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Wednesday 7 August 2024
Arapahoe man sentenced to nine years in federal prison for aggravated child abuse, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assault with a dangerous weaponRead the Press Release
Truman Sitting Eagle, 36, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to reimburse Medicaid of Wyoming over $33,000 in medical expenses for the victim’s care. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 6 in Cheyenne.
According to statements provided at the hearing, Truman and his wife, Kandace Sitting Eagle, abused their child for months beginning in at least October and lasting until December 12, 2023 when an Arapahoe school resource officer conducted a welfare check on a 13-year-old student that had not been to school in over a month. He eventually found the child in a crawl space under the trailer where the parents, Kandace and Truman Sitting Eagle, were hiding the child. Truman had repeatedly lied to the resource officer and Wind River Police Department regarding the whereabouts and welfare of the child. The investigation proved that the child had suffered weeks of physical beatings with a metal rod and other instruments, isolation, starvation, and psychological abuse at the hands of Kandace and Truman. Judge Johnson increased the sentence from the advisory guideline range of 70 to 87 months to 108 months based on Truman’s extensive criminal history, the severity of the abuse, and the impact of the abuse on the victim and the rest of the five children in the home.
Kandace Sitting Eagle was convicted by a federal jury on June 13 after a four-day trial. Her sentencing is set for August 29, and she faces no less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors in that case.
This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook.
Case No. 24-CR-03
Alleged Fentanyl Trafficker Extradited from Honduras to the United States to Face Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Honduran national under federal indictment for conspiring with others to distribute fentanyl was extradited from Honduras to the United States this week to face charges in the District of Oregon.
Orbin Alfredo Velasquez Layaire, 38, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, in September 2022, as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, special agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) learned that Velasquez was actively involved in distributing fentanyl in Oregon. Investigators soon learned that Velasquez ran a dispatch-style organization that received and processed drug orders from customers in and around Portland.
In early 2023, investigators learned Velasquez had fled to Honduras. On November 15, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Velasquez with conspiring to distribute fentanyl.
On June 13, 2024, Velasquez was arrested in Honduras. On August 6, 2024, he was extradited to the United States.
Velasquez made his initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a 5-day jury trial scheduled to begin on October 8, 2024.
This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from the DEA Tegucigalpa, Honduras Country Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Paul T. Maloney, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Honduran authorities to secure Velasquez’s arrest and extradition.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Albuquerque Woman Admits Guilt in Multi-Year Cyberstalking and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque woman pleaded guilty in federal court to a series of crimes involving cyberstalking, computer intrusion and false reporting to law enforcement that spanned several years.
According to court documents, from March 2016 to December 2019, Kalani S. Uehara, 26, engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation against multiple victims. Uehara assumed the identities of various individuals to send numerous threatening and harassing electronic communications to individuals, schools, and law firms. Uehara threatened to kill, harm, or extort her victims, and took steps to assume others' identities, open false email accounts in their names, make false accusations, and persistently send vulgar, harassing, and terrifying messages.
Specifically, Uehara admitted to engaging in a cyberstalking campaign against N.C., a former Albuquerque Public Schools student. Uehara admitted to:
- Gaining unauthorized access to N.C.'s Google and Twitter accounts;
- Creating fake accounts in N.C.'s name;
- Sending hundreds of threatening and harassing messages impersonating N.C.;
- Obtaining a restraining order against N.C. using fabricated evidence; and
- Falsely reporting N.C. to law enforcement, resulting in N.C.'s arrest.
Uehara also admitted to making false statements to the FBI on July 28, 2016, and July 27, 2018, regarding the cyberstalking activities and use of the TextNow app.
At sentencing, Uehara faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of conviction. Upon her release from prison, Uehara will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, Albuquerque Police Department and Albuquerque Public Schools Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly A. Brawley, Jaymie L. Roybal and Eva F. Fontanez are prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement# # #
Tuesday 6 August 2024
“Frickenwierdo” imprisoned for sending child pornography in chat roomRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 47-year-old Corpus Christi man has been sentenced for distributing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jonathan Follis pleaded guilty Feb. 5.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Follis to serve 228 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information including conversations Follis had with others detailing sexual assaults he committed in the past, including his family members. The court was also provided with numerous impact letters from the victims of the child pornography materials. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted the “horrendous” conduct demonstrated an illness that Follis will be dealing with for the rest of his life. Follis was further ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve eight years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Follis will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
The investigation into Follis began when authorities discovered he was participating in chat rooms involving discussions of child pornography. Follis conducted the majority of these conversations using a cellular phone kept in his office at work.
Law enforcement later conducted a search at that office where they discovered a phone hidden under his keyboard. Follis admitted to using the phone to distribute child pornography.
Law enforcement conducted a forensic analysis of the phone. It confirmed Follis had been engaging in chat rooms discussing child pornography utilizing the username “frickenwierdo.” In addition to those rooms, Follis participated in distributing child pornography in private chats.
The investigation further revealed Follis distributed a video of child pornography April 5, 2023, approximately one month before law enforcement executed the search warrant leading to his arrest.
Follis will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman and John Marck prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Zimbabwe National Found Guilty of Laundering More Than $1.2 MillionRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Following a five-day trial, Sherlyn Sims, a/k/a “Sherlyn Dzinzi,” was found guilty by a jury of conspiring to launder, and laundering, proceeds generated from numerous romance fraud scams and business email compromise schemes. These computer-enabled crimes resulted in more than $1.2 million being diverted to bank accounts controlled by Sims, after which she quickly transferred, withdrew, and spent the funds.
“The fraud schemes that Sims perpetrated in this case have become an epidemic in this country,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our vulnerable elderly population are often targeted in these crimes, resulting in significant financial loss and unimaginable emotional suffering. The jury’s verdict has ended Sims’s attempts to evade culpability for the role that she played in carrying out these schemes.”
“This case serves as a reminder of the sophisticated methods employed by criminals and the need for vigilance in the digital age,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley. “The consequences of this type of fraud scheme are far-reaching, affecting not only people here in Georgia, but also around the world.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Sherlyn Sims was charged with conspiracy and money laundering related to the receipt of funds stolen from dozens of victims between December 2019 and August 2020. Sims and her co-defendants registered sham businesses, including Grace Trading, LLC, a company Sims registered in the state of Georgia. Grace Trading and the other sham businesses had no legitimate earnings, did not have physical premises, and did not pay wages to employees.
Once the businesses were registered, business bank accounts were opened in the companies’ names at various financial institutions. For instance, two days after Grace Trading became registered with the Georgia Secretary of State, Sims opened business bank accounts at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank and Bank of America. Shortly after the accounts were opened, fraud victims were duped into depositing approximately $200,000 into Grace Trading’s bank accounts. Sims quickly wired the fraud proceeds to China and other foreign countries, withdrew cash from the accounts, and transferred or spent the remaining funds.
Over the following seven months, more than $1.2 million in fraud proceeds were deposited into these accounts from romance scams and business email compromise schemes. One of the incidents involved a scam that tricked a victim into sending the earnest money deposit for the purchase of a new home to Sims’s Grace Trading account. Sims was not deterred when the banks closed Grace Trading’s accounts, as she would open a new bank account in the sham business’s name. Sims also used Grace Trading to obtain a fraudulent COVID-loan from the Small Business Administration.
Multiple romance fraud victims testified at trial. The victims recounted how they met male strangers online and were soon convinced they were in a romantic relationship with the men, even though the victims were in communication with the individuals for months without meeting in person. Often these men claimed that they wanted to start a life with the victims and were eager to live with them as soon as some kind of issue was resolved. For example, one romance fraud victim was persuaded to send nearly $100,000 to one of Sims’s accounts because her boyfriend (one of the men online) claimed that he was traveling to Boston but had been detained by customs officials and would not be released until his taxes were paid. This victim depleted her life savings and borrowed from friends and family trying to help the man pay his taxes and be released from detention.
Sherlyn Sims, a/k/a “Sherlyn Dzinzi,” 33, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 5, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones. Sims was found guilty by a federal jury on July 31, 2024.
Co-defendant Bright Eigbedion, 36, of Kearns, Utah, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Jones. Eigbedion was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering on March 27, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
Co-defendant Presley Ihimekpen, 37, of Duluth, Georgia, was previously sentenced by Judge Jones on August 1, 2024, to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims. Ihimekpen was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering on March 27, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex R. Sistla and Kelly K. Connors are prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is part of the Department of Justice Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Force focuses on investigating and prosecuting defendants associated with foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect American seniors. These include romance scams, phone scams, mass-mailing fraud schemes, and tech-support fraud schemes. For further information on these scams, see https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/senior-scam-alert.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Zephyrhills Registered Sex Offender Sent Back to Federal Prison for 17 Years for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Aaron Bicknell (37, Zephyrhills) to 17 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for receiving child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Bicknell to pay $20,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense. Bicknell entered a guilty plea on April 22, 2024.
