed. A few days after the car was returned to the victim, it was stolen again. In February 2023, police found Boyiddle in the victim’s car and in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun. Investigators determined through a Facebook photo that “Nicole” was Boyiddle. The government further alleged that Boyiddle and her associates were able to steal the car a second time by using keys they had obtained from the carjacking.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Baltimore Man Found Guilty for Sexual Exploitation of A Minor to Produce Child Pornography, Cyberstalking, and for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – After a three-day trial, a federal jury returned a verdict of guilty against Christopher Kenji Bendann, age 40 of Baltimore, on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor to produce child pornography, one count of cyberstalking, and three counts possession of child pornography, all relating to his sexual exploitation of a minor male victim.
The guilty verdict was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from approximately September 16, 2017 to February 9, 2019, the Defendant produced multiple videos of a minor male engaged in sexually-explicit conduct. The victim was 16 and 17 years old during this time. These same videos were stored on the Defendant’s iCloud and comprised a possession of child pornography charge. Additionally, as detailed at trial, between May and December 2022, the Defendant cyberstalked the same victim by sending electronic cellphone messages to the victim, demanding contact and explicit images of him, and threatening to make public sexually-explicit images of the victim if he did not comply. The evidence at trial likewise established that on February 3, 2023, the date of the Defendant’s arrest, the Defendant possessed multiple depictions of child pornography on the Defendant’s multiple electronic devices.
The Defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of sexual exploitation of a child to produce child pornography; a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each count of possession of child pornography; and, a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison for cyberstalking. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for January 21, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
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. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Kim Y. Hagan, who are prosecuting the federal case. He also recognized the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Julie Jarman.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Automated trading bots scheme results in millions of dollars, Teslas, Rolexes, and federal wire fraud convictionsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Great Falls man pled guilty on July 23 to wire fraud and a Florida man was sentenced yesterday for his role in the wire fraud conspiracy.
According to court documents, Rick Tariq Rahim, 56, defrauded customers who wanted to invest using Rahim’s automated trading bots, some of which traded forex, and by “copying” Rahim’s supposed trading activities that he posted to Discord. He marketed his products under BotsforWealth, TradeAutomation.com, ProChartSignals.com, OptionCopier.com, CopyAndWin.com, SnipeAlgo.com, and QQQtrade.com. Rahim charged customers a subscription fee for access to Rahim’s bots, software, and copying his supposed trades. Rahim also offered a “lifetime membership” to which customers received access to Rahim’s private Discord channel, some of his products, as well as his “in-office” trading days. Additionally, Rahim personally traded stocks for at least two individuals, claiming that "We'll hit home runs and make $500k+ per day very very often." Instead, Rahim lost over $300,000 of his clients’ funds in eight months.
Rahim induced customers to subscribe to his products by using video-centric, internet-based social media tools, including TikTok, YouTube, and Discord. He posted false information to his websites and to his social media accounts claiming to “beat the stock market every day” and promising extreme profit margins.
Rahim also sought to induce customers by claiming he was extremely wealthy, boasting about trading millions of dollars and posting about his large home, pool, and luxury cars, including his Lamborghini. Despite claiming to regularly beat the market, however, he exaggerated his personal trading success, in part by not posting trades in which he lost money. In fact, Rahim realized over $500,000 in losses from February 2021 through December 2022. He did not invest millions in the market during this time period as he had claimed. As part of his fraud scheme, Rahim also created at least 20 Discord user profiles to post emojis, likes, and symbols showing agreement and excitement regarding Rahim’s posts. Rahim earned at least $1,397,000 in subscription fees during the course of his schemes. After accepting the guilty plea, the court ordered that Rahim not give any financial investment advice to anyone for a fee.
Ian Taylor Higgins, 33, conspired with Rahim on one of Rahim’s bot offerings, TradeAutomation. Higgins owned and ran FXPrimary, an online trading platform that purportedly acted as a brokerage house and would manage investors’ cryptocurrency deposits for TradeAutomation. Higgins admitted that investors had little chance of making any profit despite being told they could. He also admitted that the investments were much higher risk than advertised by Rahim. Higgins profited by over $4 million, with which he purchased a Florida home for over $2 million, two Teslas for $70,000, Rolexes for $44,500, as well as other luxury goods. Higgins was sentenced to three years in prison and will be ordered to pay restitution.
On March 15, Rahim pled guilty to failing to pay over to the IRS the taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks. Rahim has not filed a personal income tax return since 2012 despite earning more than $34 million in gross income, resulting in a loss to the IRS of at least $1,844,489.
