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30 August 2024
Chicago-Area Man Sentenced for Role in Nationwide Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chicago-area man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield, Mass. for his role in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy that victimized businesses and individuals across the United States.
Demario Sorrells, 38, of Rockford, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three years of probation, $106,000 in restitution, and $106,000 in forfeiture. In February 2024, Sorrells pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to cin December 2020ommit wire fraud. Sorrells was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2020 along with five co-defendants, including rap promoter Antonio Strong and rap artists Herbert Wright and Joseph Williams.
Beginning in at least March 2017 through November 2018, Sorrells, Wright, Williams, and, allegedly, their co-defendants conspired to defraud numerous businesses and individuals throughout the United States by using unauthorized and stolen payment card account information of real individuals – including the actual cardholders' names, addresses, security codes and account expiration dates. Generally, because the payment card information was authentic, the defrauded businesses and individuals successfully processed the fraudulent transactions and provided the goods and services to Wright and his alleged co-conspirators. The actual cardholders discovered these transactions on their accounts and disputed the charges with their card companies who then charged back the transactions to the businesses and individuals, which consequently suffered losses in the amounts of the unauthorized transactions.
On certain occasions, Strong obtained valuable goods and services for the benefit of Sorrells, including private jet flights, luxury accommodations and elite automobile rentals. On other occasions, Strong contacted Sorrells to obtain illicit account information and Sorrells provided Strong with illicit account information that he obtained from the dark web. On other occasions, Strong sometimes paid Sorrells in exchange for the illicit account information. Sorrells knew the illicit account information was stolen data. In total, Sorrells was responsible for $106,000 in victim losses.
In May 2024, Strong pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 19, 2024. In July 2023, Wright pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a federal official, and in January 2024 he was sentenced to three years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $139,968. In March 2024, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and in August 2024 he was sentenced to three years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $155,392 and forfeiture of $102,116.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorneys Andrew Tyler and Kyle Crawford of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Cherokee County Resident Sentenced to 40 Years for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Xavier Sean Wilson, age 23, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 480 months in prison for Murder in Indian Country - Second Degree.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.
On October 4, 2023, Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of an Information charging him with Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. According to investigators, on April 30, 2022, Wilson assaulted and killed the victim with a knife inside the victim’s home. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The penalty imposed by the court today reflects the gravity of the crime,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Thanks to the efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners, the defendant will now be held accountable for his actions. The FBI is firmly committed to combating violent crime in Indian country and we hope this brings some measure of closure to the community.”
“The defendant’s shattering act of violence took the life of the victim, meriting the sentence handed down today,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Nothing makes up for the horror of such a crime, or for the sudden loss experienced within a family and a community. But it is my hope that the sentence handed down allows a measure of justice and safety to allow the family and community to confront its grief.”
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. Wilson 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 Edith Singer represented the United States.
Charitable Foundation Treasurer Sentenced to 7+ Years for FraudRead the Press Release
A self-professed stock “trader” who also served as the treasurer of a church’s charitable foundation was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in federal prison for fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Thomas Calhoun Bain, 75, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to a felony information charging two counts of wire fraud in March. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle, who ordered him to pay $1,725,551 in restitution to various victims.
Mr. Bain, who served as the treasurer of a Dallas church’s charitable foundation from 2016 to 2022, was responsible for transmitting monetary donations to organizations that supported gospel-based initiatives.
According to plea papers, Mr. Bain recommended the foundation issue 15 large donations to an entity Mr. Bain claimed furthered the church’s mission. In turn, he told the entity that the foundation simply wanted to funnel the funds through the entity and on to other charities, in order to keep its donations anonymous. He directed the entity to transmit all funds to him, purportedly so that he could distribute the money to the charities.
Instead, Bain pocketed the funds, totaling approximately $1.4 million, and used it to support his lifestyle, including rent on a home in Highland Park, a membership to a country club, domestic and international travel, and a vacation rental in Aspen.
During the same time period, Mr. Bain also defrauded investors through his company, BainTrade. Though he had no professional licenses, certification, training, or specific educational background, he represented to investors that he was a “Trader” and falsely guaranteed an annual return of at least 8 percent on their investments with BainTrade, with a 50-50 split between himself and investors for any yearly return above 8 percent.
In fact, Mr. Bain engaged in a Ponzi-type scheme, using new investor funds to make distribution payments to prior investors. He put remaining investor funds toward his high-end rental home, country club membership, and travel, bolstering his appearance as a wealthy and successful “trader.”
To further legitimize the scheme, Mr. Bain generated fake contracts that he required investors to sign, and fraudulent account statements showing fake annual earnings and profits generated. He also falsely told investors that he was investing his own money.
Between 2010 and 2022, Mr. Bain fraudulently obtained more than $871,000 from BainTrade investors.
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Rudoff prosecuted the case.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXIS A. VALLEJO, also known as “Boobie” and “Boobie Porter,” 33, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation of a fatal shooting outside of a Stratford nightclub in the early morning hours of December 17, 2021, identified Vallejo’s car and two other vehicles at the scene of the shooting. On December 29, 2021, Bridgeport Police located Vallejo’s car on Goddard Avenue in Bridgeport. Vallejo, who was standing by the car, ran as officers approached and threw a 9mm semiautomatic handgun into a nearby yard. Vallejo was apprehended and the firearm, which was fully loaded with a round in the chamber, was recovered. A search of Vallejo’s car revealed five firearm magazines, including high-capacity magazines, and three different types of ammunition.
Vallejo’s criminal history includes felony convictions in state court for firearm possession, robbery, larceny, and failure to appear offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Vallejo has been detained since his federal arrest on June 30, 2022. On February 23, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Ross Weingarten through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Boone County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Boone County, Ky., man, Timothy Estep, was sentenced to 174 months on Friday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in October 2023, law enforcement used a confidential informant to purchase 12.7 grams of methamphetamine from Estep. Law enforcement thereafter attempted to conduct a traffic stop but Estep fled, during which he drove into the oncoming lane of traffic.
Several days later, law enforcement took Estep into custody when he arrived for a second controlled purchase. Law enforcement found 13.8 grams of methamphetamine on Estep and an imitation revolver in his vehicle. Estep admitted that he knowingly distributed methamphetamine during the first controlled purchase and that he intended to distribute methamphetamine during the second.
Under federal law, Estep must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Director Scott Hardcorn, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Spievack prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Armed Carjacking Lands Moore Man in Federal Prison for More Than a DecadeRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Earlier this week, BRIAN GENE TWO-BABIES, 39, of Moore, was sentenced to serve 121 months in federal prison for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On April 16, 2024, Two-Babies was charged by Superseding Information with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and carjacking. According to public record, on December 15, 2023, Two-Babies approached a vehicle in Oklahoma City armed with a pistol. Two-Babies attempted to open a locked car door, threatened the driver multiple times, and then discharged the firearm into the air. The victim handed over their phone, keys, and wallet to Two-Babies, who pointed his firearm at the victim and threatened to take their life. Two-Babies drove away in the victim’s car and was arrested by Oklahoma City Police officers while still in the victim’s car the next morning.
On April 22, 2024, Two-Babies pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information, and admitted to taking the car by force while armed, with the intent to cause “serious bodily harm”.
At the sentencing hearing on August 28, 2024 , U.S. district Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Two-Babies to serve 121 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the serious and senseless nature of the offense, specifically how Two-Babies placed the victim in fear of their life and discharged a firearm during the crime.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan J. West prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of “Operation Shots Fired.” Operation Shots Fired targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Crimes on Public Lands
Jose Donaire-Duarte, age 21, from Spain, was sentenced to seven days incarceration for simple assault and two years of unsupervised probation for disorderly conduct. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Aug. 28. According to the charging documents, while leaving a social event in the Mammoth Hot Springs concession area, hosted by Xanterra the concessionaire for Yellowstone Nation Park, an intoxicated Donaire-Duarte began sexually harassing the victim. He grabbed the victim around the waist, held her tightly against him and grabbed her buttocks repeatedly. The victim felt afraid, broke away from Donaire-Duarte and began to run. He pursued the victim, grabbed her by both shoulders, preventing her from running and pulled her close to him again. Upon arrival at the dormitory where both resided, Donaire-Duarte followed the victim to her room, where he climbed on top of her in bed, with his chest on her chest and his arms on either side of the victim, while repeating the victim’s name. A third party arrived in the victim’s room, at which point Donaire-Duarte left. The crime was investigated by the National Park Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. Case No. L:24-PO-00670-SAH-1
Firearm Offenses
James Herman Bell, 51, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to be imprisoned until May 5, 2025 and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 28. According to court documents, Bell was seen by employees stealing ammunition from a store in Riverton. The Riverton Police Department (RPD) were dispatched and given descriptions of two men. RPD located the men a few blocks away. They each turned over items they had taken without paying, including Bell who had a 20-round box of .358 rifle ammunition. Bell is convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. Bell was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023 and pleaded guilty on May 31. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, RPD, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist. Case No. 23-CR-00162
Sexual Abuse
Skyler Sven Quiver, 29, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for sexual abuse of a person incapable of consent. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 29. According to court documents, a minor victim reported a rape in June 2012. At that time, she could not identify the person who raped her because she was extremely intoxicated. A rape examination detected semen and although the DNA did not match a prior male subject, it was kept on file. In 2021, a routine search of the FBI Combined DNA Index System (“CODIS”) database indicated a possible DNA association between biological evidence collected from the minor victim and a newly convicted offender, the defendant. Quiver was interviewed and admitted to having sex with victim and when asked if it was possible she was too intoxicated to give consent, he said, “yes.” This crime was investigated by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore. Case No. 24-CR-00015
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
29 August 2024
Worcester Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison Following a Money Laundering Conspiracy ConvictionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A man and woman from Worcester, Massachusetts were sentenced to federal prison in connection with their roles in a money laundering conspiracy, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Nafis Quaye, 47, and Sunna Sepetu, 38, both of Worcester, Massachusetts were convicted of conspiracy to money launder in March 2024 by a federal jury in Concord following an eight-day trial. Quaye was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and 2 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliot. Quaye was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,287,220. Sepetu was sentenced last month by Judge Elliot to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment, 2 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $921,020 in restitution.