According to court documents, in 2011, Bicknell was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material over the internet using a filesharing program. As part of his sentence, Bicknell was required to register as a sex offender. The Federal Bureau of Prisons released Bicknell in May 2021, and he began serving a lifetime term of supervised release. In August 2023, law enforcement downloaded files of child sexual abuse material from Bicknell. After executing a search warrant at Bicknell’s home, investigators discovered more than100 images and 80 videos of child sexual abuse on Bicknell’s devices.
“The sentencing of this recidivist felon for collecting child sexual abuse material underscores HSI’s commitment to protecting our communities most vulnerable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah C. McCombs. “Alongside our partners at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, we will make sure these individuals are not able to hide their actions under a cloak of internet anonymity.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (Tampa), with substantial assistance from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Youngstown, Ohio, Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death and Conspiring to Distribute Large Quantities of Fentanyl, Fluorofentanyl, and CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of distributing fentanyl resulting in death and conspiring to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Eliot Gentry, 27, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to distributing fentanyl resulting in the death of an individual in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, on January 23, 2022, and conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of fluorofentanyl, and five kilograms or more of cocaine from May 2021 to October 2022.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for December 4, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Gentry.
Wisconsin Man Sentenced to Consecutive Life Sentences for 2018 Double Homicide and Armed Robbery of Florida CoupleRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer (27, Wisconsin) to consecutive life sentences in federal prison as a result of his convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering with commerce, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which resulted in death, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country, and a violation of the Neutrality Act. Zwiefelhofer has also been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,886 to the family members of the victims of the offenses. Zwiefelhofer was found guilty by a jury on March 8, 2024.
According to testimony presented at trial, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville, Florida to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist. As a result of the investigation, Zwiefelhofer was identified as one of two individuals who was believed to have murdered the couple during the course of an armed robbery of the $3,000 that the couple intended to use to purchase the firearms.
Zwiefelhofer, who had previously fought in Ukraine in 2017 after going AWOL from the U.S. Army, pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund his travel to Venezuela.
Zwiefelhofer’s co-defendant, Craig Lang, is pending trial.
“There’s no question that Zwiefelhofer belongs behind bars, and his life sentence guarantees that will happen. When it comes to tackling the violent crime threat, our model is to work together with our state and local law enforcement partners to maximize impact and this case highlights those efforts with the Lee County Sheriff's Office,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor, FBI Tampa Division. “We will stop at nothing to protect our communities from these threats.”
“In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, no stone was left unturned in the investigation and federal prosecution of this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “This defendant committed heinous crimes, and justice was served.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Michael V. Leeman.
Waterbury Gang Member Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
D’ANDRE BURRUS, also known as “Dopeman,” 30, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 216 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses related to his participation in a violent Waterbury street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Burrus and 15 other 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.
On March 4, 2024, Burrus pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, and admitted that he trafficked heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in furtherance of the 960 enterprise. He also admitted that he conspired to murder members of a rival gang in retaliation for the murder of a fellow 960 member. On October 11, 2018, 960 members Gabriel Pulliam and Julian Scott shot into a crowd of people, killing an innocent bystander, 30-year-old Fransua Guzman, and paralyzing a second victim. Burrus was in one of two cars 960 members drove to the scene of the shooting. Guzman was the mother of four children.
Burrus has been detained since his arrest on February 19, 2019.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the DEA Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is 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. In May 2021, the Justice 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 www.justice.gov/psn.
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.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky to Participate in National Night Out Community EventsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky will join law enforcement, community leaders, and residents across the country for National Night Out to support safer streets and making our communities stronger.
Today, National Night Out events will be held in communities across the Commonwealth, including five neighborhood events hosted by the Louisville Metro Police Department. To connect with community members across Louisville, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will host a resource booth at LMPD’s Eighth Division event at Walker Warren Park in the Douglas Hills neighborhood and attend LMPD’s other neighborhood events across the City.
“We look forward to participating in National Night Out again this year and building stronger partnerships between federal and local law enforcement and the communities we serve,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “With our shared commitment to creating safer neighborhoods, we can all help to prevent crime.”
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out brings police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Staff Join National Night Out Events in South FloridaRead the Press Release
Justice Department Leadership Participate in Events Across the Country
MIAMI– Since last Friday, staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office have taken part in National Night Out (NNO) events in the Southern District of Florida. Tonight, and throughout the week, members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office hope to continue to engage with the local community in support of NNO. This evening, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, and other senior Justice Department officials will also participate in NNO events across the country as part of a Department-wide effort to bring attention to efforts to build stronger police-community partnerships.
The Attorney General will attend a NNO event in Urbandale, Iowa. The Deputy Attorney General will attend NNO events in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Acting Associate Attorney General will attend NNO events in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Established in 1984 from a Justice Department Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant, NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. NNO is a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together through engaging activities and positive circumstances.
This year, NNO takes place as violent crime continues to decline nationwide, following an uptick during the pandemic in 2020. FBI data shows a decrease in violent crime in communities across the country in 2023 compared to the previous year, including an over 13% reduction in homicides. That is the steepest yearly decline in homicides in over 50 years. Early data from 2024 indicates that this trend is continuing.
NNO highlights federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships that have played key roles in the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, which focuses federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime.
For information on National Night Out events in your community, visit www.natw.org.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Additional Sentence Against Defendant for Escape from Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A defendant previously convicted for assaulting an intimate partner was sentenced to an additional 14 months in prison after escaping from federal custody while transitioning to a residential reentry program.
According to court documents, William Valencia, 33, an enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo, was initially sentenced on January 23, 2020, to 75 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for assault of an intimate partner by strangling and suffocating.
On July 27, 2023, while at Diersen Residential Reentry Center in Albuquerque, Valencia tested positive for alcohol and left the facility without permission. He remained at large until October 5, 2023, when he was arrested by Albuquerque Police for possession of fentanyl.
Upon his release from prison, Valencia will be subject to an additional three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Attorney to Participate in Raleigh National Night Out EventsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael Easley, along with Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Benny Mims; and U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of North Carolina Glenn McNeill, Jr. will join Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson, community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in the 41st Annual National Night Out. National Night Out began in 1984 through a grant from the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance, with the goal of building relationships with and between communities and law enforcement. In North Carolina, 133 cities are participating this year in National Night Out.
WHERE: *Subject to change due to inclement weather*
- Maple Temple Church - 304 Dacian Road
- Tarboro Road Community Center - 121 North Tarboro Street
- The Village at Washington Terrace - 1951 Booker Drive
WHEN: Visits will begin at the Maple Temple Church location at 5:30 pm and continue through 7:30 pm
A full list of the Raleigh National Night Out locations is located here.
For logistical information related to the U.S. Attorney’s visits, please contact Katie Holcomb at [email protected].
Tucson Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer with a VehicleRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Guadalupe Fermin Ramirez, 37, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Ramirez pleaded guilty to Assault on a Federal Officer on May 9, 2024.
On November 30, 2023, the Pascua Yaqui Police Department (PYPD) received a 911 call from an individual who reported that his vehicle had been stolen from his residence by Ramirez. The investigation revealed that, after stealing the vehicle, Ramirez drove it to a gas station on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation and subsequently attempted to steal another vehicle, a delivery truck. Ramirez took the delivery driver’s personal belongings from inside the truck, and then fled from the area in the originally stolen vehicle.
During PYPD’s pursuit, Ramirez deliberately collided into the driver’s side of a police car while driving approximately 45 mph. The victim officer was able to disengage his seatbelt and tuck toward the center console of his vehicle before being struck to avoid injury, but the vehicle sustained substantial damage. After hitting the police vehicle, Ramirez sped away and ran several stop signs, causing two other vehicles to collide. Ramirez was apprehended shortly thereafter and arrested.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Carin C. Duryee and Brandon Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution, along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Russell E. Boatwright from the Pascua Yaqui Prosecutor’s Office.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-02362-TUC-JCH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-108_Ramirez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Texas Resident Sentenced to 30 Years for Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct and Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Wayne Green, age 64, of Irving, Texas, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for one count of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct and 360 months in prison for one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child. The terms of imprisonment are to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
On January 2, 2024, Green pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, in July 2022, Green traveled from his home in Texas to the Eastern District of Oklahoma to engage in sexual acts with a child under the age of twelve, caused the child to engage in sexual conduct, and used his cell phone to create photos and videos of the child engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“This defendant made the depraved decision to sexually exploit a child, not only failing to meet any standard of human decency, but choosing instead to inflict pain and suffering on an innocent victim,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph Skarda of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “I’m grateful for the collaborative effort between the FBI and our law enforcement partners to ensure Mr. Green will spend the next 30 years behind prison walls, where he undoubtedly belongs.”