Rahim is scheduled to be sentenced for both the wire fraud scheme and his tax fraud on Dec. 20. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud scheme and five years in prison for his tax fraud conviction. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea for Rahim and after the sentencing of Higgins by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Shartar and Kenneth R. Simon Jr. are prosecuting Rahim for his wire fraud conduct and, with assistance from the Tax Division, his tax fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shartar is prosecuting Higgins for his role in the investment fraud scheme.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:24-cr-179 (Rahim’s Investment Fraud Case), 1:23-cr-173 (Rahim’s Tax Fraud Case), and 1:24-cr-26 (Higgins’s Investment Fraud Case).
Attempted sex trafficking of minor girl, violation of a release condition send Billings man to prison for more than 23 yearsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to a sex trafficking crime after he was accused of offering to provide a minor girl alcohol in exchange for sex and to violating a release condition in a separate case was sentenced today to a total of 23 years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Joshua Allen Morgan, 40, pleaded guilty in May to attempted sex trafficking of a minor. In a separate case, Morgan also admitted to violating a condition of supervised release for a separate 2012 conviction for receipt of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court sentenced Morgan to 21 years and 10 months in prison for the attempted sex trafficking conviction and to a consecutive two years in prison for violating a release condition in the child pornography case.
In the case involving attempted sex trafficking of a minor, the government alleged in court documents that in March 2023, law enforcement was conducting an undercover online investigation in the Billings area targeting individuals with a sexual interest in children. Morgan responded to and agreed to meet a person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. Morgan was arrested and law enforcement served a search warrant on his phone. Law enforcement found Facebook communications between Morgan and a juvenile girl, identified as Jane Doe. In an interview with law enforcement, Doe disclosed that she had met Morgan when she was 15 or 16 after he began sending her messages on Facebook. Morgan provided Doe with alcohol, and they spent time together. During this period, Moran sexually assaulted Doe at his residence. In March 2023, Morgan and Doe began corresponding again and discussions involved Morgan providing Doe with alcohol in exchange for sexual conduct. Doe informed Morgan she was a juvenile, and Morgan instructed her not to disclose their relationship to anyone. Doe and Morgan did meet, but Doe left prior to engaging in sexual conduct with Morgan.
At the same time Morgan was attempting to traffic Jane Doe, he also was attempting to groom other minor girls. He asked two girls to travel to Laurel with him one night and purchased alcohol for them. On another occasion, Morgan informed one of those girls that he could provide her with methamphetamine. Morgan made a habit of informing these children that he did not want to know their age. The girls were 15 and 16 years old.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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As Kids Return to School, U.S. Attorney Releases New Public Service Announcement Warning About Child Predators on InternetRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – As kids return to school, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi launched an on-line video public service announcement (PSA) designed to raise awareness about the increasing number of child predators seeking to exploit children on the internet.
The PSA video, which is available on-line, features United States Attorney Todd Gee and provides information about the importance of being aware of your child’s use of digital technologies, ways child predators are using technology to exploit children, and how to report child exploitation. The PSA highlights the risk of child predators using digital technology to engage in “sextortion,” a type of blackmail used by predators over the internet to acquire sexual content from a child. That person may use deceit, coercion, or another method to obtain a nude or sexual image of the child before blackmailing them for money or more content.
As discussed in the PSA, in the Southern District of Mississippi, the U.S. Attorney’s office is fortunate to work with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task force, a coalition of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who specialize in hunting down these child predators.
“Back to school season is a great time to remind parents to be aware of the ways your children are connected to the internet—from cell phones to gaming systems and social media—and how child predators can use these digital technologies to exploit children,” said U.S. Attorney Gee. “I encourage parents to watch this PSA, be aware of the risks of digital technology, and report any potential sextortion or other forms of child exploitation.”
If you believe your child has been a victim of sextortion or other forms of child exploitation, preserve the evidence, take screenshots, write down names, usernames, and phone numbers, and report the information to your local FBI field office or online at https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
For additional information, please visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website at https://www.missingkids.org.
The U.S. Attorney’s PSA can be found here: Internet Safety PSA and on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s X and Facebook pages.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud and Filing a False Claim with the IRSRead the Press Release
An Arizona man pleaded guilty yesterday to wire fraud and filing a false refund claim with the IRS.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020 and 2021, Roy L. Layne submitted false applications on behalf of several bogus businesses to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, two federal programs created to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In those applications, Layne claimed that the businesses had dozens of employees and earned hundreds of thousands in gross receipts. To support his false claims and to create the appearance of genuine business activity, Layne created false business and employment tax forms that he filed with the IRS and submitted to the SBA. In total, Layne requested and received over $300,000 in loans to which he was not entitled.
