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Thursday 1 August 2024
ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ទទួលបាននូវកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងដ៏សំខាន់មួយជាមួយខោនធី Los Angeles ដើម្បីបង្កើនលទ្ធភាពប្រើប្រាស់សម្រាប់អ្នកបោះឆ្នោតដែលមានពិការភាពRead the Press Release
ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌បានប្រកាសនៅថ្ងៃនេះថា ខ្លួនបានឈានដល់កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងសំខាន់មួយជាមួយខោនធី Los Angeles ដើម្បីដោះស្រាយបណ្តឹងរបស់ក្រសួងដែលចោទប្រកាន់ថា ខោនធីបានរំលោភច្បាប់ស្តីពីជនពិការអាមេរិក (ADA) តាមរយៈការបដិសេធចំពោះអ្នកបោះឆ្នោតដែលមានពិការភាពមិនឱ្យមានឱកាសស្មើគ្នាក្នុងការចូលរួមក្នុងកម្មវិធី សេវាកម្ម និងសកម្មភាពបោះឆ្នោតរបស់ខ្លួន នៅពេលដែលខោនធីខកខានមិនបានជ្រើសរើស និងប្រើប្រាស់កន្លែងបោះឆ្នោត ជាកន្លែងដែលជនពិការអាចចូលប្រើប្រាស់បាន។
ជំនួយការអគ្គមេធាវី Kristen Clarke នៃនាយកដ្ឋានសិទ្ធិស៊ីវិលរបស់ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា "ជនពិការមានសិទ្ធិទទួលបានការរាប់បញ្ចូលទាំងស្រុងនៅកន្លែងបោះឆ្នោត"។ “ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ប្តេជ្ញាការពារសិទ្ធិរបស់អ្នកបោះឆ្នោតដែលមានសិទ្ធិគ្រប់រូប រួមទាំងអ្នកបោះឆ្នោតដែលមានពិការភាពក្នុង
ការចូលរួមក្នុងដំណើរការនៃការបោះឆ្នោតរបស់យើង។ កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងនេះគួរតែផ្ដល់សារទៅមន្ត្រីនៅទូទាំងប្រទេស ទាក់ទងនឹងតម្រូវការក្នុងការធានាឱ្យបាននូវលទ្ធភាពចូលប្រើប្រាស់ក្នុងដំណើរការនៃ
ការបោះឆ្នោតឥឡូវនេះ។"Martin Estrada ដែលជាមេធាវីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកប្រចាំនៅមណ្ឌលកណ្តាលនៃរដ្ឋ California (Central District of California) បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា "សិទ្ធិបោះឆ្នោតគឺជារឿងសំខាន់សម្រាប់លទ្ធិប្រជា
ធិបតេយ្យរបស់យើង ហើយត្រូវបានការការពារសម្រាប់អ្នកបោះឆ្នោតទាំងអស់"។ "អ្នកបោះឆ្នោតដែលមានពិការភាពមានសិទ្ធិទទួលបានឱកាសស្មើគ្នាដើម្បីបោះឆ្នោតដោយផ្ទាល់ ជាលក្ខណៈឯកជន និងដោយឯករាជ្យ រួមជាមួយអ្នកជិតខាង និងមិត្តភក្តិរបស់ពួកគេ។ យើងសូមកោតសរសើរដល់ខោនធី
Los Angeles ចំពោះការប្តេជ្ញាចិត្តរបស់ខ្លួនក្នុងការធ្វើការជាមួយក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ ដើម្បីធានាឱ្យបាននូវលទ្ធភាពប្រើប្រាស់ស្មើៗគ្នាសម្រាប់បុគ្គលដែលមានពិការភាព។"បណ្តឹងនេះត្រូវបានដាក់នៅខែមិថុនា ឆ្នាំ 2023 បន្ទាប់ពីការស៊ើបអង្កេតដ៏យូរអង្វែងមួយ ដែលបានរកឃើញថាខោនធីមិនបានរាប់បញ្ចូលបុគ្គលដែលមានពិការភាពនៅក្នុងការចូលរួមក្នុងកម្មវិធីបោះឆ្នោតដោយមានវត្តមានផ្ទាល់របស់ខោនធី។ការិយាល័យមេធាវីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកប្រចាំតំបន់កណ្តាលនៃរដ្ឋ California បានស្ទង់មតិនៅកន្លែងបោះឆ្នោតរាប់រយកន្លែងនៅក្នុងការបោះឆ្នោតនាខែមិថុនាឆ្នាំ 2016 ខែមីនាឆ្នាំ 2020 ខែវិច្ឆិកាឆ្នាំ 2020 និងខែវិច្ឆិកាឆ្នាំ 2022 ហើយបានរកឃើញថាភាគច្រើនមានឧបសគ្គស្ថាបត្យកម្មដូចជាផ្លូវជម្រាលចោត ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរកម្រិតញឹកពេកនៅលើផ្លូវដើរនិងទ្វារចូល និងកង្វះចំណតរថយន្តសម្រាប់ជនពិការ។ ឧបសគ្គទាំងនេះបានរារាំងលទ្ធភាពចូលទៅកាន់មណ្ឌលបោះឆ្នោត និងបោះសន្លឹកឆ្នោតដោយសុវត្ថិភាព ដោយមានវត្តមានផ្ទាល់របស់មនុស្សដែលអាចធ្វើចលនាមានកម្រិត និងដែលមានពិការភាពផ្នែកចក្ខុវិញ្ញាណ។ ពាក្យបណ្តឹងនេះក៏បានចោទប្រកាន់ថា កម្មវិធីបោះឆ្នោតតាមចិញ្ចើមផ្លូវរបស់ខោនធីមិនអាចឱ្យជនពិការចូលប្រើបានទេ ដោយសារមណ្ឌលបោះឆ្នោតមួយចំនួនខ្វះផ្លាកសញ្ញា ដែលបង្ហាញថាការបោះឆ្នោតតាមចិញ្ចើមផ្លូវអាចរកបាន ឬខកខានមិនបានផ្តល់មធ្យោបាយគ្រប់គ្រាន់ ដើម្បីឱ្យអ្នកបោះឆ្នោតអាចទាក់ទងបុគ្គលិកបោះឆ្នោតដើម្បីទទួលបានជំនួយបានក្នុងការបោះឆ្នោតតាមចិញ្ចើមផ្លូវ។
ដំណោះស្រាយ ដែលបានដាក់ជូនតុលាការកាលពីដើមថ្ងៃនេះ នឹងបង្កើនលទ្ធភាពចូលប្រើប្រាស់របស់អ្នកបោះឆ្នោត ដែលមានពិការភាព។នៅក្រោមកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងនេះ ខោនធី Los Angeles នឹងធ្វើការជាមួយអ្នកជំនាញផ្នែកលទ្ធភាពប្រើប្រាស់របស់ជនពិការឯករាជ្យ រយៈពេលបីឆ្នាំសម្រាប់គោលនយោបាយ និងនីតិវិធីជ្រើសរើសទីតាំង ដើម្បីធានាថាខោនធីជ្រើសរើសទីតាំងមណ្ឌលបោះឆ្នោតដែលអាចចូលប្រើបាន ឬអាចផ្តល់លទ្ធភាពចូលប្រើបានកាន់តែច្រើនដល់ជនពិការក្នុងអំឡុងពេលបោះឆ្នោត ដោយប្រើប្រាស់វិធានការដោះស្រាយបណ្តោះអាសន្ន។ ខោនធីបានយល់ព្រមធ្វើការជាមួយនឹងអ្នកជំនាញ និងក្រសួងដើម្បីអនុវត្តតាមការណែនាំរបស់អ្នកជំនាញ។ អ្នកជំនាញនឹងផ្តល់របាយការណ៍ប្រចាំខែអំពីការរកឃើញរបស់ពួកគេទៅកាន់ខោនធី និងក្រសួង។
ដោយមានមណ្ឌលនយោបាយជាង 500 មណ្ឌល និងមានអ្នកបោះឆ្នោតដែលបានចុះឈ្មោះប្រហែល 4.3 លាននាក់ ខោនធី Los Angeles គឺជាដែនសមត្ថកិច្ចបោះឆ្នោតធំបំផុតនៅក្នុងប្រទេស។
ការស៊ើបអង្កេតក្នុងខោនធី Los Angeles គឺជាផ្នែកមួយនៃគំនិតផ្តួចផ្តើមអំពីការបោះឆ្នោតនៃច្បាប់ស្ដីអំពីជនពិការអាមេរិក ( ADA) របស់ក្រសួង ដែលផ្តោតលើការការពារសិទ្ធិបោះឆ្នោតរបស់បុគ្គលដែលមានពិការភាពនៅទូទាំងប្រទេស។ ព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមអំពីការបោះឆ្នោតអាចរកបាននៅលើគេហទំព័ររបស់ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌នៅ www.justice.gov/voting។ សម្រាប់ព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមអំពីផ្នែកសិទ្ធិស៊ីវិល សូមចូលមើលគេហទំព័រ www.justice.gov/crt។ សម្រាប់ព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមអំពីច្បាប់ ADA សូមទូរសព្ទទៅបណ្តាញព័ត៌មាន ADA របស់ក្រសួងដោយឥតគិតថ្លៃតាមរយៈលេខ 1-800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) ឬចូលមើលគេហទំព័រ www.ada.gov។ ប្រសិនបើអ្នកជឿថាអ្នកត្រូវបានគេរើសអើងដោយផ្អែកលើពិការភាព សូមដាក់របាយការណ៍តាមអនឡាញនៅគេហទំព័រ www.civilrights.justice.gov។Richard Park ដែលជាជំនួយការមេធាវីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកនិងប្រធានផ្នែកសិទ្ធិស៊ីវិល និង Katherine Hikida, Matthew Barragan, Margaret Chen និង Alexandra Young ដែលជាជំនួយការមេធាវីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក សម្រាប់មណ្ឌលកណ្តាលនៃរដ្ឋ California បានដោះស្រាយបញ្ហានេះដោយមានការសម្របសម្រួលជាមួយផ្នែកសិទ្ធិស៊ីវិលរបស់ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌។
ខែមុននេះគឺជាខែគម្រប់ខួបទី 34 នៃច្បាប់ ADA ដែលលោកប្រធានាធិបតី George H.W. Bush បានចុះហត្ថលេខាឱ្យចូលជាច្បាប់នាថ្ងៃទី 26 ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ 1990។ ADA គឺជាច្បាប់ស្តីពីសិទ្ធិស៊ីវិលដ៏ទូលំទូលាយដំបូងគេរបស់ពិភពលោកសម្រាប់ជនពិការ។ នៅពេលយើងប្រារព្ធខួបលើកទី 34 នៃច្បាប់ ADA នេះ យើងក៏ឆ្លៀតពេលដើម្បីទទួលស្គាល់អត្ថប្រយោជន៍នៃ ADA ខណៈពេលដែលយើងក៏យល់ផងដែរថា នៅតែមានការងារត្រូវធ្វើដើម្បីសម្រេចបាននូវគោលដៅដ៏យូរអង្វែងនៃសមធម៌ ការរួមបញ្ចូល និងលទ្ធភាពប្រើប្រាស់សម្រាប់ជនពិការ។
West Columbia Man Sentenced to Jail and Fined for Blocking Clinic AccessRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Steven Lefemine, 68, of West Columbia was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment and fined $1,000 after being found guilty of a misdemeanor violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinics (FACE) Act.