“Michael Wayne Green violated his position of trust in the most horrifying, reprehensible, and detestable manner possible,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I commend the collaborative work of the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sequoyah County District Attorney’s Office, and federal prosecutors in bringing Green to account for his heinous crimes.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Green will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Jessica Bove represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s website at www.cybertipline.com, call 1-800-843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 877-4-HSI TIP.
Rockland County Man Who Distributed Fentanyl That Resulted in Six Poisonings, Including Multiple Deaths, Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JUSTIN TURNICK pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl. TURNICK distributed fentanyl that resulted in three fatal fentanyl poisonings and three non-fatal fentanyl poisonings between February 2020 and April 2022 in Rockland County, New York. TURNICK pled guilty earlier today before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Justin Turnick’s actions didn’t just facilitate addiction—they fueled a crisis that claimed lives and inflicted unimaginable suffering. As we move forward, this Office remains resolute in its mission to combat the fentanyl epidemic and seek justice for the families and individuals affected by these deadly substances.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:
TURNICK engaged in the regular distribution of narcotics to members of his community in Rockland County, New York, including his friends, partners, and acquaintances. TURNICK knowingly distributed fentanyl — a deadly and highly potent opioid — in various forms, including fentanyl that had been packaged into pills, pure fentanyl, and fentanyl-laced powder.
TURNICK distributed fentanyl to Gustaf Olsen, resulting in his death, on or about February 3, 2020; to Jonathan Shashoua, resulting in his death, on or about July 11, 2020; to a female victim, resulting in her poisoning and serious bodily injury, on or about January 5, 2021; to Ione Koenig, resulting in her poisoning and serious bodily injury, on or about July 30, 2021; to Ione Koenig, resulting in her death, on or about July 31, 2021; and to a male victim, resulting in his poisoning and serious bodily injury, on or about on or about April 19, 2022.
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TURNICK, 25, of Congers, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, TURNICK stipulated that the substances he conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute resulted in the fatal fentanyl poisonings of Gustaf Olsen, Jonathan Shashoua, and Ione Koenig, and the non-fatal fentanyl poisonings of a female victim, a male victim, and Ione Koenig.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Clarkstown Police Department, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office. He also thanked the Ramapo Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, the Putnam County Sherriff’s Department, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office for their support and assistance in this matter.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison and Kathryn Wheelock are in charge of the prosecution.
Queens Resident Convicted of Acting as a Covert Chinese AgentRead the Press Release
Shujun Wang, an academic and author who helped start a pro-democracy organization in Queens that opposes the current communist regime in China, was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all four counts of an indictment charging him with acting and conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the U.S. Attorney General, criminal possession identification and making false statements to law enforcement. The verdict followed a seven-day trial before United States Second Circuit Judge Denny Chin sitting by designation. Wang’s co-defendants in the espionage and transnational repression scheme, Feng He, Jie Ji, Ming Li and Keqing Lu are officials from China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). They remain at large. When sentenced, Wang faces up to 25 years in prison.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Robert Wells, Executive Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Security Branch (FBI), announced the verdict.
“The indictment could have been the plot of a spy novel, but the evidence is shockingly real that the defendant was a secret agent for the Chinese government,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Posing as a well-known academic and founder of a pro-democracy organization, Wang was willing to betray those who respected and trusted him. When confronted with his shameful conduct, the defendant lied to law enforcement, but today’s verdict revealed the truth of his crimes and now he will face the consequences.”
“This defendant infiltrated a New York-based advocacy group by masquerading as a pro-democracy activist all while covertly collecting and reporting sensitive information about its members to the PRC’s intelligence service,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s verdict demonstrates that those who would seek to advance the Chinese government’s agenda of transnational repression will be held accountable.”
“This conviction underscores the FBI’s commitment to countering espionage schemes by holding those accountable who collect US activist information for the benefit of China,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “Any support for transnational repression is unacceptable, and the FBI works diligently with its partners to seek out and bring to justice those who support such activities.”
Wang is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese descent and one of the founders of the pro-democracy Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang Memorial Foundation, an organization located in Flushing, Queens whose members are well-known pro-democracy dissidents who oppose the current government of the PRC. But instead of promoting democracy in the PRC, Wang, at the direction of PRC government officials, used his position within the Memorial Foundation and his status within the Chinese diaspora community to collect information about prominent activists, academics, and dissidents, and reported that information to the PRC government.
As proven at trial, since at least 2006, Wang operated under the direction and control of his co-defendants, four officials of China’s MSS, which is responsible for the PRC’s foreign intelligence collection. At the MSS’s direction, Wang gathered information on people and groups that the PRC considers subversive, such as Hong Kong democracy protestors, advocates for Taiwanese independence and Uyghur and Tibetan activists, both in the United States and abroad. Wang conducted face-to-face meetings with MSS officials while on trips to the PRC, and used WeChat to receive orders from his co-defendants and to send and receive written messages and files.
Wang often memorialized the information he collected in email “diaries” to be accessed by the MSS. These “diaries” included details about Wang’s private conversations with prominent dissidents, as well as the activities of pro-democracy activists and human rights organizations. Law enforcement recovered from Wang’s residence diary entries that he wrote to He, Ji, Li, Lu and other MSS officials. Additionally, in connection with his work for the MSS, Wang possessed telephone numbers and contact information belonging to Chinese dissidents.
Wang made materially false statements to federal law enforcement, falsely denying that he had contacts with PRC officials or the MSS. Over the course of three separate interviews, between 2017 and 2021, Wang repeatedly denied or downplayed his contact with individuals from the Chinese intelligence agency. During one of the interviews, in 2019, Wang was interviewed by federal law enforcement agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, after he returned from China. Wang falsely stated that he had no contact with anyone from the Chinese government and that he had no Chinese government contact information.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ellen H. Sise and Nina C. Gupta of the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Magdalena St. Surin and Rebecca Roth.
The Defendant:
SHUJUN WANG
Age: 75
Queens, New YorkCo-Defendants At Large:
FENG HE (also known as “Boss He”)
Age: 51
Guangdong, PRCJIE JI
Age: 52
Qingdao, PRCMING LI (also known as “Elder Tang” and “Little Li”)
Age: 42
Guangdong, PRCKEQING LU (also known as “Boss Lu”)
Age: 63
Qingdao, PRCE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-230 (DC)
Putnam County Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining Unemployment and COVID-19 BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gary Lomax, 62, of Hurricane, pleaded guilty today to theft of public money, property or records. Lomax admitted that he fraudulently obtained approximately $8,760 in unemployment benefits, including COVID-19 supplementary funds, and a $20,832 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about March 24, 2020, Lomax applied for unemployment compensation after he was laid off as a sales associate at a Charleston auto dealership when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Lomax legitimately received unemployment benefits until the week ending April 18, 2020, when he returned to work.
Lomax admitted that from at least April 25, 2020 through at least June 27, 2020, he continued to apply for unemployment benefits that he knew he was not entitled to because he had returned to work. Lomax fraudulently obtained approximately $8,760 in unemployment benefits, including supplementary funds provided by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC) of the CARES Act.
WorkForce West Virginia administers the unemployment compensation program for the State of West Virginia. Lomax admitted that as part of his scheme, he falsely certified on the WorkForce West Virginia website for 10 consecutive weeks that he was entitled to unemployment benefits. Lomax submitted the false certification answers while using his personal electronic device in St. Albans.
On March 29, 2021, Lomax applied for a PPP loan by falsely representing that he had earned $369,730 during the 2020 tax year as an independent contractor. PPP loans were available to qualifying independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to replace their normal income and for certain other expenses. Lomax admitted that he had no independent contractor income to report for that tax year. Lomax further admitted that he made this false representation in order to receive $20,832, the maximum loan amount available to independent contractors.
Lomax also admitted that he used the fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and PPP loan funds to make purchases and pay his bills.
Lomax is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Lomax also owes $29,592 in restitution.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the WorkForce West Virginia Integrity Section, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General (NASA OIG), the Litigation Financial Analyst with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-114.
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Protecting Native Families: Readout from the 2024 Tribal ConsultationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Last month, U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, federal prosecutors, and other staff from the United States Attorney’s Office met with delegations from 17 Tribes, the All Pueblo Council of Governors, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address critical issues facing Native communities, including the devastating impact of fentanyl and the need for enhanced law enforcement training and retention. The consultation was held on July 18 and 19, 2024 at the University of New Mexico’s School of Law.