In addition, in 2022, Layne filed false returns with the IRS that sought nearly $7.5 million in refunds, of which the IRS paid approximately $550,000.
Layne is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and five years for the false claim charge. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigations and the FBI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew R. Hoffman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case.
Amsterdam Man Sentenced to Nearly 8 Years for Distributing Crack Cocaine, Money Laundering and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Angelo Dalmau, age 54, of Amsterdam, New York, was sentenced today to 93 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for drug, money laundering, and firearm offenses.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Thomas Fattorusso, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office, made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Dalmau admitted to selling cocaine base (a/k/a crack cocaine) to another person on five occasions between September 2021 and March 2022; the total amount sold was approximately 250 grams. Dalmau further admitted to delivering $149,500 in drug money to another individual in January 2022 for the purpose of laundering those funds. When investigators searched Dalmau’s residence pursuant to a warrant on April 14, 2022, they recovered approximately 100 grams of crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, $191,843 in cash, and a pistol loaded with ammunition. Dalmau was arrested on that date has remained in custody since that time.
The DEA, IRS and Amsterdam Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Segovia and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted the case.
21 Suspected El Paso Gang Affiliates Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking, Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – 21 individuals suspected of being affiliated with the Chuco Tango street gang were arrested Thursday in and around El Paso on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, and/or the unlawful possession of firearms.
The following defendants were indicted in federal court for various charges that include conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
- Clarissa Inez Santana
- Daniel Baeza aka “Racoon”
- Hector Chamorro
- Angel Renee Corral aka “Happy”
- Antonio “Omar” Gamboa
- Robert Gurrola aka “Bobby Barker” aka “Bobby Baker”
- Ricardo Moreno
- Andrew Solorio aka “Tokes”
- Adam Vazquez
- Brandon Garcia
- Jacqueline Perez
- Aileen Gonzalez
- Byanka Sambrano
- Thomas Payan
- Steven Kuehn
- Cassandra Page Silva
- Tanya Campechano
- Alejandro Morrill
- Zoilo Romero
- Alexander Rangel
- Zulema Marin
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Four fugitives remain at-large following Thursday’s operation: Carlos Flores, Jessica Rodarte, Jonathan Blanco and Adriel Belmont. Tips can be submitted to the DEA by calling (915) 832-6000 or visiting their website https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip or to the FBI at (915) 832-5000.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, Acting Special Agent in Charge Britton Boyd for FBI El Paso Division, and Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division made the announcement.
The FBI and DEA are investigating the case with valuable support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the El Paso Police Department, the El Paso Sheriff’s Office, the Socorro Police Department, the Horizon Police Department, the El Paso Constables, and the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Tigua Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Johnston is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Wednesday 28 August 2024
Wilmington Resident Sentenced for Possession of Firearms After Threats in Alamance CountyRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 3-1/2 years in prison, after pleading guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL CAULDER, age 30, of Wilmington, North Carolina, was sentenced to a 42-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. He pleaded guilty on April 2, 2024, to felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
According to court records, on November 7, 2022, Deputies with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call that Christopher Michael CAULDER was making suicidal and homicidal threats. When Deputies responded to the scene and spoke with CAULDER’s mother, they learned that CAULDER had a safe in the basement which contained multiple firearms and a large amount of ammunition, which he brought there from his residence in Wilmington, NC. A search warrant was applied for and granted by a state magistrate. During execution of the search warrant, investigators recovered 23 firearms, several thousand rounds of various calibers of ammunition, hundreds of magazines (some still in boxes with CAULDER’s name on the shipping labels), body armor, firearm accessories, and multiple incomplete firearm receivers (aka ghost guns). Three of the rifles recovered had barrels shorter than 16 inches. One of the rifles appeared to have a hole drilled for the installation of a fully automatic trigger system. While being interviewed, CAULDER made statements indicating he was attempting to make a machine gun.
At the time of these offenses, CAULDER had been previously convicted of Discharging a Weapon into Occupied Property (Alamance County, 2019) and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Thus, at the time of the instant offense, CAULDER was legally barred from possessing a firearm due to his status as a felon.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy M. Williams-Durham.