Evidence presented during his trial showed that Lefemine blocked the entrance to the Columbia Office of Planned Parenthood. Testimony from the trial indicated that Lefemine was a frequent protester of the clinic and, on this occasion, physically sought to bar employees and patients from entering the facility. Lefemine recorded his activities and presented the audio/video recordings during the trial. Lefemine was arrested by the Columbia Police Department for trespassing and removed from the site. During the sentencing hearing, United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Anderson noted that Lefemine has multiple previous convictions for similar behavior.
The FACE Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in May 1994 in response to the escalation of violence surrounding abortion clinics in the early 1990s. The Act criminalizes violence toward or obstruction of health care facilities or places of worship.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson prosecuted the case.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Veronica Hill, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office, [email protected], (803) 929-3000
Volleyball Coach Indicted for Sexually Exploiting Minors on Social Media and Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minnetonka man has been indicted for the production and receipt of child sexual abuse material and coercing and enticing minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on multiple occasions between approximately October 2014 and March 2024, Dorian Christopher Barrs, 32, used Snapchat, text messaging, and social media to engage minor girls in sexually focused conversations. Additionally, while in his position of trust as a volleyball coach, Barrs coerced and persuaded minor girls to engage in sexual activity with him and produce and send him sexually explicit material. Further, Barrs produced child sexual abuse material in which he is depicted engaging in sexual activity with minors. Efforts to identify additional minor victims reflected in records are ongoing. Some of the minor victims Barrs solicited for sexually explicit material or sexual contact have self-identified in records as being as young as 13 years old.
Law enforcement is still working to identify and confirm the identity of many of the minor victims involved. If you believe you or your minor dependent(s) have been victimized by Dorian Barrs, please contact the FBI Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
The indictment charges Barrs with four counts of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and four counts of coercion and enticement of a minor. Barrs made his initial appearance yesterday in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Carver County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Minnetonka Police Department, Maple Grove Police Department, and the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It 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. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan Engages Youth Through Project LEAD (Legal Enrichment and Decision-Making)Read the Press Release
DETROIT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan is committed to educating youth on the dangers and consequences of their actions. As part of our prevention outreach efforts, this past school year, the Office partnered with the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) to introduce Project LEAD (Legal Enrichment and Decision-Making) to elementary school children. Project LEAD provides a curriculum that focuses on the legal and social consequences of juvenile crimes, such as truancy, illicit drug use, and shoplifting, and was introduced at two elementary schools in the city of Detroit this past school year. Additionally, the program focuses on teaching students techniques for resolving conflict, resisting peer pressure, promoting tolerance, respect for diversity, and achieving economic stability. The program concludes with students performing a mock trial and putting into practice what they have learned about the criminal justice system.
Bow Elementary School and Pulaski Elementary School, both in the city of Detroit, were selected as part of the One Detroit Violence Reduction Partnership’s prevention efforts. Each school is located in the 8th and 9th Precincts, respectively, which are focus areas for our violent crime initiative.
The 10-week program consisted of Assistant United States Attorneys serving as facilitators, going into classrooms, and providing lessons on topics such as the Rule of Law, Order in the Court, the Juvenile Justice System, and Conflict Resolution to name a few. The program ended with a mock trial being held at the United States District Court. The students played the role of judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, jurors, bailiff, and witnesses.
Project LEAD has been proven effective. A team of researchers conducted an evaluation of the program to gauge its impact on students’ knowledge and attitudes about the legal system, as well as Project LEAD’s capacity as a delinquency prevention model. The results of the study showed that Project LEAD students gain important “protective factors,” which are factors that buffer against the “risk factors” that increase or decrease the risk of youth experiencing or perpetrating violence and may lessen the likelihood of violence victimization and perpetration. Project LEAD gives students the skills and experience to evaluate challenging situations and make good decisions. The program also helps students gain an understanding of the legal system and the reasons behind laws.
“We are committed to balancing our investigative and prosecutive efforts with outreach strategies designed to prevent violent crime from happening, especially among our youth,”
stated U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “We appreciate our partnership with DPSCD and the opportunity to bring this successful, evidence-based program to elementary schools in two Detroit communities with the highest rates of violence. We hope the life skills and tools provided in the Project LEAD curriculum, as well as the positive interactions with law enforcement, will equip students for success in the future. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with DPSCD and partnering with other school districts to bring Project LEAD to multiple elementary schools throughout the District in the new school year.”
“It was an honor to participate in Project LEAD this school year. I saw my students come alive and participate in a capacity that allowed them to connect school and real-life situations. They learned a lot about the justice system as they practiced reading and writing skills. The field trip to the courthouse was the ultimate prize, and one I know my students will probably never forget. I am looking forward to participating in Project LEAD next school year,” said Wilma Muhammad, 4th and 5th grade English and Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher at Pulaski Elementary.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Partners with Local Law Enforcement to Celebrate National Night OutRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is proud to announce we have teamed up with local law enforcement partners to participate in National Night Out events throughout the community.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our communities safer, more caring places to live. Throughout the country, millions of people take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities beginning on the first Tuesday of August. As part of the community, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be at a variety of National Night Out events from August to October. The first event kicks off August 5th at the Murray City Annual Safety Fair and August 6th at Draper City’s “Draper Safety Days.” See full list of events below.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is grateful for the opportunity to strengthen our existing partnerships with law enforcement and to interact with the community in which we serve,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “We are looking forward to these events, hearing from the community and sharing information about our office.”
Events:
1. Murray City Annual Safety Fair
Monday, August 5, 2024, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Murray Park (296 East Murray Park Avenue, Main Parking Lot near Pavilion #5)2. Draper Safety Days
Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Draper Park (12500 South 1300 East)3. North Salt Lake Police Department National Night Out Against Crime
Thursday, August 8, 2024, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Foxboro North Regional Park (1120 West 1100 North)4. Ogden’s Night Out Against Crime
Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
West Ogden Park (751 West 24th Street)5. Woods Cross Police Night Out Against Crime
Thursday, August 22, 2024, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
1555 South 800 West, Woods Cross, UT 840876. Syracuse City Public Safety Jamboree
Thursday, October 3, 2024, Time TBA
Syracuse Fire Department (1869 South 3000 West, Syracuse, UT 84075)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.
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
U.S. Attorney, FBI Announce Additional Charges for Alleged Serial Murderer, Kidnapper, and Sexual Abuser Labar Tsethlikai in Ongoing InvestigationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Federal prosecutors have filed additional charges against Labar Tsethlikai for a series of violent crimes targeting Native American men across New Mexico between 2022 and 2024, including murder, kidnapping, robbery, and sexual assault.
Labar Tsethlikai, 51, an enrolled Member of Zuni Pueblo, now faces an 11-count superseding indictment charging him with two counts of kidnapping resulting in death, one count of first-degree murder, one count of first degree felony murder, four counts of kidnapping, one count assault with intent to commit murder, one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and one count of aggravated sexual abuse. Tsethlikai will remain in custody pending trial. Tsethlikai’s arraignment on the superseding indictment has not been scheduled.
Tsethlikai was previously charged with second degree murder on April 26, 2024.
Tsethlikai is accused of kidnapping and murdering two men, identified as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, in separate incidents on October 22, 2022, and January 18, 2024, respectively.
According to the Superseding Indictment, Tsethlikai allegedly kidnapped John Doe 1 on October 22, 2022, and used various public places and transportation methods to carry out the crime. Tragically, John Doe 1 died as a result of this kidnapping.
The indictment further alleges that Tsethlikai deliberately and with premeditation kidnapped and killed John Doe 2 on January 18, 2024. Furthermore, Tsethlikai is accused of killing John Doe 2 while committing or attempting to commit other crimes, including kidnapping and sexual abuse.
In addition to these charges, Tsethlikai faces multiple counts of kidnapping, sexual abuse, and assault involving other victims between 2023 and 2024. The crimes allegedly occurred in McKinley and Bernalillo counties in New Mexico:
- On June 15, 2023, Tsethlikai allegedly kidnapped John Doe 3.
- On June 15, 2023, Tsethlikai allegedly assaulted John Doe 3 with the specific intent to commit murder.
- On June 15, 2023, Tsethlikai allegedly assaulted John Doe 3 resulting in serious bodily injury.
- On July 13, 2023, Tsethlikai is accused of kidnapping John Doe 4.
- On July 13, Tsethlikai is also accused of engaging in a sexual act with John Doe 4 by using force and threats.
- On February 16, 2024, Tsethlikai allegedly kidnapped John Doe 5 using interstate facilities and instrumentalities.
- On April 11, 2024, Tsethlikai allegedly kidnapped John Doe 6 using interstate facilities and instrumentalities.
If convicted of the current charges, Tsethlikai faces a mandatory life sentence or death for the kidnapping resulting in death and first-degree murder charges, up to twenty years imprisonment on the assault with intent to murder charge, up to ten years imprisonment on the assault resulting in serious bodily injury charge, and any number of years up to life for the kidnapping and aggravated sexual abuse charges.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, led by FBI SA Mark Stephenson, investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit and Air Support Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McGinley, Mark A. Probasco, and Eliot Neal are prosecuting the case.
View the Superseding IndictmentAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI continues to investigate Tsethlikai’s involvement in crimes against other victims and seeks information. If you have reason to believe you or someone you know may be a victim, or have information about Tsethlikai, please call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. Tips based on prior news articles and stories related to Tsethlikai’s conduct have produced information supporting some of the charges featured in the superseding indictment.
Labar Tsethlikai is approximately 5’7” and weighs 180 pounds. He is heavyset, has short brown hair, brown eyes, and wears glasses. It is believed that he wore a gold bracelet. He is from Zuni, but traveled extensively around New Mexico, including Gallup, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. Prior to being detained, it is believed that Tsethlikai worked in the Native American jewelry industry and was a Zuni jewely artist.
Moreover, prior to being detained on federal charges, investigators believe that Tsethlikai used a gold/brown Chevy Silverado, single cab truck, with dual exhaust, bearing license plate number WNMU0043, in furtherance of his criminal spree.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of Indigenous victims and their families.
U.S. Attorney's Office Invites Communities to Participate in National Night Out EventsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Federal prosecutors and personnel with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North
Carolina will join community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
National Night Out (NNO) is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
To encourage community participation, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King is sharing a special video message, inviting everyone to show support by joining National Night Out events across Western North Carolina. The video can be viewed here.
“National Night Out is vital in building trust and cooperation between law enforcement and our communities. When we engage directly with the people we serve, we get to know and understand the unique challenges and concerns they face. This collaboration not only strengthens our relationships but also enhances our efforts to promote justice and ensure the well-being of our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney King.
During this year’s National Night Out, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will attend a community event organized by the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition at the Arbor Glen Outreach Center, located at 1520 Clanton Road, in Charlotte.