Tribal leaders from the Pueblo of Zuni, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Pueblo of Laguna, Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Picuris, Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Zia, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Nambe, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo of Tesuque, Mescalero Apache, Pueblo of Acoma, and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso were present along with representatives from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This years’ consultation focused on protecting native families.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez initiated the Tribal consultation by reaffirming his office's commitment to serving Tribal communities, describing it as one of his "greatest honors" as the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. To underscore this commitment, U.S. Attorney Uballez highlighted the increased resources allocated for community outreach, education, and training for Tribal law enforcement, as well as the expansion of the Indian Country Crimes (ICC) section with the hiring of four Assistant U.S. Attorneys to more effectively address violent crime on Tribal lands.
Since August 2023, Uballez has personally met with ten different Tribes and Pueblos, fostering direct communication and gaining a deeper understanding of their unique needs and concerns. In addition to the U.S. Attorney meeting personally with Tribes and Pueblos, AUSA Tribal Liaisons have meet and coordinated with Tribal leaders and law enforcement separately throughout the year. The United States Attorney's Office engaged in 28 community outreach activities like meetings, presentations, and tabling at Tribal events.
In addition to community engagement, the United States Attorney’s Office has conducted nine training sessions for Tribal and Pueblo law enforcement and community providers, enhancing their capabilities to address crime and public safety issues effectively. These outreach and training efforts have reached over 1,000 people, totaling 52.5 hours of dedicated time.
Furthermore, the United States Attorney’s Office, through Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski, has facilitated the allocation of more than $10 million in grants for Tribes in the last year, providing crucial resources to enhance public safety, support victim services, and strengthen Tribal justice systems.
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico is notable for being the first federal prosecutor's office in the country to establish a dedicated Indian Country Crimes section, which was created in 2010. This unique organizational structure enables the office to take a proactive and specialized approach to addressing criminal justice issues in Native American communities with training initiatives, community outreach and enhanced coordination among Tribal, state and federal agencies.
U.S. Attorney Uballez also underscored the positive impact of the office’s Tribal liaison program, which differs from other districts by assigning one Assistant U.S. Attorney to two Tribes, rather than having a single liaison for all Tribes in a district. This approach has led to increased communication between his office and the Tribes, enhancing government-to-government relations.
Nearly all of the participants described the deleterious effects of Fentanyl on their communities, culture and family ties, and described how it is leading to more violent crime in their community and higher death rates and incidents of homelessness amongst their members.
During the consultation, U.S. Attorney Uballez outlined a comprehensive strategy to combat fentanyl trafficking and its impact on Tribal communities:
- Expansion of Organized Crime Section: The U.S. Attorney has increased the size of the Organized Crime section to target criminal structures and organizations importing fentanyl across the southern border.
- Dedicated Drug Prosecutors: For the first time, two ICC prosecutors have been designated as drug prosecutors, focusing on building resources and cases related to drug trafficking.
- DEA Collaboration: The office is engaging with the Drug Enforcement Administration to expand its presence and operations in Tribal communities.
- Education Initiatives: The U.S. Attorney plans to enhance efforts to educate parents and law enforcement about the dangers of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
- Support Services: Secure federal funding for developing support services to treat addiction, aiming to reduce demand for drugs in Tribal communities.
Many participants commended the office’s ongoing efforts to enhance communication and relations with the Tribes, noting the ease of reaching their liaison for responses, the personal visits made by the U.S. Attorney to Tribal leadership, and the active participation of liaisons in Tribal events.
“To know that you put a lot of effort and energy to expanding this program to Indian Country, we’re all sincerely, sincerely grateful for that, because now we have someone, a face.” Pueblo of Jemez Police Chief Roger Foster said.
“We appreciate seeing your faces out there. We appreciate you being out there and letting us know who you are and what you do and to hear your voice, to know that you are there for our people.” Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya said. “The Navajo Nation appreciates that very much.”
Regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) cases, Tribal representatives voiced deep concerns over persistent communication gaps, unresolved investigations, and the ongoing struggle to provide closure for affected families and communities, highlighting the complex challenges in addressing this critical issue. ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas touted the office’s efforts to help law enforcement agencies establish Tribal Community Response Plans for MMIP cases and offered to help Tribes who did not have one in place yet put one in place.
This initiative, combined with the specialized focus of MMIP AUSA Eliot Neal, aims to improve coordination and response to MMIP cases, addressing some of the communication and investigative challenges raised by Tribal representatives. The establishment of these plans can potentially enhance the handling of MMIP cases by providing a structured framework for communication, action, and cooperation between Tribes and law enforcement.
Nearly every Tribe emphasized the critical need for assistance in both training and retaining their law enforcement personnel. Tribal representatives highlighted several key challenges:
- Training: Tribes are seeking comprehensive training programs that cover a wide range of law enforcement skills, including investigative techniques, evidence gathering and report writing.
- Retention: Retention of trained law enforcement officers is a significant concern. Tribes reported high turnover rates due to factors such as competitive salaries offered by non-Tribal law enforcement agencies, limited career advancement opportunities, and the demanding nature of the job.
- Funding and Resources: Many Tribes called for federal assistance in securing grants and other financial support to build and sustain robust law enforcement departments.
- Collaborative Partnerships: Tribes are also interested in establishing partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to share resources, expertise, and training opportunities.
To highlight the ability of the Tribes to use the office to build collaborative partnerships, Pueblo of Sandia Tribal Police Chief Adrian Montoya described how his department had leveraged the United States Attorney’s Office to build partnerships with the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Regarding training, Navajo Nation Vice President Montoya said “tell us what we need to do. Our officers are hungry. They’re ready. They’re wanting to know what they can do.”
U.S. Attorney Uballez, Indian Country Crimes Section Supervisor Elisa Dimas and Deputy Supervisor Alexander F. Flores, along with Tribal Liaisons Eliot Neal, Nicholas Marshall, Brittany DuChaussee, Matthew McGinley, Caitlin Dillon, Robert Booth, Zachary Jones, Mia Ulibarri-Rubin, Jena Ritchey, Mark Probasco, Joni Stahl, and Meg Tomlinson as well as Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski received the comments and engaged in discussion with Tribal representatives.
Former President Barack Obama signed the Memorandum on Tribal Consultation on Nov. 5, 2009. The Memorandum pronounces Tribal consultations “a critical ingredient of a sound and productive Federal-Tribal relationship.” The president further directed all federal agencies to develop a detailed plan of the actions taken to fully implement former President Bill Clinton's Executive Order 13175 on “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments” within ninety days. Within 270 days and annually thereafter agencies were directed to provide a progress report on implementation and any updates to the plan. Executive Order 13175 sets forth criteria “to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with Tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have Tribal implications.”
The District of New Mexico embraces this responsibility and the principles of Tribal sovereignty and Indian self-determination by actively promoting public safety in Tribal communities, recognizing the unique cultural heritage of New Mexico's Native American Tribes, and fostering government-to-government relationships.
(Foreground, left to right) ICC Deputy Supervisor Alexander F. Flores, ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez (Background, left to right) AUSA Mark Probasco, Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski, Criminal Chief Kristopher Houghton
(Left to right) ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, Pueblo of Jemez PD CI Allison Lucero, U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez, Pueblo of Jemez PD Chief Roger Foster
(Left to right) Navajo Nation Attorney Prosecutor Kevin Barnett, ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez, Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty
(Left to right) ICC Deputy Supervisor Alexander F. Flores, ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, U.S. Attorney Alexander Flores, Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski
U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez, Supervisor Elisa Dimas and Deputy Supervisor Alexander Flores listen as Jicarilla Apache Tribal Prosecutor Tonita Vigil and Vice President Sonja Newton speak
(Foreground, left to right) Pojoaque Tribal PD Chief Freddie Trujillo and Major Nathan Barton. (Background, left to right) ICC Deputy Supervisor Alexander F. Flores, ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, U.S. Attorney Alexander Flores, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Probasco, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Holland Kastrin, Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski
Artwork by James Sanchez
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Plymouth Woman Indicted for Paycheck Protection Program Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Plymouth woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of herself and her father fraud and money laundering.
Katherine Reynolds, 65, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Reynolds will be arraigned in federal court on Aug. 8, 2024. In May 2024, Reynolds was charged by criminal complaint.
According to the charging documents, Reynolds submitted two fraudulent loan applications seeking loans for herself and her father pursuant to the PPP. The loan applications falsely claimed that Reynolds and her then 86-year-old father earned over $100,000 per year providing massage services in their home. The loan applications also included fraudulent tax forms that were not filed with the IRS. In addition, on June 25, 2021, Reynolds withdrew $20,000 in cash from the account into which the PPP loans were paid.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The chard of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by 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 and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pakistani National with Ties to Iran Charged in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate a Politician or U.S. Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Asif Merchant, also known as “Asif Raza Merchant,” 46, with murder-for-hire as part of a scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government officials on U.S. soil. Law enforcement foiled the charged plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant is in federal custody in New York.