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Westwego Woman Guilty of Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that PENELOPE PASSERO (“PASSERO”), age 50, of Westwego, Louisiana, pled guilty on August 27, 2024 to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. PASSERO faces up to ten (10) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of $250,000, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571, up to three years of supervised release and, a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, from February 2016 to December 2020, PASSERO knowingly accessed and converted approximately $59,320.97 in Social Security Administration and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES ACT”) funds.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2024 before United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter.
On May 17, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources, and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of fraud related to COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Waterloo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Gun and DrugsRead the Press Release
A felon who possessed a firearm and drugs was sentenced today to five years in federal prison.
Carlos Danacio Traywick, age 51, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 27, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that deputies stopped a car that Traywick was driving in Waterloo on July 16, 2022. During the traffic stop, Traywick removed methamphetamine and marijuana from his pockets. Traywick attempted to run from officers, but he was apprehended after a brief foot chase. In the car that Traywick was driving, deputies located a loaded firearm and cocaine.
Traywick was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Traywick was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Traywick is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Waterloo Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-2023.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
United States Files Complaint Against Logger and Logging Company for Timber Trespass on Monongahela National ForestRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – The United States Attorney’s Office has filed a civil lawsuit against a Randolph County logger and logging company for trespassing and cutting down approximately 10 acres of timber on the Monongahela National Forest near Slaty Fork.
According to the complaint, John R. Fox and Fox Logging, LLC, of Valley Bend, West Virginia, submitted paperwork to timber 319 acres of private property that borders the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas County. Fox allegedly began logging in 2015 and continued until at least 2019. During that time, the logging operation is alleged to have encroached on nearly 10 acres of the Forest, resulting in timbering of more than 45,500 cubic feet of mature hardwood and pine saw timber valued at nearly $28,000. Fox was also accused of damaging and taking timber from an adjacent private property.
Under West Virginia state law, the government is seeking $80,189.04 in monetary damages from Fox and Fox Logging, LLC, as well as compensatory and punitive damages. Trial is scheduled to begin on October 20, 2025, at the United States Courthouse in Elkins, WV.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maximillian Nogay filed the complaint on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service investigated.
United States Attorney Chris Kavanaugh Announces Departure at Year’s EndRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – United States Attorney Chris Kavanaugh released the following statement:
"Today, I am announcing my plans to resign from my position as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia effective at year’s end, following the commencement of my wife Jasmine Hyejung Yoon’s service as a United States District Court Judge this September. During this brief period of overlap, any cases in which the United States is a party, including all criminal matters, will be assigned to the other judges within the Western District of Virginia in accordance with the Court’s standing order for assignment of cases.
Serving as United States Attorney has been the highlight of my professional life. I am grateful to President Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and Senators Warner and Kaine for the opportunity to serve as the chief federal law enforcement official for the Western District of Virginia, and to lead an Office full of public servants dedicated to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice."
As the United States Attorney since October 2021, Kavanaugh has supervised the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters in which the United States has an interest within the Western District of Virginia, which comprises 52 counties and 17 independent cities in Virginia.
In addition to being United States Attorney, Kavanaugh also serves on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), chair of the AGAC’s National Security Subcommittee, co-chair of the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee, and as a member of the Corporate Crime Enforcement Policy Working Group. Prior to becoming United States Attorney, Kavanaugh was Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General and served as an Assistant United States Attorney for 14 years in both Charlottesville, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
U.S. Attorney's Office Presents to Treatment Providers on Combating Discrimination Against Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder in Recovery or TreatmentRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina and the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, to provide an informational session on The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Opioid Crisis: Combating Discrimination Against People In Treatment and Recovery from Opioid Use Disorder, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The presentation was a component of a four-part series sponsored by MAHEC. The first module presented today by the Civil Rights Coordinators of each U.S. Attorney’s Office focused on an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its applicability to individuals in treatment to address Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). The presentation also encompassed a review of complaints and outcomes of prior investigations that alleged discrimination against individuals in treatment for OUD or with a history of past drug use.
The presentation aimed to ensure that skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and other medical establishments do not discriminate on the basis of disability, as such establishments are places of public accommodation under the ADA. Persons in need of care and services at skilled nursing facilities, outpatient rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, and medical offices cannot be denied access to these services because they are in treatment for OUD or had a history of past drug use. Under the ADA, no individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of a place of public accommodation. Persons in recovery for substance use disorder are individuals with a disability within the meaning of ADA and its accompanying regulations, and thus are covered by the ADA’s protections.