“These sentences reflect the serious emotional and financial harm these defendants caused the victim,” said United States Attorney Jane E. Young. “The defendants knowingly accepted millions of dollars in wire fraud proceeds from a victim in the United States and sent those proceeds overseas to the fraud perpetrator. Prosecuting people in the United States who facilitate the execution of international frauds committed on the internet is essential to disrupting the networks that pray on vulnerable members of our society.”
“Quaye and Sepetu conspired to move money stolen from a victim of fraud who believed they were sending funds to a romantic partner. Unfortunately, that romantic partner was later revealed to be a fictional character created by scammers overseas. The victim sent money to accounts controlled by Quaye and Sepetu, sending them over $3 million dollars before the conspiracy was stopped,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “We are dedicated to holding thieves like these defendants and their collaborators to account and are sending a clear message that facilitating the laundering of ill-gotten gains will result in federal prison time.”
The evidence at trial showed that between 2013 and 2019, the defendants received approximately $3.2 million in proceeds from a romance scam victim located in Texas. These proceeds were sent to bank accounts established by the defendants for various shell companies. The defendants then sent those fraud proceeds to the perpetrator of the fraud operating in Africa, while keeping a portion of the proceeds for themselves.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations within the United States Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau is prosecuting the case.
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Wood County Man Sentenced for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Price Javon Patterson, age 37, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 188 months for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
The investigation began when Patterson was stopped for speeding and officers smelled marijuana coming from his car. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of cash and other items indicative of drug trafficking. Officers then obtained a search warrant for Patterson’s motel room and discovered a ghost gun, ammunition, and thousands of fentanyl stamps with an approximate street value of $50,000. Due to his lengthy criminal history, Patterson was classified as a career offender, with a history of assault, firearms possession, and drug trafficking.
Patterson will serve four years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bridgeport Police Department investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Wolf Point woman sentenced to prison for meth trafficking on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Wolf Point woman who admitted to selling methamphetamine on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced on Aug. 26 to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Talayne Killeen Demarrias, 31, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Demarrias worked as an intermediary for a meth distributor in Wolf Point. Between January and March of 2023, Demarrias was distributing meth, and on Feb. 7, 2023, a confidential source purchased approximately 76 grams of meth from Demarrias in a monitored purchase.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Valley County Sheriff’s Office and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Wisconsin Man Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Program FraudRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis A. Alleyne, 40, Almond, Wisconsin was sentenced on August 23, 2024 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to a year and a day in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering associated with a COVID-19 pandemic relief program. Alleyne pleaded guilty to this charge on May 9, 2024.
On April 15, 2020, Alleyne submitted an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for his business “Curtis A. Alleyne, Inc.” Alleyne claimed the business earned gross revenue of over $500,000. He also attached forged tax documents to corroborate information in his EIDL application. Actual tax forms from the Internal Revenue Service revealed that Alleyne never filed the forged tax records that he submitted to the SBA.
SBA approved Alleyne’s EIDL application and deposited $149,900 into his bank account. Investigators analyzed Alleyne’s financial records and determined that Alleyne spent the illegally obtained EIDL funds on a Cadillac CT6 and other unapproved personal expenses.
In sentencing Alleyne, Judge Conley stressed the need to send a message of general deterrence to potential white-collar criminals, especially those who target government programs during a time of crisis.
As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce – Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma prosecuted this case.
The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program, and EIDL program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.
Waterbury Gang Member Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LADERRICK JONES, also known as “Lexus,” 32, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 192 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a violent Waterbury street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Jones and 15 other 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.
On March 7, 2024, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, and admitted that he trafficked narcotics in furtherance of the 960 enterprise, and that he was aware that 960 members were engaged in violent activity and committed murders and attempted murders.
On October 11, 2018, 960 members Gabriel Pulliam and Julian Scott shot into a crowd of people, killing an innocent bystander, 30-year-old Fransua Guzman, and paralyzing a second victim. Jones was in one of two cars 960 members drove to the scene of the shooting. Guzman was the mother of four children.
Jones has been detained since his arrest on June 27, 2019.
Pulliam and Scott were found guilty of related offenses and await sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the DEA Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Advertising Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Kent, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to advertising child pornography.
According to court records, earlier this year, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Maine were investigating a site on the dark web dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. During the investigation, HSI agents observed a profile, later identified as belonging to Michael Posey, 49, that held a moderator position and was responsible for approving posts submitted by others. The profile included a password that individuals could use for any files/links provided by the user. A review of the profile’s history revealed a history of postings that dated back to December 2021. Agents logged into the site, reviewed a post made by Posey regarding a collection of 70 videos of child sexual abuse, and accessed a zipped file containing numerous videos including young children. In April 2024, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Posey’s residence in Kent, Washington. During the interview, Posey confirmed he used the profile on the dark web site and provided agents with his login information.
Posey faces 15–30 years in prison followed by five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – in legal terms, "child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are shared or viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Virginia Man Indicted for Making Threats Against Public OfficialsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville returned an indictment yesterday charging a Winchester, Virginia man with making online threats to kill, kidnap, or injure Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Barrack Obama.
According to court documents, Frank Lucio Carillo, 66, is charged with 14 counts—five counts of making threats against Vice President Kamala Harris, five counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure Vice President Harris, two counts of making threats against former President Obama and two counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure former President Obama.
According to court documents, Carillo used the social media platform GETTR to post thousands of messages using the name “joemadarats1.” GTTR is publicly accessible, and users can post articles, statements, and links to other websites, as well as comment on and reply to other users’ posts.
On July 27, 2024, FBI Phoenix received information concerning a threat made against an employee of the Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder’s Office that was made on GETTR by a user with the name “joemadarats1.”
FBI searched the “joemadarats1” user account and discovered approximately 4,359 posts, comments, and replies made by the user targeting various public officials including, but not limited to Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barrack Obama
In a February 2024 post, “joemadarats1” said he had his “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.”
Authorities used GETTR subscriber information and other investigative methods to determine that the “joemadarats1” username was used by Carillo at his residence in Winchester, Virginia.
On August 2, 2024, authorities at the FBI Richmond executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home and seized a 9 mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office made the announcement today.
The FBI in both Richmond, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Union Official Charged with Bombing Alabama Gas PipelineRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A West Virginia man has been charged with bombing a methane gas pipeline owned and operated by Warrior Met Coal, Inc., in Brookwood, Alabama, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Jerry Gale Kerns, 52, with destruction of property used in interstate commerce by means of fire or explosive.
According to the indictment, on March 23, 2022, Kerns bombed a section of a methane gas pipeline near the intersection of Hanna Creek Road and Sandlin Mountain Road in Brookwood, Alabama. At the time, Kerns was the Region II Director of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) union. The UMWA represented striking, unionized coal miners employed by Warrior Met Coal, which operated a mine in Brookwood.
If convicted, Kerns faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of twenty years in prison.
FBI and ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan “Jack” Harrington and Lloyd C. Peeples, III are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney launches monthly podcastRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today the launch of “Feds Demystified,” a monthly podcast produced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Ross stated, “The purpose of the podcast is to help the public better understand just how the federal justice system works and the differences between the federal and state justice systems.” “In addition, it’s important to provide transparency about the federal justice system and federal law enforcement agencies.”
Episode 1 of “Feds Demystified” pulls back the curtain and introduces the public to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and how it operates. Future episodes of the monthly podcast will feature guests from investigative law enforcement agencies and the community.
You can access “Feds Demystified” at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga6OxUcP80E&t=6s.
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U.K. Man Arrested for Lying on Immigration ApplicationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A U.K. man has been arrested for allegedly making false statements in an immigration matter.
Duncan Hollands, a/k/a Duncan Herd, 58, a citizen of the United Kingdom residing in Cambridge was charged with one count of falsely swearing in an immigration matter. Hollands was arrested yesterday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
According to the charging documents, in February 2022, Hollands applied for lawful permanent residence status (more commonly known as a green card) and attended an interview for that application. The application form requires applicants to answer various background questions, such as prior names or aliases and any criminal history, so that immigration authorities can determine whether the applicant is eligible for the sought status. It is alleged that, on his application and during his interview, Hollands falsely reported that he had never used another name and denied having any history with the criminal justice system. However, it is alleged that Hollands did in fact have a prior name, Duncan Herd, under which he was previously convicted and sentenced to over three years in prison for obtaining property by deception along with other charges. It is further alleged that Hollands also had other interactions with the criminal justice systems in the United Kingdom and France.
The charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Cambridge and Woburn, Mass. Police Department and U.K. law enforcement authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Major Crimes Unit 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.
Three Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine Using the United States MailRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentences of three defendants who were convicted for their participation in conspiring to distribute cocaine:
• Omar Josue Morales-Rodriguez, 45, of Freeport, Florida was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
• Marcos Aguilar Gonzalez, 50, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Edmar Agustin Gonzalez, 34, of Crestview, Florida, were each sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Aguilar Gonzalez also pled guilty to an additional count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Each will also be required to serve a term of supervised release following their prison sentence.