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christopher Wray, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, FBI, New York Field Office, announced the arrest and charges.
“For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens, and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger America’s national security.”
“Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This prosecution demonstrates that this Office and the entire Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation’s security, our government officials and our citizens from foreign threats.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s Field Offices in Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago and Albany field offices for their partnership on this case. Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance.
“This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s charges allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI.”
“The complaint unsealed today underscores, yet again, that those who engage in lethal plotting on U.S. soil will face the full force of the American justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division. “The targeting of former and current officials by foreign actors is an affront to our sovereignty and our democratic institutions and the Department of Justice will use every possible tool to expose and disrupt this egregious activity.”
“Fortunately, the assassins Merchant tried to hire were undercover FBI Agents,” said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office. “This case underscores the dedication and formidable efforts of our agents, analysts and prosecutors in New York, Houston and Dallas. Their success in neutralizing this threat not only prevented a tragic outcome but also reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting our nation and its citizens from both domestic and international threats.”
According to court documents, Merchant orchestrated a plot to assassinate a politician or U.S. government officials on U.S. soil. In approximately April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme. That person reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (the CS).
In early June, Merchant met the CS in New York and explained his assassination plot. Merchant told the CS that the opportunity he had for the CS was not a one-time opportunity and would be ongoing. Merchant then made a “finger gun” motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a killing. Merchant further stated that the intended victims would be “targeted here,” meaning in the United States. Merchant instructed the CS to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions. Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official.
At that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed the CS on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Specifically, Merchant asked the CS to explain how the target would die in different scenarios. Merchant told the CS that there would be “security [] all around” the person.
Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to “finalize” the plan and leave the United States.
In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (the UCs) in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies, and for them to kill a “political person.” Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill either the last week of August or the first week of September, after Merchant had departed the United States.
Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “now we’re bonded,” to which Merchant responded “yes.” The UC then stated “Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,” to which Merchant responded “Yes, absolutely.”
Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On July 12th, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country. Merchant has stated that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan.
The charges in the complaint are allegations and Merchant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik and Gilbert Rein and Douglas Pravda are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys David Smith and Joshua Champagne of the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division.
The Defendant:
ASIF MERCHANT (also known as “Asif Raza Merchant”)
Age: 46
Karachi, Pakistan; Tehran, IranE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-MJ-467 (JRC)
Pakistani National with Ties to Iran Charged in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate a Politician or U.S. Government OfficialRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a complaint was unsealed in Brooklyn charging Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, 46, with murder-for-hire as part of an alleged scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil. Law enforcement foiled the charged plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant is in federal custody.
“For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger America’s national security.”
“This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s complaint allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI.”
“The complaint unsealed today underscores, yet again, that those who engage in lethal plotting on U.S. soil will face the full force of the American justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The targeting of former and current officials by foreign actors is an affront to our sovereignty and our democratic institutions and the Department of Justice will use every possible tool to expose and disrupt this egregious activity.”
“Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This prosecution demonstrates that this office and the entire Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation’s security, our government officials and our citizens from foreign threats
“Fortunately, the assassins Merchant allegedly tried to hire were undercover FBI Agents,” said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office. “This case underscores the dedication and formidable efforts of our agents, analysts and prosecutors in New York, Houston, and Dallas. Their success in neutralizing this threat not only prevented a tragic outcome but also reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting our nation and its citizens from both domestic and international threats.”
According to allegations contained in the complaint and related publicly filed court documents, Merchant orchestrated a plot to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil. In approximately April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme. That person reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (the CS).
In early June, Merchant met the CS in New York and explained his assassination plot. Merchant told the CS that the opportunity he had for the CS was not a one-time opportunity and would be ongoing. Merchant then made a “finger gun” motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a killing. Merchant further stated that the intended victims would be “targeted here,” meaning in the United States. Merchant instructed the CS to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions. Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official.
At that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed the CS on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Specifically, Merchant asked the CS to explain how a target would die in different scenarios. Merchant told the CS that there would be “security [] all around” the person.
Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to “finalize” the plan and leave the United States.
In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (the UCs) in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies, and for them to kill a “political person.” Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill either the last week of August or the first week of September, after Merchant had departed the United States.
Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “now we’re bonded,” to which Merchant responded “yes.” The UC then stated “Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,” to which Merchant responded “Yes, absolutely.”
Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On July 12, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country. Merchant has stated that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Gilbert Rein, and Douglas Pravda for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorneys David Smith and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
ComplaintOwner of Newark Contruction Business Admits Tax Evasion and Failure to Collect and Pay over TaxesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man admitted evading taxes through a check cashing scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Alain Rodrigues, 49, of Old Bridge, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court on Aug. 1, 2024, to an information charging him with one count each of tax evasion and failure to collect and pay over taxes.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Rodrigues owned and operated a construction company in Old Bridge and Newark. Beginning around 2017, Rodrigues deposited a portion of the payments from customers into a business bank account and converted the balance to cash and money orders, which he deposited in a personal bank account or used to pay cash wages to employees. Rodrigues only reported the portion of the company’s revenue that was deposited in the business bank account on his business’s taxes. Rodrigues did not report the business revenue deposited directly into his personal bank account as income on his personal income taxes. The company, under Rodrigues’s direction, did not report to the IRS the cash wages it paid to employees and did not collect or pay over employment taxes on these wages. In total, Rodrigues and his company paid $554,873 less than they owed in income taxes and failed to collect and pay over $793,139 in employment taxes, for a total of approximately $1.35 million.
Each count of tax evasion and failure to collect and pay over taxes carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of his plea agreement, Rodrigues has agreed to pay the government restitution of $1.35 million and to file amended tax returns. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Webman of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
rodrigues.information.pdfOrlando Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Chadwick Lemaine (26, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Lemaine faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is set on October 31, 2024.
According to court records, Lemaine was convicted of felony offenses in 2018 and 2019 and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. On May 26, 2023, an officer with the Orlando Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Lemaine and discovered narcotics and a firearm inside the vehicle. A DNA analysis confirmed Lemaine was a contributor to the DNA discovered on the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate.
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.
Northern District of Indiana US Attorney’s Office to Participate in Community Events During National Night OutRead the Press Release
HAMMOND - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana will join community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in National Night Out events on August 6, 2024. During this year’s National Night Out, United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson has directed staff to attend community events throughout the Northern District, which includes areas within Northwest Indiana, South Bend and Fort Wayne. Staff will be meeting residents, law enforcement and first responders during this yearly event.
“Community engagement events, such as the National Night Out, are essential building blocks for stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities we serve,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “I encourage everyone to participate in your community’s National Night Out events to foster the healthy, positive community and law enforcement partnership that is the bedrock of public safety.”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the United States Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
North Haven Counselor Admits Defrauding Medicaid of More Than $1.6 MillionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced that RACHEL COLLINS, 44, of Hamden, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to health care fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Collins was a state-licensed professional counselor and owner of Rachel Collins, LPC Counseling Services LLC, located in North Haven. Collins provided psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults, but particularly children and adolescents with a variety of behavioral and mental health issues. She was enrolled individually as a Behavioral Health Clinician provider in the Connecticut Medicaid Program (“Medicaid”).
Between January 2018 and March 2024, Collins submitted and caused to be submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for psychotherapy services that were purportedly provided to his Medicaid clients. Specifically, Collins submitted claims under her own billing and performing provider identification number for dates of service when no services of any kind had been provided to the Medicaid clients identified in the claims. Collins submitted claims for purported dates of service when she was purportedly working as a full-time clinician for another provider; billed for 12 hours of purported services in a day and, in some cases, 24 or more hours in a day; submitted false claims for dates when she was traveling out of state, during national holidays, and on weekends; and submitted claims after she had stopped treating the claimed client, had never treated the claimed client, or the claimed client was in the hospital.
Through this scheme, Collins defrauded Medicaid of $1,647,031.51. As part of her plea, Collins has agreed to pay full restitution. She also has agreed to forfeit $114,085.55 that was seized from a bank account during the investigation.
Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for October 30, at which time Collins faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Collins is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Newton Man Is Sentenced to 10+ Years in Prison for String of Armed Robberies in North CarolinaRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Newton, N.C., man was sentenced to prison today for a string of armed robberies in North Carolina, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Adrian Alexander Bryson, 29, was ordered to serve 121 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Hobbs Act Robbery and possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Ron Campurciani of the Mooresville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court records, between October and December 2022, Bryson planned and executed at least nine robberies of HT Hackney delivery trucks as they were attempting to deliver cartons of cigarettes to convenience stores. During the robberies, Bryson and his co-conspirators wore masks and either displayed firearms to the delivery drivers or behaved as if they were armed. Court records show that the robbers generally knew where the higher end tobacco products would be located on the delivery truck and stole the cartons of cigarettes that were the most valuable. In total, HT Hackney reported a loss of more than $70,800, which consisted of 1,129 cartons of cigarettes stolen during the robberies.