“As chief law enforcement officer in the Western District and Chair of the U.S. Attorney General’s Subcommittee on Civil Rights, I am committed to enforcing the ADA and all civil rights statutes,” said U.S. Attorney King. “As we work to combat the spread of illegal drugs in our communities, we must also support those seeking to rebuild their lives through treatment at licensed medical facilities. Ensuring that individuals are receiving the proper care they need to overcome substance use disorder without experiencing discrimination is a matter of critical importance for all of us.”
Individuals who believe they have been victims of discrimination may file an ADA complaint online at https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY).
MAHEC was established 50 years ago, and is a leader in healthcare, education, and innovation. Headquartered on a 14-acre campus in Asheville, with family medicine, ob/gyn, internal medicine, psychiatry, and dentistry offices in various locations across its 16-county Western N.C. service area, MAHEC is the largest of nine Area Health Education Centers in the state and home to branch campuses of UNC schools of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and public health. Among MAHEC’s focus areas is recruiting, training, and retaining the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina, with particular emphasis on primary care in rural communities and for those with less access to resources. A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike, MAHEC is one of the largest nonprofit employers in the mountain region with a staff of more than 1,000. For more information, visit mahec.net.
Two Individuals Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Defraud Rideshare Customers, Drivers and OthersRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Eliahou Paldiel and Carlos Arturo Suarez Palacios (Suarez) with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies relating to a wide-ranging scheme in which the defendants sold hacked smartphones and fraudulent applications to more than 800 rideshare drivers (Driver Co-conspirators). The applications enabled the Driver Co-conspirators to “spoof” GPS locations to fraudulently obtain “surge” fees and to otherwise manipulate legitimate rideshare applications to enrich themselves to the detriment of riders, law-abiding drivers and rideshare companies. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison on each of the two counts.
This morning, Paldiel was arrested in Brooklyn and Suarez was arrested in Brick Township, New Jersey. The defendants will be arraigned later this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Marcia M. Henry.
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), announced the arrests and charges.
“As alleged, the defendants sought to enrich themselves by corrupting the rideshare market at the expense of unsuspecting passengers and hardworking drivers who play by the rules,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “My Office remains steadfast in ensuring that, no matter how complex the scheme, individuals who violate the law will be caught and held accountable. The defendants learned an important lesson in these charges: there is no such thing as a free ride.”
“Eliahou Paldiel and Carlos Suarez allegedly developed a rideshare application that fraudulently manipulated a driver’s GPS location to obtain unlawful surge fare pricing, defrauding customers and legitimate drivers. For almost six years, this alleged conspiracy offered an unfair financial advantage to more than 800 participants and disrupted the integrity of nationwide rideshare services, earning the participants more than $40 million. The FBI will continue to dismantle all fraudulent schemes, even as criminals attempt to create innovative scams for selfish gains,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Curtis.
Rideshare Company-1 is a multinational company headquartered in the United States that provides ridesharing services. It operates primarily through its smartphone application (the Rideshare Company-1 Application), connecting users with drivers for on-demand transportation and delivery services.
As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, between November 2018 and August 2024, Paldiel and Suarez engaged in a scheme to defraud Rideshare Company-1’s users and drivers by causing passengers to collectively pay millions of dollars in fraudulent “surge” fees to hundreds of participating Driver Co-conspirators, and depriving legitimate rideshare drivers of their true share of “surge” fares and the most lucrative trips. In addition, the fraudulent devices and applications sold by the defendants for profit enabled the Driver Co-conspirators to cherry-pick high-fare rides by obtaining proprietary information and to “queue” in areas where they were not physically present.
The defendants allegedly sold scheme applications to Driver Co-conspirators on manipulated—also known as “jailbroken” or “rooted”—cellular devices (the Scheme Devices). A jailbroken or rooted cellular device has had its operating system security restrictions modified or removed, thereby allowing the installation of software, including applications, that the device manufacturer had not made available for the device. Driver Co-conspirators utilized the Rideshare Company-1 Application on their Scheme Devices.