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.
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/.
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U.S. Attorney Secures Sentence for Man who Assaulted a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Santa Fe man was sentenced to one year of home confinement followed by two years of supervised probation for assaulting his girlfriend’s son.
According to court documents, on June 19, 2021, Luis Xavier Rael, 36, was supervising his girlfriend’s 12-year-old son, who is a member of the Pueblo of Nambé. Rael made the child do a series of physical exercises, which the child did not to complete to Rael’s satisfaction. Because of this, Rael hit the child with a tree branch and a belt on his butt, lower back, and upper legs. The strikes caused significant bruising to the child.
In addition to the confinement and probation, Rael must also complete substance-abuse counseling, mental-health counseling, and make restitution to cover the child’s continued counseling.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Clara Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
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Two Men Sentenced for Robbery Spree in Metro AtlantaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Kujo Duako and Sammetrius Brooks have been sentenced for a string of armed robberies that targeted multiple businesses and a bank in metro Atlanta.
“Duako and Brooks terrorized innocent victims and jeopardized their lives during this violent crime spree,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The men’s arrest and prosecution are an example of the excellent coordination that the FBI and our district’s local law enforcement partners routinely leverage to remove dangerous criminals from our communities.”
“Carrying weapons into peaceful places of business and terrorizing hard-working citizens is something the FBI and our law enforcement partners will make every effort to prosecute and punish,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These sentences should be a warning to anyone who would consider armed robbery in our community, and hopefully bring some comfort to the victims that were affected during the commission of these crimes.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: On October 29, 2018, Duako attempted to rob a CVS store in the City of South Fulton, Georgia. During the robbery, Duako pointed a semi-automatic handgun at an employee and ordered her to walk to the cash register. Rather than comply with Duako’s demand, the employee fled to the rear of the store and engaged a fire alarm, thwarting the robbery.
Later that day, Duako robbed a Dollar General store, also located in South Fulton. Again, he pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded cash. On this occasion, Duako stole cash and personal property from the employee.
On October 30, 2018, Duako and a co-defendant, Sammetrius Brooks, drove to various locations in metro Atlanta, including an IHOP restaurant and a Family Dollar store in South Fulton, a Sprint store in Riverdale, Georgia, a Metro PCS store in College Park, Georgia, and a United Community Bank branch in Fairburn, Georgia. Duako robbed each of these businesses at gunpoint, stealing cash and cell phones. Brooks acted as the getaway driver.
Less than two hours after the robbery at the United Community Bank, law enforcement apprehended Duako and Brooks. Law enforcement recovered more than $9,000 in cash in Duako’s possession – the approximate amount of money stolen during the five robberies on October 30, 2018. Police also recovered several cell phones that were taken during the robbery at the Sprint store.
Kujo Duako, 35, of Ghana, West Africa, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jean-Paul “J.P.” Boulee on July 31, 2024, to 16 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Duako was convicted of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and armed bank robbery on April 24, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
Sammetrius Brooks, 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by Judge Boulee on September 29, 2021, to 11 years, nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Brooks was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery, armed bank robbery, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on June 17, 2021, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the Clayton County Police Department, South Fulton Police Department, Riverdale Police Department and Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Johnny Baer and Joseph Plummer prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
For 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.
Two Alabama Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Robbing A United States Postal Service Mail CarrierRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Marquan Deon Johnson, 25, and Keondre Dashown Daniels, 26, both of Montgomery, Alabama, were sentenced to 60 months’ and 117 months in federal prison, respectively, after previously pleading guilty to using a firearm to rob a United States Postal Service mail carrier and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentences were announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“The United States mail must be secure and the dedicated employees who deliver it must be safe from violence,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “These sentences illustrate our resolve to protect the public servants working on behalf of their fellow citizens and should serve as examples of the significant federal penalties associated with acts of armed violence.”
On July 21, 2023, a United States Postal Service mail carrier was delivering mail in a residential neighborhood Fort Walton Beach, Florida. As she attempted to deliver mail, a vehicle driven by Johnson, pulled up next to the mail carrier’s vehicle and Daniels exited the vehicle. Daniel’s approached the mail carrier and pointed a handgun at the mail carrier. Daniels grabbed the mail carrier’s wrist and stole her mail key. Johnson and Daniels then fled the scene. Officers from the Fort Walton Beach Police Department identified the vehicle driven by Johnson from a nearby traffic camera and issued a Be on the Lookout (“BOLO”) alert. A few hours after the robbery, the vehicle was located in Montgomery, Alabama, by the Montgomery Police Department and Johnson and Daniels were arrested.
"This case is a testament to the swift and coordinated efforts of law enforcement across state lines and the strong partnerships between federal and local agencies,” said Fort Walton Beach Police Chief Robert Bage. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our community. Let this be a clear message: violence in our community will not be tolerated, and we will make every effort to bring those who commit violent acts to justice."
“U.S. Postal Service employees should be free to service our communities without being subjected to acts of violence, especially armed robberies,” said Juan Vargas, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud of its work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our local law enforcement partners on this case. The sentencing of Marquan Johnson and Keondre Daniels upholds the fundamental right of a safe work environment for our nation’s postal employees.”
Johnson’s prison sentence will be followed by 5 years of supervised release and Daniel’s prison sentence will be followed by 2 years of supervised release.
This sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Fort Walton Beach Police Department, and the Montgomery Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Trenton Man Admits Assaulting Federal Agent with Deadly Weapon, Armed Robbery, and Discharging FirearmRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Trenton man today admitted assaulting a federal agent with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jabree Johnson, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court on July 31, 2024, to an indictment charging him with one count each of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, robbery with a dangerous weapon of an individual with custody of federal property, and using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence, in which the firearm was discharged.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On March 22, 2021, federal law enforcement officers were investigating firearms trafficking and other illegal activities in and around Trenton and Hamilton, New Jersey. A federal law enforcement agent, working in an undercover capacity, arranged to purchase multiple firearms from an individual later identified as Johnson.
After arriving at an agreed-upon location for the firearms transaction, Johnson entered the undercover federal agent’s vehicle, and handed the agent a black, semi-automatic firearm. The undercover federal agent inspected the firearm and then returned it to Johnson and requested to see the other firearms that Johnson had agreed to sell. Instead, Johnson pointed the loaded firearm directly at the undercover federal agent and demanded money from the agent. The undercover federal agent provided Johnson with an amount of U.S. currency that the agent had on him to purchase the guns. Johnson then ordered the undercover federal agent out of the vehicle at gunpoint. The agent exited the vehicle as ordered and immediately drew a service-issued firearm and fired at Johnson, striking Johnson in the shoulder. Johnson also fired his handgun multiple times at the undercover federal agent. Johnson fled the area with the money. Johnson was later identified at a local hospital as the individual who had assaulted and robbed the undercover federal agent at gunpoint and placed under arrest.
The charge of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of robbery of federal property with a dangerous weapon carries a maximum potential penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which was discharged, carries a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum of life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, Trenton Satellite Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Steve E. Wilson; officers of the Hamilton Township Police Division, under the direction of Police Chief Kenneth DeBoskey; troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, and detectives and prosecutors of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Angelo Onofri, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
johnson.indictment.pdfThree Real Estate Investors Plead Guilty to $119M Mortgage Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Three real estate investors have pleaded guilty to engaging in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain a $74 million loan and a $45 million loan and fraudulently acquire multifamily properties.
Fredrick Schulman, 72, of New York, and Chaim “Eli” Puretz, 29, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Moshe “Mark” Silber, 34, of New York, pleaded guilty on July 9 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution.
According to court documents, between 2018 and 2020, Silber, Schulman, and Puretz conspired with others to deceive lenders into issuing a mortgage loan for a multifamily property and Fannie Mae into funding or purchasing the mortgage loan. Silber and Schulman were managing members of Rhodium Capital Advisors, an entity that was involved in the acquisition and management of Williamsburg of Cincinnati, an apartment complex in Cincinnati, Ohio. Puretz was one of the owners of commercial property Troy Technology Park in Troy, Michigan. Silber, Schulman, Puretz, and their co-conspirators provided the lenders and Fannie Mae with falsified documents, including a purchase contract with an inflated purchase price and other fraudulent documents.
In March 2019, Williamsburg of Cincinnati was acquired for $70 million. However, Silber, Schulman, and other co-conspirators utilized a stolen identity to present a lender and Fannie Mae with a purchase and sale contract for $95.85 million and other fraudulent documents. On March 8, 2019, two closings were performed, one for the true $70 million sales price and another for the fraudulent $95.85 million sales price presented to the lenders. Based on the co-conspirators’ false statements, the lender and Fannie Mae funded a loan in the amount of $74.25 million for the purchase of Williamsburg of Cincinnati.
In September 2020, Troy Technology Park was acquired by Puretz and co-conspirators for $42.7 million. However, to support an inflated purchase price of $70 million, Puretz and his co-conspirators submitted to the lender and appraiser a fraudulent letter of intent to purchase the property from another party for $68.8 million and other fraudulent documents. Based on the fraudulent documents, the lender funded a loan for $45 million. To conceal the fraudulent nature of the transaction, Puretz and his co-conspirators arranged for a short-term $30 million loan, which was used to make it appear that they had the funds needed to close on the sale. On Sept. 25, 2020, a title company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two closings, one for the true $42.7 million sales price and another for the fraudulent $70 million sales price presented to the lender.
Silber, Schulman, and Puretz are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 3 and each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey; Inspector General Brian M. Tomney of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG); and Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.
The FHFA-OIG and USPIS are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Nye for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information concerning similar multifamily or commercial mortgage fraud can report it by contacting the FHFA-OIG Hotline at 800-793-7724 or via the web at www.fhfaoig.gov/ReportFraud#hotlineform.
Three Defendants with Felony Convictions Sentenced to a Total of 22+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of three separate illegal firearms cases in the Western District of Louisiana today. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the following three defendants:
Mark Abercrombie, 45, of Monroe, was sentenced to 132 months (11 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On October 22, 2022, Abercrombie was the driver and sole occupant involved in a one-vehicle crash in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. He fled the scene prior to the arrival of Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies. Inside Abercrombie’s vehicle, deputies found a Ruger Model LC9 9x19 pistol and ammunition and .22 caliber ammunition. Abercrombie was a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history, including nine felony convictions, and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was subsequently arrested and charged with illegally possessing the firearm and ammunition. He pleaded guilty and admitted to the charge on April 19, 2024.
Kerry D. Gayfield, 40, of Oak Grove, was sentenced to 78 months (6 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Gayfield went into a pawn shop in West Monroe on October 4, 2023, with a New England Firearms Pardner SB1 .20 gauge shotgun. In the pawn shop, Gayfield provided his identification and signed documents to pawn the firearm. As a convicted felon, Gayfield knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition but did so anyway. He was previously convicted on September 3, 2014, in the Western District of Louisiana of felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced at that time to 90 months in prison and had been released from prison at the time of this offense. Gayfield pleaded guilty on April 19, 2024. The 78-month sentence handed down today includes an 18-month sentence for Gayfield’s violation of the terms of his supervised release.