According to court documents, investigators determined that a red/maroon GMC Envoy was involved in some of the robberies. Investigators were able to locate the vehicle in Newton and trace it to an address where Bryson had resided. Law enforcement also determined that Bryson was a former HT Hackney employee, who had worked for the company from May to September 2022, and had left after he had been confronted about missing cigarette cartons. Law enforcement also determined that the targeted delivery routes were routes that Bryson used to deliver as a driver.
On December 28, 2022, Bryson was arrested in Hickory and a search warrant was executed at a hotel room where he was staying. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement found several containers belonging to HT Hackney, with dates and delivery locations that corresponded with some of the reported robberies. Law enforcement interviewed Bryson, who admitted to arranging and setting up the robberies. Law enforcement also located numerous text messages and photos on Bryson’s phone related to the thefts, as well as photos of Bryson posing with firearms matching the description of those used during the robberies.
On March 6, 2024, Bryson pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the ATF and the Mooresville Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and the United States Attorney’s Office.
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.
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax ViolationRead the Press Release
A New York man pleaded guilty today to failing to collect and pay over employment taxes from wages of his company’s employees.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2015 and 2021, Nicholas Arcuri, of Staten Island — owner and president of Capri Upholstery Custom Furnishing LLC — paid approximately $2.6 million in off-the-books cash payroll to employees, from which he did not withhold from his employees’ wages any Social Security, Medicare or income taxes or pay over those taxes to the IRS. Arcuri concealed the cash payroll from his return preparer, knowing that he was required to pay taxes.
In total, Arcuri caused a tax loss to the IRS of $486,753.
Arcuri is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. 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 made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard J. Kelley and Jeffrey A. McLellan of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
New Jersey Man Sentenced for Money Laundering and Identity Theft in Scheme Linked to City of LexingtonRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A North Bergen, N.J., man, Jean Mejia-Garcia was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, to 72 months, for conspiracy to commit money laundering and aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to pay $4,690,870.81 in restitution.
According to his plea agreement, from February 2022 to February 2023, Garcia worked with his co-conspirators, Nana Kwabena Amuah and Shimea McDonald, to commit money laundering. Garcia also worked for Amuah to procure fake identity documents, establish shell companies with numerous Secretaries of State, and open bank accounts in the names of other, real people to receive funds that Amuah directed towards the accounts. Once the money was received in those accounts, Amuah would notify Garcia of the payments and directed Garcia to bring him the stolen funds, after Garcia retained his portion. Garcia would then wire or bring money or checks to the co-conspirators who facilitated further transfers or initiated the underlying scheme to defraud the victims. Garcia also helped to procure fake identification cards for other coconspirators to use to open bank accounts for the purpose of laundering other victim funds.
In August 2022, using email, the coconspirators impersonated a nonprofit organization working to reduce poverty, which was working with the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (the “City”) on a housing project. The coconspirators then convinced a City official to wire funds owed to the nonprofit organization, to a bank account at Truist Bank. That account was in the name of Gretson Company LLC, but coconspirator Shimea McDonald had opened that account, in the name of another person, using a fake identity card provided by Garcia. The City wired a total of $3,905,837.05 to the Gretson Company LLC bank account at Truist Bank. At Amuah’s direction and using checks provided by McDonald, Garcia then wrote checks, funded with the money the City had wired, to other bank accounts. Ultimately, Truist Bank and the City were able to recover all the funds that were transmitted.
Amuah was previously sentenced to 86 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. McDonald was previously sentenced to 80 months, followed by three years of supervised release. Both were ordered to pay $4,690,870.81 in restitution.
Under federal law, Garcia must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department; jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Dieruf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Moss Point Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Moss Point man pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Larry Donnell Smith, 44, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a firearm by the Moss Point Police Department during a traffic stop on December 31, 2023.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Moss Point Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Missouri Sex Offender Admits Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A registered sex offender from Chesterfield on Tuesday pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possession of child pornography.
Charles R. Hamilton, 65, of Chesterfield, admitted possessing 1,288 image files and 185 video files containing child sexual abuse material on his phone.
The investigation began in May of 2023, when law enforcement officers in Alabama identified a Kik social media account that was being used to distribute child sexual abuse material. They traced the account to Hamilton, a convicted sex offender with an active sex offender registration requirement. When investigators interviewed Hamilton on his front porch on May 25, 2023, he denied possessing any unregistered social media accounts but consented to a search of his phone. That search revealed an email account appearing to match the account associated with the Kik user. Hamilton then admitted using the Kik account but denied using it to distribute child pornography. Investigators later found images of child pornography matching those distributed via the Kik account. A forensic examination found that Defendant had used Kik, Instagram and Telegram accounts to receive and transmit child pornography, Hamilton’s plea agreement says.
Hamilton is scheduled to be sentenced February 13, 2025.
The FBI, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mexican National Admits Being Caught with Gun, Fake IDRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Mexico on Tuesday admitted being caught with a firearm and fraudulent identification documents after a road rage incident in St. Charles, Missouri.
Donnovan Mallen, 21, of Berkeley, Missouri, pleaded guilty to illegal entry and unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. He admitted that on Feb. 26, 2021, the St. Charles Police Department was called to the 1500 block of Beale Street for a “shots fired” call. They found Mallen and a Dodge Charger with a shattered rear window. Mallen, who had a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card and Social Security card, denied any involvement in the incident. After further investigation by officers, Mallen admitted that while he was driving to work, a vehicle followed him and fired four shots at him. Mallen said he fired once into the air. Police found a loaded 10mm semi-automatic pistol under the front passenger seat.
At the police station, Mallen admitted buying the pistol for protection from an acquaintance for $750 and the fraudulent identification for $150 to obtain employment, his plea agreement says. There is no record of Mallen lawfully entering the United States, the plea says.
Mallen is scheduled to be sentenced November 5.
Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Charles Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Members of U.S. Attorney’s Office Join Local Law Enforcement and the Community for National Night OutRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia joined law enforcement partners, along with community organizers and neighbors, at Sycamore & Oak in the District’s Congress Heights neighborhood, for National Night Out this evening.
“Our fellow community members both inspire us in our work and are invaluable partners in our efforts to hold those who harm our community accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “On National Night Out, we thank our fellow community members for all that they are doing in this fight—the 35% reduction in violent crime we have seen this year would not be possible without their partnership.”
This year, hundreds of residents across the District of Columbia participated in various National Night Out events in their communities. This annual community-building campaign promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve in order to foster safer neighborhoods. Established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, the initiative is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
With coordination by local law enforcement and community partners, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together in a positive way, by hosting neighborhood block parties, cookouts, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, and more fun activities. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
Machinegun Gets Edenton Crip Gang Member Eight Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – An Edenton man was sentenced today to 100 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. On February 13, 2024, Karon Antwan McDonald pled guilty to the charge.
“This case is yet another example of the dangers our members face and the important work they perform in keeping North Carolina safe,” said Commander of the State Highway Patrol, Col. Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. “We are honored to work alongside our valued partners at the Department of Justice as these cases go through the criminal justice system and are confident in their continued commitment to hold dangerous criminals accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, McDonald, 34, was driving a vehicle in Plymouth when State Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop. McDonald was removed from the vehicle and then struggled briefly with Troopers as he tried to run away. He was tased and detained. A search of his vehicle revealed a stolen Glock .357 caliber handgun under the driver’s seat. The Glock was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a Glock switch, that converted the semi-automatic firearm into one capable of firing fully automatic. McDonald is a validated member of the Crips gang and has been previously convicted of two assaults with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in state court. He has also been involved in numerous other instances of violence.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The State Highway Patrol and FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-CR-8-FL.
Louisville Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Louisville, Ky., man, Arthur Powers Jr., 44, was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, to 250 months, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, Powers was found to be in possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine that he intended to distribute to others. Specifically, on September 10, 2023, enforcement was informed that Powers was travelling to Laurel County from Louisville to deliver five pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement then stopped Powers’ vehicle and seized 4.5 pounds of methamphetamine, which he later admitted he was bringing into the area to distribute.
Under federal law, Powers must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Long Island Construction Company Sentenced for Worker Safety Violation Causing Death of EmployeeRead the Press Release
Northridge Construction Corporation was sentenced today in federal court for violating a worker safety standard, which caused the death of one of its employees, and for making two false statements obstructing a federal agency’s subsequent investigation.