Fake GPS “Spoofing” App
Fake GPS was a GPS spoofing application developed by the defendants and others. Fake GPS enabled Driver Co-conspirators to manipulate or “spoof” their locations within the Rideshare Company-1 Application and make it appear as if they were located in an area with surging fares when, in fact, they were not.Screwber App
Screwber is an application developed by the defendants and others that provided Driver Co-conspirators with information about prospective Rideshare Company-1 rides that was not otherwise available to Rideshare Company-1 drivers prior to accepting such rides. For example, Screwber enabled Driver Co-conspirators to obtain prospective riders’ destinations and approximate fares for prospective trips, thereby allowing Driver Co-conspirators to accept or decline the prospective rides based on information to which they were otherwise not entitled and, in turn, cherry-pick only the most profitable and lucrative rides offered to them through the Rideshare Company-1 Application.Rideshare Application
The defendants caused outdated versions of the Rideshare Company-1 Application to be downloaded onto the Scheme Devices provided to Driver Co-conspirators. By installing outdated versions of the Rideshare Company-1 Application, the defendants ensured that the Fake GPS and Screwber applications were not detected by security features implemented in newer versions of the Rideshare Company-1 Application.As part of the scheme, the defendants sent Driver Co-conspirators information about how to avoid detection, such as the following: “Using 2 iphones with FakeGPS is very very risky. If you need FakeGPS for airport I recommend doing it one time a day. Do it when you wake up in the morning before you go to the airport.” The defendants also spoke with one another about their strategy to profit from the Driver Co-conspirators. For example, on or about November 2, 2018, Suarez wrote to Paldiel, “You know Screwber is like drugs .. once you get into it you’ll get withdrawals when you can’t get your fix.” In another message, Paldiel wrote to Suarez regarding the Driver Co-conspirators, “I get them hooked on the software, even a drug deal[er] throws in a few extra grams of weed in the beginning.”
During the course of the scheme, the Driver Co-conspirators, using the defendants’ fraudulent devices and applications, allegedly earned over approximately $40 million from rideshare customers. The defendants received more than $1.5 million from Driver Co-conspirators through one peer-to-peer payment service alone.
If you have information related to this case, please contact FBI at [email protected]
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison on each of the two counts.
In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies—the crimes that the defendants committed in this case.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew R. Galeotti, Dana Rehnquist and Elias Laris are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Madison Bates.
The Defendants:
ELIAHOU PALDIEL
Age: 52
Queens, New YorkCARLOS ARTURO SUAREZ PALACIOS
Age: 54
Brick Township, New JerseyE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-329 (MMH) (ARR)
Two Indicted for Trafficking Methamphetamine, Fentanyl in the Rochester AreaRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two individuals have been indicted on drug trafficking conspiracy and firearm charges, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between June 1, 2024, and July 21, 2024, Donald Ray Sanderson, 41, and Lindsey Wade Stolpa, 29, knowingly and intentionally conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Rochester area. The defendants were allegedly found in possession of more than 14 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 200 fentanyl pills after Sanderson led law enforcement on a high-speed chase that led to a several-hour standoff on Interstate 35 in Faribault. Multiple agencies were involved in the standoff and Sanderson’s arrest.
In additional, on July 21, 2024, Sanderson was allegedly found to be in possession of a Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol. As alleged, he possessed the Taurus pistol in furtherance of his methamphetamine trafficking crimes.
Sanderson has multiple prior felony convictions including, but not limited to, making terroristic threats and is therefore prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The indictment charges Sanderson and Stolpa each with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and a separate count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Sanderson is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm as a felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. They were previously charged by federal criminal complaint on July 23, 2024.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Enforcement Task Force, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the Steele County Sheriff’s Office, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, the South Central Drug Investigative Unit, the Faribault Police Department, the Apple Valley Police Department, the Rochester Police Department, the Lakeville Police Department, the Farmington Police Department, the South Saint Paul Police Department, the Inver Grove Heights Police Department, the Northfield Police Department, the Hastings Police Department, and the Mendota Heights Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Indicted for Trafficking Methamphetamine, Fentanyl in the Rochester AreaRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two individuals have been indicted on drug trafficking conspiracy and firearm charges, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between June 1, 2024, and July 21, 2024, Donald Ray Sanderson, 41, and Lindsey Wade Stolpa, 29, knowingly and intentionally conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Rochester area. The defendants were allegedly found in possession of more than 14 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 200 fentanyl pills after Sanderson led law enforcement on a high-speed chase that led to a several-hour standoff on Interstate 35 in Faribault. Multiple agencies were involved in the standoff and Sanderson’s arrest.
In additional, on July 21, 2024, Sanderson was allegedly found to be in possession of a Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol. As alleged, he possessed the Taurus pistol in furtherance of his methamphetamine trafficking crimes.