“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. “We remain committed to support their efforts through the investigation and prosecution of criminals bringing drugs into North Florida. The imposed sentences illustrate the significant consequences of harming our citizens through their illicit drug trafficking activities.”
A multi-agency investigation led by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office revealed that between October 2019, and June 13, 2023, the three defendants conspired together and with others to ship cocaine via the United States Mail from Puerto Rico to addresses in Okaloosa and Walton County. The United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted five packages, three of which contained
one kilogram of cocaine each, and one of which contained 125 grams of cocaine. The fifth package, which was shipped from Walton County to Puerto Rico, contained $10,000. In addition to the drugs and cash, law enforcement seized four firearms and several rounds of ammunition that belonged to Morales-Rodriguez who was previously convicted in federal court in Puerto Rico and served three years in federal prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon. At sentencing, Morales-Rodriguez was found to be the leader and organizer of the conspiracy and held accountable for causing 20 United States Mail packages containing a total of at least 14 kilograms of cocaine to be shipped via the United States Mail from Puerto Rico to Okaloosa and Walton County.
“When people choose to distribute illicit drugs in the U.S. Mail, they should know the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, will actively pursue those responsible, and bring them to justice,” said Juan A. Vargas, Inspector In Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “The outcome of this case should serve as a significant deterrent for anyone else considering the distribution of illicit drugs through the U.S. Mail. I want to thank our partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration."
"The duration of this investigation highlights our commitment to fighting illegal drug activity in Walton County," said Captain Dustin Cosson of the Walton County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Bureau. "This case represents countless hours of work dedicated to holding traffickers accountable. The diligence of our narcotics investigators coupled with our strong partnerships with the DEA and the U.S. States Postal Service should send a clear message to anyone involved in similar activities."
The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love.
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, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Three Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine Using the United States MailRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentences of three defendants who were convicted for their participation in conspiring to distribute cocaine:
• Omar Josue Morales-Rodriguez, 45, of Freeport, Florida was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
• Marcos Aguilar Gonzalez, 50, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Edmar Agustin Gonzalez, 34, of Crestview, Florida, were each sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Aguilar Gonzalez also pled guilty to an additional count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Each will also be required to serve a term of supervised release following their prison sentence.
“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. “We remain committed to support their efforts through the investigation and prosecution of criminals bringing drugs into North Florida. The imposed sentences illustrate the significant consequences of harming our citizens through their illicit drug trafficking activities.”
A multi-agency investigation led by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office revealed that between October 2019, and June 13, 2023, the three defendants conspired together and with others to ship cocaine via the United States Mail from Puerto Rico to addresses in Okaloosa and Walton County. The United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted five packages, three of which contained
one kilogram of cocaine each, and one of which contained 125 grams of cocaine. The fifth package, which was shipped from Walton County to Puerto Rico, contained $10,000. In addition to the drugs and cash, law enforcement seized four firearms and several rounds of ammunition that belonged to Morales-Rodriguez who was previously convicted in federal court in Puerto Rico and served three years in federal prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon. At sentencing, Morales-Rodriguez was found to be the leader and organizer of the conspiracy and held accountable for causing 20 United States Mail packages containing a total of at least 14 kilograms of cocaine to be shipped via the United States Mail from Puerto Rico to Okaloosa and Walton County.
“When people choose to distribute illicit drugs in the U.S. Mail, they should know the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, will actively pursue those responsible, and bring them to justice,” said Juan A. Vargas, Inspector In Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “The outcome of this case should serve as a significant deterrent for anyone else considering the distribution of illicit drugs through the U.S. Mail. I want to thank our partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration."
"The duration of this investigation highlights our commitment to fighting illegal drug activity in Walton County," said Captain Dustin Cosson of the Walton County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Bureau. "This case represents countless hours of work dedicated to holding traffickers accountable. The diligence of our narcotics investigators coupled with our strong partnerships with the DEA and the U.S. States Postal Service should send a clear message to anyone involved in similar activities."
The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love.
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, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Three Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics in Prison Following the Death of USP Atwater StaffRead the Press Release
indictment.pdfFRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury has indicted three individuals for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and introducing a controlled substance into prison as a result of an ongoing investigation into the death of a Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between July 15, 2024, and Aug. 9, 2024, Jamar Jones, 35, an inmate at USP Atwater; Stephanie Ferreira, 35, of Evansville, Indiana; and Jermen Rudd III, 37, of Wentzville, Missouri, conspired to introduce narcotics into USP Atwater for Jones to sell. As part of that scheme, Jones and Ferreira had Rudd mail a letter laced with narcotics to Jones that was fraudulently labeled as legal mail.
On Aug. 9, 2024, two correctional workers at USP Atwater opened the letter and minutes later began to feel ill. After evaluation by medical staff, the Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist was subsequently taken to the hospital where he passed away. The other staff member, a Correctional Systems Officer, recovered.
The indictment charges that the narcotics in the letter consisted of two varieties of synthetic cannabinoids sold under the street name “Spice.” Synthetic cannabinoids are lab created chemicals that can be distributed in liquid form and are designed to produce a psychoactive effect.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California also received assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Missouri and the Southern District of Indiana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
Following an initial appearance in the Southern District of Indiana, Ferreira remains in custody and is pending transfer to the Fresno. Following an initial appearance in the Eastern District of Missouri, Rudd is also in custody and pending transfer to Fresno. Jones will appear Thursday in Fresno for his initial appearance.
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance, Jones and Rudd face a maximum of 30 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. If Jones is convicted of being an inmate obtaining or attempting to obtain narcotic drug, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Ferreira, if convicted of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. If convicted of providing or attempting to provide an inmate with a narcotic drug, Ferreira and Rudd face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. 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.
Tampa Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Distributing Cocaine and Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Lennard Rashard Monroe (32, Tampa) to 20 years in federal prison for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute it and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Monroe’s co-conspirator, Justin Latrun Farrior, was previously sentenced to 4 years and two months in federal prison.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, the Tampa Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration used a confidential source to purchase cocaine from Monroe and Farrior at a “trap house” (a residence used primarily to distribute drugs from) in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood of Tampa. When executing a search warrant at the trap house, agents found Monroe asleep in a bedroom with his two-year-old son. During a search of that bedroom, agents located a kilogram brick of cocaine, three firearms, and more than $18,000 in cash.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Sullivan and Suzanne C. Nebesky.
Strangulation assault on Blackfeet Indian Reservation sends Browning man to prison for more than three yearsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man who admitted strangling his dating partner on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, despite a no-contact order, was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Alphonse Trevon Bird IV, 20, pleaded guilty in March to assault of a dating partner by strangulation and suffocation.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that Bird and the victim, Jane Doe, were in a dating relationship. On Dec. 27, 2023, Bird, Doe and two others were in a vehicle when Bird and Doe got into an argument and pulled over to the side of the road. Doe got out of the vehicle and Bird tried to pull her back. Doe tried to run away, but Bird chased her down, got on top of her stomach and put her in a chokehold. Bird assaulted and strangled Doe. At the time of the assault, Bird had been ordered by a court to have no contact with Doe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigated the case.
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Statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the Line of Duty Death of MPD Investigator Wayne DavidRead the Press Release
Our sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of MPD Investigator Wayne David. Our office had the extreme good fortune to work with Investigator David, who, throughout his over 25-year career with MPD, recovered hundreds of illegal firearms and directly contributed to the safety of our community. We were honored to have worked with Investigator David, and his tragic loss is a sobering reminder of the dangerous but important work that our law enforcement partners engage in every day.
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St. David Man Pleads Guilty to COVID Loan Fraud and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Roy L. Layne, 44, of St. David, pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of Wire Fraud and one count of Filing a False Claim. Sentencing is scheduled for February 3, 2025, before United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker.
Layne admitted that during the COVID-19 global pandemic he fraudulently applied for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans, SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loans, and pandemic-related tax relief in the names of fictitious business entities, himself, and others. Layne filed numerous fraudulent SBA loan applications, ultimately receiving $306,700 that he was not entitled to. Layne also filed numerous false claims for tax refunds with the Internal Revenue Service totaling over $7.4 million, receiving and keeping $549,992 that he was not entitled to. In his plea agreement, Layne has agreed to pay restitution to the SBA and the U.S. Treasury totaling $856,692.91.
A conviction for Wire Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both, and a term of five years of supervised release. A conviction for Filing a False Claim carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of three years of supervised release.
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier, District of Arizona, Tucson, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Matthew R. Hoffman, Tax Division, Washington, D.C., are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-04907-TUC-JCH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-118_Layne# # #
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.Springfield Woman Sentenced for Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield woman was sentenced on Aug. 27, 2024 for possessing fentanyl intended for distribution.
Karyela Santiago, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to time served (one day) and three years of supervised release. In May 2024, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
On March 30, 2022, Santiago possessed fentanyl intended for distribution. Specifically, Santiago possessed a total of 8,090 bags of fentanyl intended for distribution – containing a total of 129 grams of fentanyl.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Springfield Restaurant Owner Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for His Role in Submitting Fraudulent Loan ApplicationsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Omar Hernandez-Lopez, 39, was sentenced today to 18 months’ imprisonment for concealment of a felony in connection with wire fraud and false statements on loan applications. Following his prison sentence, he will serve a 12-month term of supervised release.
At Hernandez-Lopez’s sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough, found that starting around June 2018 and continuing until at least June 2019, Hernandez-Lopez was aware of and acted to conceal the fraudulent nature of several falsified documents that were submitted to loan providers. Two fraudulent loan packages were submitted in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain a business loan for Hernandez-Lopez’s Springfield restaurant, La Fiesta Grande. The other two fraudulent loan packages were submitted in a successful attempt to obtain a home mortgage loan. Hernandez-Lopez was aware of the submission of fraudulent documents and took steps to conceal their fraudulent nature from the loan companies and law enforcement.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence showing that Hernandez-Lopez’s name is on the deed of the house for the fraudulently obtained mortgage and he operated the restaurant.