Freddie L. Nash, 52, of Monroe, was sentenced to 64 months (5 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On August 22, 2023, Monroe Police Department officers responded to a domestic complaint at a residence in Monroe. Upon arrival at the residence, officers were made aware that Nash was in a vehicle passing by the residence. Officers stopped the vehicle, made contact with Nash, and found an RG Model 26 .25 caliber pistol located between the passenger door and seat where Nash had been sitting. Nash knew that as a person having prior felony convictions, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was arrested and charged with illegally possessing the firearm. Nash pleaded guilty to the charge on May 6, 2024.
“Keeping firearms out of the wrong hands is a priority of the United States Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “These investigations are in line with our commitment of partnering with our local district attorneys and law enforcement agencies to curb gun violence in Ouachita Parish and all of northeast Louisiana. These defendants have no regard for the law and given their conduct and criminal histories, these sentences are fair. Justice has been served.”
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Monroe Police Department, and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth D. Reeg and Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine L. Semmes.
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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Importing Internationally Protected Reptiles from AustraliaRead the Press Release
A Texas man made his initial appearance in court and pleaded guilty today to violating the Endangered Species Act by importing protected Australian reptiles into the United States on behalf of a fake zoo which he represented as legitimate.
According to court documents, Don Church imported 165 native Australian reptiles by providing false information to Australian and U.S. authorities. The imported reptiles included three Rusty Monitor (Varanus Semiremex) lizards, which are protected internationally by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Church imported the reptiles on behalf of the “Austin Reptile Center,” a non-existent facility. He submitted documents to Australian authorities containing misrepresentations about the facility, including photographs of reptile exhibits, employee names and positions, floor plans, location and financial information. But Church knew no facility suitable for reptile care existed.
To gain purported legal authority to import the reptiles, Church submitted documentation containing misleading and erroneous information about the fictious Austin Reptile Center to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). He then imported the reptiles on behalf of the Austin Reptile Center, knowing that import was unlawful.
To protect species against over-exploitation, CITES regulates trade in endangered and threatened species through permit and quota requirements. The U.S. and 183 countries are signatories to the CITES treaty. The United States implements CITES through the Endangered Species Act, and the USFWS enforces it.
Church pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging violation of the Endangered Species Act. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $50,000.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Assistant Director Edward Grace of the USFWS’ Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement.
The USFWS is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Sarah M. Brown of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case.
Superseding Indictment Adds Three Defendants and New Charges in “Operation SLO Ride”Read the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 53-count superseding indictment today adding new charges for Alberto “Beto” Alvarado, Freddy Alvarado, Yerlly Vega, and Roberto Soria-Cuevas, and newly charging Tulare County residents Manuel Diaz, Daniel Alvarado, and Rafael Alcala Jr, for their participation in the drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
The initial indictment in the case charged 28 individuals. The addition of Manual Diaz, Daniel Alvarado, and Rafael Alcala Jr. brings the total number now charged in the case to 31.
According to court documents, beginning in July 2023, investigators gathered evidence regarding individuals involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other narcotics in Tulare County using investigative tools that included confidential sources, surveillance, and wiretaps.
Operation SLO Ride ultimately resulted in the dismantling of a criminal organization operating in Tulare County. In March 2024, law enforcement executed numerous search and arrest warrants in a coordinated takedown. In the course of the operation, law enforcement seized more than 936 pounds of methamphetamine, 8.6 pounds of cocaine, 5.5 pounds of heroin, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl, more than $600,000 in currency, and 50 firearms. The 31 individuals now stand charged with various drug trafficking, money laundering, continuing criminal enterprise, and illegal possession of firearms offenses.
The superseding indictment adds charges against Alberto “Beto” Alvarado for operating a continuing criminal enterprise and conspiring to commit money laundering. If convicted, Alberto “Beto” Alvarado faces a mandatory minimum of life in prison.
Freddy Alvarado is additionally charged with conspiring to commit money laundering and international money laundering. Vega is additionally charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Soria-Cuevas is also now charged with conspiring to commit money laundering. Diaz, Alcala, and Daniel Alvarado are each newly charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiring to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, Alberto Alvarado, Freddy Alvarado, Daniel Alvarado, Diaz, Vega, Alcala, and Soria-Cuevas conspired to launder the proceeds of narcotics trafficking by transporting and transferring the proceeds from the United States to Mexico.
On April 29, 2024, Francisco Garcia, 28, of Tulare, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Sentencing is scheduled to occur Sept. 30, 2024.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County Tactical Narcotics Team, which is a part of Central Valley California HIDTA, the Tulare Police Department, the Visalia Police Department, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office, the Porterville Police Department, the Woodlake Police Department, the Clovis Police Department, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Tulare County District Attorney. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio Pataca is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of sentences from 10 years in prison to life in prison, and some face mandatory minimum sentences of five and 10 years for drug trafficking offenses. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Stilwell Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Dale Killer, age 40, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 50 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 50 months in prison for Possessing a Firearm after a Felony Conviction. The sentences are to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Stilwell Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On August 7, 2023, Killer pleaded guilty to the charges. On February 6, 2023, Killer possessed methamphetamine and a firearm while traveling in a vehicle in Stilwell, Oklahoma. Killer possessed the methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it and possessed the firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense punishable by more than one year.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Killer 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 Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams on the Conviction of Haji Abdul Satar Abdul ManafRead the Press Release
“Haji Abdul Satar Abdul Manaf, an international drug trafficker with deep ties to terrorist organizations, attempted to import large quantities of heroin into the United States while paying the Taliban and attempting to provide financial support to the Haqqani Network, another terrorist organization responsible for acts of terrorism against this country. After he was arrested and extradited to the United States, Manaf worked with others in Afghanistan to kidnap and intimidate a witness at gunpoint. Today, Manaf has been found guilty on all counts, and now faces significant time in prison for his attempts to exploit the heroin trade, fuel terrorism, and kidnap and threaten a witness. This verdict brings justice to the countless lives endangered by Manaf’s actions and hope to the many others under threat of terrorist organizations. It is thanks to the exceptional work of the career national security prosecutors of this Office, the DEA, and our international partners that Manaf has been brought to justice. This Office remains resolute in its mission to dismantle such dangerous networks and protect those fighting against terrorism.”
St. Petersburg Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Possession of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William Jung has sentenced Jason Washington (42, St. Petersburg) to 13 years and 1 month in federal prison for possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine with the intent to distribute it. Due to the amount of methamphetamine Washington possessed, he was subject to a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
According to court documents, on April 13, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Washington’s residence. Inside the home, agents located more than 240 grams of methamphetamine, 225 grams of fentanyl, and 102 grams of cocaine. Agents also recovered more than $77,000 in cash and six firearms from inside the home.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.
This case was 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 of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on the following 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.
Springfield Man Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for unlawful possession of a machinegun.
Angel Vargas, Jr., 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In February 2024, Vargas pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun.
On Jan. 27, 2023, during a search of Vargas’s Springfield residence, a ghost gun with an attached Glock switch, laser sight and extended magazine containing 23 rounds of ammunition, along with three firearms: a semi-automatic rifle with another extended magazine containing 22 rounds; a 12-gauge shotgun with five rounds; and a semi-automatic pistol with a third extended magazine containing 15 rounds were seized. Vargas’s mobile phone was also seized which contained evidence that he had been trafficking other firearms, including Glock switches, after a state felony conviction and while on pretrial release for a state firearms case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance provided by the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute DrugsRead the Press Release
Shannon Ivory, 43, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty July 31, 2024, in federal court, to four counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on March 20, 2023, Ivory was arrested on state of Iowa charges. During the arrest multiple types of illegal drugs packaged in separate bags were found on Ivory. Ivory was found in possession of over 26 grams of pure methamphetamine; over 15 grams of crack cocaine; over 4 grams of powder cocaine; and 25 morphine pills. Ivory admitted to possessing the drugs and his intent to distribute them to other persons.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. On the convictions, Ivory faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, an $8,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service, the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4038.
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Settlement agreement reached with Community Bank involving alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement with Community Bank, N.A. (CBNA) to resolve two allegations that customers at CBNA’s Orchard Park, NY, branch location were denied American Sign Language interpreters for complex banking services, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The complainants, who are deaf and use ASL as a primary means of communication, were both customers at CBNA in connection with residential real estate purchases. Each complainant separately requested an ASL interpreter to assist with the closing of their transaction. The first request was made in January 2021; the second request was made in October 2023. In response to the January 2021 request, CBNA offered to pay one-half of the cost for an ASL interpreter. In response to the October 2023 request, CBNA refused to pay any of the cost for an ASL interpreter. Both complainants, who obtained interpreter services without assistance from CBNA, were frustrated and stressed by the efforts to obtain communication access in ASL.
Under the settlement, CBNA will not discriminate against or deny services to any individual on the basis of disability, including individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. CBNA has also agreed to develop and prominently post an ADA Effective Communications Policy at each branch location and on its website so that it can be easily read by members of the public. CBNA will also train all customer-facing employees on the Effective Communications Policy and pay each complainant $1,000 as compensation for harm.
CBNA also agreed that: CBNA will not retaliate against any person involved in this matter; CBNA will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services, free of charge, when necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities; CBNA will provide timely responses to requests for auxiliary aids and services; and CBNA will not require an individual with a disability to bring another individual to interpret for him or her.
The Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts under the ADA seek equal opportunity and dignity in all aspects of life, including access to effective communications for people with disabilities.
Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (716) 843-5700 or file a complaint with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division at: https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TDD).
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. B. Bobseine, Civil Rights Coordinator in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Buffalo, New York.
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San Juan Capistrano Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Federal Charges for Running Illegal Sports-Betting Business and Cheating on TaxesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Orange County man has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges for running an illegal gambling business that took in unlawful sports bets, including from then-current and former professional athletes as well as a former Major League Baseball (MLB) Japanese-language interpreter currently facing prison time.
Mathew R. Bowyer, 49, of San Juan Capistrano, has agreed to plead guilty to a three-count information charging him with operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return.
Bowyer is expected to plead guilty to the charges on August 9.
According to his plea agreement, Bowyer operated an unlicensed and illegal bookmaking business that focused on sports betting and violated a California law that prohibits bookmaking. Bowyer’s gambling business remained in operation for at least five years until October 2023 and at times had more than 700 bettors.
He operated this business out of various locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties as well as in Las Vegas. Bowyer also employed agents and sub-agents – including casino hosts – who worked for his illegal gambling business who were paid a portion of the losses that bettors incurred and paid. His unlawful business used several Costa Rica-based websites and a call center so agents and customers could place and track bets. At times, Bowyer operated his illegal business while gambling at a casino – identified in court documents as “Casino A” – and sometimes paid his agents commission in Casino A chips.
One of Bowyer’s clients was Ippei Mizuhara, who pleaded guilty on June 4 to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. Mizuhara was the Japanese-language interpreter and de facto manager of MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts and failing to pay tax on his gambling income. Law enforcement considers Ohtani a victim. Mizuhara’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 25.