Sanderson has multiple prior felony convictions including, but not limited to, making terroristic threats and is therefore prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The indictment charges Sanderson and Stolpa each with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and a separate count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Sanderson is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm as a felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. They were previously charged by federal criminal complaint on July 23, 2024.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Enforcement Task Force, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the Steele County Sheriff’s Office, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, the South Central Drug Investigative Unit, the Faribault Police Department, the Apple Valley Police Department, the Rochester Police Department, the Lakeville Police Department, the Farmington Police Department, the South Saint Paul Police Department, the Inver Grove Heights Police Department, the Northfield Police Department, the Hastings Police Department, and the Mendota Heights Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Indian Men Indicted for Delivering over 400 Kilograms of Cocaine and 30 Kilograms of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Indian nationals were indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston yesterday in connection with the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Simranjit Singh, 28, and Gusimrat Singh, 19, of Fresno, Calif. were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Both men were arrested on July 29, 2024 and have remained in federal custody since their arrests.
According to the charging documents, investigators became aware of a California-based drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”) interested in transporting methamphetamine and other drugs to Boston. A member of the DTO agreed to sell 65 pounds (approximately 30 kilograms) of methamphetamine to undercover agents. On July 29, 2024, at approximately 10:15 p.m., a white tractor trailer arrived at a planned Andover address to deliver methamphetamine to the undercover agents. The driver and passenger of that tractor trailer, later identified as Gusimrat Singh and Simranjit Singh, allegedly handed off 65 pounds of suspected methamphetamine to the undercover agents. The men were immediately taken into custody.
According to court documents, while searching the cab of the tractor trailer, over 400 kilogram bricks of suspected cocaine was discovered, worth more than $10.5 million.
The charges provide for a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. 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 Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Andover Police Department, Milton Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
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.
Two Foreign Nationals Charged in Swatting Conspiracy Targeting Lawmakers, Private Victims, Houses of Worship, and BusinessesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Two foreign nationals are charged by indictment, unsealed today, with being part of a years-long conspiracy to perpetrate “swatting” attacks and bomb threats against U.S. victims that included senior government officials. Thomasz Szabo, 26, of Romania, and Nemanja Radovanovic, 21, of Serbia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy, 29 counts of threats and false information regarding explosives, and four counts of transmitting threats in interstate and foreign commerce.
The charges were announced today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool of the Washington Field Office, FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office, U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr., of the Minneapolis Field Office.
According to the indictment, Szabo, Radovanovic, and others, were part of a conspiracy that began no later than December of 2020 and continued through January of 2024. The conspirators obtained personal identifying information, including home addresses, for their intended victims, and then carried out “swatting” attacks by falsely reporting emergencies for the purpose of provoking a police response at the victim’s home.
Szabo was allegedly the organizer and moderator of chat groups where the conspirators communicated with one another. They used monikers to communicate including, for Szabo, “Jonah,” “Jonah Goldberg,” “Plank,” “Rambler,” “War Lord,” “Shovel,” “Cypher,” “Kollectivist,” “Mortenberg Shekelstorms,” and “NotThuggin2”; and for Radovanovic, “XBD31,” “XDR,” “Angus,” “Thuggin,” “Thug Hunter,” “NotThuggin,” “DCL,” and “AOD.”
The indictment alleges that, in furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendants committed swatting attempts against 40 private victims and 61 official victims, including members of Congress, cabinet-level executive branch officials, senior official of federal law enforcement agencies, and state officials. The indictment also alleges that the defendants committed bomb threats against four victim businesses, four victim religious institutions, and one victim university.
“Swatting is not a victimless prank—it endangers real people, wastes precious police resources, and inflicts significant emotional trauma,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “We will use every tool at our disposal to find the perpetrators and hold them accountable, no matter where they might be.”
“I am proud of the extraordinary investigative work done by Secret Service agents at the Washington Field Office in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge McCool. “The perpetrators of these crimes left a trail of victims across the United States, abusing critical law enforcement resources to terrorize elected officials, public figures, and private citizens. We will never waver in our commitment to bring individuals like this to justice.”
“Today’s charges demonstrate how seriously the FBI takes the crime of swatting, which can prevent law enforcement resources from getting to people who actually need them, as well as put lives in danger,” said Assistant Director in Charge Sundberg. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who commit this dangerous crime, no matter where they reside.”