The sentencing follows Hernandez-Lopez’s guilty plea in April 2024. The statutory penalties for misprision of a felony are up to three years’ imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charges were investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Chicago Region. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sierra Senor-Moore and Tanner Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
Spanish Tutoring and Child Care Company Enters into Settlement Agreement After Rejecting Child with EpilepsyRead the Press Release
Spanish Schoolhouse, a company that offers Spanish language programs for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary-age children on nineteen campuses in the greater Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston areas, will implement an anti-discrimination policy, accept students with epilepsy, and train its employees to administer anti-seizure medication as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
In March of 2021, a couple attempted to enroll their two-year-old child in Spanish Schoolhouse’s daycare program. They informed the program that the student had epilepsy. Spanish Schoolhouse accepted and enrolled the child and requested a “seizure action plan” drafted by the child’s physician. The plan submitted by the couple outlined treatment protocols should a seizure occur, including removing the student from the classroom upon onset of a seizure and administering a rectal medication for seizures lasting more than three minutes.
Citing the seizure action plan, the school reversed its acceptance decision. A director told the parents that the staff were uncomfortable with monitoring the student for potential administration of the medication and lacked the manpower to be able to remove the child from the classroom in the event of a seizure. The parents said it would be acceptable to treat the child inside the schoolroom, rather than removing the child. The school still refused to accept the child.
The Justice Department later concluded that the school’s decision violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires businesses that serve the public to make “reasonable modifications” to policies, practices, and procedures to accommodate those with disabilities.
Spanish Schoolhouse entered into a settlement agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office on Aug. 29. The agreement requires the company to allow the child to enroll at any of its facilities and to pay the parents $5,000 to compensate them for the harm caused. It also requires the company to implement an Emergency Anti-Seizure Medication Administration Policy, to train necessary staff annually on seizure disorders and the administration of anti-seizure medication as well as CPR, and to advise all parents of students with seizure disorders of the policy.
Under the terms of the agreement, Spanish Schoolhouse must forward any complaints related to reasonable modifications to the Department of Justice within 30 days of receipt.
South Salt Lake Residents Sentenced for Odometer FraudRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – The final defendant who pleaded guilty to an odometer fraud scheme was sentenced today to time served, one year of supervised release, and ordered by the court to pay restitution.
Austin K. Weilacher, 22, of South Salt Lake, Utah, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge David B. Barlow. His codefendant, Porter R. Hamblin, 20, of South Salt Lake, received a similar sentence on August 16, 2024, after the duo admitted in June 2024 to engaging in a fraudulent scheme to sell vehicles with broken or false odometers.
According to court documents and statements made at the change of plea hearing, Weilacher and Hamblin defrauded numerous victims in Utah who purchased vehicles on KSL.com between May 2023 and July 2023. Weilacher and Hamblin admitted they purchased older model vehicles, cleaned them up, and would either break, disable or cover the odometers, generate fake Carfax reports, and then sell the vehicles to unsuspecting Utah customers. The defendants would then inflate the price of the vehicles and use the money to purchase more vehicles to sell to more victims or purchase high end vehicles for themselves. For example, with money made from their scheme, Weilacher and Hamblin purchased a McLaren sports car, which was subsequently destroyed, and Hamblin was set to receive $150,000 in insurance proceeds for the crash of his vehicle. Once victims realized they had been swindled, they would try to contact the defendants, who were unreachable.
“Mr. Weilacher and Mr. Hamblin created financial hardships for victims trying to purchase reliable vehicles,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute people who harm our citizens through fraud.”
“Fraud of this type puts our communities' safety at risk and negatively impacts legitimate commerce," said HSI Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge Chris Miller. "This case should warn others tempted to engage in fraudulent activity that HSI will aggressively pursue you and ensure you are held accountable."
“We urge the public to exercise caution. If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is,” said Chief Jason Mazuran, Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake. “Always verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and run your own vehicle report before purchasing a vehicle to avoid falling victim to similar schemes. We are pleased that the victims will receive restitution and grateful for the efforts of all involved in bringing this case to a resolution.”
The case was investigated jointly by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake (UPD).
Assistant United States Attorney Stewart M. Young of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
South Carolina Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Securities Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Wire Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A South Carolina man was sentenced today to72 months in prison for engaging in several bank and wire fraud schemes and a securities offering fraud scheme that spanned six years and caused losses of millions of dollars, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.
Sandy John Masselli, 63, of Columbia, South Carolina, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to nine counts of a superseding indictment charging him with bank fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud. Masselli was initially charged by complaint in October 2017. Judge Shipp imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Sandy Masselli used a web of lies to dupe victims into investing millions of dollars in his company, promising them substantial returns from an initial public offering that was never going to happen. Instead of investing the money as promised, Masselli fraudulently spent it on himself and his family. The significant sentence handed down today holds him accountable for greedily profiting at the expense of innocent investors.”
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From September 2011 through October 2017, Masselli solicited millions of dollars in investments from retail investors by fraudulently touting the prospect of his online gaming company, Carlyle Entertainment Ltd., formerly Carlyle Gaming & Entertainment Ltd. (Carlyle), to conduct a lucrative initial public offering (IPO) of its stock on either the NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Masselli induced investors to purchase shares of Carlyle stock by promising them steeply discounted prices in advance of the purported IPO, assuring them that the stock price would increase significantly after the IPO. Masselli further represented that the IPO would occur within weeks or months of the investors’ stock purchases.
However, as Masselli knew, Carlyle was neither poised nor prepared to conduct an IPO on either the NASDAQ or the NYSE, given that, among other deficiencies, neither Masselli nor anyone else on behalf of Carlyle ever filed an application with the NASDAQ or the NYSE to list Carlyle stock on either exchange, or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a registration statement to list Carlyle shares on a national exchange. Masselli further misrepresented to the investors how he would use their investments, for example telling them that he would allocate investment funds toward improving Carlyle’s online platform and paying legal fees in connection with preparing Carlyle for a looming IPO. Masselli did not invest these funds in Carlyle, as he had promised investors he would, but instead misappropriated these funds to pay for his and his family’s own personal expenses.
Within weeks and often days of receiving investor funds, Masselli quickly deposited them into and throughout a web of bank accounts he controlled, many of which were opened under names of fictitious corporate entities in an effort to conceal the source of the funds. After disguising the provenance of the investor funds, Masselli typically went to work quickly misappropriating the funds.
Masselli also opened multiple credit card accounts, made purchases on those accounts until he had almost reached or exceeded the credit limit, and then purported to send payments from accounts that he knew did not have sufficient funds to cover those payments. Before the fraudulent payments were rejected for insufficient funds, the credit card companies temporarily credited the accounts based on those payments, providing Masselli access to additional credit and allowing him to continue to make purchases. Masselli ultimately failed to pay the balances and the credit card companies sustained a loss. On two occasions, Masselli contacted the victim credit card companies falsely claiming that the accounts had been opened fraudulently by others who had stolen his personal identifiable information.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Masselli to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $3.2 million and $1 million in forfeiture.
The SEC previously filed a civil complaint against Masselli based on the securities fraud conduct.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also expressed appreciation for the SEC Division of Enforcement, under the direction of Gurbir S. Grewal.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric A. Boden, Attorney-in-Charge of the Trenton Office, and Alexander E. Ramey of the U.S. Attorney’s Trenton Office.
San Diego State University Women’s Soccer Team Joins U.S. Attorney’s Office and City Attorney’s Office to Launch Fentanyl Awareness CampaignRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY—August 29, 2024
SAN DIEGO— The U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Diego City Attorney’s Office and the name, image, likeness (NIL) collective Aztec Link today launched a social media campaign featuring members of San Diego State University’s women’s soccer team to promote fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention. The campaign coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day being commemorated in San Diego County on August 29th.
The goal of this joint effort is to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, to reduce accidental use or overdose, and in the event of an overdose, to educate students on how to save lives in an emergency.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath will be available for interviews regarding the campaign following the International Overdose Awareness Day press conference on August 29 at 9 a.m. at the County Administration building on Harbor Drive.
The student athletes are showcased in a video filmed at various locations on SDSU’s campus, each reciting a line about the dangers of fentanyl, recognizing the signs of an overdose, and the importance of naloxone (also known by the brand name Narcan).
Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication, available either as a nasal spray or an injector. Many pharmacies carry naloxone. In California, you can get naloxone from a pharmacist without a prescription. It is also possible to get naloxone from community-based distribution programs, local public health groups, or local health departments, free of charge. For more information about naloxone and how to get training on using it, visit: Naloxone Information.
This campaign uses the hashtags #TeamUp #SaveLives #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay. The social media public service announcement can be found here: SDSU Women’s Soccer Team - Fentanyl Awareness Video
This is the second time that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office have teamed up to feature SDSU student athletes in partnership with a SDSU NIL collective. For this social media campaign, the offices partnered with Aztec Link, an NIL collective dedicated to partnering SDSU student athletes with businesses and organizations for promotions and endorsements while offering fans meaningful ways to support and connect with their favorite teams and players. Aztec Link was established after the NCAA began allowing student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their NIL in 2021.
In the public service announcements, the student athletes state the following:
“Our goal is to team up and save lives.
We love spending time on the field, but we are also students.
Students who know that fentanyl kills.
And as a community, we need to defend ourselves from the dangers of fentanyl.
Fentanyl doesn’t care about your age, or if you are just trying it for the first time.