From September 2021 to January 2024, Mizuhara placed at least 19,000 bets with Bowyer’s illegal gambling business through one of the betting websites Bowyer used for it. During this period, Mizuhara had total winning bets of at least $142,256,769, and total losing bets of at least $182,935,206, leaving Mizuhara owing approximately $40,678,436. On a regular basis during this period, Bowyer would increase Mizuhara’s betting limits.
From February 2022 to January 2024, Bowyer directed Mizuhara to make payments of at least $16.25 million to Bowyer-controlled bank accounts, all of which were proceeds of Bowyer’s illegal gambling business. Of these illegal proceeds, Bowyer transferred or directed the transfer of least $9.3 million to a casino in the form of wire transfers as payment for markers for Bowyer and his associates.
Other Bowyer gambling business customers included “Individual B,” a professional baseball player for a Southern California-based baseball club, and “Individual C,” a former minor-league baseball player.
Bowyer admitted in his plea agreement to knowingly and willfully falsely reporting his taxable income to the IRS on his tax return for the year 2022. On that year’s tax return, Bowyer reported $607,897 in total income. His unreported income for that year was $4,030,938, which was income from his illegal gambling business, including $3.8 million in wire transfers into one of his bank accounts, which he did not declare on his tax return. As a result of the false information Bowyer provided, he owes additional taxes of $1,613,280 for the tax year 2022, not including interest and penalties.
Upon pleading guilty, Bowyer will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison on the money laundering count, up to five years in federal prison for the unlawful gambling business count, and up to three years in federal prison for the false tax return count.
As part of his plea agreement, Bowyer will forfeit $257,923 in U.S. currency and $14,830 in casino chips seized by law enforcement in October 2023. He also has agreed to fully cooperate with federal prosecutors and investigators.
IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating this matter.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel N. Agress and Assistant United States Attorney Dominique Caamano of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section are prosecuting this case.
Salem Man Indicted for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Salem man was indicted in connection with firearm offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Daniel Fratus, 38, was indicted on one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person and one count of possession of unregistered firearms. Fratus appeared in federal court today and was detained.
According to the charging documents, on January 23, 2024, Fratus possessed two silencers and a total of nine guns: five rifles, three pistols, and one sawed-off shotgun. As a previously convicted felon, Fratus was prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. Additionally, the two silencers and four of the nine firearms were unregistered weapons.
The charge of possession of firearms by a prohibited person provides for a maximum sentence of up to fifteen years in prison, up to a three-year term of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of unregistered firearms provides for a sentence of no greater than ten years in prison, up to a three-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Salem Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Scanlon is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Sacramento Man Charged with Production, Distribution, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Jordan Hughes, 24, of Sacramento, charging him with production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between February and September 2022, Hughes convinced at least two underage victims to send him images and videos depicting themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Hughes also distributed images of child sexual abuse conduct, and, in November 2022, possessed child sexual abuse material, including images of at least four underage victims engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, which includes the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department as well as Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea J. Kenny is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Hughes faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of production of child sexual abuse material. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 U.S. 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 those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Sacaton Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Using an Axe and a Knife Causing Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – He Tehila Brave Heart, 41, originally of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, but living in Sacaton at the time of the offense, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Brave Heart is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
On April 4, 2023, Brave Heart and his wife, Jacqulyn Brave Heart, beat and threatened to kill two victims, causing serious bodily injury. Brave Heart also stabbed one of the victims in the neck with a knife and hit her in the head with an axe. Brave Heart pleaded guilty on April 22, 2024, to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. Jacqulyn Brave Heart was sentenced to six years in prison on April 10, 2024, after pleading guilty to the same two charges on January 22, 2024.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01247-PHX-DWL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-105_Brave Heart# # #
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.Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Wide-Ranging Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a fentanyl trafficking organization involved in the manufacturing and distribution of tens of thousands of fentanyl pills that spanned across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Jasdrual a/k/a “Josh” Perez, 36, pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Nov. 12, 2024. Perez was charged by criminal complaint on Feb. 14, 2022 and has remained in custody since.
In September 2019, investigators began a multiyear investigation into a drug trafficking organization led by Perez that was based out of Providence, Rhode Island. This drug trafficking organization was known to manufacture large quantities of fentanyl pills designed to appear like pharmaceutical grade oxycodone/Percocet pills and distribute them and other controlled substances throughout the United States. It was learned that Perez used encrypted applications such as WhatsApp and FaceTime to further his drug trafficking activities and supervise his drug trafficking enterprise. In addition, Perez personally participated in the trafficking of kilogram quantities of fentanyl and the pressing of kilograms of fentanyl powder into pills designed to appear like pharmaceutical pills.
In February 2022 during a search of the property that Perez and his associates used to manufacture fentanyl pills, two industrial grade pill presses, approximately 20 kilograms of powdered fentanyl and pressed fentanyl pills, and other items, including kilograms of pill binder used in the large-scale manufacturing of clandestinely pressed fentanyl pills were seized. During a separate search of Perez’s residence, over $62,000 in drug proceeds were also seized.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston and Providence Field Offices; Drug Enforcement Administration, Providence Field Office; Rhode Island State Police Department; and Cranston, Warwick and West Warwick Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey E. Weinstein and Kunal Pasricha of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Readout of OVW Director Rosemarie Hidalgo’s Trip to Unveil Comprehensive Initiatives to Address the Intersection of Domestic Violence and FirearmsRead the Press Release
Director Rosemarie Hidalgo of the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) met with representatives yesterday from 12 pilot sites across the country that receive funding and support through the Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) and announced a comprehensive strategy to address the lethal intersection of domestic violence and firearms. Meeting with FTAP grantees, Director Hidalgo emphasized the urgent need to enhance efforts to prevent and address this dangerous issue, which increases the likelihood of death for victims of domestic violence.
FTAP, an OVW grant program funded by appropriations through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), provides communities with the tools and support needed to develop and implement effective strategies for preventing the use of firearms in domestic violence incidents and for strengthening a coordinated community response to increase access to safety and support for victims. OVW has awarded a total of $5.99 million to 12 FTAP sites across the nation, including one Tribal nation. These initiatives are part of the Justice Department’s broader strategy to reduce violent crime and enhance community safety.
The convening, coordinated by the Battered Women’s Justice Project, which runs the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms, brought together grantees from the following sites: Tucson, Arizona; Georgia Department of Community Supervision; Detroit; Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; Yakima, Washington; Birmingham, Alabama; Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Columbus, Ohio; Brooklyn, New York; State of Vermont; and Spokane, Washington.
In her opening remarks, Director Hidalgo highlighted a startling statistic: over half of the women murdered in the United States are killed by a current or former intimate partner, and the presence of firearms increases the risk of homicide by 500%. This heightened threat to individuals and public safety necessitates a coordinated community response involving law enforcement, prosecutors, civil and criminal courts, victim service providers, and community-based organizations. Effective intervention and support can mean the difference between life and death for victims, as well as for law enforcement officers responding to domestic violence incidents. In addition to increased lethality and serious injuries, firearms are used by abusive partners to inflict fear, intimidation, and coercive control.
Director Hidalgo noted the statement by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following the Supreme Court’s 8-1 decision in United States v. Rahimi, in which he stated that the decision, “upholds Congress’s longstanding prohibition on the possession of firearms by people subject to domestic violence restraining orders. That law protects victims by keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their intimate partners and children.” The Attorney General also said, “The Justice Department will continue to enforce this important statute, which for nearly 30 years has helped to protect victims and survivors of domestic violence from their abusers. And we will continue to deploy all available resources to support law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and victim advocates to address the pervasive problem of domestic violence.”
Director Hidalgo delivers remarks while meeting with representatives from 12 FTAP pilot sites.To support community efforts, Director Hidalgo unveiled OVW initiatives that are part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at raising awareness of federal laws that prohibit firearm possession by domestic abusers and bolstering partnerships across federal, state, Tribal, and local levels. She highlighted the increased collaboration among key Justice Department components, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (FBI/NICS), Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), OVW, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and other Justice Department components. The Justice Department is dedicated to forging strong collaborations between federal partners with state and local prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and victim advocates to enhance our collective response to this critical issue.
DOJ recently released the Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence Resource Card. This resource explains the tools available under existing federal law to prevent the purchase of firearms and prosecute DV offenders who illegally possess them — including through implementation of the new dating-relationship provisions recently enacted through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) that narrow the so-called “boyfriend loophole.” This resource is designed to ensure that law enforcement, courts, and the public understand the domestic violence firearm prohibitions to increase effective implementation.
Justice Department representatives recently conducted a training at the Conference on Crimes Against Women, held in Dallas in May, and shared information on the role played by different Department components in firearms relinquishment, and ways to strengthen implementation by law enforcement and courts at the local level. Next month, DOJ will launch new roll call videos for law enforcement to ensure accurate documentation of relationships in FBI/NICs records to properly implement the dating violence prohibitions that were recently enacted through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
To support communities in accessing federal resources and strengthening a coordinated community response, OVW and OJP have developed the Resource Guide for Addressing the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Firearms. This guide details the Justice Department’s funding, training and partnership opportunities aimed at enforcing firearms laws and strengthening efforts at the local, state, Tribal and federal levels to keep guns out of the hands of adjudicated abusers.
To complement department resources and training, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms (NRCDVF), an OVW-funded national training and technical assistance provider, will conduct additional virtual trainings. These trainings will focus on best practices for law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim service providers, ensuring communities receive the latest and most effective tools when implementing surrender or relinquishment protocols.
Efforts also include expanding outreach to raise awareness about OVW grant funding that can support community initiatives to remove firearms from adjudicated abusers. This included recently sending a letter to grant administrators in every state and territory informing them about opportunities to use Services, Training, Officers and Prosecutors (STOP) formula grant program funds to prevent homicides by addressing the intersection of domestic violence and firearms, as well as providing information about additional training and support to STOP administrators to enhance state implementation plans to address these issues. Additionally, OVW is notifying state domestic violence coalitions about ways communities can leverage both OVW formula and discretionary grant funds to prevent domestic violence abusers from purchasing or possessing firearms.
Later in the day, Director Hidalgo conducted a listening session with representatives from the 12 FTAP pilot sites to explore each site's best practices and challenges in implementing their programs. The discussions provided valuable insights into effective strategies nationwide to address the intersection of domestic violence and firearms. Key topics included fostering trauma-informed approaches that center around survivors; best practices for enhancing partnerships between law enforcement, prosecutors, victim services providers, community-based organizations, courts and other system and community partners; identifying areas of support needed to increase the effectiveness of their programs; and ways OVW could further support partnerships at the local level with federal partners, such as U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and ATF.
Director Hidalgo speaks with representatives from the 12 FTAP pilot sites.In particular, representatives of the FTAP pilot sites highlighted the progress they have made in their jurisdictions by forming multi-disciplinary teams to identify barriers and challenges to implementation and then developing collaborative strategies to address these barriers. This included: developing protocols and updating court forms in the civil and criminal courts for the relinquishment of firearms by adjudicated abusers; addressing issues with high rates of civil protection orders that were not being served; providing timely information to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System; improving training for law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and community partners; identifying storage facilities for relinquished firearms, which can be a particular challenge in rural areas; improving language access and partnerships with culturally-specific community-based organizations; developing co-responder models for advocates to respond to the scene and provide support for victims of domestic violence; and increasing access to advocates for victims to navigate complex systems and obtain trauma-informed services.