U.S. District Court Judge Joan M. Azrack for the Eastern District of New York sentenced Northridge to pay a fine of $100,000 and serve a five-year term of probation, which will require, among other conditions, increased safety training for Northridge employees. The company pleaded guilty in January.
According to court records, in December 2018, during the construction of a shed on Northridge’s property in East Patchogue, New York, one of its employees fell from an improperly secured roof and died. Among other worker safety standards, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations require always maintaining the stability of a metal structure during construction. An investigation revealed that Northridge failed to adhere to the structural stability standard, and that Northridge employees made false statements to obstruct the ensuing federal inquiry into the death. Northridge supervisor Richard Zagger pleaded guilty in July to related charges and is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 16.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) made the announcement.
The Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorneys Daniel Dooher and Richard J. Powers and Trial Attorney Rachel Roberts of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.
Lenoir Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Larry Dewayne Colvin, Jr., 51, of Lenoir, N.C., was sentenced today to 168 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on drug and gun offenses, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Sheriff Alan C. Jones, of the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Len Hagaman, of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Brent Phelps of the Lenoir Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, on December 12, 2022, law enforcement received information that Colvin was trafficking methamphetamine in Lenoir and surrounding areas. During the investigation, law enforcement arranged controlled buys during which they observed Colvin sell methamphetamine to a Confidential Informant (CI). Court records show that on December 16, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Colvin’s residence in Lenoir, where they seized methamphetamine and a firearm. A second firearm, an ammunition magazine, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and more than $7,400 in cash drug proceeds were seized from a vehicle parked on the property.
According to court records, a second search warrant was executed at another location where Colvin was using a camper as a stash house for methamphetamine. From the camper, law enforcement seized more methamphetamine, five handguns, two rifles, and a shotgun. During an interview with Colvin, the defendant told law enforcement that he also hid methamphetamine at his workplace. Law enforcement traveled to Colvin’s workplace where they seized over 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as $30,000 in cash drug proceeds from Colvin’s vehicle.
On January 8, 2023, law enforcement in Lenoir responded to a call about Colvin communicating threats to an individual. Law enforcement encountered Colvin at a gas station, where he admitted to having a firearm in the vehicle. Law enforcement retrieved the firearm along with $2,500 in cash drug proceeds.
On October 31, 2023, Colvin pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The ATF, the SBI, the Caldwell County Sherriff’s Office, the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lenoir Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and the United States Attorney’s Office.
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.
Lee’s Summit Man Sentenced to 20Years for Child Pornography, Sextortion SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lee’s Summit, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for a sextortion scheme in which he threatened victims, including minors, to extort them into sending him pornographic images and videos of themselves.
Marek Redding, 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Redding to 25 years of supervised release following incarceration. Redding will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
On April 9, 2024, Redding pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of extortion.
Redding, using a fake female persona on the Snapchat application, received nude photographs from multiple females, including minors. According to court documents, some victims reported that Redding threatened to distribute or publicly post their images if they did not continue sending nude images, some of which constituted child pornography.
Redding admitted that he induced two minor victims to produce child pornography in January 2022 and March 2022, and that he distributed the child pornography. Redding also admitted that he transmitted threats to injure the reputation of an adult victim in April 2022 in order to obtain more photographs from the victim.
According to court documents, the adult victim told investigators she had sent nude images to Redding. When she attempted to stop, Redding threatened to disclose her images to her family, school, and employer.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department, the Grain Valley, Mo., Police Department, the Olathe, Kan., Police Department, and the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Laredo resident admits to possessing firearm equipped with machinegun conversion deviceRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old man has pleaded guilty to possessing a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On March 12, law enforcement attempted to stop a truck for a traffic infraction with Francisco Isaias Rodriguez riding as a passenger. He exited the vehicle seconds before the stop and began to flee. He was told to stop but he continued on foot.
During the subsequent chase, Rodriguez resisted arrest, ignored commands from authorities and threw a small bag he carried around his shoulder over a fence and into a backyard.
Authorities later recovered the bag and found a Glock 9-millimeter pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch.”
The switch altered the firearm’s function to shoot more than one round with a single pull of the trigger, making the firearm a fully-automatic weapon. The bag also contained one Glock pistol magazine with 14 rounds of ammunition, one Kriss extended pistol magazine containing 40 rounds, a pair of black latex gloves, one red and black plastic glove and a black balaclava ski mask.
After his arrest, law enforcement searched the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record for any records pertaining to a registered machinegun, short-barreled rifle or any other weapon under Rodriguez’s name. There were none.
As part of his guilty plea, Rodriguez admitted to knowing federal law prohibits him from possessing the machinegun.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. 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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Laramie man sentenced for distribution of fentanylRead the Press Release
Tristan Chase Eickbush, 27, of Laramie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, on March 7, 2023, Cheyenne Police Officers responded to 305 Storey Boulevard in Cheyenne for a report of a deceased person. On the premises, investigators found numerous small, round, blue pills, marked with “M” on one side and “30” on the other side. The pills resembled legitimate prescription medication, but subsequent testing showed that they were counterfeit and contained illicit fentanyl. An autopsy concluded that the deceased person died from fentanyl toxicity. The investigation revealed that Eickbush sold the decedent illicit fentanyl pills on March 3, 2023, but claimed that the pills were legitimate oxycodone pills.
Eickbush was charged with drug distribution on May 6 and pleaded guilty on May 13. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Aug. 1.
“This case is a stark reminder that one pill can kill, and drug dealers cannot be trusted to tell the truth about what they are selling,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. “Cooperation between local, state and federal authorities enabled us to successfully prosecute this case, punish this drug dealer, and provide some measure of justice for this tragic and unnecessary overdose death.”
“The distribution of dangerous drugs has no place in our community,” said Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco. “We will continue working with our state and federal partners to hold dealers accountable - every counterfeit pill we get off the street is a potential life saved.”
This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
Case No. 24-CR-00054
Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Brandon Christopher Solomon, 29, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 6, 2023, Solomon sold approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine and 10 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in the Kanawha City area of Charleston.
Solomon is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-54.
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Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
George Mazey, 53, pleaded guilty to Counts One and Eight of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around February 2021 to in and around April 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Mazey conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing heroin, and quantities of a mixture and substance containing cocaine and cocaine base in the form commonly known as crack. Further, in and around April 2021, Mazey possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing cocaine and fentanyl. Mazey was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for December 11, 2024. The law provides for a total sentence of no less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both.
Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mazey. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced ANTHONY SANTOS, also known as “A-1,” 36, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to unlawful possession of firearms by a felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 17, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and Hartford Police Department conducted a court-authorized search of Santos’ apartment on Park Street in Hartford. When investigators entered the apartment, Santos ran to the window and threw a loaded Draco 7.62x39mm firearm with a high-capacity magazine containing 30 rounds of ammunition. The firearm landed on a rooftop below and was recovered. Inside the apartment, investigators seized, three firearm magazines, ammunition, a small amount of fentanyl, large bags containing bulk quantities of marijuana, thousands of bags of marijuana in pre-packaged sleeves, drug processing and packaging materials, jewelry, and cash. A search of two vehicles associated with Santos that were parked near the apartment revealed a loaded Smith &Wesson .357 revolver and a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol, both of which had been reported as stolen.
Santos’ criminal history includes state convictions for felony narcotics distribution offenses. 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.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for October 29, at which time Santos faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. Santos has been detained since October 17, 2023.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has assisted the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reed Durham and Geoffrey Stone.
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. In May 2021, the Justice 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 www.justice.gov/psn.
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Gulfport man pled guilty today to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Daunte Taylor, 21, was found in possession of two firearms and over 100 grams of methamphetamine at his residence in Gulfport.
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on November 8, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gulfport Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Grand Jury Charges 37 Florencia 13 Members and Associates with Federal Crimes, Including 3 Murders, One of Them a Beating DeathRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Federal and local law enforcement officials today announced the unsealing of federal grand jury indictments charging a total of 37 members and associates of the South Los Angeles-based Florencia 13 (F13) street gang, alleging a series of crimes, including fentanyl trafficking, extortion, and three murders, including that of a man beaten to death outside a bar in the gang’s “territory.”
Today’s takedown resulted in the arrests of 23 F13 members and associates who are expected to be arraigned on 11 indictments this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Six of the defendants were already in state or federal custody, and authorities continue to search for eight other defendants charged in these cases, including multiple defendants currently believed to be fugitives in Mexico.
As part of this investigation, law enforcement has seized approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine, nine pounds of fentanyl, and 6.5 pounds of heroin. Authorities also have seized 25 firearms and approximately $70,000 in cash connected to this investigation.