If you are offered Adderall, Xanax, Percocet, Cocaine or any other drug not directly from a pharmacy,
It likely contains a deadly amount of fentanyl.
It’s time for us to pass on our knowledge, assist our friends, and confront this epidemic.
We need to spread the word about the dangers of fentanyl. It’s everywhere and in everything.
Know where Narcan is on campus such as Narcan vending machines.
Learn how to use Narcan and how to recognize the signs of an overdose
Such as losing consciousness, difficulty breathing, choking noises or discolored skin.
We believe in you. If you are worried about your friend overdosing and are unsure, deploy Narcan and call 911.
Let’s make it our goal to team up and save lives.
And save lives.
And let’s save lives!”
The campaign is being deployed over social media platforms, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, LinkedIn, and YouTube, by the individual student-athletes, Aztec Link, the Department of Justice, the San Diego State Athletic Department, and other coalition members.
“If you are worried about a friend who may have taken fentanyl or is unresponsive, call 911 and if necessary, administer naloxone,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Know the dangers and how to help others. When athletes, educators, and law enforcement team up to amplify this critical message, we can save lives.” McGrath thanked the SDSU women’s soccer team for using their influence to spread the critical message about fentanyl and naloxone.
“We lose around 800 San Diegans every year to fentanyl,” said City Attorney Mara Elliott. “While each of these deaths is tragic, I’m particularly struck by how many of those victims are college-aged students. My Office is proud to support the heroic efforts of these young women to educate their peers about the dangers of fentanyl and the lifesaving power of Narcan. This is exactly the type of communitywide effort that will be required to eradicate overdose deaths in San Diego.”
The Good Samaritan law in California provides that, “…it shall not be a crime for a person under the influence of, or to possess for personal use, a controlled substance…if that person, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for another person experiencing a drug-related overdose…” Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11376.5.
One year ago, to commemorate National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office partnered with the SDSU men’s basketball team and another NIL collective, the MESA Foundation, to create a public service announcement and media campaign that was believed to be the first such collaboration of its kind. The campaign has since received over a million impressions. For more information, visit:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/san-diego-state-university-basketball-stars-join-us-attorneys-office-and-city.
Additional fentanyl prevention resources can be found at San Diego County’s Community & Parent Toolkits, which are available in both English and Spanish.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s participation in the social media campaign with Aztec Link is not an endorsement of any product, service, or enterprise associated with Aztec Link.
Rensselaer County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Zachary Frye, age 29, of Rensselaer County, New York, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, to be followed by a life term of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, made the announcement.
When Frye pled guilty, he admitted that he had been convicted in 2017 in New York State court of promoting the sexual performance of a child. He also admitted that, while being required to register as a sex offender due to that conviction, he took several sexually explicit photographs of an approximately 5-year-old child in fall 2019. The images that Frye created included depictions of the child’s genitals and of the child’s hand on Frye’s penis. On the same day he created those images, Frye sent them to another person on social media with whom he had been discussing the sexual abuse of children.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci imposed the sentence.
Frye will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Prior sex offender arrested on new child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Andrew Yannello, 28, of Tonawanda, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of 40 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on April 14, 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent three cybertips to the New York State Police involving suspected child pornography that were reported by Facebook. Subsequent investigation traced the suspected child pornography to an IP address belonging to Yannello. On August 23, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Yannello’s residence. In 2014, Yannello was arrested and convicted on state charges of Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree, Unlawful Imprisonment 1st Degree, Forcible Touching, and Criminal Obstruction of Breathing/Blood Circulation. In November 2017, Yannello violated probation, was sentenced to jail, and released in March 2019.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Stanley Edwards.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Prior felon arrested on new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Cameron Gelsomino, 22, of Burt, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor after a prior conviction related to possession of child pornography, which carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in October 2023, Gelsomino was sentenced to serve 30 days of incarceration and 10 years’ probation after being convicted of Possessing Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child in Niagara County Court. Gelsomino was also designated as a level two sex offender and subjected to the New York State Sex Offender Registry. On May 9, 2024, Niagara County Probation Officers conducted a routine visit at Gelsomino’s residence, during which they found him to be in possession of a cell phone, which he did not have approval to possess. A preliminary review of the phone showed that Gelsomino was active on social media, including asking a fellow Discord user, “Do you have any CP links?” Gelsomino and the other user went on to discuss ages and the cost to purchase child pornography. Further review of the phone recovered approximately 56 image files and two video files of child pornography.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the Niagara County Probation Department, under the direction of Director Deborah M LaRock.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Portland Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years, Ordered to Pay $32,564 in Restitution for Bank Fraud, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Paul Logugune, 22, to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release and ordered him to pay $32,564 in restitution. Logugune pleaded guilty on May 1, 2024.
According to court records, from May to June 2022, Logugune and a coconspirator broke into unattended vehicles and stole purses and wallets to obtain driver’s licenses and checkbooks. Forged checks were then drawn on the stolen checkbooks and made payable to the names on the stolen licenses. They then recruited others to cash the forged checks at multiple credit union branches in Cumberland County using the stolen IDs to impersonate the ID theft victims.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Port Charlotte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire Fraud Related to NASA’s Space Launch SystemRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Steven Lukens (54, Port Charlotte) to 21 months in federal prison for wire fraud. The court also ordered Lukens to forfeit $271,024.35, which is traceable to proceeds of the offense. Lukens was also ordered to pay $689,280.03 in restitution. Lukens entered a guilty plea on February 20, 2024.
According to court documents, Lukens was the Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Atlantic International Supply, LLC (Gulf Atlantic). Gulf Atlantic entered into a sub-contract with Company-1 to procure materials needed for NASA’s space launch system at the Kennedy Space Center. The products provided were intended for use on supporting platforms for the Artemis mission and Orion, the spacecraft designed to return humans to the moon and eventually Mars. Some of the parts Lukens provided were intended to be utilized in hypergolic systems. Hypergolic fluids are toxic liquids that react violently and spontaneously when they come into contact with each other and are frequently used by NASA for propulsion and hydraulic power systems. The general hazards associated with hypergolic fluids, which are extremely reactive and poisonous fluids, are fire, explosion, and toxic human exposure. NASA has implemented rigorous quality assurance standards to avoid such hazards. However, Lukens submitted products that did not meet the quality standards and specifications required under the contract. Lukens then fraudulently led Company-1 to believe that the products met the required standards by submitting forged quality control documentation.
In total, Lukens submitted at least 190 fraudulent quality control documents to Company-1. These included fraudulent Certificates of Compliance, fraudulent Pressure Testing Certificates, and fraudulent test reports. Lukens’s materially false, fraudulent, and misleading representations caused Company-1 to pay Gulf Atlantic at least $271,024. for the parts it submitted.
“Ensuring the integrity of NASA's component procurements and quality control is a top priority for the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG),” stated Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Robert Steinau of NASA-OIG.
“This case highlights the OIG’s dedication to collaborating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute companies that defraud NASA.”
This case was investigated by the NASA Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons.
Poplar man admits stealing truck after stabbing driver on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Poplar man accused of carjacking a truck and stabbing the driver on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to a robbery crime on Aug. 26, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Brandon Lee Romero, 29, pleaded guilty to robbery. Romero faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
A plea agreement filed in the case calls for other counts of carjacking, transportation of a stolen vehicle and assault with a dangerous weapon to be dismissed at sentencing if the court accepts the agreement.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 5, 2025. Romero was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on April 14, 2023, the victim, identified as John Doe, was contacted by his sister who asked him to pick up Romero and give him a ride because she didn’t want him at her residence. John Doe agreed and, using his father’s truck, picked up Romero and began driving him to Poplar, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. When Romero got out of the truck, John Doe noticed that Romero had pulled out two knives. John Doe attempted to drive away, but Romero jumped into the truck bed, kicked out the back window, climbed into the truck and stabbed John Doe. The victim exited the truck, and Romero got into the driver’s seat. Scared that Romero was going to run him over, John Doe hid behind a power pole. Romero was eventually arrested later that day by North Dakota law enforcement after Romero got into a high-speed chase in the truck he took from John Doe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services, the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and the Williston (N.D.) Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Picayune Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 13 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Picayune man was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 13 grams of fentanyl.
Brandon Lamont Myers, 41, was sentenced as a career offender as he has now been convicted of three drug trafficking offenses over the past decade. Myers was on parole with the Mississippi Department of Corrections for his last controlled substance conviction at the time of this offense.
According to court records, on August 14, 2023, law enforcement officers seized $61,276 and 13 grams of fentanyl from Myers’ residence in Pearl River County, Mississippi. Agents also seized a box of clear plastic bags and several digital scales.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
Myers was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2024, and pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance on April 24, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Picayune Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level 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.
Pharmacy Burglary Conspirators Arraigned Today in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—On July 30, 2024, in Houston, Texas, the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated the arrests of twenty-four co-conspirators following a superseding indictment in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The arrests follow the initial indictment and arrest of eighteen people from the Houston, Texas, area in November 2023. Defendants arrested in July appeared on the superseding indictment in the Eastern District of Arkansas today before United States Magistrate Joseph J. Volpe. The superseding indictment charges conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute Schedule II through V controlled substances, as well as pharmacy burglary, conspiracy to commit pharmacy burglary, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Keith Brown, 34, of Houston, Texas, and 41 others were named in this superseding indictment.