Director Hidalgo emphasized that these resources and efforts highlight the crucial role of a coordinated community response, a cornerstone of the Violence Against Women Act. By fostering effective partnerships, these initiatives seek to remove firearms from dangerous situations, ensure community safety, support survivors and their children, reduce community violence, and prevent the use of firearms to cause injury or instill fear and coercive control in domestic violence situations.
Prior felon going to prison on new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Scott Millar 55, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 138 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who handled the case, stated in July 2023, Millar was under the supervision of the United States Probation Department based on a 2009 conviction for possessing child pornography. A condition of his supervision was that he was not allowed to commit another criminal offense. A probationary search of Millar’s telephone revealed images and videos of child pornography.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the United States Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Timothy Englert.
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Previously Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Videos of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Bayo Thomas Bakare, 42, a previously convicted sex offender, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possessing six videos of child sexual abuse materials on his mobile phone in September 2023 and maintaining additional child exploitation videos on an online storage application. At the time of the offense, Bakare was on supervised release for a previous conviction of distributing child pornography. The sentencing was announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.
Bakare pleaded guilty February 8, 2024, to a charge of access with intent to view child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered Bakare to serve 15 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on April 15, 2023, law enforcement agencies conducted compliance checks of sex offenders registered within Washington, D.C. Bakare, who lived on the 3200 block of 8th Street, NE, was a registered sex offender in the District due to a 2016 conviction on a charge of distribution of child pornography for which he was sentenced to 60 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release.
Bakare met the law enforcement agents at his front door. The group was comprised of members of the U.S. Probation Office (USPO), United States Marshals Service (USMS), Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), and a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF). Bakare indicated that he needed to retrieve clothes from his bedroom. The USPO member followed Bakare into his bedroom. The USPO member spotted a Galaxy A11 cell phone, and an Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max plugged into a wall charger. Bakare said that the Galaxy phone was being monitored by USPO. Bakare reported that the Apple iPhone was not monitored. Because Bakare was on supervised release, he was forbidden to have a phone that was not monitored by the USPO. The iPhone was seized. The USPO subjected the iPhone to a forensic extraction which revealed six videos depicting child exploitation and an additional 30 video depicting likely child exploitation stored on the Discord application.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, and the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Foreman.
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Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced to 22 Years for Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Allen Rollings, age 57, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months each for two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and 180 months for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, to be served concurrently. Rollings was also sentenced to an additional 60 months for one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, which will be served consecutive to his other sentences.
The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On January 10, 2024, Rollings pleaded guilty to two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
According to investigators, in January of 2023, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Rollings’ residence south of McAlester. Deputies found over 400 grams of pure methamphetamine and multiple firearms, along with numerous rounds of ammunition. In June of 2023, DEA agents returned to Rollings’ residence to serve a federal arrest warrant, observed evidence of additional narcotics violations, and obtained another search warrant. Agents found over 2.8 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, eleven additional firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and over $1,800 in cash.
Rollings was previously convicted and served time for multiple felony charges. In 1988, the State of Oklahoma convicted Rollings of Possession of a Controlled Drug with Intent to Distribute Amphetamine and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. In 1999, the United States convicted Rollings in federal district court on charges of Attempt to Manufacture Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
“The lengthy prison sentence handed down against Mr. Rollings is the unapologetic consequence of criminals who choose to traffic drugs in rural, eastern Oklahoma,” said Eduardo A. Chavez, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Division, whose area of responsibility covers the State of Oklahoma. “This accountability and success was the result of a joint investigation with our local law enforcement partners, specifically targeting dangerous criminal offenders involved in both methamphetamine and firearms trafficking. The men and women of DEA McAlester will continue to work closely with Oklahoma law enforcement to hold the line and keep our communities safe.”
“Targeting suspected drug dealers for investigation and prosecution, especially repeat offenders like Rollings, continues to be a priority,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Rollings refused to stop dealing in illegal narcotics and possessing firearms. Thanks to the cooperative work of law enforcement, he will be in federal prison well into his seventies and no longer a threat to the peace and safety of our communities.”
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Rollings 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 Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Paralegal Is Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling over $2 Million from Law Firm's ClientsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jennifer Elaine Roarke, 55, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced today to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for embezzling more than $2 million from the clients of the law firm where she was employed as a paralegal, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, from 2007 to 2021, Roarke, who is also known as Jennifer Claveria, was employed as an assistant and a paralegal for a law firm in Hickory. The law firm handled, among other things, the administration and management of trusts for clients, including the trusts’ bank accounts. As part of her duties, Roarke was responsible for opening mail, depositing checks into trust bank accounts, and processing invoices. Court records show that, from 2015 to September 2021, Roarke executed the embezzlement scheme by causing at least 190 fraudulent and unauthorized bank wires, totaling more than $2 million, from the law firm’s clients’ trust bank accounts to bank accounts controlled by Roarke. Roarke used the embezzled funds to pay for personal items, make mortgage, car, and credit card payments, and to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
On December 1, 2023, Roarke pleaded guilty to wire fraud. She is released on bond. She will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Orlando Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Federal Prison for Access Device Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Sean White (46, Orlando) to five years and five months in federal prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. White pleaded guilty on April 10, 2024.
According to court documents, between January and March 2016, White and two affiliates—Jamie Fort and Sena Howell—executed a scheme to defraud several Orlando-area financial institutions. As part of the scheme, White and Fort obtained names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of identity theft victims. They then used these stolen identities to create counterfeit State of Florida driver licenses. White, Fort, and Howell then used the counterfeit driver licenses to obtain financing in victims’ names from federally insured banks. They purchased three luxury vehicles at Orlando-area car dealerships with this financing, including two Mercedes-Benz vehicles and a Cadillac Escalade. They then sold these vehicles for cash.
White and his affiliates also used the counterfeit driver licenses to obtain credit and make fraudulent purchases in victims’ names at various retail stores in the Orlando area. Evidence located at White’s residence included stolen personal identifying information of a number of identity theft victims, as well as a book entitled “How to be Invisible.” White eluded arrest for several years after being charged. He was located in 2023 and arrested, at which time he was living under the alias of another identity theft victim.
Howell was sentenced in March 2017 to two years and three months’ imprisonment for her participation in the scheme to defraud. Fort was sentenced in October 2017 to five years and five months’ imprisonment for his involvement in the scheme.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chauncey A. Bratt and Michael Sartoian.
Orange County Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Joshua Grant Cobb (33, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Cobb faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is set for October 23, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, on April 30, 2024, law enforcement received information from a confidential source that Cobb was distributing methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl out of his residence in Orlando. The confidential source arranged for a fentanyl deal to take place at Cobb’s home later that night. Law enforcement detained Cobb as he was leaving his apartment following the transaction. On his person, agents located a loaded handgun and 55 grams of a fentanyl mixture.
Law enforcement then executed a search warrant on Cobb’s residence, during which they located large quantities of drugs (including over 700 grams of pure methamphetamine and over 250 grams of fentanyl mixtures), six additional firearms, drug processing materials, and $4,000 in cash.
As part of the plea agreement, Cobb has agreed to forfeit the firearms and ammunition he possessed.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
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.
Okaloosa County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Nicholus Tysharrow McNabb, 39, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and money laundering. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness and collaborative efforts of our local and federal law enforcement partners, to identify and intercept shipments of illegal substances via the United States Mail,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “The sentence imposed should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would use the United States Postal Service to conduct illegal activities.”
Between December 2022 and January 2023, the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted multiple packages containing various quantities of methamphetamine that were to be delivered to an address belonging to Nicholus McNabb. On February 23, 2023, Okaloosa County Sherriff’s Office with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service executed a search warrant on McNabb’s residence and discovered approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and over $23,000 in U.S. currency. The investigation revealed McNabb distributed over 35 pounds of methamphetamine between March 16, 2022, and February 23, 2023.
“I’m proud of how our local, state, and federal partners came together to remove this methamphetamine dealer from our streets,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “We will continue to root out bad actors who peddle poisons in our communities.”
“The outstanding work by all law enforcement agencies involved has put this distributor of a dangerous drug in prison for a significant period of time,” said Juan A. Vargas, Inspector In Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure people who elect to distribute illicit drugs in our communities are held accountable and brought to justice.”
This investigation resulted from the collaborative work of the Okaloosa County Sherriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Ohio Man Currently Imprisoned for Assault with Firearm Sentenced to Additional 17.5 Years of Prison for Series of Armed Pharmacy RobberiesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced on July 31, 2024, to 210 months of incarceration on his conviction for a series of pharmacy robberies throughout Western Pennsylvania and distribution of the narcotics from those robberies, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
In March, following a four-day trial before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab, a Pittsburgh jury found Abdulrahman Abdelaziz Jamea, 26, guilty of seven crimes: one count each of conspiracy to commit armed pharmacy robbery and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, three counts of armed pharmacy robbery, and two counts of pharmacy robbery.
Evidence introduced during the trial established that Jamea participated in a conspiracy to rob pharmacies of Schedule II controlled substances—that is, highly addictive opioids and stimulants—between September 2018 and July 2019. This conspiracy included the robberies of pharmacies in Beaver, Bridgeville, Edinboro, Erie, and the Oakland area of Pittsburgh. During three of the robberies, Jamea and his co-conspirators brandished a firearm to threaten the lives of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and to intimidate them into opening the locked safes where the controlled substances were kept. Evidence also established that Jamea returned to the Columbus area to sell these stolen drugs to both prescription drug abusers and other traffickers.
“Jamea’s armed robbery spree across western Pennsylvania risked the lives of pharmacy employees and ordinary civilians who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time—all so he and his co-conspirators could steal dangerous drugs and later sell them on the street,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “This sentencing reflects both the serious and violent nature of these robberies, which have no place in this district or anywhere. Our office is grateful as always for the exceptional work of our law enforcement partners and for the resolve of the victims during the course of this important prosecution.”
In imposing sentence, Judge Schwab specifically noted Jamea’s use of a silver handgun to threaten employees at a pharmacy in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, while a co-conspirator stole thousands of Schedule II controlled substances such as opioids and amphetamines from the store’s safe.
Jamea is currently serving a separate sentence of more than 40 years following a conviction in Ohio for eight counts of felonious assault with a firearm. Judge Schwab ordered that the 210-month sentence in this case be served consecutively to Jamea’s term of imprisonment in Ohio.
Assistant United States Attorneys Barbara K. Doolittle and Michael R. Ball prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania State Police, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Erie Police Department, Edinboro Police Department, Beaver Police Department, Bridgeville Police Department, and Ohio Highway Patrol for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Jamea.