“Through murder, drug trafficking, violent robberies, and other criminal behavior, street gangs bring devastation upon our communities,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We must stand united against gang violence. Today’s arrests and seizures demonstrate that we will be relentless in combating these criminal organizations.”
“Florencia-13 is known for its barbaric tactics which, tragically, resulted in several murders alleged in the indictment,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field office. “Residents of the community in which Florencia-13 operates deserve to live their lives without fear from violence and extortion, and this joint investigation demonstrates our shared commitment to that goal.”
“Today’s coordinated take down of gang members associated with the ‘Florencia 13’ criminal street gang creates safer neighborhoods by removing dangerous individuals from our communities and disrupting their criminal network that fuels this violence,” said Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “By removing key offenders from our streets who instill fear and terrorize our communities, we are taking decisive action to restore safety and enhance the quality of life for all residents. Our commitment to reducing gang violence remains unwavering as we work together to build safer, stronger communities.”
The bulk of the charges in today’s takedown comes from two federal grand jury indictments targeting Florencia 13. The first indictment charges 19 defendants – including Celerino Jaramillo, 30, a.k.a. “Bizzy,” of South Los Angeles, a “shot caller” in one of F13’s cliques – with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Among a series of alleged racketeering-related crimes, during one incident on October 17, 2022, a mob of F13 members – including Jonathan Reyes, 19, a.k.a. “Creeper,” of South Los Angeles – beat one victim to death in the early morning outside a bar in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood of Los Angeles. The victim repeatedly was stomped, kicked, and punched, and beaten with a baseball bat.
The indictment further alleges that Jaramillo and co-defendant Oscar Hernandez, 30, a.k.a. “Drex,” of South Los Angeles, on June 19, 2023, murdered a victim identified in court documents as “R.A.,” an F13 member who had violated the gang’s rules. The day after R.A.’s was shot and killed, Jaramillo allegedly told fellow gang members that he wanted Hernandez inducted into F13’s Jokers clique because he “proved [Jaramillo] solid.”
The following month, Jaramillo and Hugo Armando Pineda, 36, a.k.a. “Menace,” of South Los Angeles, allegedly murdered “D.E.,” another F13 member in bad standing.
The rest of this superseding indictment alleges a series of criminal activity by Jaramillo and others, including the running of “casitas,” or illegal after-hours bars and clubs, including collection of extortionate “taxes” from them, trafficking of narcotics such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, and illegal use and possession of firearms.
A second indictment unsealed today charges eight Florencia 13 associates – including Saul Ayon Quintero, 50, of Bellflower – with drug-related crimes, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, and illegally using and possessing firearms and ammunition.
Finally, nine additional Florencia 13 members and associates are charged in eight separate indictments with methamphetamine distribution counts, and another Florencia 13 member is charged in a separate indictment with possession of an unregistered firearm and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, most of the defendants would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the United States Marshals Service are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Kendall and Daniel H. Weiner of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting these cases.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Four South Jersey Men Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – Four men from southern New Jersey were charged with negotiating fraudulent checks that had been stolen from the mail, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Tracy Felder-Carter, 23, of Blackwood, New Jersey; Dante Ford, 28, of Pennsauken and Sewell, New Jersey; and Quamell Keyes-Griffin, 21, and Donovan Bunch, 22, both of Sicklerville, New Jersey, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. They are scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Felder-Carter, Ford, Keyes-Griffin, and Bunch conspired to commit bank fraud by first obtaining checks that had been stolen from the U.S. mail. Members of the conspiracy then would alter the stolen checks by increasing the value of the check and changing the name of the payee to either a member of the conspiracy or somebody else recruited by the conspiracy. Members of the conspiracy or others would negotiate each altered check and attempt to the withdraw the funds before the bank learned that the checks were illegitimate. The conspiracy involved the negotiation of hundreds of checks at banks across southern New Jersey and elsewhere, with each check written for amounts upwards of several thousand dollars.
The count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Pennsylvania State Police – Media Station, Pennsauken Police Department, and the Springfield Township (Pennsylvania) Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
feldercarter.complaint.pdfFormer Vicksburg National Military Park Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Vicksburg woman pled guilty to stealing park admission fees while she was employed as a Supervisory Fee Management Specialist at the Vicksburg National Military Park.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Yolanda Ward, 40, of Vicksburg, confessed to removing cash deposits from a safe and keeping the money for personal use while she was employed as a supervisor at the military park from 2017 to 2019. Ward was responsible for depositing the fees. Ward stated that she used the stolen funds to pay her bills and gamble at the local casino. Ward also provided the park’s stolen funds to her family members to gamble at the casino.
Ward pled guilty today to theft of government funds. She is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Katherine Balestra of the Department of Interior Office of Inspector General, and Superintendent Carrie Mardorf of the Vicksburg National Military Park made the announcement.
The Department of Interior Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Stuart and Kimberly Purdie are prosecuting the case.
Former OSU Medical Center Employee Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Repay More than $8 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Leslie Ann Ameen, 63, of Tulsa, for Wire Fraud. She was ordered to serve 49 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Ameen to pay $8,293,611 in restitution.
“Ameen significantly harmed a hospital that serves our community and is funded by tax-payer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “We are committed to pursuing those who defraud and steal from taxpayers in the Northern District of Oklahoma.”
According to court documents, Ameen devised a scheme to defraud her employer while employed as a telecommunications specialist at Oklahoma State University Medical Center (OSUMC). For approximately nine years, Ameen arranged for OSUMC to purchase laptops, phones, and tablets from Techsico Enterprises Solutions, LLC. The electronic devices were not sought by OSUMC nor required for operating the medical center. Ameen forged signatures on more than 2,200 invoices emailed to her, absconded, and then sold the devices to fund her gambling addiction.
Ameen was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple prosecuted the case.
Former Keene Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Almost $500,000Read the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Keene woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to stealing almost $500,000 from her employer between 2015 and 2021, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Stephanie Pratt, 39, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for November 12, 2024.
Pratt was the office administrator for a company based in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. She had full access to the company’s finances, including its bank accounts and credit cards. Over the course of six-and-a-half years, Pratt stole $492,325.34 from the company. She cashed unauthorized checks to herself and entered them as payments to legitimate vendors in the company’s accounting system. Pratt also used the company’s credit cards to make over 1,000 unauthorized personal purchases, including for items like plane tickets, a smart TV, a hot tub, Patriots tickets, and miscellaneous herbs and spices. She concealed the fraudulent credit card purchases by deleting them on credit card statements her employer received.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
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Former Contracting Officer for Department of Defense Sentenced for Conspiracy to Defraud the GovernmentRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Uxbridge man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for conspiring to defraud the government of thousands of dollars between 2014 to 2018.
Thomas Bouchard, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 12 months and one day in prison followed by one year of supervised release. In April 2023, Bouchard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of theft of government funds. Bouchard was arrested and charged in July 2020 along with co-defendant Chantelle Boyd.
“Those of us who are privileged to work in public service owe a duty to the taxpayers to act with integrity at all times. This defendant clearly failed in adhering to this solemn oath and abused his position of trust to line his own pockets, hire a friend into a phantom position and enjoy junkets all on the taxpayer’s dime. He will now pay the price for his inexcusable conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
“GSA OIG special agents are committed to working with DOJ and investigative partners to ensure that taxpayer dollars are properly spent and protected," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Dattoria of the GSA Office of Inspector General, Northeast Division.”
“Investigating individuals who hold positions of trust and misuse Department of Defense (DoD) funds is a top priority for the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)," stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates our commitment to work with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to protect DoD assets and programs.”
Bouchard was the Contracting Officer in charge of the U.S. Army Natick Contracting Division, a full-service contracting organization for the Department of Defense. In 2014, Bouchard used his long-standing relationship with Evolution Enterprise, Inc., a government contractor, to have Boyd hired for a “no show” job as an assistant that specifically supported Bouchard. Boyd’s position cost the Department of Defense more than $490,000 during her time at Evolution from 2014 to 2018, during which Boyd performed little if any useful function.
Bouchard and Boyd took numerous government-funded trips, ranging in duration from two to 15 days, under the guise that they were work related. This included 31 trips to Orlando, Fla., among other locations such as Clearwater Beach, Fla., and Stafford, Va., during which Boyd performed little if any work. For many of the trips, Bouchard and Boyd stayed in the same hotel room and spent time at the pool and Disney parks – all during business hours. In order to conceal the personal nature of the trips, Bouchard altered, created and approved false travel to reimburse the Boyd for out-of-pocket expenses.On April 3, 2023, Boyd pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, 10 counts of theft of government funds and false declarations. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 14, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; GSA OIG SAC Dattoria; DCIS SAC Hegarty; and Michael Conner, Special Agent in Charge of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Major Procurement Fraud Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.