From February 2022 to November 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration Little Rock District Office (DEA LRDO) identified more than twenty pharmacy burglaries and thefts of pharmaceutical narcotics in Arkansas. In each of the burglaries, the suspects used similar methods of entry and tools, as well as matching clothing and unique footwear. The stolen pharmaceuticals including, oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, and promethazine with codeine cough syrup, were transported to Houston, Texas, where they were sold illicitly. Intelligence developed by the DEA LRDO and the Houston Police Department Northeast Division Crime Suppression Team identified the drug trafficking organization as being comprised of documented local gang members from the 5th Ward area in Houston, Texas. Following the initial indictment, DEA identified 24 additional co-conspirators who participated in numerous burglaries in 31 states. The scope of the burglary ring encompasses the theft of hundreds of thousands of pharmaceutical drugs with a street value of more than $12 million dollars. Investigators also seized eleven firearms, approximately $79,000 in U.S. currency, and custom jewelry retailing at approximately $510,000.
The current case is similar in kind and scope to a 2016 case indicted in the Eastern District of Arkansas in which twenty-four members of a local Houston 5th Ward gang, ‘The Trill Fam,’ were prosecuted for multi-state pharmacy burglaries and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. One current defendant, Thristian Duplechin, was prosecuted in the 2016 indictment, served a federal sentence, and returned to the same criminal activity.
“These defendants were part of a criminal organization whose objective was to break into pharmacies nationwide to steal narcotics that they peddled on the streets,” said Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “This case exemplifies the hard work put in by federal, state, and local agencies working together to infiltrate and dismantle violent gangs whose main mission is for profit and the destruction of communities. Our office is committed to prosecuting multi-state criminal organizations that effect not only the Eastern District of Arkansas, but citizens across the United States.”
“This criminal organization prioritized money and greed over the safety and well-being of the American people. Their goal was to sell stolen pharmaceuticals in our neighborhoods for easy money,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer, DEA New Orleans Division. “Through the DEA’s investigative efforts across the country, that spanned nearly three years, we were able to link this drug trafficking organization to more than 200 pharmacy burglaries across 31 states and ultimately make our communities safer.”
The defendants, all from the greater Houston, Texas area, were arrested in July.
All defendants charged in Count 1 only.
Count and Penalties
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance: 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) & 846
Not more than 20 years imprisonment.
Not less than 3 years supervised release.
Not more than $1,000,000 fine.
$100 Special Assessment
Defendant Age Defendant Age Paul Roosevelt Banks, III 30 Joseph Takeem Jones 34 Carl Anthony Brooks, Jr. 33 Torrey Jones 46 Christopher John Closure 39 Cameron Isiah Joshua 22 Chazz Eugene Davis 39 Dontae Eugene Lewis 43 Louis Dickerson, Jr. 42 Shaun Kardover Lewis, Jr. 25 Isaiah Dale Duncan 22 Kimia Tranese Ratcliff 26 Thristian Davonte Duplechin 31 Ario Decleo Stephens 25 Jaevion Armond Hackett 21 Keyia Rochelle Thomas 34 Markeesha Kenya Hampton 28 James Glen Turk 32 James Dionte Hood 32 Kerry Lewis Walker 37 Jasmine Shanee Howard 23 Alvin Bernard Whidby, II 43 Redrick Dewayne Jackson 33 Jonathan Marijahlee Williams 37Investigators with the DEA LRDO worked in conjunction with the following law enforcement partners:
DEA New Orleans Division (Little Rock District Office, Fayetteville Resident Office, Shreveport Resident Office, Mobile Resident Office),
DEA Special Operations Division,
DEA Houston Division (Houston TDS Group, Galveston Resident Office),
DEA Omaha Division,
DEA Rocky Mountain Division (Salt Lake City District Office, Cheyenne Resident Office),
DEA Atlanta Division (Columbia District Office),
DEA Miami Division (Pensacola District Office),
FBI Little Rock Field Office,
FBI Cast Team,
U.S. Marshals Service,
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics,
Harris County Sheriff’s Office,
Houston Police Department Northeast Division Crime Suppression Team,
Houston Police Department CID,
Arkansas State Police, and other Arkansas local law enforcement partners.
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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anne Gardner and Amanda Fields.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Pediatric Dentist Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Paul Kim, a pediatric dentist, has pleaded guilty to possessing thousands of images and videos of minors, including some 12 years old and younger, engaging in sexually-explicit activity.
“Kim possessed materials depicting the sexual exploitation of minors at the same time that parents were entrusting their children to his pediatric care,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Possessing child pornography exploits and abuses children, essentially creating lasting effects for the victims each time the images are distributed online.”
“Every time child exploitation imagery is shared, it re-victimizes innocent and vulnerable children. Our office is focused on using all the resources needed for the very important work of protecting children in Georgia and beyond,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This plea demonstrates that no person is above the law. Regardless of employment, wealth, or social status, the FBI will continue to seek out all individuals who seek to abuse children and victimize them through the downloading and possession of child pornography.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: An FBI investigation of Paul Kim resulted from a broader investigation into a commercial sexual exploitation ring which advertised and sold child pornography on several online platforms. FBI Special agents identified Kim as one of the suspected purchasers of the material.
In December 2023, the agents executed a search warrant for Kim and his residence in Sandy Springs, Georgia, seizing approximately 30 electronic devices. The agents located about 1,948 images and 798 videos of child pornography on these devices. Several videos in Kim’s possession depicted prepubescent females engaged in sexual acts with adult males or objects.
Paul Bogeun Kim, 31, of Sandy Springs, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on August 23, 2024. Kim’s sentencing is scheduled for November 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. is prosecuting the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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.
Pasco County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing A Firearm as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Vega, Jr. (28, Zephyrhills) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Vega faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the court records, in 2016, Vega was convicted of the felony offense of aggravated battery with great bodily harm. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
On July 29, 2023, Vega was stopped for a traffic violation in Lake County. Vega told the officer that he had a firearm in his pocket. The officer took the firearm, which was loaded. The officer later discovered another loaded firearm in a bag on the passenger seat of the vehicle.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Groveland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
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.
Palmdale Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Importing Ancient Roman Mosaic from Syria Depicting HerculesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Antelope Valley man was sentenced today to three months in federal prison for illegally importing an ancient floor mosaic from Syria depicting the Roman demigod Hercules that is believed to have been made nearly two millennia ago.
Mohamad Yassin Alcharihi, 57, of Palmdale, was sentenced by United States District Judge George W. Hu, who also granted the government’s application for a preliminary order of forfeiture for the mosaic.
At the conclusion of a five-day trial, a jury in June 2023 found Alcharihi guilty of one count of entry of falsely classified goods.
In August 2015, Alcharihi illegally imported the mosaic – which dates from the era of the Roman Empire – by means of a false classification as to its value and quality. The mosaic arrived at Alcharihi’s direction at the Port of Long Beach as part of a shipment from Turkey.
The mosaic depicts a story from ancient Greek and Roman mythology depicting Hercules rescuing Prometheus, who had been chained to a rock by his fellow gods for stealing fire for humanity.
Alcharihi purchased the mosaic in 2015. Instead of disclosing to United States customs officials that he was importing a Syrian antiquity for which he had paid approximately $12,000 and that he knew was worth much more, Alcharihi lied to his customs broker and caused it to falsely declare that he was importing ceramic tiles from Turkey valued at less than $600. Alcharihi paid $40,000 to restore the mosaic and the government’s appraisal expert valued the mosaic at $450,000.
The false classifications occurred months after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution condemning the destruction of cultural heritage in Syria, particularly by the terrorist organizations Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusrah Front.
The mosaic was placed inside a large metal shipping container holding many vases and two other mosaics. An x-ray image of the container taken by CBP showed that the mosaic was hidden in the front of the container – away from the rear access doors – behind a pile of vases. After passing through customs, the mosaic was shipped via truck to Alcharihi’s home.
The mosaic is 15 feet long, 8 feet tall, and weighs approximately 2,000 pounds. It has been stored at a secure facility in Los Angeles since federal agents seized it from Alcharihi’s garage in March 2016.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Williams and Matthew W. O’Brien of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section and Justice Department Trial Attorney Christian A. Levesque of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section prosecuted this case.
Owner of chain of coffee stands plead guilty to multi-million-dollar tax avoidance schemeRead the Press Release
Seattle – The owner of a string of coffee stands pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to making and subscribing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Assad Baragzai, 47, of Auburn, Washington, admits that between 2016 and 2020 he failed to report as much as $6 million in income on his tax returns. Baragzai faces up to three years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on November 18, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, Baragzai significantly under-reported his income when he provided information to his tax accountant. The government believes that the tax loss over the five years that Baragzai underreported his income is more than $1.7 million. The tax loss in 2017 alone is more than $687,000. Baragzai disputes the government figures and believes the tax loss is $1.3 million. Judge Chun will determine the tax loss at the sentencing hearing.
Baragzai is the second defendant to enter a guilty plea in this investigation. In March 2024, Baragzai’s brother-in-law, 45-year-old Rajesh Mathew, also of Auburn, pleaded guilty to making and subscribing a false tax return. In his plea agreement Mathew, who also owns a string of coffee stands, admits that he too underreported a substantial amount of income over a period of several years. Mathew is scheduled for sentencing on October 9, 2024.
Both Baragzai and Mathew have agreed to make restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Both may also face additional civil penalties, fines, and interest for the tax loss.
Filing or subscribing a false tax return is punishable by up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gain or loss from the offense.
The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Dion.
Owner of San Diego-based Shammas Funding Inc. Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining $5 Million in Pandemic-Related LoansRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 29, 2024
SAN DIEGO – Andre Shammas, owner of Shammas Funding Inc., pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraud charges, admitting that he submitted bogus applications for more than $5 million in pandemic-related loans intended to help struggling businesses during the pandemic.