Nineteen Defendants from Western Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio Charged with Participating in Interstate Drug Trafficking Operation Involving Large Quantities of Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine, and OxycodoneRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Nineteen individuals from the New Castle, Pennsylvania, and Detroit, Michigan, areas have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for their participation in a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating throughout and between those regions, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The one-count Indictment charges the defendants with conspiring to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin, and a quantity of oxycodone from August 2023 to July 2024. The Indictment and a related search warrant were unsealed today. A complete list of the defendants is included at the bottom of this release.
According to the Indictment and information provided to the Court, the defendants operated a drug trafficking organization (DTO) based in Detroit and New Castle that was responsible for the acquisition of kilograms of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, including in the form of crack, as well as other controlled substances such as oxycodone, via interstate sources of supply. The DTO distributed those drugs to other dealers throughout and beyond Western Pennsylvania, and several members of the DTO regularly travelled back and forth between New Castle and Detroit in furtherance of the illegal drug activities. A number of the defendants have extensive criminal records, some stretching back more than three decades, including prior felony drug-trafficking and firearms convictions.
The search warrant affidavit alleges that, in March 2024, one of the leaders of this DTO, Christian Frierson, was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in the vicinity of Omaha, Nebraska. Frierson, who was driving eastbound from California, was found in possession of a safe containing over 1,000 grams of fentanyl and nearly 250 grams of heroin. Frierson was charged with drug crimes in Nebraska state court and released on bond. The affidavit asserts that he promptly resumed his large-scale drug trafficking activities in furtherance of the Detroit/New Castle DTO.
According to the search warrant affidavit, agents utilized confidential sources and informants, extensive surveillance and analysis of phone records, controlled purchases of drugs, search warrants, and eventually court-authorized wiretaps from May 2024 to the present (among other investigative tools) to gather evidence in an effort to ascertain the scope of the illegal drug activities. Intercepted wiretap calls and text messages revealed that several members of the DTO in Detroit recruited individuals to work at “trap houses” (i.e., drug processing and distribution locations) in New Castle. The DTO, on an ongoing basis, distributed large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl/oxycodone pills.
“This conspiracy involved a tight-knit network of family and friends—many of whom previously have been convicted of felony drug and firearms crimes—who allegedly trafficked large quantities of lethal narcotics, like fentanyl and heroin, between Detroit and Western Pennsylvania, supplying them to other dealers along the way,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Dismantling large-scale drug-trafficking organizations in order to keep our communities safe is at the center of what our office does, and we could not accomplish this critical mission without the support of the public and the strength of our partnerships at all levels of law enforcement here in Pennsylvania and across the country.”
“Multi-state and multi-jurisdictional operations like what took place today show that the FBI and our partners stand shoulder to shoulder when it comes to keeping this poison out of communities everywhere,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The message to those who want to peddle illegal drugs and guns is clear: we will not stand idle while our neighborhoods are held hostage by crime.”
The law provides for a sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentences imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal histories, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorneys Craig W. Haller and Vincent Joseph Sonson are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment unsealed today.
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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
List of Defendants
Name
Age
Place of Residence
Christian Frierson
33
Detroit, MI
Devail Adams
54
Oak Park, MI
Christopher Barton
24
New Castle, PA
Patrick Brown
32
Detroit, MI
Roy Brown
55
Westland, MI
Frank Christian
51
Youngstown, OH
Tyrone Davis
35
Detroit, MI
Edward Dietrich
59
New Castle, PA
Alexis Donnell
29
New Castle, PA
Dedric Higginbotham
55
Detroit, MI
Kiara Jones
24
New Castle, PA
Quinten Jones
38
Detroit, MI
Kenneth King
37
New Castle, PA
Jermaine Lett
52
Detroit, MI
Marcus Mason
32
New Castle, PA
Daniel Rasnick
27
New Castle, PA
Kendra Sager
32
New Castle, PA
Jauan Searcy
42
New Castle, PA
George Wyatt
61
New Castle, PA
New Orleans Man Pled Guilty to Federal Charge of Conspiracy to Commit Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOHN M. SPIVEY (“SPIVEY”), age 53, of New Orleans, pled guilty on July 30 to a conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to court documents, SPIVEY conspired with his codefendant, JAMIE P. McNAMARA (“McNAMARA”), age 48, of Missouri, to defraud Medicare by billing for cancer genetic testing and cardiovascular genetic testing that was ineligible for Medicare reimbursement. The testing was ineligible because it was not medically necessary and was procured through the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes. McNAMARA, with the assistance of SPIVEY, operated several laboratories, that obtained doctors’ orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were neither the beneficiaries’ treating physicians, nor performed the consultations with the beneficiaries, or even followed up with the beneficiaries post-testing. According to court records, from November 2018 through July 2020, the laboratories operated by McNAMARA submitted over $174 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55 million in reimbursements. McNAMARA is set for trial in February of 2025.
United States District Judge Darrel J. Papillion is scheduled to sentence SPIVEY on April 15, 2025. At sentencing, SPIVEY faces up to ten years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain to any defendant or loss to any person. SPIVEY also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant Chief Justin Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters, both of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, Healthcare Fraud Coordinator for the Eastern District of Louisiana, are prosecuting the case.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on July 30, 2024, TROY LOCKE, age 34 of New Orleans, pled guilty on July 30, 2024, before United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to a superseding indictment charging LOCKE with various gun and drug violations.
Counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of that indictment charged LOCKE with distributing cocaine base, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Count 5 charged LOCKE with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Count 8 and 9 charged LOCKE with being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1).
According to public records, the drug charges stemmed from controlled purchases of crack cocaine that the ATF conducted on July 25, 2023, July 28, 2023, August 4, 2023, August 8, 2023, August 11, 2023, August 17, 2023. All the purchases were recorded. LOCKE had a gun in his lap during the August 8, 2023 purchase. During the August 17, 2023, crack cocaine deal charged in Count 7, the ATF undercover agent asked about buying guns from LOCKE. LOCKE declined to sell the pistol he had during the August 8, 2023, crack cocaine sale, saying he could not be without it. Not long after the August 17, 2023, deal, however, LOCKE called and said he had a rifle that he could sell. The ATF agent agreed and then met with LOCKE at the same place where the crack cocaine sale had just occurred. LOCKE sold the ATF agent an AR style rifle for $1,000. The ATF executed a search warrant at LOCKE’s residence on August 18, 2023, and found him in possession of two more firearms.
As to Counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 LOCKE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and at least three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. As to Count 5, LOCKE faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years up to life that must run consecutively to all other sentences, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to five (5) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. As to Counts 8 and 9, LOCKE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. All counts require payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun track violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator, handled the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that IRVIN J. LEFERE, JR. (“LEFERE”), age 38, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance on July 31, 2024, to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on or about July 13, 2022, LEFERE, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, knowingly possessed a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Members of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) responded to a 911 call for assistance in Venetian Isles, Louisiana. A citizen reported that LEFERE had been carrying a firearm. NOPD officers recovered the firearm from the scene and eventually turned the gun over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
LEFERE faces up to fifteen years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing has been scheduled before Judge Vance for November 6, 2024.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit oversees the prosecution.
New Jersey man sentenced for sexual contact of passenger on airplane to BozemanRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A New Jersey man who admitted to sexually assaulting a woman passenger seated next to him on a flight from New Jersey to Bozeman was sentenced on Wednesday to five years of probation, with six months of home confinement, ordered to register as a sex offender and to pay a total of $5,100 in special assessments, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Piyush Mathew, 31, of Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in March to abusive sexual contact in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States as charged in an indictment.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Sept. 7, 2023, Mathew and the victim, identified as Jane Doe, were seated next to each other on United Airlines Flight 1300 from New Jersey to Bozeman. Doe was seated in the middle seat, while Mathew was seated in an aisle seat. Prior to departure, Mathew raised the armrest between them, and once the plane was in the air, he assaulted Doe for the duration of the flight. Mathew, pretending to be asleep, touched Doe multiple times on different parts of her body, including her thighs, fingers, arms, stomach, and breasts. Doe had hoped to alert the flight crew of Mathew’s behavior, however, Mathew stood immediately behind her for deboarding, and she felt she was unable to tell the flight crew. Instead, Doe approached another male passenger who was in front of them and pretended to know him as a safeguard from Mathew while leaving the plane. The male passenger reported to law enforcement that Doe looked upset and as if she were about to cry.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Gallatin Airport Authority, and Bozeman Airport Police conducted the investigation.
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New Haven Gang Member Admits Role in 2022 MurderRead the Press Release
DONELL ALLICK, JR., also known as “D-Nice,” 25, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a racketeering offense related to his participation in a violent New Haven street gang and the murder of an individual in September 2022.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address violence in New Haven, the ATF, FBI, DEA and New Haven Police Department, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, have been investigating a gang war between members and associates of the Exit 8 street gang and rival gangs in the Hill section and other areas of the city. The Exit 8 gang is named after the geographic area accessed by exiting Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in New Haven. Recently, younger members of Exit 8 are identifying themselves with the word “Honcho,” which is derived from the street name of an Exit 8 member who was murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020.
The investigation revealed that Allick and other members of the Exit 8 gang engaged in drug trafficking, used and shared firearms, and, since June 2018, have committed at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Exit 8 members and associates also stole vehicles, at times from outside of the state, and used those stolen vehicles when committing acts of violence. Gang members also promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their narcotics distribution and acts of violence through text messaging and the use of social media applications and websites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.
Allick pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including acts of violence, narcotics trafficking, and gun sales, and specifically admitted that, on September 16, 2022, he and others shot Kenneth Cloud, 46, who was sitting on the porch of an Atwater Street residence in New Haven. The victim was paralyzed as a result of the shooting and died approximately three months later. Forty-three shell casings were found at the scene of the shooting. Ballistics analysis revealed that 19 had been fired from a handgun later found in Allick’s vehicle, and 24 had been fired from a handgun later found inside Allick’s residence.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Allick faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Allick has been detained since his arrest on November 10, 2022. On July 15, 2024, he was sentenced to 115 months of imprisonment in a separate federal case.
This investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the New Haven Police Department, the Hamden Police Department, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity 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 violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.
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.
Mt. Juliet Woman Sentenced for Long-Running Theft from Federal Health Care and Disability ProgramsRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Cathleen Caraballo, 48, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, was sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison and to pay $575,855.09 in restitution earlier today, announced Henry C. Leventis, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Caraballo previously pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud, health care fraud, and false statement charges. Her crimes stemmed from a long-running identity theft scheme through which Caraballo used a stolen identity to apply for and to obtain government benefits from two government programs, Social Security and Medicare. “This sentence holds the defendant accountable for stealing money from taxpayers and lining her pockets with funds intended for those who rely on Medicare and Social Security,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “I commend our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to end the defendant’s scheme and to bring her to justice.”
Court documents show that Caraballo fraudulently obtained a state-issued driver’s license using a victim’s name and information, but with Caraballo’s picture. Caraballo then held herself out as the victim. In 2009, Caraballo submitted forms to the Social Security Administration purporting to be the victim and began receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments in the victim’s name. After receiving SSDI benefits for a year, Caraballo was approved to receive Medicare benefits, and Medicare began paying Caraballo’s health care expenses based on Caraballo’s false claims. For more than a decade, Caraballo received SSDI payments and Medicare paid health care expenses to which she was not entitled. Caraballo’s identity theft scheme began to come to light in 2019, when the victim attempted to apply for government benefits under her own name.