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office and Criminal Investigative Division, the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Minneapolis Field Office, and the U.S. Capitol Police. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Secret Service’s Bucharest Resident Office, Miami Field Office, Syracuse Resident Office, Springfield Resident Office, the FBI’s Legat Office in Bucharest and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Washington, the District of South Dakota, the Middle District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida, the Southern District of Illinois, and the Northern District of New York.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor Mulroe.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tulsa Woman Sentenced to 292 Months for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Shelly Annette McElroy, 53, for Drug Conspiracy. Judge Russell ordered McElroy to 292 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in October 2023, Tulsa Police officers conducted a routine traffic stop due to an expired tag. McElroy was driving the vehicle without a valid driver’s license and insurance. During the traffic stop, officers observed a large box containing small baggies of white crystal substance. While officers conducted their investigation, McElroy sped off. After a short pursuit, McElroy was detained. Officers found drug paraphernalia and discovered that McElroy had thrown the box out of the vehicle during the pursuit.
It was later determined that McElroy had more than 110 grams of fentanyl and more than 2,760 grams of methamphetamine. McElroy will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
McElroy’s cousin and co-defendant, Gary Don McElroy was in the vehicle during the traffic stop and was also arrested after the pursuit. He pled guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam McConney and Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.
Three Owners of Notorious Prostitution Website Backpage SentencedRead the Press Release
A federal judge in Phoenix today sentenced the three owners of Backpage, a prostitution website, for offenses arising from their promotion of and associated money laundering.
Michael Lacey, 76, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release; Scott Spear, 73, of Phoenix, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release; and John “Jed” Brunst, 72, of Phoenix, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. The Court also ordered that all defendants turn themselves in to the U.S. Marshals Service by noon on Sept. 11.
“The defendants and their conspirators obtained more than $500 million from operating an online forum that facilitated the sexual exploitation of countless victims,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants thought they could hide their illicit proceeds by laundering the funds through shell companies in foreign countries. But they were wrong. Their sentences should serve as a stark reminder that the Criminal Division and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting victims and following the money to unmask those who exploit human beings for financial gain.”
“These convictions hold accountable three C-Suite executives who controlled an enterprise and its illicit profits,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “The courage of the victims of Backpage’s criminal activities is vindicated by the sentences imposed by the Court, to include the loss of liberty for each defendant as well as the additional large fine imposed on defendant Lacey, which will inure to the benefit of the Crime Victims Fund and crime victims everywhere.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lacey, Spear, and Brunst owned Backpage. From September 2010 through its seizure by the United States in April 2018, Backpage was the internet’s leading forum for prostitution ads. Evidence at trial showed that the conspirators knowingly promoted prostitution via various marketing strategies. For example, the conspirators engaged in a reciprocal link program with an independent web forum that permitted “johns” to post reviews of prostitution acts with specific women. Additionally, the conspirators used an automated filter and human moderators to remove terms known to indicate sex-for-money, while still allowing the ads to be posted. Through this attempt to sanitize the ads, the conspirators sought “plausible deniability” for what the conspirators knew to be ads promoting prostitution. Over the life of the conspiracy, the conspirators earned more than $500 million. In an effort to preserve the money earned, Lacey, Spear, and Brunst laundered the money through numerous shell companies they created in multiple foreign countries.
In November 2023, a federal jury in Phoenix convicted Lacey of one count of international concealment money laundering; Spear of conspiracy to violate the Travel Act, 17 counts of violating the Travel Act, money laundering conspiracy, and 10 counts of concealment money laundering; and Brunst of conspiracy to violate the Travel Act, money laundering conspiracy, 10 counts of concealment money laundering, and five counts of international promotional money laundering.
Today’s sentences follow prior convictions of Backpage leadership and corporate entities:
- In April 2018, Carl Ferrer, 57, of Frisco, Texas, who was Backpage’s co-founder and CEO, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate prostitution using a facility in interstate or foreign commerce and to engage in money laundering.
- In August 2018, Dan Hyer, 54, of Dallas, who was Backpage’s Sales & Marketing Director, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate prostitution using a facility in interstate or foreign commerce.
- In April 2018, several Backpage-related corporate entities, including Backpage LLC, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering.
Co-conspirator James Larkin, 73, died on July 31, 2023, before trial began.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona, Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Phoenix Field Office, Acting Assistant Director Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez of the FBI Phoenix Division, and Acting Inspector in Charge Matthew Shields of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Los Angeles Division made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Rapp, Margaret Perlmeter, and Peter Kozinets for the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney Austin M. Berry of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Office of the California Attorney General, and Office of the Texas Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Bozdech for the District of Arizona is handling the asset forfeiture aspects of the case.