Shammas admitted using his accounting and tax preparation business, Shammas Funding, to illegally apply for more than 40 loans from the Paycheck Protection Program known as PPP.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act established the PPP, under which banks would make forgivable loans to small businesses, so that those businesses could keep their doors open and employees on their payroll. If a business used the money for payroll and other eligible business expenses, the loans would be forgiven, and the federal government’s Small Business Administration would pay back the bank.
According to court documents, Shammas solicited and recruited clients of Shammas’s tax preparation business and people to apply for fraudulent PPP loans. Shammas then prepared fraudulent tax and other documentation to support fraudulent PPP loan applications. Co-conspirators then prepared and filed the PPP applications using the fraudulent documentation provided by Shammas.
Some examples include:
- One of the bogus applications submitted by Shammas and his co-conspirators was for a PPP loan on behalf of Nasser Salman and the entity LGDG (charged in federal Case No. 23-CR-0821-LL). This fraudulent PPP application generated $85,000 in PPP proceeds.
- An application for a PPP loan was submitted on behalf of Rafael Santiago and the entity Blacktie Co-Investors, Inc. (charged in federal Case No. 23-CR-01915-LAB). This fraudulent PPP application generated $117,233 in PPP proceeds.
- Another fraudulent application was submitted for a PPP loan on behalf of Wendell Pialet and the entity Hope Nuggets, LLC (charged in federal Case No. 23-CR-02156-LL). This fraudulent PPP application generated $100,000 in PPP proceeds.
To induce the Small Business Administration and banks to approve the fraudulent PPP loans, Shammas and his co-conspirators included false and fraudulent statements in the loan applications, including false representations regarding the number of employees, the average monthly payroll, and the gross receipts earned by these purported businesses.
“The Paycheck Protection Program served as a lifeline to many businesses desperately trying to stay afloat during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These charges will hold Shammas accountable for abusing this critical program.”
“As an accountant and tax preparer, Mr. Shammas is a gatekeeper who has a responsibility to do what is right for both his clients and the system. Mr. Shammas blatantly ignored that responsibility, and instead recruited clients to join his criminal conspiracy,” said FDIC OIG Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner. We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to protect our nation’s financial system and bring to justice individuals, like Mr. Shammas, who defraud our system to line their own pockets, while stealing benefits designated for those most in need during the pandemic.”
“Conspiring to defraud programs aimed at assisting small businesses that struggled to survive the pandemic is both unacceptable and reprehensible,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “Our office is committed to ensuring that SBA funds reach those who truly need them and are not diverted by fraudulent schemes. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners in bringing those who exploit these programs to justice.”
Shammas is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18, 2024, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Thomas Whelan.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Conover.
DEFENDANT Case Number - 24-CR-1765-W
Andre Shammas Age: 43 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General
Homeland Security Investigations
Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Jason C. Nottingham, age 39, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on August 29, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for transportation of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Nottingham to 63 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Nottingham will be required to complete a 5-year term of supervised release.
Internet child pornography investigators began investigating a CyberTipline report from Yahoo! stating that a user had uploaded 37 files of child pornography between January 16, 2023, and January 19, 2023. Of the 37 files, 34 were videos and 3 were photos. One file was described as a 4-minute-and-9-second video, during which an adult male sexually assaulted a naked female, approximately 3 to 5 years old. The CyberTipline report indicated that at least one of the video files was attached to an email sent from Nottingham’s Yahoo! email account to his Gmail account on or about January 18, 2023.
On May 25, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant at defendant’s residence in Omaha. Investigators contacted Nottingham and advised him that the warrant was related to child pornography. Prior to the end of his interview with investigators, Nottingham acknowledged his use of the Yahoo! email account reported by in the CyberTipline report. The warrant authorized investigators to seize Nottingham’s electronic devices.
Investigators also executed search warrants to Google for the Gmail account and to Yahoo! for the Yahoo! email account. Within the return from Google, the agent observed several hundred images and videos of artificial intelligence (“AI”) -created child sexual abuse material.
Investigators forensically examined the defendant’s electronic devices. On his computer tower hard drive, they found 26 images of child pornography. On an external hard drive, investigators located several images of partially clothed young females, approximately 13-15 years. One of the females had “I’m 14 years old” written on her chest. Based upon the forensic examination, investigators believe that the images were obtained through chats on Facebook. Investigators also located “several hundred” images and videos of AI-created child sexual abuse material on the external hard drive.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations.
Ohio Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Burglarizing Southern Illinois Pharmacies of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district court judge sentenced two Columbus, Ohio, men to federal prison for burglarizing several pharmacies of oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine pills with intent to illegally distribute the controlled substances.
George H. Cunningham, 42, was sentenced to 100 months’ and Tarvin M. Hamler, III, 43, was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances: oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine, conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances and burglary involving controlled substances.
“Targeting, disrupting and burglarizing locally-owned pharmacies that provide vital healthcare services impair rural communities, and controlled substances must be lawfully distributed by medical professionals to help prevent misuse and abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I commend the DEA agents for their efforts to piece together this investigation in order to seek justice for the pharmacists, pharmacy employees and patrons.”
According to court documents, the pair targeted and entered pharmacies in McLeansboro, Illinois; Irvington, Illinois; Carthage, Missouri; St. James, Missouri; Hillsboro, Missouri; Ladue, Missouri; North Vernon, Indiana; and Reidsville, North Carolina, by breaking glass windows, prying open locked doors and stealing bulk quantities of oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine from March 2018 through February 2020.
“Criminals that target community-based pharmacies rip at the core of health and safety for many whom rely upon these much needed services,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Dixon, head of Drug Enforcement Administration investigations in southern Illinois. “DEA will remain steadfast in its commitment to the citizens of southern, Illinois and beyond. DEA and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate anyone who puts greed ahead of patient care and is committed to preventing the diversion of controlled substances.”
In a similar case, McKindley V. Allen, 32, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to federal charges Wednesday for conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and attempted burglary involving controlled substances.
According to court documents, Allen and others unlawfully entered a pharmacy in Casey, Illinois, with intent to steal controlled substances in December 2023 by using a Sawzall to cut through the exterior wall. In January, Allen and others burglarized a pharmacy in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and took more than 16,000 pills. After burglarizing the pharmacies, Allen admitted to conspiring with others to distribute the stolen oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine. Allen’s sentencing is scheduled at the federal courthouse in Benton at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 11.
Allen’s alleged co-conspirator Deleon J. Fontennet, 27, of Houston, is facing the same three federal charges. In addition to involvement in the two other pharmacy burglaries, the charging document alleges Fontennet also burglarized a pharmacy in Murphysboro, Illinois. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Benton on Sept. 10.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
DEA St. Louis is leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Hudson and John Trippi are prosecuting the cases.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison After Pleading Guilty to Threatening to Kill Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Aron McKillips, 30, of Sandusky, Ohio, was sentenced to 41 months in prison by Judge James G. Carr, after pleading guilty to interstate communication of threats and unlawful possession of a machine gun.
McKillips pleaded guilty to the offenses in court on April 9, 2024. According to court documents, from September 2021 to July 2022, McKillips made at least five online threats to harm or kill law enforcement officers. In one such threat, he submitted a photo he took from his residence while aiming a semi-automatic rifle at an officer who was parked in a police vehicle further down the street who was there to assist residents on an unrelated matter.
Additionally, McKillips unlawfully possessed a machine gun, specifically, a drop-in auto sear that could convert an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle into a fully automatic machinegun. Expert testing confirmed that the sear allowed multiple rounds to be fired with a single pull of the trigger.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division-Toledo Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford for the Northern District of Ohio.
If you witness threatening behavior toward members of law enforcement, visit tips.fbi.gov/home to submit a tip.
Ocean Springs Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over 6,000 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – An Ocean Springs man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 6,208 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Eric Donte Pittman, 51, traveled to California with a co-conspirator to pick up a package of methamphetamine to bring back to Jackson County, Mississippi. When returning to Mississippi on August 28, 2023, Pittman and his co-conspirator encountered a Rankin County Sheriff’s Deputy during a traffic stop on Highway 49. The Deputy observed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed two small bags of marijuana and a black garbage bag containing several packages of methamphetamine. The total amount of methamphetamine was 6,208 grams with 98 percent purity.
Pittman is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, Rankin and Jackson County Sheriff’s Departments, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
North Platte Man Sentenced for Meth Distribution and Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Brad Jay Leeper, age 47, of North Platte, Nebraska, was sentenced August 29, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for distribution of 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Leeper to a total of 84 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Leeper’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
Beginning in 2021, the FBI and CODE Drug Task Force opened an investigation into drug trafficking in the North Platte, Nebraska area. In June of 2022, they were able to conduct a controlled buy, set up over Facebook, involving Leeper. The buy was audio recorded and surveilled by law enforcement. Leeper was present as the passenger in the vehicle involved in the controlled buy, personally handed the meth over, and was recorded advising the total weight as 28.38 grams. Subsequent testing by the state crime lab confirmed the substance was 100% pure meth and weighed 28 grams.
Leeper was federally indicted and on January 23, 2024, law enforcement went to Leeper’s trailer home to serve the arrest warrant. Leeper was taken into custody near the front door and gave officers permission to enter his trailer to ensure no one else was present for officer safety. When officers entered the trailer, they observed, in plain view, a 9mm handgun. When asked, Leeper then consented to a complete search of his trailer which located 53 rounds of ammunition, as well as a loaded syringe with suspected meth/fentanyl, a smoking bong, a mirror with meth residue, baggies with meth residue, and additional unused syringes. At the time of his arrest, Leeper had three prior felony convictions out of Nebraska state courts. He was also on state probation.