When she was approached by law enforcement investigators, Caraballo lied about her true identity, presented the investigators with fraudulent documents in an attempt to mask the stolen identity, and signed a statement affirming that she was the victim. Following further investigation by law enforcement, Caraballo was confronted by agents and admitted to carrying out the fraud scheme for over a decade. As a result of the scheme, Caraballo obtained $152,913.20 in SSDI payments from the Social Security Administration, and Medicare made payments for Caraballo’s health care in the amount of $422,941.89. As part of her plea agreement, Caraballo agreed to pay restitution of these amounts.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Suedekum prosecuted the case.
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Montgomery Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Era Relief FraudRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – On July 31, 2024, 39-year-old Tametria Conner Dantzler, from Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges related to loans received through the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, announced United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act established the EIDL program, which was directly administered by the Small Business Administration. This financial assistance program was designed to help eligible small businesses by giving them working capital to make regular payments for operating expenses such as payroll, rent or mortgage expenses, utilities, or business debt.
According to her plea agreement and other court records, in June of 2020, Dantzler made false statements on EIDL applications. Dantzler claimed she created companies, including Conner Consulting LLC, and represented that the companies met the program requirements for EIDL loans. In all, Dantzler obtained approximately $927,338.47 in grants and forgivable loans to which she was not entitled. She also accepted fees or traded fake “payroll checks” in exchange for assisting others to obtain an additional $1,049,864 in grants and forgivable loans to which they were not entitled. Also in her plea agreement, Dantzler admitted she used some of the proceeds for unauthorized purposes, such as buying a house and paying off a vehicle for her husband.
“Government fraud is not a victimless crime,” said United States Attorney Ross. “A financial loss to the United States is a loss to the U.S. taxpayer. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with law enforcement partners, will continue efforts to identify and prosecute anyone personally profiting from funds intended to provide relief for businesses.”
“I hope those who defrauded the COVID-19 relief programs are noticing the number of people being held accountable in the justice system for their crimes,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners continue initiating new investigations on people who diverted COVID-19 relief money into their own pockets which was intended to help economically stress businesses.”
"Tametria Dantzler fabricated documents and created a fraud scheme that diverted critical taxpayer money that was intended to help actual struggling businesses during an unprecedented pandemic for her own self-enrichment," said Acting Special Agent-in-Charge George Richardson with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. “HUD OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD programs.”
Following her guilty plea, Dantzler faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, plus an order of restitution to her victims. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for Dantzler in the coming months. At that hearing, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Mobile Field Office and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated this case, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the case.
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 at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Milwaukee Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Machine Gun Conversion Devices and Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 24, 2024, Demario Robinson (age 22) pled guilty to smuggling machinegun conversion devices, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 545, and possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
Based on the criminal complaint and the plea agreement filed in this case, between July 11, 2022, and June 5, 2023, Robinson bought and caused to be imported over 200 machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly referred to as “switches.” Robinson then sold these MCDs to others in the greater Milwaukee area. MCDs convert ordinary pistols into fully automatic weapons.
According to court records, Robinson was arrested on June 20, 2023, after U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents intercepted a package sent from China containing 47 MCDs that Robinson arranged to have delivered to his residence in Milwaukee. A search warrant was then executed on his residence, resulting in the recovery of a firearm containing a MCD, which made it illegal to possess, even for someone otherwise not prohibited from possessing a firearm. Additionally, Robinson has a prior felony conviction prohibiting his possession of any firearm.
Based upon the counts of conviction, Robinson faces a statutory maximum of 35 years’ imprisonment. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 24, 2024, before United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force, and the Milwaukee Police Department – Special Investigations Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bill Roach and Mike Schindhelm.
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Mexican National Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Federal Prison for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 235 months in prison for importing 69.5 kilograms of methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico.
According to court documents, Rey David Sonora-Villanueva, 36, of Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, Mexico, attempted to enter the U.S via the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Feb. 26, 2020. During a vehicle inspection, Customs and Border Protection officers extracted 69.5 kilograms of methamphetamine from Sonora-Villanueva’s vehicle. Analysis of the seized methamphetamine revealed a purity level of 98%.
Sonora-Villanueva was indicted for four charges related to the possession and importation of methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 28, 2021 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Fleming and James Ward prosecuted the case.
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Melbourne Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Unauthorized Use of an Access Device and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced William Fisher (60, Melbourne) to 3 years and 6 months in federal prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Fisher pleaded guilty on April 4, 2024.
According to court documents, Fisher, while aiding and abetting Tonie Marie Marriott, knowingly and with intent to defraud, used an unauthorized debit card in another person’s name to make purchases over $1,000 at various retail stores and elsewhere. Together, Fisher and Marriott also broke into United States post office boxes and stole mail throughout the Middle District of Florida.
Marriott was previously sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for her participation in the offenses.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kara M. Wick.
Mead Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud for Defrauding COVID-19 Relief ProgramsRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Antonio Feliciano Crawford, age 54, of Mead Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of Bank Fraud. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice accepted Crawford’s guilty plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 30, 2024, in Spokane, Washington.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) program, offered forgivable loans to eligible small businesses in order to retain or rehire employees who lost their jobs, or were in danger of doing so, due to the pandemic. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. The PPP and EIDL programs have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington.
In the plea agreement accepted by the court, and in information disclosed during court proceedings, Crawford, age 54, of Mead, Washington, filed false and fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications during 2020 and 2021 on behalf of four companies purportedly owned and operated by Crawford: Tann LLC, Crawford Entertainment, A&M Personal Training LLC, and a sole proprietorship doing business as “Antonio Crawford.” Crawford submitted false and fraudulent information and documentation, including fraudulent and fictitious purported tax returns for the companies, in order to obtain at least $186,971 in PPP and EIDL funding for which he was not eligible.
U.S Attorney Waldref highlighted the dedication of prosecutors and investigators that make up the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force. “This guilty plea is the result of many hours of tireless work by members of the COVID-19 Fraud Task Force, which is dedicated to the mission of fighting COVID fraud in Eastern Washington. Mr. Crawford repeatedly took advantage of federal programs designed to provide a financial lifeline to small and local businesses during an unprecedented global pandemic. I am grateful for the close law enforcement partnerships we enjoy in the Eastern District of Washington that allow federal prosecutors in my office to target fraudsters and hold them accountable for their actions.”
“Though HSI encounters many different types of crooks and fraudsters, there is something particularly vile about those that would take advantage of crucial government aid programs when they are needed the most,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Our agents will continue to support the law enforcement partnerships that are investigating COVID-19 related fraud, maintaining fairness in the programs that are important to the resiliency of our nation.”
"This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of COVID-19 relief programs,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “Fraudulent activities undermine the purpose of these essential programs, designed to support legitimate small businesses struggling during the pandemic. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for remaining vigilant in identifying and pursuing those who exploit federal relief efforts for personal gain."
In February 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref and the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force that would leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the USAO, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, General Services Administration OIG, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, and others.
This case was investigated by the HSI Spokane Field Office, TIGTA, SBA OIG, and the Department of Homeland Security OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter, Jeremy J. Kelley, and Devin C. Curda.
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Man who Set Fire to St. Louis Apartment Sentenced to 66 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Tuesday sentenced a man who set fire to his girlfriend’s apartment after threatening her with a gun to 66 months in prison.
Willie Latimore, 27, of St. Louis, was also ordered to pay $7,087 to the owners of the apartment building. Latimore pleaded guilty to one count of arson and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted setting fire to his then-girlfriend’s apartment in St. Louis on May 11, 2023.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to the woman’s apartment on Washington Avenue downtown after he began attempting to kick her apartment door down. They arrived to find smoke coming from her apartment. Latimore had piled clothing on her stove and set it on fire. She was hiding at a neighbor’s apartment because he had threatened her earlier in the day with a gun.
St. Louis’ Real Time Crime Center tracked Latimore’s car, and police arrested him later that day after a brief vehicle and foot chase. Latimore dropped a handgun as he ran.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Lynn Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Counterfeit Pill Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Lawrence Nagle Sr. (Nagle Sr.), 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 151 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In April 2024, Nagle pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Nagle Sr.’s two sons, Christopher Nagle and Lawrence Michael Nagle, were allegedly identified as leaders of a DTO distributing various controlled substances throughout the North Shore region of Massachusetts. The Nagle DTO distributed significant quantities of various controlled substances, including, Adderall (both pharmaceutical-grade pills and counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine), methamphetamine, Xanax, oxycodone (both pharmaceutical-grade and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl), cocaine and marijuana, among others.
Lawrence Michael Nagle allegedly distributed controlled substances to a small network of individuals who would then redistribute the drugs to other traffickers.
The investigation revealed that Nagle Sr. was a member of the DTO, allegedly distributing controlled substances on his sons’ behalf and storing substantial quantities of controlled substances at his residence. On Oct. 25, 2024, investigators searched Nagle Sr.’s residence and recovered 5.9 kilograms of fentanyl, including counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl; 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, including counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine; and one kilogram of cocaine. Investigators also recovered three firearms, including the long-barreled firearm depicted below.
Christopher Nagle pleaded guilty to his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy in April 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 13, 2024. Lawrence Michael Nagle has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, and the Beverly, Everett, Lynn, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan D. Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Long Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Daylight Smash-and-Grab Robbery of Beverly Hills Jewelry Store that Netted Nearly $2.7 MillionRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Long Beach man pleaded guilty today to participating in the March 2022 daylight smash-and-grab robbery of a Beverly Hills jewelry store in which nearly $2.7 million worth of merchandise was stolen.
Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). He has been in federal custody since September 2022.
According to his plea agreement, on March 23, 2022, Vernon committed a robbery of the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills store. Vernon used heavy tools to smash the store’s display case while employees were present, causing fear of injury to people inside the store.
Vernon then removed jewelry and other items from the store display cases valued at approximately $2,674,600. The merchandise consisted of approximately 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings, and 20 watches, court documents state.
After the robbery, Vernon and his accomplices ran out of the store, leaving behind their Kia vehicle – which had been reported stolen out of Long Beach four days before the robbery, according to other court documents. During the robbery, Vernon’s cellphone fell out of his sweatpants pocket while he smashed the jewelry’s store’s window, was left behind and later recovered by law enforcement, according to an affidavit previously filed in this case.
Two days after the robbery, one of Vernon’s accomplices posted on his Instagram account numerous photographs that included large stacks of money and a message praising his “robbery gang,” court documents state.
United States District Judge George H. Wu scheduled an October 10 sentencing hearing, at which time Vernon will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
As for Vernon’s co-defendants, Deshon Bell, 22, of Long Beach, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced on February 26 to one year and one day in federal prison. Ladell Tharpe, 39, of Long Beach, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and faces an October 8 trial date.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI and the Beverly Hills Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Kevin B. Reidy of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.