This case was investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Red Willow County Sheriff’s Office, Frontier County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Nineteen Gang Members and Associates Charged in Federal Sweeps Targeting Boston GangsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Earlier today, charges were unsealed against 10 members and associates of the H Block Gang (Appendix A) for drug conspiracy. Separately, nine members and associates of the Mission Hill Gang (Appendix B) were charged with engaging in financial fraud. The charges are the result of separate, multi-year investigations into gang violence in Boston and follow the February 2024 takedown of over 40 members and associates of the Heath Street Gang for alleged racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms and financial frauds.
According to the charging documents, the H Block Street Gang is one of the most feared and influential city-wide gangs in Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s as the Humboldt Raiders in the Roxbury section of Boston, the gang re-emerged in recent years as H Block. Current members of H Block have a history of violent confrontation with law enforcement, including a 2015 incident when a member shot a Boston Police officer at point blank range without warning or provocation.
The current investigation of H Block began in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. According to court documents, since the start of the investigation in 2021, law enforcement attributed at least a dozen incidents involving firearms and gunfire to the tensions involving H Block gang associates. Six H Block members and associates were arrested today and charged with drug dealing in Boston and the surrounding communities. Four additional H Block members and associates are already in state custody. Additional drugs and four firearms were seized during today’s arrests.
In addition, three members and associates of H Block are charged with a conspiracy to smuggle illegal drugs into a Massachusetts prison. According to court documents, the Massachusetts Department of Correction has seen a significant increase in the smuggling of synthetic cannabinoids, a/k/a “K2,” and other dangerous substances into the prison system. A common method of introducing the drugs is by exploiting the Department of Correction’s inmate mail policies, which prohibit delivery to inmates of original copies of any materials contained in incoming mail except for legal mail, original copies of which are inspected and delivered via the U.S. postal system. Sheets of paper are saturated or sprayed with liquid narcotics, dried, printed with fake legal correspondence, and then mailed to inmates in an envelope marked as legal mail, in the hopes that the drug-laced paper will be delivered undetected. It is alleged that 14 sheets of paper containing PCP (Phenylcyclidine) and illegal K2 were seized over the course of the investigation. It is estimated that a single sheet of such drug-laced paper would be worth as much as $80,000 inside the prison.
Separately, charges were filed today against Mission Hill street gang members and associates for their involvement in a mail theft and financial fraud scheme known as “card cracking.” According to court documents, card cracking involves the theft and laundering of money through bank accounts in various names that are controlled by the primary offenders. Card cracking schemes are fueled by checks that are stolen from postal collection boxes, and chemically washed and rewritten to various recruited bank account holders. These washed checks are then deposited into checking accounts for cash withdrawal or laundering through money transfers and other means, such as the purchase of postal money orders. Six Mission Hill members and associates were arrested today and charged with financial crimes, along with three additional Mission Hill members and associates who are already in custody.
The Mission Hill Street Gang operates in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, centered on the “Mission Main” and “Annunciation Road” housing developments in Boston.
Today’s announcement follows the February 2024 takedown of over 40 members and associates of the Heath Street Gang, which is involved in a violent rivalry with both H Block and Mission Hill. According to charging documents, Heath Street Gang, which was formed in the 1980s and has over 150 members, operated primarily out of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain (previously known as the Bromley Heath Housing Development). Since February, five members and associates of Heath Street Gang have pleaded guilty to crimes including drug trafficking; firearms charges; and financial frauds, including COVID-related fraud.
“Keeping communities safe involves combatting a number of different types of threats. The fight to keep our streets safe from dangerous gangs and drugs is an ever-constant struggle and, as this case shows, extends to our state’s prison facilities. Today’s arrests are an important step forward in making our streets and prisons safer,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “These arrests send a message that the federal government is actively engaged with our state and local partners and stands ready to hold accountable those who violate federal laws.”
“I am proud of our Boston Police officers and all of our law enforcement partners for this great work. These are individuals who do not value life, they have terrorized and wreaked havoc in our City. These investigations were intricately designed and carried out and there is no doubt that all of those in law enforcement who were involved, have put themselves in danger to get to this point, Partnering and pulling together our resources is powerful, it makes our residents safer, and we are seeing the result of that collaboration today,” said Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox.
“Dismantling violent gangs is a top priority of the DEA. Operations like these have a direct, positive effect on the neighborhoods in which these gangs sell drugs and cause violence,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division. “Today’s arrests should serve as a warning that we will not tolerate drug trafficking, gang related violence, and those who cause it. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“ATF remains resolute in our mission to apprehend trigger pullers and firearms traffickers,” said James M. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division “By leveraging crime gun intelligence, we empower law enforcement to break the cycle of violence by concentrating on the individuals and criminal organizations fueling gun-related crime in our communities. Today's arrests exemplify ATF's unwavering commitment to collaborating with our local, state, and federal partners to combat the violent gang and drug activities that jeopardize public safety. Our collective efforts are crucial in holding violent offenders accountable, mitigating threats to the public, and driving down violent crime.”
The charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (cocaine) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, not less than three years of supervised release, up to life, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (cocaine, cocaine base, fentanyl, PCP, and controlled substance analogues, i.e. K2) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, not less than three years of supervised release, up to life, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charges of theft of government property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to steal or possess stolen mail provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; BPD Commissioner Cox; DEA Acting SAC Belleau; ATF SAC Ferguson; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Special Agent in Charge Andrew Murphy of the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the Depart of Labor, Office of Inspector General made the announcement. The investigation was supported by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and the Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, Watertown and Wellesley Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak, III, John T. Dawley and Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Jeremy Franker of the Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.
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.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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APPENDIX A
- Trea Lankford, a/k/a “Heff,” a/k/a “Hefna Don,” a/k/a “Montana,” a/k/a “Tre Cain,” 33, of Boston;
- Dennis Wilson, a/k/a “Deuce,” a/k/a “Deep Jhonenson,” 36 of Boston;
- Avery Lewis, a/k/a “Wave,” 32 of Dorchester;
- Mark Linnehan,25, of West Roxbury;
- Eric Celestino,30, of Boston;
- Timothy Hearns, a/k/a “King Kill,” a/k/a “Tool Man,” a/k/a “Tooly,” 34;
- Dominique Carpenter-Grady, a/k/a “8-Zipp” a/k/a “Eighty,” 35;
- Robert Heckstall, a/k/a “Ribbs,” a/k/a “Buck,” a/k/a “Buck Corleone,” 41, of Roxbury;
- Jason Bly, 44, of Quincy; and
- Jerry Gray, 28, of Dorchester.
APPENDIX B- Imanol Rios-Franco, 24, of Brookline;
- Jairo Cabral-Santos, 22, of Boston;
- Brandon Baez, 22, of Framingham;
- Jiovanny Matos, 25, of Boston;
- Josman Romero Delgado, 22, of Boston;
- Jonathan Martinez, 25, of Roslindale;
- Anthony Worthen, 28, of Roslindale;
- Tyrone Brimage, 28, of Boston; and
- Glenroy Miller, 28, of Boston.
Newton Man Charged in Scheme to Conceal Bomb MakingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Newton, Mass. man has been charged with allegedly engaging in a scheme to conceal his efforts to develop bomb making skills after he triggered an explosion in his dormitory room at the University of Chicago. He is also charged with making false statements to federal officials at Logan International Airport after his bags set off alarms for explosives.
Aram Brunson, 21, is charged in a criminal complaint with falsifying, concealing and covering up a material fact by trick, scheme or device and making false statements to federal officials. Brunson is believed to be living in Yerevan, Armenia and attending the American University there.
According to the charging documents Brunson’s bomb-making activities were linked to his desire to take militant action against Azerbaijanis and others who pose a threat to ethnic Armenians living in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
It is alleged that Brunson came to the attention of law enforcement officials in Chicago in January 2023, after he trigged and explosion in his dormitory room at the University of Chicago. Law enforcement allegedly discovered that Brunson was constructing a large black powder device when he accidentally set it off, burning his room and causing the evacuation of the dormitory. At the time, he allegedly told law enforcement that he was just mimicking a prank he had seen on the internet.
A subsequent investigation allegedly revealed that Brunson sought to engage in what he described as revolutionary direct action and terrorism in support of Armenian causes. It is further alleged that Brunson made videos of himself teaching others how to make explosive devices and rig doors and desks with grenades. His internet searches also allegedly suggested that he planned to take action against foreign diplomatic facilities in the United States.
According to court documents, in August 2023, as Brunson was departing Boston to travel to Armenia, his bags set off explosive alarms for an unusual and highly volatile explosive. He allegedly told Customs and Border Protection officials that he had no idea how or why traces of the explosive material came to be on and in his bags. It is alleged that, during a subsequent search of his Newton home, a detailed recipe for making that explosive was found and a bomb dog detected three locations in the bedroom.
“It is alleged that Mr. Brunson crossed the line between political expression and mobilization, by taking affirmative steps to carry out unlawful acts. While radical political views may be offensive, they are constitutionally protected. However, experimenting with extremely dangerous explosives in support of those views and then engaging in false statements about your conduct is crossing the line. We will investigate and prosecute anyone who crosses that line in order to keep our communities safe,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
“What Arum Brunson is accused of is alarming. We believe he engaged in a calculated scheme to conceal his efforts to develop bomb making skills and construct an explosive device in support of his violent extremist activity,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. “This case highlights how FBI Boston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force takes its mission to thwart political violence, wherever it may occur, seriously.”
“The men and women of CBP work diligently alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone intending to inflict harm is held accountable and brought to justice,” stated Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office.
Each of the charges provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy; FBI SAC Jody Cohen; and CBP Director De La O made the announcement today. This matter was investigated with the assistance of the Newton Police Department, the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Fire Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois, the Department of Justice National Security Division and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. McNeil of the National Security Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.